Let it Snow, Let it Snow - Let is SNOW!!

*Snowflake Lane*

*Visiting Santa at Molbaks*

Yay for a White Christmas!

Love this white stuff - like totally love it! Snow has a way of covering up the ugly, making everything beautiful and new, quiet and peaceful. And nothing like a good dousing of snow to stop you in your tracks days before Christmas - keeping you bound to your house...to your family!

Yes, my planned big shopping day was 'spoiled' by the kids not having school - and me lacking the "driving the mini-van in a foot of snow" confidence. But it eventually got done...and so did a massive igloo in the neighbors yard - and a pretty sweet fort in ours. So did endless hours of sledding and playing in the snow; the realization that I have turned into my mom - awaiting at the door with open arms to fill with wet boots, gloves, hats and pants, to find the perfect vent for each one to dry them out while the kids re-fuel with hot chocolate with whipped cream and sprinkles. By the end of the night, we all sack out in front of a Christmas movie - up way past bedtime...just to do it all over the next day.

*Fort making in the front yard*

*Ellie loving the snow!*




*Christmas Eve*
Christmas Eve was a long day - good, but long. I have a new respect for pastors (even more for the wives!) The older two were apart of the choir so were at each service: 3, 5 and 11. We were asked to be apart of the cardboard testimonies during the services too. Um, that was powerful! About 50 people, most we 'know' some we didn't. All though, had a testimony that was shocking/touching/sad/amazing, something we never would imagine - in the end blessed by God's glory! The first side of ours said: *Scheduled an abortion 10 years ago* Flipped over said: *Celebrating 10 years with our daughter* God is good! No question! (**Disclaimer - Haley doesn't know anything about abortion, and how we headed in that direction, she does though, know about how we thought we were going to give her up for adoption. Both Haley and Tanner weren't in the worship center when we did our cardboard testimony. We will talk to her about that part of her story when she is older - old enough to understand** Thanks! Click here if your totally confused scroll down to the side note :)



Carter was a wee bit bummed that he had to sit through three services - although when he realized he got to hold a candle, perked up...but the kid sure does surrender easy when he's tired! He passed out cold during the entire 3:00 service - unlit candle clutched into his little hand and all. He woke up when they raised the lights at the end of the service, you could see the anger on his face because his candle was still unlit... We all went over to Josh and Sadies for pizza, and the kids got to open a gift (pj's).
*Carter was apparently looking for more "gifts"!!*
-And yes, his pjs are over his pants
I was SOO close to letting Carter wear them when we went back for the 11 service. Good thing he didn't because they were short on kids in the choir - we asked Carter if he wanted to sing, he said yes - so he did! It was hysterical!! First of all, the kid was good! The only time he took his eyes off Mr.Tim was to glance over at us with this enormous smile! We couldn't focus on anything else - doesn't help that the pastor and worship leader were keeled over laughing too! It was awesome!! And I forgot my video camera at home!! Another parent recorded it for us and I'm just waiting for that now - I'll post it when we get it.


Christmas morning we awoke to more snow - and dumping!! The plan was to open stockings, then pack up the presents and head down to my moms (10 houses away) for breakfast and the rest of the morning festivities...Well, the van got stuck in the street when Chris tried turning it around to load up the presents. Josh and Michael came to pull him out...they got stuck...ok, ok, abandon the mini-van, lets just try to get Josh's car unstuck...So after about an hour, we were ready to load (into Chris burb - why we didn't try that in the first place, don't know ;) We made it over there - and enjoyed our day!
I couldn't think of a better way to spend Christmas! I found this Christmas a little more reflective this year than most. It could have been the snow, could have been that we are in our own home finally this year, could have been the Christmas Eve services that we and the kids were involved with... Not sure. But I do know that God sent His son to be born to a virgin, in a barn - so that we may have an everlasting life with Him. Our prayer this Christmas Season is that you receive the free gift that is found in Jesus Christ, so that you too may have an everlasting life with Him.
May you be blessed in the year ahead!
Love, The Avery's


*Gift Wrapping Central*



*Carter helping Chris prepare his amazing Christmas dinner*

*The star I made for my mom*

*Go figure. The fridge was full I'm sure...*

Merry Christmas!!!

