Family Visits in July

   Since Emery was born at the end of June my sisters were all planning to come up and visit during June and July.  Alex, Addison, and Ashlyn were here when Emery was born to help out.  Nellie and Reagan were also here in June the weekend before Emery was born.  We were really hoping that Emery would make her appearance then, but all the walking in the world when not convince her to come out before her due date. 

   Alex, Addison, and Ashlyn were here through Fourth of July. Since Emery was about a week old on the Fourth, we spent a rather low key day at the house.  In the evening we went to go see Adam and Angie.

   A couple weeks after that Nellie and Reagan came back for a visit, but this time they brought Paul. (A visit that I have no pictures of.)  Then DeAnna and Brad also came up too while Daryl and Avery went off to Disneyland, which I will hopefully get to posting about soon.  It was great to see all my sisters.  They live too far away.

Brad and DeAnna took Harper on the Duck Tour with them.

Avery, Ashlyn holding Reagan, Addison, and Harper.  All the girl cousins before Emery was born.

Alex and Addison.  Addison likes to make that goofy fish face a lot.

Angie and Addison

Reagan being adorable.

Emery and Alex snuggling.

Here's my picture of DeAnna holding a sleepy Reagan.

Meet Emery

   It's been just over a month since Emery joined our family.  She was quite the punctual girl and came right on her due date June 28th.  She was born at 6:13 in the evening, and was 7 pounds 5 ounces and 19.5 inches long.  I'd been in labor more or less all day I guess, but it was a really weird labor.  You could call it very subdued. The contractions never really got that intense, and I had been having contractions for days that always threatened to go into full blown labor without amounting to anything.  I ended up going into get checked by the doctor to see if I was really in labor; although I was reasonably sure I was.  I was already dilated to 6 centimeters, so off to the hospital we went.  It was about two in the afternoon when we checked in, so there was another four hours of the weirdest labor I've ever had.  For the most part I was able to talk through my contractions which I do not remember being able to do the first two times around.  After four hours my labor had meandered around to the point where I was fully dilated, so I asked my doctor to break my water because I was tired (I had been up since five that morning and hadn't gotten much sleep in the days prior.  I actually was falling asleep in between contractions).  He broke my water, and Emery crowned.  I had a baby.  We couldn't decide on a name until the next morning.  Her full name is Emery June Ezri.  June is because that's the month she was born in, and Daryl really liked Ezri.    

   Now we finally have a kid that looks like me.  Emery's hair is much darker than Avery's was, and she is my biggest baby (Avery was 6 pounds, 12 ounces, and Harper 6 pounds even).  We were elated to go home 24 hours after she was born.  The first time we were able to do that, and we didn't have to see the doctor more often for weight checks because Emery actually she grew like she was supposed to.  So far she is our most trouble free baby.  It's so refreshing.  

   Avery and Harper love their baby sister.  They let me know when she is crying, and give her lots of kisses.  Avery especially wants to hold her and take care of her.  Harper is always right by my side supervising diaper changes.  She will go get the wipes and the new diaper, and then dispose of the old diaper.  No one really seems to be jealous.   It will be exciting to see what kind of personality Emery will bring to our little family.   

There was a professional photographer that came to our room the day after she was born, which is why I have some nice newborn pictures of Emery.

Avery drew this picture of Emery in Sunbeams the week after Emery was born.  It's a remarkable likeness.

Emery all cleaned up after her first sponge bath at home.

Emery's first real bath at home.  She fit in the bathroom sink diagonally.  I was surprised she fit.

This was Emery after church this Sunday.  You can see by her attire that she attended church.  She was very good and slept all the way to the last half hour of Relief Society.

I forgot to take a picture of her and the monkey when she first came home from the hospital, so this picture from today will have to do.  

A Last Round of Preschool Projects

   Like I said in the title here's a last look at some of the beautiful art and projects that Avery made while in preschool this year.  For the most part these were all proudly displayed on our giant glass doors.  

Avery let us know that the bee was not happy.

All the way back from Valentine's Day.  It melted my heart of course.

Avery's ladybug

Avery's butterfly crown.  She really enjoyed their bug week.

I can't remember if I already posted a picture of Avery's dinosaur habitat.  She really enjoyed making the dinosaur eat the leaves.

