Sometimes they play so nicely together...

There are some moments in my day that just make me stop and realize how blessed I am to be a mother of such wonderful boys! This morning Jackson and Joshua were playing on our landing with trucks and talking to one another. They were so sweet!!! Jackson was so kind to his brother and tried to teach him new words and Joshua was just so cute trying to talk to his big brother! AW and I just listened to them for a while and then we finally grabbed the camera so we could capture the sweet moment! I know that even with the arguing and other stuff that goes on between these two brothers, they are really good kids and we are lucky to be their parents!! Here's hoping that the newest Avery to join our family in the next few weeks will be just as sweet as his big brothers!!

Tree 2008

We usually wait until the first weekend in December to get our Christmas tree, but this year we decided to go early, just in case the baby has plans of making an early arrival! For the past four years, we have gone to cut down our own tree---I love real trees! It's always fun to walk through the field and pick out just the right tree and then cut it down ourselves, well, actually AW is the one who does all the work! The boys loved running around the field and seeing all the trees! It was also nice that it wasn't awfully cold out.

Jackson and Joshua loved running around all the Christmas trees!

Looking for the perfect tree was fun!
The boys with Daddy
The boys with Mommy
The Avery Five with the perfect Christmas tree for this year!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We have lots to be thankful for--great family and friends, nice home, two cars, healthy, wonderful boys, good jobs, a baby on the way, and lots, lots, lots more!! Today we celebrated Thanksgiving with family and had a good time. The kids enjoyed playing together, running around and chasing each other, and making cookies together, while the adults tried to keep up with the kids and sneak in some adult conversation as well! It was fun! The pictures are fun!

Joshua chasing and playing with Jackson under the table during lunch!

Jackson playing under the table!

Cousins Nic and Mady making cookies! Yummy!!

Jackson's fabulously decorated cookie! Tasted pretty good!

Go, Joshua, go! Eat that yummy cookie!!
Cousin James is showing us all how big he reallyis! Maybe he'll be big like his Daddy at 6'6" tall!

Uncle Sam is turning 21 tomorrow! Happy Birthday, Uncle Sam! Hope it's a great one! P.S. Your gift is in the mail! Sorry we forgot it today!

The whole family! Amazing that everyone was actually looking and smiling!

Jackson was fast asleep on the drive back home!

Joshua fell alseep right after Jackson!

Baby #3 doing well!!

This morning I had my 36-week doctor appointment. The baby has a very fast and strong heartbeat, but my doctor couldn't tell if he was in head-down position, so she sent me over to the hospital for an ultrasound The ultrasound showed that he was in the correct head-down position, that he is starting to run out of room, that he measures about a week ahead of my due date (so maybe he'll come early!!) and that he is pretty stubborn! He would not turn his face so that the ultrasound technician could get a good picture. I hope that when we meet him, he will be a much more cooperative baby!! Here is picture from this afternoon--kinda fuzzy, but still cute!

*****

I am loving staying at home with the boys and not having to work! As overwhelmed as I know I will be next month with three boys at home, I am really looking forward to it, and also to not having to work! The boys had a great time at bathtime tonight---laughing and splashing water everywhere!

*****

Bedtime is becoming more and more fun now that Joshua can sit for longer periods of time and actually make it through several stories! He has his favorites, like this trains book right now, that he can read several times a day! Jackson has always been phenemonal with stories and loves to read, but he likes new stories! He likes going to the library and getting new books!

I am a lucky woman to have such a sweet husband and kids (cute, too!!)

1st day at home

We have the whole week off for Thanksgiving break and I am keeping the boys home with me all week (and therefore paying only half-price tuition at their school). We are having so much fun together! We went to the library this morning and checked out books and played with trains and met some new kids. The boys have been playing so nicely together all morning. I am just so happy and so relieved! Yesterday, AW went to play paintball with a Marine buddy of his and the boys and I did not have our best day together. There were many tantrums, arguing, just overall grumpies! I was a bit worried about this week, that I couldn't keep up with the boys, not have enough energy or patience for them and with being pregnant, but it's been great so far! Now, I realize it's only half-way through the first day, but still...it's good! =)

Less than a month to go!!

The countdown is on (has been on for quite some time for some of us!!)!! We now officially have less than one month to go until our baby arrives. We are so thrilled!!

