... and then she was 4!!!!

Dear Avery,

Well Love Bug, tomorrow you will be four years old. You are officially no longer a "toddler", rather a full-fledged "little girl". Let me tell you, that makes me a little sad...

For me, this has been the hardest birthday, by far. At first, I couldn't put my finger on why it was so hard. Then I realized that I am sad that you are getting so big, so fast. When you're three, you still are a toddler, still have a while before you start kindergarten and you still have an innocence that is not quite the same at any other age. Now, at four, you are a little girl, will start kindergarten in just over a year and you have morphed into a 30-year-old trapped in a tiny body, with more knowledge than you should have, at such a young age. Don't get me wrong, I'm loving this age, and the new stuff that it brings, but it still makes me a little sad. I'm sure five will be just as hard.

So, let me tell you a little about yourself: 

I think that I said it best when I wrote this in last year's birthday blog: "I will forever cherish your hugs and kisses, your jokes and giggles, your stories and voice. Avery, you are one of a kind. You are smart. You are sassy. You are a know-it-all. You are funny. You have the ability to make a bad day, good. You dance to your own beat. You will go as far in life as you put your mind to, for you will not take no for an answer. You are the best big sister in the world. You are a great helper. You love to read, and color, and play. You love to watch T.V. You love school. You love the moon and hate the sun (at least when it shines in your face). You love your friends and cousins. You love family hugs, and kissing your brother. You are inquisitive. You remember things that you shouldn't. You are the best YOU, EVER!" This year is no different. You are an awesome kid. Your dad and I are so blessed to have you in our lives.

So tomorrow when you wake up a four-year-old, I hope that you will always remember how much your parents love you. You have changed our lives and challenged us in so many ways, during the last four years, but we wouldn't change one minute.

Happy Birthday!

Momma

Here are some things we want to remember about you at 4 years old:

- Your height and weight will be updated after you have had your check up.

- You are total girlie-girl - you love to play dress-up all of the time and will opt for a dress over pants every day of the week.

- Your favorite activity is still talking. You ask so many questions. Your favorite word is "why?".

- You continue to be a picky eater - very picky about how things are prepared, and typically won't try new things. Your favorite foods are pizza, mac-n-cheese, noodles, peanut butter sandwiches, applesauce and spaghetti.
 

 - Your favorite thing to do is watch your shows... If I let you, you would watch television all day, every day, and often get really upset when you have to turn it off; however, when it's off, you love to color, paint, read, play dress-up, barbies, babies and you really love playing with your little brother.

- You love to learn. Your favorite games are learning apps on my iPad. You also just got a LeapPad for Christmas, and I can often find you on that, learning lots of new things. You are great at writing letters and can recognize letters from your name. I predict it will not be long before you start reading and writing.

- Your favorite thing in the world is your "gankie" (blanket). You have to have that thing to sleep, but it has to be the "right way".

- You love your brother more than anyone. You love to teach him new things, and you are his biggest cheerleader when he learns them. The sound of the two of you playing and laughing together is the best sound in the entire world. It really makes your momma's heart happy.

- You are a great pretender. The many worlds you create in your head are fun and magical places that you go to often.  

-You love to play outside. You love to swing and slide and make mud pies. If there is a pile of dirt or rocks, I can guarantee that you have your hands in it.

- You love your family, extended family, and even some kids you think are your family, but aren't.

- You are terrified of dogs. Terrified.

- You love Olive Garden and Red Lobster... Both of which you can recognize in any town, simply by seeing the sign.

- You love to play any type of chasing game, hide-and-seek, or basically anything else that requires lots of running and lots of laughter.

- This was the first year that you truly understood your birthday (though you did a little in years past, this year was a totally different level of understanding). You did, however, have a hard time comprehending the fact that your birthday party wasn't actually ON your birthday.

- You love to dance. You are enrolled in ballet/tap once per week. You really like it, but have a hard time paying much attention to anything but your reflection in the big dance mirror.

