Great Pictures!

All right, I may be a little partial because these pictures are of my girls and Howie, but I have to say I think they are just GREAT! No, I didn't take them, my friend Mary Hatcher did at recent birthday celebrations. I especially love the black and white picture of Howie and Emma Caroline at IAMS nature center. It's so in the moment. Thanks Mary! You did a wonderful job of capturing all the fun on film.

Popsicles for Breakfast

I often find that Emma Caroline unknowingly imparts wisdom way beyond her three years of age. I'm sure many of you find that to be true in your own children. This morning, after eating cereal, waffles, yogurt and bananas, Emma Caroline asked if she could also have a Popsicle for breakfast. Immediately I replied, "No sweetie. We don't eat Popsicles for breakfast." To which she replied, "Why not?" Great question! Why can't we eat Popsicles for breakfast. Who made the rule that we can only eat Popsicles when it's hot outside and when we are sitting under the shade of a tall tree. I like that Emma Caroline thinks outside the box. That's one of the things we all want to encourage our children to do. Soooo . . . we had Popsicles for breakfast, including me. And they were delicious!

My Little Ballerina

Emma Caroline began ballet this week. As I took her to buy her first pair of ballet shoes, I remembered my own first ballet lessons and shoes. I remembered the way I pointed my toe the same way Emma Caroline did while the lady slipped the little pink shoe on her foot. I remembered my leotard and tights and how it felt to stretch my arm down the sleeve as Emma Caroline stretched her own little arm down her sleeve. I remembered sitting on the floor with the other little girls and listening to our ballet teacher, and I remember looking at my reflection in the mirror as I placed my leg on the bar. Has it really been 30 years since I was doing all the things Emma Caroline is experiencing now? It seems like only yesterday and now my own daughter is delighting in the very same thing that brought me so much joy. I hope that one day her own memories of her first ballet lessons will bring back happy images of yesteryear. As for now, we will both delight in the moment.

Let's Go Mets!

As many of you know Howie is a HUGE New York Mets fan. This past weekend Howie and his best friend Raymond spent the ultimate guy weekend in Pittsburgh going to four consecutive Mets vs Pirates games. They had fabulous seats right behind the Mets dugout. And because they had such great seats, Howie and Ray even got to have a few minutes of fame on national TV. To top it all off, the Mets won three of the four games. Let's Go Mets!

Howie and Raymond

In front of the Pirates stadium

15 minutes of fame.

Who Needs Merry Maids?

I told Emma Caroline today that tomorrow I am going to clean the house since Thursday is typically the day I clean the entire house. I went upstairs to get something and when I returned I found that my own personal "Merry Maids" had come to clean my house for me. What a nice surprise!

Sophie Walking Live!

For those of you who have not gotten to see Sophie walking yet, I thought I would give you a little snippet of our girl in action. She's a mover and a shaker!

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Last night I was looking at pictures that I took while we were visiting G-Daddy and Mimi and found this one. Sophie had a fascination with Mickey's kennel ( which is sparkling clean by the way) . One day I looked over and she had crawled in and was playing with his toys. Mickey seemed a little confused to find another occupant in his kennel. Hmmm! Free babysitter! Hee hee hee!

Sleeping Beauties

I found this poem, and thought it truly beautiful. What are our little angels dreaming of? What will their worlds become? I watch my sweet girls sleeping and often wonder these very questions. Enjoy the poem and embrace the child within.
As I watch my children sleep,I see their dreams unfold.They see their spirits rise unceasing,
to the days of old Where planets danced their sacred dance and lives began anew. And as they watched the time unfold, new grace within them grew. And then one day they left their home to come to live on Earth with families they chose to hold with families knew their worth. At times they see what we cannot the future they possess. And with each passing day we see their growth it does progress. What is it their minds eye sees? These children born this time. As I look in them I do see the spirit within them shine. Perhaps, yes one day we will learn just what they know inside. The secrets of the universe nevermore to hide. And with our understanding see these spirits train us all, to live our lives and notwithstanding we may learn the call. The universe it beckons them to teach us everyone, the love which guides them every day they heed the spirit one. With wisdom in their eyes they know just what it is to be, a part of life, the lives of all throughout infinity. So let us all be every day desire within us yearn; to teach, to ponder and to play, let all within us learn. For the children in their hands possess more knowledge than is found in any school or edifice that sets on solid ground. May we all seek the knowledge. May we all seek the truth. Let child be our college. With child we find our youth.
Kari Shinal Copyright-Nov. 2006

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

Spring (or should we say Summer) Training has begun at the Avery House. Emma Caroline has been going to batting practice with her daddy, and Sophie is gearing up to play football with the Vols this fall. Let's not be fooled, though, into thinking that these girls are down right "Tom Boys." The bat and ball are pink after all, and the girls are wearing their nice smocked dresses to play ball. Who has time to change when you're having fun with Daddy.