Our Elle-bell

Wow! What a week and weekend!
Ok, so here's the update - I haven't had a ton of time to blog (clearly) and Chris said I HAVE to change my facebook status...so here's the low-down.
Ellie (our lab, that we've had for about 8ish years) was acting funny - not eating, tail tucked, couldn't find a comfy place to sleep. That was Wed. night, Thursday I left for work, sick about leaving her, but not having an option to stay. Chris came home during lunch to check on her and found her laying behind a tree in the backyard (that's what animals do when they are dying). He scooped her up and took her to the vet. They said she was severely dehydrated and had about 6 more hours to live at that point. They put her on a IV and did x-rays. They could see she swallowed a toy, but it didn't seem it was blocking anything so they kept her overnight to watch her - and to keep her on the IV. Thurs. night we had my cousins wedding rehearsal that I shot...the kids came home from school with a sitter, asking where Ellie was.
The next day (wedding day) after a phone call from the vet saying that she needed surgery, after more x-rays turned out there were more toys in her -and string tied around her intestine... Long story short, we decided to take the kids out of school to go say "goodbye" since we don't carry credit cards, and don't have the cash to plunk down for an expensive surgery - which was Heart-wrenching. When we got to the vet, the gal said, "It's Christmas, the Dr. would like to do this for free". Umm, its safe to say I was in full hysterics at this point! We gave Ellie our love - and to the Dr. and nurses :)
It was SO hard to see her not even lift her head! Later that day the Dr. called with the update. The surgery ended up taking 3 extra hours...she had a little plastic frog, a huge plastic spider, various other hard plastic pieces, and what ended up being the red stitching to a baseball...I thought we were over the child-proofing the house stage... guess not!

She is doing well, we got to bring her home Monday afternoon - we are SOO happy to have her home! She Loves the snow, so we let her out is small doses.

We have received such a wonderful blessing!

Thank You Dr. Sharp!!

**P.S. If you need a good vet - go to the one that is across the street from the Kingsgate Safeway! :)

Yes I did!

Yep - that would be the blessed sound of Christmas music my friends!! Baby -you knew it was coming!
Oh, and YES that IS Michael W. Smith as well....In fact say *hypothetically* your husband gets you a bunch of tickets to this AMAZING concert - I would *hypothetically* be available to come (cough, cough - friend Marisa ;) Actually - I pointed out to Chris on the radio yesterday that Spirit is giving out tickets (totally beside the fact that he promised me last year, because of that whole debacle, he would take me to this years concert) and that they'd be smokin' better than the seats we would buy (I cant swallow paying $90 a rear to sit in the same seats we sit in every Sunday - BUT this IS Michael W. Smith after all!) So, I suppose if I want seats (where we can see ;) I better get my dialing finger ready to fight for those tickets!

Total side note:
THANK YOU for your support and prayer for Chris and I while we shared our Testimony yesterday (three times). I was actually shaking like a leaf before the first service, but suddenly felt an overwhelming peace. I Couldn't have done it without Chris by my side either. There were three very powerful testimonies shared, and we feel blessed to be apart of a church that will tackle the heavy issue of Abortion head on in such a loving, grace filled way! Please, if you have a chance, listen to this service at http://www.occ.org/, if you know ANYONE who has been affected or faced with abortion - please send this to them. God is good - and he works in such amazing ways!
Love you friends!!

Finally Updated

I took my website down to do a little construction until Spring-ish, but have been having last minute - 'where is your website - we need pictures for Christmas'.
So, there she is Angel Face Photography
Enjoy.

My Loves

...and their all mine!

Amy - you are amazing!!