- You still are super bossy and pretty much a know-it-all.

- We know you are in your "fast run" when you arms swing beside you, up near your armpits, and this had us laughing so hard during your first soccer clinic. Oh, you play indoor soccer and love it. Many people asked me if you were timid during play, but you aren't. You get yourself right in there and have a blast; however, sometimes when you can't get to the ball, you decide to throw in some ballet moves instead.

- You either want to go to Disney World or Disneyland... badly. You even tried to convince your grandma to take you there for your birthday. Little do you know that we are going in August with your cousins, Morgan and Lauren, Auntie Tara and Uncle Jay. Florida won't know what hit them, when you arrive.

- At the store, you can't stand riding in the cart, saying, "Mom, I can walk. I'm a big girl."

- You can be very timid and have nightmares easily. We have to watch what you are exposed to, because even just a commercial can trigger a nightmare.

- You hate bath time, because you don't like to get water on your face or in your eyes, but you hate getting out of the bath, because you get cold.

- You have to have both your night lights on in order to sleep.

- You hate to take naps. If you happen to take a nap, then you are up late, but if you don't, you sometimes fall asleep really early.

- You go to bed at 8:30 p.m. and get up at 7 a.m.

- Your best friends at school are Marcus, Eve, Sophia and Evan

- Your teachers are Mrs. MaryAnn and Mrs. Celi

- You still haven't gotten the hang of your bike. For some reason, you just can't figure out the whole peddling thing. Your dad and I are pretty sure you will get, but your little brother will probably have to teach you.

- You are the coolest kid I know. ;0) 

February 2012 - playing video games on the couch

March 2012 - at Popo's ranch, playing cowgirl

 April 2012 - prettiest smile in the world

  Easter 2012 - in Minnesota

May 2012 - first haircut

  June 2012 - fishing with daddy

July 2012 - 4th of July with cousin, Andrew

July 2012 - camping at Lake Roberts

August 2012 - our ballerina

August 2012 - first set of pigtails

 August 2012 - after playing in the rain

 September 2012 - cheering on the Raiders

 

 October 2012 - Southern New Mexico State Fair

 October 2012 - camping at Lake Roberts with our cousins

 Halloween 2012

 November 2012 - celebrating daddy's birthday

 

 December 2012 - school Christmas party, with her teacher, Mrs. MaryAnn

 December 2012 - Cloudcroft winter festival with Uncle Jake

 December 2012 - sledding at Grandma's house

 Christmas 2012

 January 2013 - playing in the snow

 January 2013 - headed back to school after Christmas break

 January 2013 - at our favorite place, the zoo

 January 2013 - 4th birthday party

2012 Casa de Conner Year End Review

Welcome to our family blog. If this is your first visit, welcome. If you come here often, you already know that I'm kind of hit and miss in the amount of blogs that I post; however, you will be happy to know that my 2013 resolution is to do a better job at blogging. This year, instead of printing out our annual Christmas letter, I decided to do a year end review blog. So, here we go... 

Wow! What a year 2012 has been for Casa de Conner. Before I go into the ins and outs of our year, I would be remiss to not thank God for our abundant blessings that this past year has brought. For without Him, none of this would be possible.

Avery Victoria:

This has been a great year for our Love Bug. In January, she turned three and has been amazing us ever since. If you know our Avery, you know that she can be extremely stubborn and hard-headed. That character trait never was more apparent than during the potty training process. Her and I (and of course Daddy, when was home from work) worked so hard day in and day out. She just didn't want to do it. I kept telling myself that she will not go to school in diapers, so just be patient, but patience isn't a character trait that I hold an abundance of, so it often resulted in epic battles between the two of us. Finally, in April, I went away for a weekend scrapbooking retreat, and Daddy stepped up to the plate and got it done. I returned home on Sunday to a completely potty trained little girl.

