I started working on Ava's 5 year post placement report for China and was overcome with emotions; tears, thankfulness, and joy!! How did we get so lucky that Ava was picked to be a part of our family??!!! I don't know how but I do know that Jesus had an amazing plan all along and we just had to trust. Not easy, but so thankful!!
Ava, what a beautiful girl you have become. You are not only gorgeous on the outside but your heart is really what sets you apart. You love people and want everyone you meet to have a smile after meeting you. You have a gift of making people smile. You are kind and embrace the differences of all people. You could teach so many adults how to do this better. YOU are going to make an impact in this world! We are so blessed to be able to watch you grow; but please slow down. I can't wait to see all you accomplish in this world but at the same time I want you to stay little forever. I love this age. I love your sassy personality along with you quick wit and giant hugs. Ava Girl, we love you to Pluto and back!!
1. Ava's in Kindergarten! And she loves it!! She's learning so much; addition, subtraction, reading, writing, science, and social studies. Ava loves reading chapter books with her dad. It's amazing how much she's learned this year and how much better her reading is. And Ava is in the same class as Claira again this year. Ava typically goes to Kids Club at school before and after school. We try to make it in time for breakfast every morning...we don't always make it! Class is from 9am-4pm. Specials this year include music, library, computer lab, and art! Such a fun year for her!
2. Ava is turning in a real little artist. She is constantly drawing and coloring. Matt bought her a sketch book on vacation this summer and since then Ava has diligently been working on her artwork. Ava comes home with at least 5 pieces of art daily. I don't know what to do with it all so I keep some but throw the others in the recycle bin...then I constantly get reprimanded for throwing her artwork away! Ava honestly is really good at drawing. She draws people far better than I do already! Her favorite things to draw right now are My Little Ponies.
3. Ava has learned a lot about her Jesus over the last year. I am so thankful for an amazing church with an even more amazing children's program. Ava and Ella ask to go to Sunday School every week...this makes things so easy! Ava loves reading her children's Bible. And I love to hear her explain what she learned in Sunday School. Love her heart for Jesus!
4. Ava loves singing and making up all kinds of random, crazy songs! She sings all the time!! We love listening to her sweet songs. Usually her songs are about love and diversity. Makes me feel like we're doing something right as parents.
5. You are such a kind girl. I think your goal everyday is to make everyone you meet smile. And most of the time you can accomplish this. We state everyday that the girls' goal for the day is to do what we're told and to be kind. In school, Ava was asked to sit next to a special needs kiddo because her teacher knew that she could count on Ava to be kind and to help him if needed. Proud parents right here!!
6. Ava has a long list of friends. In fact she would list every person in school as her friend if we let her. She continues to say her best friend is Claira. They seriously have the cutest friendship. Sending each other notes and gifts and trading at school. They also had their first successful sleep over in January. Ava went to Claira's and they had a blast! Ava also says her great friends include Evie, Kori, and Grace.
7. Ava's speech is so much clearer! She gets more clear and easier to understand all the time. She is working hard in speech therapy at school and at home. She's at the point where she is really understanding where to place her tongue and is able to correct her sound if it doesn't sound like it should. This ability has really helped her gain skill and confidence in her speech.
8. Since we moved into an apartment Ava is sharing a room with Ella. They love being together. And even though they share a room they still request a sleep over nightly; meaning they want to be in the same bed because bunk beds just aren't close enough! They are often awake way past bedtime because they have mastered the ability to talk and play very quickly in their room. Even though I get frustrated when I know they are going to be so tired the next morning; I'm also thinking "this is why I always wanted a sister". I hope they always want to be together.
9. This year Ava is in her second year of gymnastics. She is no longer in the little kids class but instead is in the big kids area which includes balance beam, vault, floor, and bar training. Her good friend Evie is in class with her and they are a riot to watch! Ava's favorite is the bars and a move called the spider swing. She's also very good on the vault. It's fun to watch! We also started swimming lessons last summer and are looking at restarting very soon. Ava's a fish and graduated into the next level quickly. She's very comfortable in the water so now we're working on more skills.
10. We continue to love to travel as a family. Matt and I are firm believers that education happens in the classroom and in the world. Travels over the last year include hiking in Colorado, knee boarding and hanging with the family at the lake, a trip to Chicago to attend her first Cubs game and to see some special friends we met in China, and our 2 week camping adventure to Yellowstone and Tetons. As Ava and Ella get older we are looking forward to even more adventures across the globe together.