I'm sorry this one might have been posted already too, but this wonderful 3-D art is a castle.

Avery's bean plant.  She was really proud of it and that her little milk carton planter had her name on it.  The plant actually grew a bit more, but then Avery thought it needed to be left outside to bear the full brunt of our west facing deck.  The poor thing never recovered by the time we brought it back in the house.

Father's Day

    Sunday was Father's Day, and the girls were very excited to give Daryl's his presents since we had wrapped them up in Angry Birds gift wrap.  They gave him a little book called Vader's Little Princess about the trials and tribulations of raising Princess Leia of course.  The girls were happy to read that with Daryl.  We had a pretty good day thanks to the girls largely deciding to entertain each other.  We love Daryl and all he does for us!

Harper really likes to have her picture taken lately.

This is the cute little Father's Day gift that Avery made at preschool.  You can see she's dressed up as a princess for the picture.

Avery's First Year of Preschool Finished

     Avery had a wonderful first year of preschool that ended last Thursday.  In general Avery loved preschool a lot, but the last couple days of school  she wasn't quite as enthusiastic.  We figured that was a good thing though.  We were sad that her preschool teacher Mrs. Judy retired this year, so we won't have her next year.  Avery really enjoyed preschool over all, and made lots of sweet little friends there.  We saw a lot of positive changes in Avery during the school year.  Her teachers were absolutely the best.  Here are some pictures at a little end of the year get together we had, and the last day of school.

Avery is not looking at the camera, but instead is looking at one of her favorite classmates, Asher.  Daryl helped with a little field trip that week and reported that the two held hands almost the entire time.

Avery sitting with her class at her end of preschool celebration and potluck.

Avery with her beloved Mrs. Judy getting her certificate that says she had a great year in preschool.

They sang us a few songs with hand motions at their end of year celebration.  It was very cute.

On the last day the girls got to play together during bike time before the goodbye circle.

Harper and Avery sitting in the goodbye circle together.  

Remlinger Farms with Mr. T

   Last Friday we borrowed Tyler for the night one last time before baby number three comes.  On Saturday we went to Remlinger Farms in Carnation.  The kids had a blast.  They basically had a bunch of little carnival rides that were perfect for little kids. Every ride they went on they loved, and I think they really liked that they could go on them by themselves pretty much.  There were lots of smiles and Tyler might have said that he was having so much fun that he was going to forget his parents(don't worry he remembered them).

Tyler riding Cucumber.

Avery and Tyler on the mini coaster.  They rode this three or four times. 

Having fun spinning in the barrels.

On the train together.

The mini ferris wheel.  Tyler was sure that Harper was seated next to him because she was little.

He really was happy.

Me and the girls.

Last Sunday at the Temple

   Last Sunday the weather was really nice, in fact the weather was unusually summer like the whole week, at any rate we decided that after Church and lunch we would take the girls to the temple.  Avery loves flowers, and since our yard is a deck we thought they would like exploring the grounds.  Unfortunately, Harper got confused and thought we were going to the YMCA, a favorite hang out of theirs, so when they got there Avery was crushed.  She spent a good fifteen minutes freaking out in general and loudly proclaiming her desire to go back to the car.

   Eventually she figured out that she did like the temple grounds and there were a crap load of  flowers there.  Needless to say all was well after that and just as we thought the girls enjoyed exploring the temple grounds.  They were able to experience the rare joy of rolling around in dry grass in Seattle as well.  Then on the way home Avery poured her water bottle into her rain boots, and we promptly fed, bathed, and then put the kids to bed when we got home.  Then I ruthlessly threw away the rain boots (They were old and falling apart anyway.  I was more than happy to have an excuse to throw them away).

Avery recovering from the depths of her despair with Daddy.

This is how bright it was that day.  Harper picked this hat out at the H&M all by herself, and generally wants to wear it when we go out much to my pleasure since she is so fair.

They had a little fountain in the garden area that was full of blossoms.  The girls loved getting wet in it.

Avery has a flower for you.

A close up of Harper cuteness.

Wow this grass is dry!

This is actually Avery's May Day basket that she made at preschool.  I was pleasantly surprised that her teachers are keeping this old tradition alive. I remember making a little May Day basket for my Mom that I was supposed to leave on the door knob before ringing the bell and running away.