Leading up to Christmas 2017

Jon Mark: He reached his deductible this year with all of the surgeries and medical procedures he had this year. He just completed the last surgery for the year on his wrist today. He's had his other wrist done and some procedures done to his back and throat and knee. He's usually funny when he wakes up from anesthesia. Sometimes he makes very embarrassing remarks of an intimate nature, other times he tells the nurses that he wants his wife to dress him because she'll want to admire his physique. Today he was grumpy. He was completely out of it and had a really hard time waking up. He's actually been sleeping ever since we got home. He was grumpy and full of harsh stares. He had a great year this year for work and was rewarded really well financially. Most of the bonus goes to student loans, but it was awesome.

Me: I wish I had new news to tell. Not much is new.

Joshua: He's gotten faster. He can now out sprint his aunt Michelle and is proud of it. He also told me that he doesn't like it when I say he plays with toys. The word toys is too juvenile for him. He told me that he prefers that I call toys "Low-tech entertainment gadgets" or LTEG. The kid is funny, and he's growing up too fast. He's brave and I leave him home with everyone but Cub for short errands.

Mercedes: Mer has recently demonstrated that she's got some talent at soccer and football. She's pretty good. She's also got her two front teeth back finally! They're crooked, but they're coming back! She's also pretty good on my rollerblades. She and Joshua kept fighting over them so they were taken away, but she was pretty good. She's a responsible girl and a rule keeper to the extreme. She got runner up for the second grade spelling bee. She's a smart, good student.

Luke: Luke is a ladies man and has a hero's heart. The other day we went on a walk and his younger cousin, Jazmine, didn't have any shoes on. At one point we had to walk over some rocks and she started to complain that her feet hurt. She's only 3 years old and I would have carried her over them, but my hands were full with Cub and a bike. I left her there thinking I'd drop off Cub and go back for her. I turned around to go back and I saw Luke struggling to carry her over the rocks on his back. It warmed my heart. Luke also pulled out his own tooth the other day. All of the McAvoy's were watching him and cheering him on. He very slowly ripped it out. Once it was out he was so proud of himself. He raised his arms up like a champion and did a victory lap. It was funny. He also arm wrestled all of the kids and could beat them all except for Joshua.

Hannah: What can I say about my sweet Hannah? I just love that little girl and I have had so much fun enjoying her company this last year before she starts school. She brings so much happiness to our home. She loves life. Jon Mark and I are always remarking about how easy she is as a child and how it doesn't take much to make her happy. She's a tease to her Grandpa's and she thinks she is quite funny when she won't let them kiss her.

Caleb: Cub Master. He is a potty training drop out. He was doing SO GOOD until he decided he didn't want to do it anymore. I was excited thinking we were done with diapers, oh well. He recently learned to raise one eyebrow and it is so cute. It makes me laugh just thinking about it. He tells on his siblings. He comes up crying and with an offended expression says, "Luke is being nice to me!" I hope he doesn't realize his mistake in that sentence, it's funny. He's obstinate and stubborn, a strong-willed child for sure. Jon Mark tells him to say yes, and he very stubbornly says no. He eventually says yes though. Jon Mark will always win that battle. :)

And... The Pictures

Fun with the camera.

Every Thursday we visit Great Grandma Haws. I enjoy our visits with her.

Our hike. Hannah was not a fan. Cub did really well! So did the other kids!

Vertuccio Farms for harvest fun.

Jessica's birthday dinner. I set the grill on fire...

Luke lost his first tooth.

I hung some pictures down our hall.

Mercedes was allergic to a virus and broke out in a nasty rash.

My scouts. At least some of them. I have been working hard to get kids in the neighborhood to join us. This was supposed to be an open house/pack mtg but no non-members showed up. I went door to door with the boys in uniform passing out flyers, I set up a booth at the trunk or treat, I set up an open house... I also posted pictures on the community facebook page saying what fun our open house was and that we looked forward to people joining us next month. I'm also trying to build camaraderie with the boys. So, I've decided to start having the boys link hands in a circle and say our pack cheer "Pack 891 doesn't rest til we're done!" at the end of our meetings. I also call out a boy to say something positive about another boy. Then, the audience says that boys name and gives three solid claps. I also want the boys to come up with three positive words that they want to emulate and when I want to get their attention, I'll call out, "We are?" To which the boys will answer, "obedient, brave, loyal!" or whatever the three words are.

A mural I painted for the boys room.

Mercedes is pretty, I took her picture.

Caleb sleeps with his bucket of toys and carries it around everywhere. This picture was taken first thing when he woke up. The first thing he said that morning was, "where are my toys, mom?"

I reorganized the garage by myself. It was a lot of work moving around those shelves.

Luke loves his blond hair but it darkens every winter to his dismay. He found this spray and it is supposed to lighten blond hair. He sprays it in his hair everyday now.