One Choice

I came across this video.
It hit me in the gut.
If you know Chris or I - you most likely know our story.

We have been asked to share our story with our church. I am beyond terrified of being in front of so many people (hands falling asleep, legs feeling like jelly, vision going black- that's when I think about it) But...I've always felt that if our testimony can change the life of ONE person - then it will be worth it.

Good Morning Sunshine

Yesterday morning on my way to work, I rounded the corner to find a stunning view. The sun was making its way up into the blue autumn sky and the valley was covered in a soft blanket of morning fog. I was completely over-come by Gods amazing beauty. This morning - determined to somehow capture this beauty I grabbed my camera and left the house a few minutes early. I feel these don't do what I saw enough justice. But imagine - a cold crisp air on your breath, leaves on trees bursting in reds, oranges and yellows, and as far as you can see from the left to the right - quiet fog nestled between each tree.

Mmmmmm. I'm fairly certain God spent more time on our little corner of the world :)

I'll will admit... I was driving when I took some of these - like these two above - I was on Willows, I couldn't stop. Is taking pictures while driving the same as texting while driving??

*Rock Star*

Our daughters a Rock Star - serious Rock Star! She's been playing soccer on the Purple Tornadoes for a couple of years, and Chris coaches these amazing girls -- Its like they woke up and realized what soccer is all about this year! The fact that Haley is good at any sport is amazing - not that she cant do it - but because she's my daughter - and I wouldn't be what you call athletic...at all. BUT she IS. Our girls are 7-1 awesome! And, bonus for them - Coach Chris hasn't thrown his Starbucks at all this season (again - yeah, winner moment :)

Chris put Haley in as goalie a couple of games ago - at first I thought - well, we'll see how this goes... she's a girls girl - likes her nice clothes, playing with her babies, pretty hair, dirt's not her fancy - braces + ball = no good. You get where I'm going, right? I don't know what happened to her, but once she hit that goal box she transformed into this Rock Star - blocking EVERY ball (they were a good team too!) Attacking each ball if it even came close to her carefully guarded goal - throwing her body on the ball - not caring is a flying foot is inches from her face. So far she hasn't let one ball passed her - now the pressures on (for me) I am now totally nervous for her at each game. She loves it - she's proud of herself - she's a fearless girl, with a new sense of pride in herself!

Can't help but think this guys totally hot when he's coaching these girls! :)

Half time pep-talk

Check out that face!

ADD for me

Yes...ADD. Like that should come as a surprise to anyone who knows me! I have to give credit to my sister who was bold enough to say "do you think maybe you have ADD?" That's when it hit me - I must, I have to have ADD, it only makes sense. I've managed to live 27 years with ADD - textbook ADD to be precise - well at least that's what my therapist says. Therapist - yes I officially have a therapist! Like the kind where you sit on the enormous brown leather couch where your feet just dangle (or is it just me where my feet dangle?) and the man looks over his reading glasses at you, pen poised over his blank piece of paper clipped to his clip-board -- THAT kind of therapist. And believe me, I wasn't too thrilled to have to go to him - but I did my duty. First off my regular Dr. told me that I had to go to one to be officially tested - "just one time and then we can put you on something" Ok. Until sitting in the Therapist office, he informed me it was a three visit deal. WHAT!? "I was told this is a one-time deal!" ($$ flashing in my mind- weird something else was going on in my head?!) Yeah, he had to learn about my family - all I kept thinking was, what the heck does the age of my sisters children have ANYTHING to do with my ADD??! OR, the name of my elementary school - aah! it was killing me to sit there! ($$ just flashin' away!) He sent me on my way with three tests, one for me, Chris and my mom to fill out - or for them to butcher me - whichever way you look at it is fine ;) I actually didn't look at theirs - I probably would have cried.
So I passed with flying colors - phew! Yippee for meds - seriously! My Dr. started me on the newest ADD med - Vyvanse. Apparently its the best. So how was my first day on the meds, you ask. Wonderful - like seriously great! I was actually pretty nervous to start something - just because I've always been this way - so of course I think the way I am is "normal" (ha!) so I didn't know how or what would change. My friend asked me this morning how I felt (as soon as it hits your stomach it is in effect) - trying to put words to how I felt I said it felt like a creamy - calm -- hows that for a describing word?! Not drugged or sluggish, just aware, happy, energetic. I found that I had insane amounts of patients for my pre-k kids. Their whining didn't bother me - YAY! So there is one side effect... weight loss. Bummer.

