april iphone dump

First Row - all girl. Avery swinging. Vivienne 'swinging.' As fancy as I get for work. Sunset swing. The start of something wonderful.

I have a super fancy camera and lenses and two of my favorite brother/sister shots are from my iphone.

Pants optional, new shoes. Daddy can I eat your cereal? What we did when our carry-out took an extra 30 minutes. Strolling with Erin. Playing in bed. Helmets needed. Catch. The famous Cassie Cocktail. That's right, a garlic, oven roasted artichoke with homemade smoky chipotle aioli.

What is it they say about owners resembling their dolls?

Snap, crackle, pop. Love those eyes. She's filing adoption papers. Mountain of legos. Screen time. Lego time with Daddy on the 16th Street Mall.

viv's ice cream truck

Typically the ice cream truck drives through the neighborhood around 2pm. Exactly when Vivi is sleeping. So, when at 7pm I heard that tell tale music, I shot out of the house, yelling to Scott behind me to grab the kids and some money (I didn't even put my shoes on). I wanted to stop the truck before I had to chase him any further. Luckily, Scott caught on to my craziness and brought the kids down so that Vivi could have her first ice cream truck treat. It was really fun and only slightly less crazy that getting Avery's first treat...I only had to run half a block this time.

lego fest

Carefully constructing his lego car for the race

Oh, he is so serious

Zoom!

Competing in the Lego Sweeper Challenge

Literally a mountain of duplos

Vivann loved it too

I'll give you one guess who!

Watching the big kids play

Avery showing off his art

Lightning McQueen was a big hit

Avery is just on the cusp of really getting into Legos and attending the Lego Kidsfest certainly helped fuel his interest. Both and and Vivienne had a great time playing. Avery and I competed in our first family event competition and even though we didn't win, I think we're ready for Family Double Dare. Hats off to Lego for getting thousands of families to pay an entrance fee for what is essentially and interactive infomercial for Legos. 

We'll be back next year. 

homecoming

This is what I see whenever I leave the house without the kids and often what I see when I return.

soccer zoom

I have been wanting to try out a zoom lens and rented one for the weekend to play with. Well, let me tell you, this thing was a BEAST and challenging to use. The super zoom was difficult for my eyes to adjust to and I'm pretty sure that I do not need this much zoom on a regular basis. I do however, love the photo of Avery's cleats. I was standing in Utah when I took it.

Also, today was a big life learning event for Avery. At the end of each practice, different teams scrimmage and this time, the Green Frogs were up against the oldest and most skilled team. These kids were amazing and they squashed those poor Green Frogs. It was like 25-0 despite how desperately the coaches were trying to help the Frogs score. I was so proud of Avery, he didn't give up even after getting hurt. He tried so hard even when his teammates had long given up.


Needless to say, he was devastated that they didn't even score one goal. We had a long talk about being a good loser and that you have to lose sometimes to know how good winning feels. The bigger point I wanted to make with his is that he kept at it. Kept trying. Kept going.


It is very interesting watching Avery develop 'older' qualities. He is crazy competitive and it already has been challenging to help him steer that competitiveness in healthy directions. There is a fine line between pushing yourself and being a jerk about it and Scott will help Avery find that balance every step of the way. 

avery eyes

Mama got herself a new 50mm lens which I LOVE. To test it's abilities, Avery graciously volunteered to pose for me...actually, I probably bribed him with the Wii, but it was so worth it.

in the field

Avery really couldn't be bothered to sit for portraits

This totally defeats the purpose of bringing the box out so that they could be close in height

Took the kids into the field across the street from us to take a few pictures. I really wanted Vivienne to stand on the box with Avery beside her, but that didn't happen. Avery ONLY wanted to stand on the box and Vivienne wanted to do anything but. She did however, sit for some lovely portraits. Avery was too busy with the dandelions and rocks to be bothered.

ballet

The first of many ballet buns

Waiting for class to begin

The shoes add a certain level of ridiculousness to the outfit

Watch out! It is possible to start your period just by looking at this picture, there is so much girlie estrogen in there. It doesn't matter if you're a male or female.

We had to borrow some shoes because they don't make them small enough for her tiny feet. It took some convincing to get them on

The girls get stamps on their hands at the end

Loving the light in this image

This post is alternately titled: The Girliest Thing I've Ever Done


After I witnessed that magic that was Annabelle's dance recital I just knew Vivienne had to take ballet, and even though the class where there is a recital doesn't happen until age 3, I figured she should start now, so that she's comfortable going to class. Plus, there is a mother/tot class on Thursday mornings that just happens to fit into our schedule while Avery is at school. Also, Auntie Sarah was a ballerina and I think it would have been grounds for being disinherited (me, not Viv) if we didn't try it at least for a little while.


So, with super cute ballet outfit doned and hair in adorable buns, we hit the studio for the first time. Viv did really well, but at this age, it's more freestyle 'dance' than anything else. She did most of the moves, but at one point realized there were stickers on the floor and then proceeded to scootch around the room counting them. The only time she cried was when the teacher took her to do a skill like roll or somersault. Shockingly, she did not like being separated from me :)

It will be very interesting to see what activities Vivienne has an affinity towards. It certainly seems like a possibility that it will be ballet, but whatever she chooses, we will support her and encourage her. I'm sure she won't be the first ballerina/soccer player!