PreK Graduation and Last Day Party....sniff, sniff

Our sweet girl did it, she graduated PreK!!! As much as I was not a fan of this school when we first started, we've grown to love the people we have met! I will miss these sweet kids faces that I have seen for the last three years, but I will also miss our little group of mom's! We've been navigating this crazy special needs world and school system together for three years and not a single one of them will be at Avery's school next year :( 

Avery and Ms Barb (teacher's aid from her second year at Ralph Bunche)

Ms Gaby and Ms Monica (Special Ed PreK teachers)

Ms Jennifer and Ms Linette (Inclusion PreK teachers)

Hannah is Ms Linette's daughter, who helped with parties and other functions and took a special liking to Avery :)

Nurse Kim (Avery made almost weekly visits to see her - they got to know each other quite well)

Ms Carrie (Avery's OT, oh, and baby Grace)

Avery's sweet friend Leah that we have known since the girls were 2 years old. At least we will still get to see Leah at our therapy clinic! But, I sure will miss having her mom at school!

Last day of Pre-K

Avery and sweet Logan

Avery with Logan and Leah

Avery with Logan, Leah and Caden

Ms Jennifer (and baby Henry!)

Ms Linette

Ms Gaby

Dance Recital 2012

Avery had her dance recital and just as last year, it was super cute! She did a great job!! This year we were able to be in the same class with her BFF, Hailey! These girls are exactly 2 weeks apart and I have been BFF's with Hailey's mom since Kindergarten! It's so fun having our girls so close in age....and aren't they just the cutest ballerina's?

Getting ready....

Daddy's Ballerina

This picture means so much to me! Just a couple weeks before Avery's recital, my dad had emergency double bypass surgery. Still recovering and not feeling well, but he didn't want to miss the recital.  And SO thankful, he was still here to see it!!!

Avery and her wonderful dance teacher, Ms Lizette

Fall Festival

Our amazing therapy clinic had their Fall Festival the weekend of Halloween. Pony rides, bounce houses, face painting, firetrucks, police cars....what's not to love? Avery wanted none of it! The bounce house was a little full and overwhelming for her and she's never wanted to step foot on a firetruck, but the pony ride I thought was a sure thing....nope! She did want to do the face painting and talked about a getting a butterfly the whole time we stood in line. As her turn came and she sat down in the chair, the lady asked what she wanted. "A dragon" was her response without hesitation. Didn't see that one coming.

We did get to visit with some of the volunteers from Canine Assistants and some of the dogs in training.  (This is the company we are on a waiting list for a therapy dog) Avery would have spent the whole afternoon with them.  They had one dog that was going to be graduating and given to a family in 2 weeks and a new puppy who had just started his training. When we told them we were told it would be about 5 years, they said they tell that to everyone and they know a family that just got a dog after 2 years. Keep your fingers crossed!

Avery and the new puppy in training....he looks on top of his game, right?

 Notice his ease of distraction in the next series of photos. The last is my favorite as you can see he is in trouble :) At least he has 18 months of training to learn you don't mess with Avery's baby dolls!

Give Thanks

SO much to be thankful for!!!! This little cutie reminds me daily of the many blessings in my life!

Getting some "Aunt Carrot" Turkey Day snuggles

....and Uncle Todd snuggles

Avery pulled her baby up to the kids table to eat with them :o)

 Sooooooo thankful for my Mom! I couldn't survive without her and her daily support!!! Love you Mom!!! Thanks for all that you do!!

Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream

Rewind to October....We surprised Avery with taking her to the Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream show. This one focused on the Disney princess stories. She was so excited to see the "movie" and she managed to talk Daddy into a Tangled doll.

*I didn't want to lug around the larger nice camera, so please excuse the poor point and shoot images*