Avery's 8 year pictures (a month late)

Finally got around to getting Avery's pictures taken. Then, it took me over a week to get them posted...oh well.


I think (and of course, I'm biased) that she looks so cute and grown up. It has all happened way too fast.


Currently, she participates in basketball, indoor soccer for the winter, and swimming. We may be starting gymnastics as well.


She's a smart thing if she wants to be. School work has lost it's novelty for her already....so the remaining 15 years of elementary, high school, college should be loads of fun for her.


Being the oldest, we (myself especially) expect a lot from her...I have to continually remind myself that she is only 8 and a kid. Teaching her responsibility has been an experience with a great learning curve.


She's not really "girly" in a sense, but she does like dresses (long skirts) and braiding her hair, but she doesn't really care about her appearance at this point. (I'm guessing it won't be long though)


She has, by far, the absolute worst table manners of anyone I know. We have to remind her numerous times at EACH meal to chew with her mouth closed, use a napkin, don't get food in your hair, or on your forehead (how does that happen?) She makes the biggest mess of her table and floor space as well. I'm at a loss on how to rectify this situation.


Trying to find chores for her to do has proved difficult as well. She's not responsible enough to just do the things she needs to do, and I, in all honesty, don't have the time to remind her constantly of things that need to be done. This is a work in progress as well.


She has tons of friends and there is forever someone playing at our house or ringing the doorbell to play. So thankful for our neighborhood.


We tease her about the boy that lives across the street. They are in the same class, and her teacher, Mrs. Ruelle, says that she and this boy are always talking, giggling, laughing together at school, but they don't even look at each other outside of school.


Amazingly, she has never had a cavity. (I say amazingly, b/c she is the worst with taking care of her teeth. We have to check her teeth nightly to make sure she has brushed adequately...and if she hasn't, she does it again.) Unfortunately, after being at the dentist yesterday, we found out that she is in for a long road of dental procedures due to missing some permanent teeth...they just aren't there..I'm just a wreck over this. I know that things could be much worse, no one is sick or hurt, but I hate that she'll have to face these things for many years to come.


She's a very fussy eater. She really doesn't like too much of anything these days. If we go out to eat, she normally eats off of the adult menu, ordering a salad or a chicken sandwich. (She also loves steak, but that is not something we go out to eat for:)



I know that there is more, and I'll be adding more as I think of it. Can't off the top of my head remember her stats from her doctor appt. in January, so I'll have to go look that up.