I went out last night with a good friend for a girls' night of scrapbooking and it was so nice to leave the boys with AW and work on my scrapbooks!! I only did a few pages, but got lots of ideas, and I even won a prize in the raffle! The boys did really well with Daddy at home for bedtime. I think I might have to go maybe once a month or so to get caught up and to have some "me" time! But first I will have to learn to not feel guilty about that! =) AW is heading out right now with both boys to get some shakes at the Sonic Drive-In down the road and I get to stay home by myself and just be!! I am a lucky woman!! This evening we have a good friend coming over to watch the boys so AW and I can head out for a date! We haven't had a date (without the kids) in months, so it's about time! Thanks, Martha! You're the best!

Enjoy your weekend! Ours is looking pretty good! =)

Not the greatest news at pick-up

So, not the greatest day as a parent today! Makes you just second-guess all your parenting skills--not saying I have the greatest of skills, but I think we do okay most of the time! Anyway, this afternoon I went to pick up the boys from pre-school and daycare and was told that Joshua had bit another student (which unfortunately is not a huge surprise since he bites at home due to teething and whatever other reasons babies have, but he's never bitten anyone outside of our family). Then I was told that Jackson was pushing other kids on the playground at school---that was a huge surprise and sadness for me. His teacher thinks that it was just a bad day for whatever reason---this is not the Jackson we all know. As soon as Jackson saw Joshua, he ran over to him and gave him a big hug and kiss on the cheek. That's the Jackson we know--the sweet and loving big brother. When I asked Jackson about his day, he just said he had a grouchy day. I am hoping that being home all week next week with me and Joshua will be just what he needs. I have only 16 more school days let until I can be home with all three boys!! I am so excited, but a little nervous at the same time. Will I be able to handle it all and take care of everyone's needs?? I'm not sure, but I'm certainly going to try.

Baby Boy Avery is doing well. He's moving and kicking all the time. It's so funny watching my tummy move and shift as he moves around. We're definitely getting to the point where he is running out of room and I am starting to get more and more uncomfortable. Only 31 days left (or hopefully less)! YAY!

A happy couple ready to meet the newest addition to the Avery family!

A laughing mama enjoying taking some baby pictures at home!

Babies everywhere

We've had two new babies added to our lives within the last month, and that makes us even more excited to meet our baby boy next month! Our newest niece, Lillian, was born October 23rd and our friends Michelle and Justin had their first baby, Evan, on November 1st. We got to meet both of them this weekend---what cuties! And so tiny!! I forget how little they are--makes our boys look like giants. Jackson and Josh were sweet with the babies--Jackson wanted to hold both babies, but I told him he had to wait until our baby comes home to hold a baby that tiny. We hope the next five weeks go well (and quickly) and then we'll be able to meet our little guy. We are so excited!! We are praying for a healthy and happy (and easy) baby that will complete our family and make a smooth transition to our family of five!!

Baby Lillian all snuggled on Aunt Emma, with a curious Jackson looking on!

Joshua just being cute, didn't seem too concerned with all the baby activity around him.

Jackson making one of his funny faces, just being a ham!

Evan being super cute with "Aunt" Emma. All he did was sleep on my chest, sweet guy!

Evan was so good the whole time we were there to visit. His parents say he has quite a set of vocal cords, but we didn't hear any of that! Sweet dreams, Evan!

Hams!!

Jackson and Joshua are quite the hams these days! They feed off each other and really like to do what the other is doing. Here they are before bed one night, putting on a show!

Proud of my Marine

This is one day late, since I fell asleep way too early last night! Yesterday was Veteran's Day and I am the proud wife of a United States Marine Corps veteran! My husband and all other Marines and soldiers deserve our debt of gratitude for fighting and defending our great country! In this day in age when most people complain about almost everything, Marines and soldiers are out in Iraq and other far-away places fighting for us so that we have the right to complain. We are a free country because of the men and women who have fought for our freedoms!! If you know a veteran, take the time to thank him or her for their service!! AW got a call from a friend last night who said, Thanks for what you have done for us! It was very sweet!! Although we are very fortunate that AW was never in the line of fire while on active duty, his sense of love and loyalty for this country, tells me he would have gone at a moment's notice if called up! That's what Marines are trained to do and they do it willingly, without complaining!! I love you, Allen Wade! I am so proud of you, Sergeant Avery!! Semper Fi!!