A Sign of the Times

Our Little Chef

I have been searching around lately for a gently used play kitchen for Ellie and this week we got one. It is just the right size and she has been cooking up a storm! She is loving pretending to cook and I am loving watching her learn all about it. This is the kind of thing that I have always looked forward to about being a mom and I am in heaven!

I love Skype!

I had heard about Skype before but had never used it until Brad went to Amsterdam a few weeks ago. Let me tell you, I am now a big fan! Because of Skype I not only got to talk to Brad almost every day while he was away, but I got to see him too. It was so comforting to be able to hear his voice and know he was safe and sound.


While Brad was away, Ellie & I spent some quality time with our family. Over the weekend we headed to Dunn, NC to my aunt & uncle's house with my cousin Anna and her kiddos. We had a nice relaxing time there and Ellie absolutely loved being around her cousins all weekend! On Monday we headed up to Brevard, NC to spend the week with Nan & Pop Pop (my in-laws). We had a great week with them just playing outside mostly. Brad's parents have a great yard and Ellie had a fun time exploring everything in it, climbing on the rocks, running down the hill, and swinging. Ellie is so blessed to have great grandparents who love to play with her and I loved watching them bond over the whole week. We had a nice time together and enjoyed our time with them so much. Thanks Nan & Pop Pop for making our week without Brad a great one!


This is the only picture I took the whole week we were gone. This was taken at the Nature Center in Asheville with two of Ellie's great grandmothers. We all had a fun time together that day and Ellie especially loved chasing the peacock around.

Happy Father's Day in Amsterdam

Brad, here's a little something from Ellie to you...



You are the best dad and we wish we could celebrate with you today. Thanks for being such a great role model for our sweet girl. We love you so much and appreciate all that you! Talk to you soon.

White Lake Videos

Ellie got a lot of attention from all of the older kids at the lake this year and she ate it up! Here she is with Ty & John performing one of their favorite tricks.

Ellie loved to "jump" off of the platform into the water as well as stick her face in the lake. She is becoming quite the little dare devil in the water these days.

White Lake 2010

50+ years ago my Grandad, his brothers, and their dad thought it would be nice to build a house on the lake, White Lake to be exact. Ever since then White Lake has been the place where the Avery family gathers each year to spend time together basking in the sun, playing in the water, and eating lots of homemade ice cream. This place (and the memories that have been made there) hold such a sweet place in my heart that I can't even begin to explain it. The old cottage has been out of the family for over a decade now, but thankfully the Avery's presence at White Lake each summer is still going strong! I am so thankful to be a part of such a neat tradition and I pray Ellie will grow up with the same fond memories that I have had there. Here are some of the highlights from this years reunion...

Ben & Ellie, lake buddies

A sweet shot of Allison & Meg

Ellie got a lot of love from her older cousins and she loved (almost) every minute of it!

Ellie & Paige

cousins,

cousins,

and more cousins.

All of the kiddos dressed up as super heroes

Pudding Paint

Today was not a fun day to be outside. In beteween rain showers and the thick humidity we decided to stay put in our beloved AC! After Ellie's afternoon nap I let her paint with pudding for the first time and she had a great time! I use the term painting loosely, she basically just spread it all over her plate, but she had fun doing it! So far Ellie seems to love crafts, which makes me so happy. I have been looking forward to us having fun making things together. I am so thankful to have a girl who loves arts and crafts. Let the fun begin!

She enjoyed eating the pudding as much as she liked "painting" with it!