At the end of the January we went to Texas to visit family. The first weekend our niece, Nicole, celebrated her birthday. It’s hard to believe she’s seven already. I can still remember visiting her in the hospital after she was born.

We managed to fit a lot into our trip. Mommy, Grammy, and Aunt Manivanh went to some yoga and zumba classes at the local gym, and Daddy and Papa built a shelf in the garage. We went to Nicole’s dance classes each weekend and watched her practice ballet and tap. We also visited Nicole at school one day and had lunch in the cafeteria with her. Avery was excited and nervous to see the inside of a “big kid school.”

We’re lucky we timed the trip the way we did. We had great weather while we were there, mostly upper 60’s, and clear skies. We left the day before the ice storms arrived. At Avery’s request, Papa fired up the hot tub a couple of times so we could all go in.

One thing that made this trip to Texas extra-special was that Uncle Scott was back from Afghanistan for good. We timed our past couple trips with his so we could see him while he was visiting in the States. Along with the happiness of being together was the knowledge that in a few days he would return to a war-torn country, away from his family. Well not this time, thank goodness! We were able to enjoy the time we had together without worrying about any of that other stuff. It’s so good to have him back. I really don’t know how military families do it.

The four cousins: Nicole, Kieron, Avery & Andrew


Avery and Daddy horsing around

Nicole got her toenails painted before her big birthday party

So naturally, Avery wanted his painted too

Nicole & Avery watching a movie together

Aunt Manivanh made a yummy Thai dinner one night

Grammy, Mommy & Aunt Manivanh

With my cousin, Laura, at Nicole’s birthday party

All the partygoers



Andrew and Avery playing cars together

Nicole opening her birthday loot

Kieron’s first time in a swing

I think he looks so much like Jonathan did as a baby in this picture




After seeing Kieron in a baby swing, Avery wanted in one too



Nicole and Avery loved playing “Grammy’s School” each afternoon

Avery practiced writing his letters



Another day in the swing

Nicole and Avery on the walk to the park

We took our annual December trip to Maui, and it didn’t disappoint. We went jet skiing, whale watching, and to the the beach once, but we spent most of our time at the pool, specifically the pirate ship. Avery played each day until he was delirious, and Kieron enjoyed splashing in the shallow water. At seven months old, he needs a nap every few hours, so at times it felt like we were commuting between our room and the pool. Not that we’re complaining. He was even nice enough to take a few naps on the lounge chair for us so we could keep on playing.

Avery now fully expects to go to Hawaii each year. And he doesn’t believe he’s there until he’s at the pirate ship. Then he tells us he doesn’t want to go home, he just wants to stay in Hawaii. What a lucky kid. Here are some pictures from our trip this year:

At SeaTac before our 6 1/2 hour flight

Avery and Grandpa check out a whale skeleton at Whaler’s Village

Chillin’



“Are you talkin’ to me?”



Photo by Avery King

Don’t worry, we didn’t put him down the slide

Kieron at the helm



Nap time by the pool

Finding treasure at the pirate ship





Checking email or playing Angry Birds?






The boys with Nana and Grandpa





Before we headed out for our “Date Night” at Roy’s

More fun at the pirate ship



Avery tried to create his own snorkel by sticking a shovel in his goggles






Whale Watcher


Humpbacks

We spent a few days in the beginning of August at Nana and Grandpa’s place on the Oregon coast. Avery was so excited to go, he packed his backpack in the morning all by himself. Of course, all he packed was toys, but Mommy helped him sort it all out. When we got there Avery could hardly contain himself while we unpacked the van. The wait must have seemed like an eternity to him, but it wasn’t long before our feet hit the sand and he was busy building castles and fishing with a small net.


Avery loves to play in this creek that leads to the ocean


Avery had fun demolishing this sand kingdom

Then he started to rebuild his own

Waiting for pizza with Grandpa

Haystack Rock

Avery climbed about halfway up this sand dune and ran down with us


Hugging Nana

Mr. Smiley

Hunting for treasures

On our last evening at the beach, Nana and Grandpa watched Kieron so we could have some time outside with just Avery. The clouds cleared and the sky was so pretty. We ended up taking a ton of pictures. This is the least I could reduce it to:


In front of Proposal Rock


Saying “hello” to the starfish


Waiting for a wave…

Retreat!