Avery has been enrolled in a preschool program since she was a year and half.  She absolutely loves every minute of it and asks every morning if it is a school day. Her teachers are wonderful, and I can tell that they just love our Love Bug. One of her teachers even said that she was a 30 year old trapped in a little body - a statement I couldn't agree with more. Her school has done so much for her, and for that we could not be more grateful.

In August, we enrolled Avery in ballet/tap. I have to say she is the cutest little thing in her dance gear.  She definitely loves the idea of dance more than the actual class, and it's quite comical to watch her and her very limited attention span try to follow the other kiddos and teachers - especially while she can see herself in a mirror. John Lee often says she has the attention span of a gnat, and that has never been more apparent than in dance class. Hopefully, it is just a phase that she will outgrow as she gets older. Nevertheless, all of us really enjoy watching her during practice, and can't wait until her recital in May.

All in all, our Avery amazes us every single day. She is smart beyond her years. She loves with all that she has. She is as spicy as they come. She constantly has us on our toes. She is one of a kind.

Evan Matthew:

This year was a big year for our Brother Bear, Evan. In March, we found out that he would have to wear a cranial reshaping helmet to help correct his flat head (a result of him being a preemie). It wasn't an easy time for our family, especially Evan. He had to wear the helmet 23 hours a day during the hottest part of the summer. Let me tell you, that thing stunk - both literally and figuratively. After 4 months, he came out of the experience with a gorgeous head. We are so thankful for modern medicine (and a good health insurance plan) - especially where our Evan has been concerned.

When I say that 2012 was a big year for Evan, I truly mean it. He learned to crawl. He learned to walk. He is learning to talk. He turned one. He has three teeth. He has grown into a toddler - faster than I like. It really amazes me how much faster the time has seemed to fly by with Evan, as compared to Avery. I guess that is what happens with the second child.

Evan will start school in 2013. It will be bittersweet for me, as I will definitely welcome a morning off once per week to get some stuff done "kid free", but I will also miss our solo-time, while sister is at school. 

Overall, he is such a great kid. I feel so blessed to have him in my life. He loves his momma, daddy and sister so much - never hesitating to share a good hug, or even better, a sloppy kiss. He just makes us very happy - everyday.

John Lee and Emily:

As for John Lee and me, we are loving life, and everything that it throws our way. John Lee is still a Systems Engineer; however, he did start a new position with a new company in January. They are a great company, and he is enjoying his new roll.  I continue to stay home with the kiddos and sell Scentsy on the side. Both "jobs" are great and I couldn't be more thankful that I am able to do them. I am especially thankful to John Lee - he works hard so I can stay home with our kiddos. I know I don't tell him enough, but being here for every single thing in the kids' lives is the best gift he could ever give me.

We have been fortunate enough to be able to take a couple "adults only" trips this year. In June, we went to Albuquerque for our eight-year wedding anniversary. We saw a Primus concert, and John Lee surprised me with a resort/spa package, complete with an awesome massage. Just last week, we checked off an item on both of our bucket lists. We went to Oakland for a Raiders (John Lee's favorite NFL team) game, then spent the weekend in beautiful San Fransisco. While we were there, we toured Alcatraz, went to China Town and rented a "GoCar" to tour the city. It was one of the greatest weekends we have had. These trips would not be possible without some great people in our lives that come hang out with the kids - Grandma (my mom), Momo and Popo (John Lee's parents, Roberta (Evan's Godmother), and Matt (my cousin) and Kim (Matt's fiance). They are always ready to help out and give us some "time off", and for that, we are so blessed. Thank you all!

 
As a family we have also traveled some this year - mainly to see our extended families. In April, we visited my family in Minnesota. It was so nice to spend Easter up North. I can't recall the last holiday that I had spent up there. Over Labor Day, we got to go to San Antonio to visit John Lee's family. We love to visit everyone - always having a great time. All of our nieces and nephews are growing so fast, and we really love the young ladies and gentlemen they are becoming.

So that is what 2012 has brought our family. It has really been a great year. We look forward to an even better 2013.

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas!

Emily, John Lee, Avery and Evan