23 Month Update

Here are some fun, cute and new things in Month 23:

• Avery loves Doc McStuffins and is always giving us "check ups" as well as all of her toys and stuffed animals and baby dolls. And when she's done she exclaims "You all better!"
• Sometimes Avery has to "go to her office". She marches up to my office and climbs into the chair and tells me to leave because she's "working". Then she'll tell us she's all done and we are allowed to come in. 
• Avery is very empathetic - she always asks if you are OK. And will rub your back and say "Don't be sad" and then "Are you all happy now?". And she'll say "what's wrong" or "what happened" if anyone seems sad.
• Avery has her own "camera" - It's a beeper from her Dr. Kit. She loves to carry it around, take pictures and tell you to say "cheese". She even looks at it when she's done to see if the picture turned out OK.
•  She is not a fan of the hot car in the summer. Whenever we get in, she says "Mama, make it colder". I can relate - I hate that feeling of climbing into a hot, sticky car in the summer!!
• Avery loves to say "So Much" - Like "I love you daddy, SO MUCH" or "I missed you SO MUCH". Makes me melt!
• She loves Mac N Cheese - Loves to help make it, eat it, and pretend make it with her kitchen set and serve it to us. And we have to wear bibs when we eat it because it's "messy". 
• Avery likes to ask "What are you doing?". and "Why?" - over and over again!
• She is also into knowing people's names. She'll tell you that mommy's name is Rachael, Daddy's name is Hung, and G's name is Nancy. She's says Hung SO cutely!! 
• Avery loves to say "OK" and "Here we go" and "You ready?" and "Alright". She is totally using terms that Hung and I say all the time.She also says "THAT'S IT!" when she is mad.
• She is just a chatterbox - using phrases we use and communicating amazingly. I really wish I could catch all the cute and funny things she says. Hung and I find ourselves laughing everyday at what she talks about and thinks of.

Our "photo shoot" went from Avery eating some applesauce, to taking us all on "bike rides" and ended with her walking around in my shoes. She said she was a "goof-bot" - which was a Goofy Robot with big feet that she saw on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Oh, and she pulled her pony tail out :)

 

Hopkins Family Reunion - Bellaire MI

After a great  couple weeks in Leland we headed over to Teri's family cottage for the Hopkins Family Reunion. There were over 20 of us (Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and spouses and all of their kids). There were lots of little kids for Avery to play with - she was the youngest but got tons of attention from the 6 year old girls. Delaney, Devyn and Helene were such sweet helpers!

Unfortunately, we did not have great weather - it was pretty cold and rainy! But we made the best of it. We were still able to play outside a lot. Avery loved running around with the girls and also had a ton of fun playing with Aunt Maddie, Grandpa and Grandma T. Avery spent some time at the playground with Liam and Billy, went "fishing" off the dock with her cousins, "helped" me and Grandpa play Croquet, went indoor putt-putt golfing with all the little kids and also got in a couple of boat rides around Lake Intermediate. She also LOVED raspberry picking on the cottage lane. 

We were so sad to leave and say good bye to everyone. But after being gone for over two weeks it felt good to get home and be in our own beds!

What a great vacation!! Can't wait to head "Up North" again next summer.

Leland 2013 – Part 5 (Our last few days in Leland)

We had a great rest of our vacation! On Tuesday, my mom and I took Avery to Glen Arbor. Avery tried out the Smock, Paper, Scissors art center and had lots of fun painting, making a button collage and playing with all sort of toys (she especially loved the magnifying glasses). After lunch, we walked around the Farmer’s Market and visited Cherry Republic with Lisa and baby Clara. That night Cullen, Jon and Taylor arrived and we all went for a walk on the beach at night and saw some HUGE waves.

On Wednesday we started the day with breakfast at Martha's and then went and visited Dick and Carole Halsey and Avery got to go one her first boat ride - She got to "drive" the boat and just loved it. It was Du's last night so we all had dinner at Riverside.

On Thursday we played around Leland - went to the park and library, in and out shops and played around the cottage. Avery gave the big tree a "check up".

Our last day was Friday and we spent time at Sally's enjoying the deck, lake view and beach. We ended with a great dinner at Riverside.

Now we are heading over to the Hopkins Reunion of the 2nd part of our vacation.

 

Leland 2013 – Part 4 (The Perfect Beach Day)

The boys took a break from golfing today and we all headed to the beach. It was a windy day and the waves were so big and fun to play in. At times Avery liked it and at times she was a little scared and just wanted to play in the sand. She has a book called “Wave” – It’s a picture book so we make up stories to it. At one point the little girl sees a big wave over her head and we always say “Nana Boo Boo” so she kept telling the waves that. It was a great day to be on Van’s Beach! We took TONS of pics and I can’t decide what I like best so am posting a bunch of them.

We ended with dinner at La Becasse. It was a perfect Leland Day.