Yay for ADD, meds & Therapist!

Big day in the Avery house!!

Big Deal #1:
Carters 5th Birthday...Daddy played the "I need a personal day" card (ok he seriously needed it) and brought in some balloons to school

His class sang Happy Birthday to him...although it doesn't really look like it here...hmmm.

When asked what he wanted to do for his Birthday dinner
he said Chuck E Cheese...yeah, um that place is closed on
Wednesdays - pick another place (actually we didn't lie to

him, promise). Pizza Hut, ok, I guess that beats Old Folks
(I'm totally serious, that is what my kids call Old Country
Buffet!) After that we went to McDonalds - ok, confession
I felt like WHITE TRASH, here it was, 8pm on a school night

with all our kids having $1 sundaes watching my 5 year old open his present. What did we give our son on his big birthday you ask...a backpack - yup, a backpack (bonus that his bday is after school starts too - 50% off - oh, I sound so cheap right now) Ok, to my defence - he ASKED for a backpack -I kept asking him too - for weeks, it never changed. At least I have one practical child :) You should have seen his face light up - the boy was Giddy!!

Here he is passed out on the couch (not sure why, it was
probably 10 at that point :)

Big Deal #2:
Tanner learned how to mow the lawn - Yikes!!

All geared up in gloves, eye protection, and ear plugs, he officially mowed his first lawn. After that he taught Carter how to pick up the dog poop. Graduation day for all :)

We have some friends -

That ROCK!!
Bill & Tori invited us along with some other friends to join them at the Seahawks game yesterday! Yay! Bill works with the Seahawks and has field privileges (I don't know exactly what its called - but that sounds cool, right?) So, we were able to go down on the field while the players were warming up - so cool, no awesome!! I'll be the first to admit, I'm not a super-fan, actually - I loath the noise that comes from a football game (and add a head cold, not good). BUT nothing can beat the energy coming off that field... the sun was out, the tight end(s) were - a - tight ;) And I joined in with the noise. I think my husband is now my super-fan :) The seats were awesome, right under the 12th man flag. Our boys were a tad jealous - we dropped the kiddos at church and ran...look, we prayed on the way there that we'd make it in time! :)

Chris walking out of the tunnel onto the field

Bill, Kirk and Chris

Erica & Michael

I'll be totally honest with you - I don't know who this is!

These 4 planes flew over right at the start of the game.
I took almost 300 pictures. The entire time (on the field) this was Chris: "Hun! You getting this!!!?" Yes babe all of it.
Thank you Bill and Tori SO much! We love you!!

Big Birthday Bash!!

Carter & Greyson (and Grammie) share the same birthday. Carter celebrated his 5th and Greyson his 1st - two VERY important milestones in ones life (ok, so they all are) so we had to have a Carnival party!
The weather was amazing (you never know what your going to get here in the NW :) And its a good thing because we had somewhere around 30 kids. We had popcorn, candy - LOTS of Candy, face painting, hot dogs, a magician, pie in the face - the works.

I love how Tanner looks mad - this was totally HIS idea!!

I love this picture for so many reasons - all the kids were lined up at the candy table - Liam - on his tipie toes, in the center with his little fist gripping his goodies - behind his back - like, 'I dont have anything...' Love it :)

The after Party...

My baby with his baby-blues

Click HERE for more party pics - there are a lot more!!