Thanksgiving Day

The summary of T-Day

Hello!!! We hope everyone had a very blessed Thanksgiving, we did! Here are a few photos showcasing the highlights ;) Gigi bought a really cool gingerbread house...that the adults slaved over for hours-just to get the walls to stay up (what's the trick?). I was thrilled when I could finally decorate (as you can tell ;) and then in an effort to spoil my appetite, I promptly ate the decorations off before the frosting had even dried. My cousin Chloe read books to me and it was a welcome distraction from the ensuing belly-ache. My Papa made his best Thanksgiving dinner yet and the ONLY thing that was missing was the rest of our family, who seem to be afraid of cold weather ;) Just kidding! We are looking forward to Maga & Papa Boeder coming on the 12th of Dec thru Christmas and maybe the Boeder Bunch will come next year! They were living it up in Colorado with Sarah's family. Miss you all!!
Love The Girls

Our List

We are thankful for...
The grace of God
Healthy family
Abundant blessings
Night-time stories (and snuggles)
Kindness
Sunshine
Good friends
Inspiration
Very special babies in Heaven
Insurance (Good one Shalyse...it's a biggie ;)
Never losing faith
Giving to others

3 years ago..."Pope, is that you?"

This is a picture of Avery, right around her FIRST thanksgiving ;) Can we just stop time for a little bit...??
-the mommy one

"Ha Lacienda" and Other Randomness!

Good morning everyone ;) I gave Mom the "OK" to post one for me, as I am catching up on my beauty sleep, while Mom is well... not.

-Aves

And a good morning it is! Only at 3:51am can a Mom have peace and quiet ;)

So, as the title promised, we shall give a shout out to Avery's favorite restaurant...when I say favorite I mean she asks to go there for every meal-every day. She has affectionately coined it "Ha Lacienda," which to those of you who have not also made this error in verb age... it's La Hacienda! I ate there many a day during my pregnancy and so it's really no surprise at all that the child could subsist on the kid's chicken enchilada. When Aves was about 2 1/2, she became very possessive over the beans (that come with the chips and salsa), as if she were rationed her food at home or something. Anyway, on a particular outing to this Salem hot spot, I was notified during the drive that I would not have bean privileges. Gigi (my Mom) was cracking up as Avery shouted out these strict orders from the backseat. I on the other hand, was not in stitches because I knew there would be a scene if I so much as looked at the bean plate. So we get seated and receive the usual delivery, at which point I am reminded of Avery's rules...well, there's just 1; The bean plate is not shared. Still thinking I had the upper hand at the art of distraction, I tried to "sneak" a chip with beans. Like a hawk, that 2 1/2 year old turned to me with a glare to write home about and said, "I told you that you couldn't have beans, now spit it out," (holding her tiny hand to my mouth). For lack of better judgement (as my Mom is bent over in the booth dying laughing), I spit the beans into her hand, (that will teach her-right?) she scraped them off with her chip and back onto the bean plate, and then proceeded to eat the beans as if nothing had happened. I'm not joking! I BREASTFED the child for TWO years and I let her hold onto my "ample" (that's another post) practically all night...you'd think it would be evident in her personality. I use the words kind or kindness at least 10 times a day and if I'm wrong I ask for forgiveness etc... Needless to say, Avery flew out of the womb-on her due date-in 4 hours (beginning to end) and my goodness that child has been making her wishes known since that very moment (11:37pm on Oct 26 th, 2004). I'm glad she can't read yet and that most of the people who will read this are mothers who know that even with her strong personality and stories like these, there are countless things I love and admire Avery for. I say it all the time, because I can't think of any other way to put it...she is everything good I have ever done in my life-a blessing from God, a miraculous wonder, my passionate love...Avery "Bella Honee Bear" Gilbert.

I'm three...do you think I decided to go to Discovery School of Dance or Parks and Rec to sign myself up for horizon broadening activities? No, I'll tell you how it works: I mind my own business (sortof) and then my Mom gets the bright idea that at sub-three y.o. I need to be on the road to a life of extra curricular activities. She sweet-talks the directors into letting me in, even though I am too young and then...surprise-it doesn't work out like she anticipated! You can take me to the Elsinore or put me with the houligans on Sprague field but you can't make me love it...peace out.

Auntie Pipes

My Auntie Pipes is the BEST! She held me when I was only a few hours old and I think I may have hit a soft spot-she adores me ;) She understands that nothing great in this world was accomplished without a passionate woman on the job-heehee.

Gizmo is the best doggy cousin ever...and loves clothes!

Maybe he needs to have a talk with my sweet Petey-see post below ;)

I love you auntie!

My Petey, My Princess

So, I have this little 4 pound dog Petey, who, as you may notice is often the subject of my entertainment. Here he is, trying to hide in Mom's bathroom...but I have succeded in making him my tiny princess bride! I am quite resourceful and used toilet paper as his veil, (which blends in with his fur and dress). He may look less than pleased to the naked eye, but I think he is in pure bliss...

One thing I can't figure out-why does he runs away from me??

Disney Princesses On Ice "Skates"

Me again,
So Mom & Gigi took me to see the Disney Princess on Ice show...it was a miracle! All of my favorite leading ladies were there and I sat on the edge of my seat for 2 hours! Mom & Gigers were bragging to everyone about how in the midst of toy meyhem, I didn't ask for one thing! Now don't be fooled-I'm a girl who knows what she wants and boy howdy was I a ticked off camper when I realized there wasn't going to be a re-play. There's a good chance I may have been the ONLY child in the entire venue that was screaming, "I want to see it again," all the way to the car! I did cease for a moment when Gigi offered me any 1 thing I wanted from the toy stands...dolls, crowns, wands, shoes & stuffed animals GALORE...BUT I chose the program. Yep, you read it here first-I know what I want and I wanted the show AGAIN...second best would be to see it in print ;) A nearly fatal error was made when the coloring "book" was chosen for me in leiu of what I had SAID, which was "THE BOOK". Never fear, I got my point across and eventually the confusion was cleared up. I slept with my program and loved every minute of that wonderful show: "Disney Princesses On Ice Skates". Love A

This picture was taken on my first day at Buttercup Hill Preschool! I was a good sport but I'm sure 10 years from now I'll wonder why Mom decided to dress me up like a sailor. Buttercup Hill is so much fun, I love my teachers and all of the new things I am learning. I like to play in the "coffee box" (like a sand box but full of ground coffee beans)...sometimes long after my Mom has dropped me off, I find her standing by the box, breathing deeply...she needs a 12 step program! Intervention anyone?

Much more to come-including a few photos from previous months to bring us up to speed ;)
Much love,
Avery Bella