Ava, what a beautiful girl you have become. You are not only gorgeous on the outside but your heart is really what sets you apart. You love people and want everyone you meet to have a smile after meeting you. You have a gift of making people smile. You are kind and embrace the differences of all people. You could teach so many adults how to do this better. YOU are going to make an impact in this world! We are so blessed to be able to watch you grow; but please slow down. I can't wait to see all you accomplish in this world but at the same time I want you to stay little forever. I love this age. I love your sassy personality along with you quick wit and giant hugs. Ava Girl, we love you to Pluto and back!!
1. Ava's in Kindergarten! And she loves it!! She's learning so much; addition, subtraction, reading, writing, science, and social studies. Ava loves reading chapter books with her dad. It's amazing how much she's learned this year and how much better her reading is. And Ava is in the same class as Claira again this year. Ava typically goes to Kids Club at school before and after school. We try to make it in time for breakfast every morning...we don't always make it! Class is from 9am-4pm. Specials this year include music, library, computer lab, and art! Such a fun year for her!
2. Ava is turning in a real little artist. She is constantly drawing and coloring. Matt bought her a sketch book on vacation this summer and since then Ava has diligently been working on her artwork. Ava comes home with at least 5 pieces of art daily. I don't know what to do with it all so I keep some but throw the others in the recycle bin...then I constantly get reprimanded for throwing her artwork away! Ava honestly is really good at drawing. She draws people far better than I do already! Her favorite things to draw right now are My Little Ponies.
3. Ava has learned a lot about her Jesus over the last year. I am so thankful for an amazing church with an even more amazing children's program. Ava and Ella ask to go to Sunday School every week...this makes things so easy! Ava loves reading her children's Bible. And I love to hear her explain what she learned in Sunday School. Love her heart for Jesus!
4. Ava loves singing and making up all kinds of random, crazy songs! She sings all the time!! We love listening to her sweet songs. Usually her songs are about love and diversity. Makes me feel like we're doing something right as parents.
5. You are such a kind girl. I think your goal everyday is to make everyone you meet smile. And most of the time you can accomplish this. We state everyday that the girls' goal for the day is to do what we're told and to be kind. In school, Ava was asked to sit next to a special needs kiddo because her teacher knew that she could count on Ava to be kind and to help him if needed. Proud parents right here!!
6. Ava has a long list of friends. In fact she would list every person in school as her friend if we let her. She continues to say her best friend is Claira. They seriously have the cutest friendship. Sending each other notes and gifts and trading at school. They also had their first successful sleep over in January. Ava went to Claira's and they had a blast! Ava also says her great friends include Evie, Kori, and Grace.
7. Ava's speech is so much clearer! She gets more clear and easier to understand all the time. She is working hard in speech therapy at school and at home. She's at the point where she is really understanding where to place her tongue and is able to correct her sound if it doesn't sound like it should. This ability has really helped her gain skill and confidence in her speech.
8. Since we moved into an apartment Ava is sharing a room with Ella. They love being together. And even though they share a room they still request a sleep over nightly; meaning they want to be in the same bed because bunk beds just aren't close enough! They are often awake way past bedtime because they have mastered the ability to talk and play very quickly in their room. Even though I get frustrated when I know they are going to be so tired the next morning; I'm also thinking "this is why I always wanted a sister". I hope they always want to be together.
9. This year Ava is in her second year of gymnastics. She is no longer in the little kids class but instead is in the big kids area which includes balance beam, vault, floor, and bar training. Her good friend Evie is in class with her and they are a riot to watch! Ava's favorite is the bars and a move called the spider swing. She's also very good on the vault. It's fun to watch! We also started swimming lessons last summer and are looking at restarting very soon. Ava's a fish and graduated into the next level quickly. She's very comfortable in the water so now we're working on more skills.
10. We continue to love to travel as a family. Matt and I are firm believers that education happens in the classroom and in the world. Travels over the last year include hiking in Colorado, knee boarding and hanging with the family at the lake, a trip to Chicago to attend her first Cubs game and to see some special friends we met in China, and our 2 week camping adventure to Yellowstone and Tetons. As Ava and Ella get older we are looking forward to even more adventures across the globe together.
