Little Big Avery

The moms were posting all the class pictures on Facebook. 

So many of these kids will be graduating with Avery. They literally grew up together.

That little boy in the 3 Seahawks jersey...Avery has had so many classes with him...

The other day he talked to her for the first time in 12 years.

They were doing a lab together, and she reached for something and he said about her tennis bracelet (with face diamonds off Amazon) 

"that looks expensive"

haha I don't know why that cracks me up. Senior year, first time talking. idk

This is a class full of "Shapiro's Heros".

She always has a graduation party with the first grade gang. Avery is still friends with a few of these kids. 

Lots of best friends from this class. Chase, Jack and Carly. 

This was kind of a rough year. Not our favorite teacher.

This was her favorite elementary year. 

Fourth grade is always a favorite.

And then 5th grade was full of drama. 

Sigh. It's all so easy peasy in hind site. 

Remember these Cherry Babies from Vegas?

Three of the four are heading to BYU! 

Avery

Laila

and Audrey. 

Also the best thing ever:

Calvin Peterson called Avery one day and told her that he has this friend he grew up with (Bret) and she's looking for a roomate!

So they exchanged numbers and have been texting and Avery feels so great about knowing someone. She is getting so excited to launch, and I cannot tell you what an answer to prayers THAT is. 

And a side bonus that is HUGE: Bret got to pick her housing early, and she got into HERITAGE halls which is the JACKPOT of Freshman housing, and Avery got to slide right into that seniority pick. 

I cannot even believe it. It's all toooooo goooooood. 

2016

There's a trend on the internet to post pictures from ten years ago, 2016.

I don't know why they picked 2016 but you know I love a good "then and now".

Also 2016 was the year we became besties with the Blacks. You know why? because the DADS. The moms were always gonna be besties, but if you can get dads to be friends, then it's on. 

Anyway, I knew that I was going to be dead looking through all these old memories, and indeed I died. It's too much. It HURTS. 

These pics are in order from January to December.

This is when it snowed and Christopher took his big bear on a sled ride, and Evan said his big bear was "stupid" and Christopher held a grudge about that for a couple years. 

Like, this. 

I was JUST thinking about how much I used to love it when Andrew would climb in bed with me at night. 

It was like he regulated by heart. 

Curly hair, passi. 

While the kids were in school we would work on bikes and change diapers. 

Our back yard has come a long way!

I miss the floor being COVERED in trains and duplos. 

Friends at the beach. See? Moms were always gonna be besties. 

The kids were in peak neighborhood play. 

This was the day the had a parade through the hood announcing EVAN HAS LOST HIS FIRST TOOTH!

I LOVED school concerts. He spotted me!

Avery's baptism year! She has since confessed to me that she hated this photo shoot because she did not like her special white dress. A girl at school wore the exact one the day before. 

How am I supposed to know. 

This is the very first picture I ever took of our Padden adventures. This was the year we started these absolute favorite days of mine. 

Dads biking, kids playing, walking around Padden while moms talking. 

Last day of second grade. 

Our first trip to yellow house. 

It wasn't a tradition yet, just a Hail Mary at vacationing with new friends. 

Neighborhood bike rides down to Halverson. 

I loved Andrew's characters obsessions. 

The summer in Fallon when we did hand prints in the new carrals at the new barn. 

Camping at Olympic National Park

Enduro race.

We spent all summer training for this. 

First day of third grade, first grade. 

Remember when Evan and Bailey were getting married? He had just given her this flower.

I love that I got it on camera. The way he walked away but glanced back to see her reaction. 

Toy Story!

Hey ladies. (shirt tucked into underwear)

Lightning McQueen!

Preschool

First trail half marathon. 

Cars!

Remember bottle cap collecting? 

Fallon for Thanksgiving, Damon's feet in grandpa's face. 

I don't know how. 

Don't ask me how.