With the start of the school year comes a lot of tears from moms and kids alike, but not in the Avery household.  Here the beginning of the school year signifies the end of tears!  Maddy left for 3rd grade this morning with a smile on her face and bounce in her step.  And Molly trucked off to 4k without so much as a glance back at me.  And Dewie, well, she was just happy to see them go.

Maddy Noel – 3rd grader!

 

Molly Jo-4K

 

Maggie Jane-Happy to see them go!

And so Maggie and I will begin each day with smiles on our faces knowing the time of crying is done.  There will only be minor crying and yelling in the morning and evening, not all day as it has been, and we will have glorious hours of time to spend together.  No one will be fighting over a dirty band-aids, or who gets what swing!  Guess what Mags, you can pick any swing you want!!!!!!  You can swing on all 3 if you want!  They are all yours!!!!!!

It is safe to say that Maggie and I are flying high after a very LONG summer.  We have endured a lot together, but it  was worth it because we have found the light at the end of the tunnel.  May this school year be long and peaceful for all!

Jake and I owe a big thank you to a whole lot of people for making our recent vacation possible.  Without the help of a whole team this trip would not have been possible.   Here are a few honorable mentions…….I am sure i will miss some but here goes.

Thank you to papa who truly has no FEAR.  Not only did he take care of the girls the whole time we were gone he willingly took them into public.  This included a trip to the Kia dealership to get the van fixed which took a few hours…………….believe me this is not a task for the faint of heart.  I have personally seen Dewie tear that place up in under 5 minutes.  He also traveled to Marshfield and took them to the fair, totally insane.    This involved 3 hours in the car and I probably don’t need to say FAIR again.   The most stressful task of the week was getting them ready for their first day of school which included fixing their hair and having their school pictures taken.  This job in and of itself would cripple most people, I mean have you seen Jo Jo’s hair?Anyway, super super big thank you to papa for taking care of everything while we were gone, I talked to the detox center and they said you should be ready for pick up by Friday, see you then!

Now in order of importance:  Thank you to the two gentleman who agreed to switch seats with Jake on our flights so that he could sit next to me. (Flying is not my thing………to say the least)  The first guy got up quickly and switched seats when I told him I had just taken a fist full of tranquilizers and I would probably start drooling on his shoulder in about 10 minutes.  Then 2nd guy took one look at Big Daddy and just got up.

 

I owe a super big shout out to God who kept me from dying of a heat stroke on our way to the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop.  You see Big Daddy truly believes I am super woman and that I can do anything, so he decided I could walk to the pawn shop in 115 degree heat.  I however tried to convince him I needed a cab.  Big daddy won and I almost died outside a Walgreens.  But a few sips of Gatorade and a prayer later I got up and walked to rest of the way.  Whether I made it the rest of the way thru stubbornness to prove that I could make it or if it was a true miracle, I don’t know, either way I made it.

(yep that is me under the sign, you can barely see me because I wasted away on the walk…………..)

 

Thank you to whoever created these shoes because watching women walk around in them provided me with endless hours of entertainment……..

Actually most women were not walking around in them it was more of a hobble and occasional fall all the way to the ground, hilarious!!!

Finally thank you to Big Daddy who took me on a fabulous trip even though I am about as high maintenance as you can get.  He stood by me through airport security with my back pack full of drugs and my screening for explosives.  He willingly paid for $5 bottled water just because I had to have it.  He paid for 3 cab rides just because I could not walk miles in the heat.  Thank you for an amazing time!!!!

Dear Avery Girls,

I don’t have too much to write today, but I want you to know that I miss and love you!  Daddy and I are having fun, although we are worried about all the things going on back home.  Thank you so much for being such good girls for papa while he has been getting the van fixed, we know you have been trying to help out by being extra special good.  And just for that mommy will bring you extra special presents home.  So for today I thought I would do a picture update….here goes!

  This is mommy sleeping on the plane………………thanks to a great deal of pharmacological help, you can find out what that means when you are older

Mandy holding a monitor lizard!  You girls would have loved it, his coloring was amazing!  Of course mom would not hold it, but I thought you girls would be proud that I did stand next to it for the picture.  I later found out that Mandy didn’t even wash her hands after she held the lizard!!!!!

Mommy and Mandy sitting after a long long day of walking in 110 degree heat.  There is nowhere to sit in Las Vegas except in front of a slot machine (which is like an adult game), so we decided just to sit on the ground!  One of our new favorite games is trying to find women wearing the most ridiculous shoes, we will try to get pictures for you!  You girls would die if you saw some of these shoes!A very tired mommy and daddy in front of the water show at the Bellagio, it is awesome, daddy said he will try to video tape it for you this week!

We love you girls, I will write more tomorrow!  Be good for papa and give Edgar, Bitzy and Hallie hugs from me!