It's been awhile. Things have been hectic with a kindergartner and toddler. Life has been semi getting back to normal and we have been taking advantage. Fall brought back fun activities for the kids, like gymnastics. Both Avery and Oliver are participating in gymnastics now. Avery is working on perfecting her skills to move up with the big kids. Oliver is absolutely loving his tumbling class. He is doing so well following directions during circle time and completing the obstacle courses. He is flourishing in this class just like Avery did at his age and he even has Avery's old instructor, Miss Carol (who we love!) Avery also had her first experience with a team sport: soccer. Oh man. It was SO fun watching her play. She has got quite a strong leg on her (I think with a kick like hers she may be a defender like her mommy). She had such a blast running around with her friends and kicking the ball. She certainly preferred to run around and giggle more than actually kick the ball but she scored a goal and that pretty much made her season! Avery took out 2 kids in 1 game and after that she barely touched the ball 😬 I loved watching her play so much. It brought me back, for sure. She already looks forward to next year when she gets to play again.
Fall also brought apple picking, leaf peeping, pumpkin carving, Halloween parties, Nightmare Before Christmas on repeat and trick or treat! Avery was Batgirl and Oliver was Lightening McQueen. Avery has been all about dying her hair so as a special treat we let Avery dye her hair purple to match her Batgirl outfit. It was my first time dying hair and we had fun! I think I earned some "Cool mom" points with that one. Poor Ollie felt a little left out so I said what the heck and gave him a little purple strip in his hair too. Why not. I can't always say yes so I try to say yes when I can. Now that fall has passed, the kids are looking forward to Christmas and lots and lots of snow so they can go skiing! This will be Avery's second full ski season and Ollie's first! We are so pumped to get them both out on skis so that we have a fun winter activity to do as a whole family.
Avery has been killing it in kindergarten. We recently had her parent teacher conference and Avery got rave reviews from her teacher. My favorite part was her teacher telling us how she has made a really nice little girls group and is forming really good relationships with these girls. She said the class is boy heavy but Avery is holding her own. Avery loves school and is usually disappointed when it is not a school day. She is becoming quite the little reader and has been super into crafts (right now it is snowflakes). It has been fun watching her grow in the last few months - really showing some independence and more self confidence. She reminded me a few weeks ago how last year at this time we made a card for an elderly woman who needed cheering up. I had planned on doing it again this year but I was pleasantly surprised that she remembered it on her own. We make cards for the local nursing home (organized by our town's police department) to make their holidays extra special. This year Oliver will be participating as well. Tis the season to show the kids how to spread love and kindness.
Oliver has grown leaps and bounds (literally). He is now just over 41 inches (the average 4 year old). I like to call him my bull in a china shop. He is like a giant monster that wreaks havoc but has the sweetest little soul inside. He now has a big boy bed which he loves. It took him a few weeks but he finally has the hang of staying in his bed at bed time (thank the Lord). Oliver loves to be independent, loves to make people laugh, has quite the potty mouth (his answer to everything is usually "poop"), and has got to be the biggest book worm I have ever seen. He will spend literal hours looking at every book in the house. At bedtime he insists on his entire book collection joining him in his little toddler bed. We have to negotiate 50 books down to 10, though he claims he "needs them all". It’s hard to believe it but I will be registering him for preschool soon! 😱 He is all boy - very physical, very energetic, and has zero clue how strong he is. Oliver has been super cute this time of year - very excited about the decorations and is always happy to see that "the decorations are still here!" when he wakes up. This might be the first year he is really interested in Santa coming. Of course he only wants what his big sister wants - I guess we will see if Santa delivers! 😉
