Avery-isms

We went to the Common Ground Fair last weekend and met Pepe and Meme there.  We had a really great day!  We'll post pictures soon, if our home computer cooperates (it died for a bit last weekend).  I don't have photos to post this morning... but wanted to share a few Avery-isms that have made us laugh recently.

This morning...
Avery has been very interested in clocks and telling time lately.
A: Ma, its 5 - 5 - 3 (reading the numbers, individually)
Me: Yes, its 5:53 (saying the time)
A: No, its 5 - 5 - 3 (again reading the numbers, individually)
Me: Yes, its 5:53 (saying the time again)
A: You're not spelling it right, Ma

Last night:
A: Where's Gram Fiddles?  (after we tried to call her and couldn't reach her)
Me: She's at school
A: Big people don't go to school

Last night:
While Jason was cleaning the kitchen and I was feeding Paige, Avery was very, very quiet.  This generally means he's doing something he should not be.  When we went to find him, he was quietly sitting cross legged on the couch with a paperback book that illustrates signs for every letter.  While he can't read what the signs mean, he was practicing them... and doing a really good job!  What three year old cops a squat and teaches himself sign language?

Also last night:
Avery has recently been more interested in the phone.  He likes to dial when we call the Gram's and recently answered the phone while I was away (with dad's supervision).  Last night the phone rang three times and we adults were simply too exhausted to answer.  Finally, Avery went running for the phone.  When he had finally retrieved it and brought it to us, it had stopped ringing.  Quite complexed he held it up to us and innocently asked, what numbers do I dial?

Paige is also a complete riot these days!!  She's a complete joy beyond mere words can describe.  She is absolutely in love with her dad!  Whenever he's in the room, she squeals at the top of her lungs.  Last night while talking to Gram Fiddles on the phone, she was happily screaming so loudly, and so consistently, it was impossible to chat.  Also impossible, because we couldn't stop laughing at her.  She's a daddy's girl for sure!

Have I said recently how happy I am to be a mom?

Lamoine State Park Camping

We went on what will likely be our last camping trip of the year this past week/weekend. We chose to revisit Lamoine State Park, which turned out to be a great choice. Aside from four or five prime ocean-side sites, we had our pick of campsites. While it was cold on Thursday night, it wasn't anything that some bundling up, a little extra time next to the campfire and zipping up the sleeping bags at bedtime didn't fix.

The park is great, with lots to do for Avery, including a great playground, lots of rocky shoreline to explore and plenty of wild apples to throw into the ocean. And let's not forget the food--one of the best parts of camping. Avery can be seen below eating a breakfast on the front step of the camper consisting of staple camping treats, Pop Tarts and Apple Jacks.

We went for a hike in Acadia on Friday. We climbed Day Mountain, and threw in some lengthy intended and unintended detours, which include a not-for-the-feint-of-heart bushwack along the base of some cliffs to see some caves. Then a shortcut that ended up putting us back at the bottom of the mountain again so that we had to start all over. Below you can see Avery the weary hiker during that hike and two other weary hikers at the summit.

My own favorite part of the weekend was hanging out with Avery climbing rocks and cliffs along the shoreline at high tide to find pockets of wild apples dropped by the trees overhanging the shore. We took turns tossing them down into the ocean before scrambling some more rocks in search of more apples. We also took a trip over to nearby Lamoine beach for some sand-digging.

Deja Vu

Avery June 2005

Paige September 2008

Grandparents

We visited the grandparents this past Sunday since it was Grandparents Day.  While at Gram Richard's, Paige took a nap under a blueberry bush while Jen picked berries.  We had some nice visits on a lovely sunny day.

Portland Seadogs Game

On Sunday we went to a Portland Seadogs game.  It was a sunny, warm and breezy day--a great day to see a game.  It was a company outing, so we enjoyed the game from the picnic area in right field.  Avery was given a signed ball before the game, saw Slugger and gave him a high five and a hug, and since it was fan appreciation day, got to shake hands with a player that walked through our section thanking fans.  Oddly enough, it was also the day that employees of Otis Credit Union had their company outing, so we ran into a bunch of people that we knew from our hometown.