VBS = CRAZY Hair...

 I should have posted these pictures back in July...you know the way the story goes...I have been so busy, blah, blah, blah.   I will save you all the excuses.  We had a great VBS/Kids Crusade at our church and one of the nights themes was "Crazy Hair".  Avery was SO excited and I was not too. (to much hairspray and hair color for me) .  My neighbor helped me, she used a cup to pull Avery's hair up and then TONS of hairspray along with some hair color spray.  OH MY!!  Here are a few pictures from the night.

 Avery with her sweet friend Brooke.

 The last night our fire dept. came out and sprayed the kids and adults too...what a relief because it WAS HOT!!!

4 Year Picture...

I am a little behind on posting Avery's 4 Year picture...I love this picture so much!!  I think she looks so grown up and I am not sure how I feel about it.  School is going great, Avery loves it!!  Good reports each day...that make a mama and daddy very proud!  

The second day of school we were walking into school hand and hand and you said to me "mama, I going to miss you"  wow, if that don't just melt the old heart!!!  I thank God everyday for this AMAZING gift he has given us, I can't imagine life without her!!!!

First day of K-4...

 Avery started k-4 today...(sniff,sniff)She was so excited and had a GREAT day.  The first 2 pictures are of Open House...she got to meet her teachers and hang out.  I had so much anxiety the day of open house and after we left I felt much better.  I dropped her off this morning and did better than I thought I would...a few tears when she walked away from and I didn't get to tell her goodbye.  I stood at the door until I could get her attention and then I mouthed the words " I love you and I will be back to get you in a little bit"  she waved at me and continued to look at the books.  My baby is growing up!!!  

 This was this morning... and the next picture was her first packed school lunch.  : )

Mermaid Avery turns 4...

Avery turned 4 on July 6, 2012...WOW.  All day on the 6th I just kept replaying that day 4 years ago in my head...the happiest day of our lives!!!  Everyone would always say to me "you are going to look back one day at all the pain and suffering of trying to adopt/have a baby  and it will be a faint memory."  I can say this "having the sweetest little girl in the world was worth EVERY hard ache we went through, I WOULDN'T change a thing!!!"  God ALWAYS had a plan and at times we doubted what that plan was, but through it all GOD was SO faithful to us... HE never left our sides He lifted us up when we were not able to stand up. Gods plan couldn't have been more perfect...Avery Maire Popham was HIS plan.  What a awesome God we serve!!!

Avery wanted a Little Mermaid party this year and Mermaids she got!!!  We had a pool party with pizza, candy, cake and homemade ice cream!!  The one thing missing was pap, mimi and aunt Jenn and all the WV crew!!  We were able to skype with pap, mimi and Aunt Jenn.
Avery had a blast...

Avery and I made Octopus Marshmallows...they were a hit!!

We had a pizza feast...

Opening gifts with all her little friends helping out. 

Waiting for everyone to get on bathing suits... Mermaid Avery is ready to swim!!

Splish Splash...

Thank you everyone who helped us celebrate Avery's 4th birthday!!!  Thank you Danielle for taking these great pictures for us!!!  

Little Mermaid Cake...

Avery had to get a little taste before we cut the cake...

We are singing Happy Birthday to her in these next few pictures.

Blowing out he #4 Candle...

If You Water, It will Grow...

Avery LOVES to help with any chore...She helps Phillip water the garden and the flowers in the evenings.  She just got a new raincoat and boots for her birthday she went to her room and come out with nothing on but her raincoat, boots and her underwear.  She looked so CUTE!!!  Love this sweet girl!!!

Love Them!!!!!!!!

4th of July 2012...

We spent 4th of July with great friends.  We played in the creek and Avery loved it!!!  We walked across the rocks, took our shoes off and got our feet wet. 

 Avery's first time with sparklers and she loved it until..yes, she burned her finger.  I felt like the most horrible mother in the world.  Phillip and I had both told her not to touch them and she listened, when it was lit she didn't touch...after we had burned 2 boxes I looked away to see where Phillip had gone and when I looked back at her the sparkler was OUT but she had her finger on the hot stick...she started to cry and it put a pretty good blister on her index finger.  Thankful for the aloe plant I had inside.  She is all better now!!!