Happy Birthday, Avery

Last Friday Avery celebrated her 9th birthday.  We also celebrated it on Saturday, and we will again this coming Saturday, but she is so worth it.  She is beautiful inside and out.  She is the best sister any brother could ask for; thoughtful but still rambunctious, fashionable yet still playful, sweet yet very sassy, spiritual yet still a little improper (the boys very much appreciate the fact that she will laugh at bodily noises first and THEN tell them they are soooooo gross).  I feel very blessed to be her mother and often wonder if I am too hard on her.  She is so close to being perfect, and sometimes I harp on the one percent of her that is not.

School comes so naturally for Avery.  She excels in everything, including making friends.   And, even though she managed to get the one teacher in the third grade who believes in giving hours and hours worth of homework and can sometimes be a little less than sweet, she is thriving.  If anyone could, it is Avery. 

Avery is a creator.  This year she learned to knit and to sew, and always has at least 5 projects in the works, including 2 scrap books.  I often find cards that she has created tucked under my pillow, or signs and drawings she has made taped to the walls and doors.  For Christmas she decided that she wanted to make presents for the boys.  She rummaged through my scrap fabric piles, and even through my fabric garbage, until she found some cast off fleece pieces which she skillfully turned into "TV and fort" pillows for each of the boys.

I often watch her with Will.  She is sweet and nurturing and patient and good.  I have loved being her mother.

Her birthday fell on a school day this year.  This has its plusses and minuses.  If you are a third grade girl, it is so good because it means that you get to hand out candy and treats to your class and your teachers and all day people get to tell you happy birthday!  On the other hand, if you are a third grade girl, it is so bad because you just want to stay home and you shouldn't have to do homework, or math or take spelling tests on your birthday.  We tried to offset this dilemma with a wonderful birthday breakfast, ice cream cake and opening gifts before school.  I think it may have worked, at least marginally.

Avery received a bin full of craft supplies from Grandma and Grandpa Anthony, which she has already used to make two friendship bracelets and many cards and notes.  Heaven in a big, purple, under-the-bed box.  From Grandma and Grandpa Hema she received a sweater that she has wanted since she saw it way back in August, and couldn't believe that Grandma had remembered the sweater.  Grandma's are funny like that.

In the saddle at Texas Road House

Saturday we drove up to Wisconsin to eat at Texas Road House, Avery's restaurant of choice.  Yum!