Everly lost her first tooth!

Last week, just a couple of days before Christmas, I got a text from Justin while I was at the gym. Everly had finally lost her first tooth. She turned 6 back in October and still hadn't lost a tooth yet. Well, at least not naturally. Almost exactly 3 years ago in my last week of maternity leave with Aspen, Everly had a fall and chipped her tooth and then a couple of months later we had to pull that tooth because the root was damaged. You can read about it HERE and HERE. So now she actually has a two tooth gap in the front on the bottom but it is really cute. Neither Justin or I had any cash so I told him to pull one of the little shopkins out of Aspen's stocking and put it under Everly's pillow. When I got home from the gym we told her to go look under her pillow and she was totally surprised and excited. She didn't even care that it wasn't money. She is getting so grown up!

Soccer Pictures

I finally got Everly's soccer pictures in. I wasn't going to order any but they were so cute and it is her first year playing competitive soccer so I ended up ordering them. She has really been liking soccer so far this year. She has a tournament coming up next weekend so I am excited to see how well she does. It kind of goes back and forth with her. Sometimes she has really good weeks and other weeks she seems to not get involved much. Although, even when I don't think she is doing that great, she always wants to go to her practices and games. She loves the girls she plays with and that is what is most important at the end of the day, right?

Everly's First Camping Trip

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, Justin planned a camping trip for Everly. My brother-in-law and nephew went along as well. They decided to go over to Lake Pleasant because it is close and Teddy is obsessed with fishing. Everly was very excited to go although I acted all sad she was leaving me and she actually cried a little in the car because she was going to miss me. She is so sweet. Other than a little fall while hiking and forgetting to bring plastic utensils, it sounds like they had a lot of fun. Justin sent me a couple of pictures but made a little video of the trip.

Everly's Pumpkin Investigation

Last Friday I had the day off from work and volunteered in Everly's classroom. They were having a pumpkin investigation in the morning and a party in the afternoon. I couldn't manage both with Aspen but thanks to my sister's help, I was able to volunteer in the morning. Everly loves having me in class and I love seeing her learn. Her class worked in groups to investigate and measure a pumpkin before we eventually cut it open and took out the seeds. Then we added the seeds to some soil with water and they are hanging out in the sun to see if the seeds sprout. It was a lot of fun but also a good reminder that I would never be a good teacher. Kids all day every day is exhausting. At one point three different kids raised their hand to tell the teacher it was lunch time. As the kids headed to lunch Everly started crying and it was so sad. She didn't want me to leave and it was so sweet. I am so glad I was able to take some time and see her work in her class!

pumpkin investigation

 

 

hanging up the pumpkin seeds in soil

 

watching videos about the pumpkin life cy

1st Grade Field Trip

This past Tuesday I took the day off from work to volunteer at Everly's school and go on her field trip. I actually volunteered before I even knew what the trip was. I was kind of bummed to find out it was only a trip to our local library but she was still really excited. My sister thankfully watched Aspen that morning since I couldn't bring her along. The library trip was fun. Everly loved having me there since only a few kids had their parents there. She held my hand almost the whole time. At the library they rotated between a few different events and then I picked out a few books for Everly to check out. After the library we headed to a nearby park to eat lunch and let the kids play. It was pretty hot but you know kids don't care about that. By the time we got back to the school I was pooped. That heat killed me so I picked up Aspen, ate lunch and then took a nap! Hey, it was my day off too! So glad I had the flexibility to be able to spend the morning with Everly in her class!



Dinosaurs in the Desert

Today was the last day we could go see the new Dinosaur in the Desert exhibit for free as members so my sister and I made the plan to go after Teddy got out of school around lunch. I had to take Everly out early but it is her birthday so it seemed like a good enough excuse. Sue me. It was pretty warm out but I thought it was pretty cool. As you are walking up they have Jurassic Park music playing and who doesn't love the Jurassic Park movies??? Aspen was a little scared at first but I think she was just tired and eventually she warmed up. I honestly thought it was pretty cool and would probably pay to go see it again...just when it is not so hot. It was quite toasty today. We knew it was going to be hot though, so we packed suits for the splashed. That helped the kids cool off a lot. The only actual exhibit we went to was the orangutans on the way out. Our sole purpose for that trip was to see the Dinosaur exhibit. I think it was a fun little way to celebrate Everly's birthday!

quick little video

Aspen had not warmed up to this yet....

baby wrangler

 

 

A little side by side since Nora was in Mae's hand me down. Mae was 3 months younger. 

1st Grade Update

We got Everly's first grade pictures back so it seemed like a good time for a little update. HERE is her update from Kindergarten but there is a little side by side below, too. So cute! Everly's first grade teacher is Ms. Mills and she has been doing well so far. She is reading really well and learning a lot of addition as well. They have a behavior scale in class as well where blue and green are good and yellow and red are blue and she has been getting blue and green all the time. She still goes to stinger's club in the mornings and likes it although she got busted this week for buying breakfast without our permission. Like, she was doing it almost daily despite the fact that we send her with breakfast. I was so mad that I called the school and scolded her when I found out. She is learning a lot, which also includes how to lie. I know it is normal kid behavior and that she is actually really sweet but I still can't let that stuff fly. This year we started getting to see her art project electronically so I will start sharing those as well. They are super cute. I think parent teach conferences are next month so I can't wait to hear what her teacher says.

 

I'm dead.

3 Year and 6 Year Update

Everly actually turns 6 one week from today but Aspen turned 3 about a week and a half ago. Last week we had their joint birthday party and I also took them in to the doctor's for their yearly checkup. I was a little worried because I wasn't sure how well Aspen would do. She hasn't been to the doctor's in a year and the last time she was still so traumatized from all of her ear infections. It actually went way better than expected. Both girls behaved really well and did awesome with their flu shots. Aspen is still tiny at the 14th percentile for weight and 17th for height. She is 27 pounds and 35 1/2 inches tall. Everly is borderline perfect at 47 pounds and 45 1/2 inches tall she is the 63% for weight and 58th for height. If she gets to 46 inches by January she should be able to go on Indiana Jones when we go to Disneyland! Neither of the girls even cried when they got their shots. They were easy on me so I treated them with smoothies after. Also, for a fun flashback, HERE is their update from a year ago.

thumbs up!

Aspen tried to sit on the scale. It was adorable.

Everly has slight allergies and you can see the white line on her nose from scrunching it so much.

Pump it Up Birthday Party!

Last week we had a joint birthday party for the girls at Pump It Up! in Peoria. We knew we wanted to have a joint birthday party for the girls this year and debated where to hold it before finally deciding on Pump it Up. It was a little more expensive than if we had held it at home or a park but it was a lot less work. This was also the first time Everly invited her entire class to her party. A couple of her other friends have had parties there so she really wanted to have hers there as well. The only thing we had to bring was treat bags and cupcakes which I literally put together the day of. It was nice to just have to show up. We also didn't even have to worry about taking pictures. They do all that for you and provide you with the pictures after. They aren't very good quality but they are fun. We had a pretty good turnout and the kids had a blast. Aspen even had one of her little friends come! She took a while to warm up but then she was following the big kids down the big blowup slides! Everly loved sitting in the chair and opening all of her presents and Aspen was just ecstatic to finally be able to eat one of her cupcakes. Everly's birthday is actually next week so we will do a little family pizza party but this night went really well and she had lots of fun.

 

These slides are pretty fast

 

 

Everly and 2 of her godparents

the whole group.

Cam had a blast too

Love celebrating my girls!