The Princess and the Pea

If you have ever read the Hans Christian Andersen story The Princess and the Pea you know that it is about a prince who wants to marry a princess but can not find a real one to marry. One day a young lady seeks shelter from the storm at the Prince's castle claiming to be a real princess. To test her, the Queen puts a pea under the girl's mattress and piles it high with quilts and feather beds. In the morning the Queen asks the young lady how she slept. She replies that something hard was under her mattress and that she could not sleep at all thus proving that she was a real princess, for only a true princess would be able to tell if something as small as a pea was under her mattress.
Sophie is not exactly a pea under a mattress, but she is as small as one, so the title seemed fitting. Actually, I woke up this morning and found Emma Caroline already "dressed for the day" in full princess attire, crown and jewels in place. She and Sophie are the "true princesses" of the Avery House. I often imagine that it would be truly wonderful to wear a princess dress and tiara and be "dressed for the day".
So here's to the princess that lives in all of us. Put on your imaginary tiara and hold your head high!

The Queen Dog

Reading stories.


Twirling!

Princess Emma Caroline

On her royal coach

The Pea pushing the Princess

All Aboard! Set Sail!

Make a Smilebox photobook

Emma Caroline, Sophie and I are visiting G-Daddy, Mimi, Aunt Katie, and Aunt Kelly in Virginia this week. We are having a wonderful time! Yesterday, we went out on the Emma Caroline Boat to Old Town Alexandria. The girls enjoyed feeling the wind in their hair and watching the water with Mickey the dog. Sophie especially enjoyed peering over the edge and seeing the "Wawa". It's always a treat to go out on the boat. It's so peaceful and the scenery is gorgeous. We had a fabulous time and look forward to many more boat trips on the Emma Caroline.

Sweet Brown Eyed Girl, Emma Caroline

Emma Caroline knows (because Howie and I have told her) that the songs "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Sweet Caroline" are her songs. I think from the day that we knew we were going to name her Emma Caroline, we have sung or played Neil Diamond's version of "Sweet Caroline for her. And when her big beautiful eyes finally decided to turn brown, "Brown Eyed Girl" got added to the song list that we serenade her with. Emma Caroline is such a sweet, intelligent and wonderful child. Howie and I are so blessed to have this little girl in our lives. We love our Sweet Brown Eyed Girl, Emma Caroline.

Lion Tamer

Sophie has a new walking/ride on toy. She is enjoying walking around the house with it and "roaring" as the lion roars. She is quite speedy with her toy and is practicing the art of walking. It can be a little frustrating, though, when it doesn't "behave" as Sophie thinks it should. She is quickly "taming" her lion. Sophie actually is walking short distances now without any help at all. She's just like her big sister and beginning to walk just before she turns 13 months.

Rise and Shine!

It's a rare occasion that Howie gets to sleep in and an even rarer occasion that the girls get to wake their Daddy up. This morning, Howie got to sleep to 8:30 before Emma Caroline and Sophie stormed the bed, with a little help from Mommy of course. They sure do love their Daddy and cuddling up in his arms.

My First Bike

OK, I have said that I was not going to get Emma Caroline a bike until she is older. Howie and I didn't get our first bikes until we were six or seven and she is still enjoying riding her tricycle, but . . .famous last words. I participated in the Sacred Heart Children' s Clothing Sale this year and was there for the presale, not to buy anything, but to scout out a little bicycle for my neighbor's son. Emma Caroline was there with me as an extra pair of eagle eyes and we spotted the perfect bike for little Jack. Emma Caroline just so happened to also spot the perfect bike for herself. After trying it on for size, inspecting the tires, and a few little pleas of "pleeease Mommy can I have this bike!", I caved and we toted our bikes to the check-out. I guess the lesson here is two-fold; sometimes our children know better than we do when they are "ready" for the next step and boy, do we ever have a little shopper already! Emma Caroline is liking to ride her new big girl bike, but told me after her last ride in the cul-de-sac, "Maybe she (the bike) needs to rest for a while and I can ride my red bike (the tricycle) instead." Good. I'm glad she has the option of both and that she can decide when she is ready to ride her bike and when she wants it to have a little "rest". Have a great weekend!

Amy

Beautiful Blooms

We have many beautiful blooming plants, bushes, and trees in our garden; dogwood crepe myrtle, magnolia, rose, hydrangea, azalea. . . you name it and we may grow it in our garden. Many of these blooming beauties have been planted for a special occasion like the birth of our daughters or to commemorate their first birthdays. It's always a treat to see these plants bloom and to remember with fondness the significant moments in our life for which they were planted. Here are some pictures of some of my favorite blooms.

Splash Country???

Well, we were supposed to go to Dollywood's Splash Country today, but the weather had other ideas. The forcast predicted rain, but late in the afternoon. As you can see, we are getting lots of rain and having our own "Splash Country" at our very own front door. We've found other things to amuse ourselves, though, by watching the rain and the laundry wash and dry.

Me and My Shadow

We love playing on our playground in our back yard. Now that Sophie is getting bigger, she is enjoying the playground as well. Emma Caroline has an American Girl doll that she named "Emma Caroline, but we can call her Emmy" as she said. We find little outfits for the two of them to wear alike. She loves being "Mommy" and dressing her baby like her. Emmy goes everywhere with us now and is Emma Caroline's little shadow. Today she got to swing and slide down the slide like a "big girl". Emma Caroline also showed me her "big girl" skills by climbing the rock wall and doing the monkey bars all by herself. We hope you are having a great weekend!

Amy