Gone Baby Gone!

So here we were at 1 week before Avery started 1st grade. She still had yet to have a loose tooth let alone pull one! (She didn't get her first tooth until 8 months, so I tried to keep that in mind to justify her taking so long.)

Well it all started when she bit into a bar that had nuts in it, and her tooth got loose. She worked on it for a couple of hours (seriously, her hand was in her mouth for that long) and got it very loose. Jeff was working, so I told her to hold off so he could see it. After all, this is our oldest baby with her first loose tooth ~ big stuff!!

We went to eat at his parents house that night. When the girls and I walked in, Phil, my father-in-law, already had a string ready. I had to tell him no and remind him that Jeff wanted to see it and be there when she pulled it. So when Jeff got home, he took his turn at it. He put a string around the tooth, but it wasn't quite ready. She got a little emotional thinking that it was going to hurt. So we finally convinced her that it wouldn't hurt that bad, if it hurt at all. Before we left, the girls had it set to stay there with their grandparents. I told my father-in-law and Avery that there was to be no tooth pulling while we were gone. I know my FIL and how he was just itching to get his turn at the tooth.

So wouldn't you know that at 6 the next morning we had a text saying that the tooth had come out the night before. Somehow a string got wrapped around the tooth and was pulled out by Paps. Needless to say, Jeff and I were pretty bummed not to have been there. Not that this is a huge milestone, just something that we felt important. The good thing is she has a mouthful of teeth needing to be pulled that we'll get to see. I also learned a very good lesson ~ NEVER leave my children with Paps if I want to pull the tooth instead of him. ;)

Jeff asked Avery if he could keep her first tooth instead of giving it to the tooth fairy that night. He said that it was so special to him that he really wanted to keep that one ~ but we would give the tooth fairy all the rest. Of course, he would give her a gift so she wouldn't be missing out. She was so sweet she complied with him. The tooth fairy was so touched by her generosity that she came and left a note with money anyways. So here is my baby girl with her missing tooth....

Avery's Kindergarten Graduation

How could I almost forget to put this one in?!? Avery had her Kindergarten Graduation in May. They sang 3 songs and did their presentation of awards at the end. We were so excited. Avery had her own cheering section of course, you know the Troha's motto ~ Go big or GO HOME! ;) Kendall was so cute during the songs. She was singing every one of them with the kids. We were all so proud. She got several awards...can't remember them now with my pregnant brain. ;)

Very proud Daddy with his daughter

Proud Momma too

Jeff's Dad (Paps), Mom (Grammy) & sister Tracie (C)

Kendall & Jeb (our nephew)

My Mother (Mimere) and her new hubby, Terry (Poppy)

Kendall loves her Poppy

Molly (niece), Kendall & Jeb

Grammy, Jeb & Mimere

Kendall with her Paps (2 peas in a pod which is very scary!!)

Avery in her place (above the two girls' hats)

There's our superstar!!

Avery about to receive her awards

Avery with her God-send of a teacher, Mrs. Wright

Aunt Debra

Poppy, Mimere and the girls

Grammy, Paps and their girl

Gabe (Jeff's cousin/BFF), Renee & Isabelle

Our special girl

Can't believe we got a family shot in there!!!

July 2010

So not so much happened during the month of July. We laid low for the month. As the temperature rises, we become hermits. But there was one big deal of the month and that was Avery's first haircut and style at the salon. She's had her hair cut since she was tiny by our Aunt Debra, which is wonderful. But I thought for the big chop, I'd take her with me. The decision To cut it all off was made by me one morning out of frustration. She was crying yet again from brushing, which I do SO much more gently than my mom did. I told her since she never lets me do anything with it (ponytail, bows, headbands, etc) and cries at brushing, it was all coming off! That was it. So I asked my stylist if he would do it for us and he said of course. He is nothing short of wonderful (so is his wife that is one of my dearest friends).

So we just fit her in during my cut and color that day. She was so excited she could hardly stand it. My mom came up to watch so she could take the girls with her while he finished my cut and style. She didn't cry while he brushed and styled her hair. She sat there with a big smile on her face ~ most of the time (funny the faces we make during the blow dry). So without any further ado, I present to you Avery and her new hair style.

Here she is right before getting in the chair

She's in the chair and he's getting the cape ready

Here we go...

Making the first big chop

And it's off! That's Mom over her shoulder playing with Kendall

Now for the layers

Now for the fun part

Look at that face....I hope I don't do that during my cut.

She's toughing it out!

Look at all of that hair. We probably should have donated it!

You know Ms. Sassy Pants has to get a shot posing too!!

My baby looks all grown up now!! The cut was obviously a success in her eyes.

June 2010

I can't believe summer has already come and gone. I feel like I have just gotten bigger by the second...as well as the girls!! As I write this, I am almost 32 weeks pregnant now and goodness it seems to be flying by. I've been getting asked if I'm counting down the days quite often now that I'm in the 30+ weeks. It made me realize that no, I'm really not. I'm not counting down the days to get this baby out. I am counting down the days in excitement of getting to hold this precious baby in my hands and see what my Father created for and gave to us. Maybe it's because this is most likely my last one or that I realized how truly blessed I am with all my pregnancies being so very easy. Enough about me, let's get to the fun stuff.

Well, our summer got off to a start with Avery's last day of kindergarten. I could not believe that it was already over. She was so excited....mainly because she knew we were taking our first vacation the next week. ;) Nonetheless, we had to take pictures to commemorate the day. I promise that even though it doesn't look it, we brushed her hair that morning!!

All dressed and ready to go in her favorite uniform...the jumper

Can't leave without a big hug from lil' sis!! Obviously I wasn't the only proud one.

The next week we took off for our first family vacation ever (with Kendall ~ we did go to the beach with Avery when she was 18 months old). We went to San Antonio this year and had such a great time!!! We stayed at the most amazing resort. I promise, I would look around and be in disbelief that we were in Texas. The heat wasn't even that bad. We stayed at the La Canterra Westin Resort and were amazed. We left two days and that's all. The first time we left was to visit Fiesta Texas. Oh my how it was hot!!! Jeff and I were so bummed that we didn't get to ride the big coasters. I told him to ride without me buy my prince charming wouldn't hear of it. He took the girls on the log ride that they loved. The heat certainly got to us pretty quickly though, so we headed home for lunch (it was less than a mile away). When we got there, Jeff noticed that Kendall had fallen asleep while trying to climb up in the chair. The picture follows this. It was SO funny. Then she wouldn't wake up for anything!! The other day we went shopping for the first time at the outlet malls in San Marcus!! We never went to Sea World because the girls were having so much fun at our resort. I don't know why. Maybe it was the 5 different pools or the tennis court filled with bouncy house slides that also had cotton candy made on demand. I was SO glad that we were able to take that trip. We made so many memories. I can't wait to make more with another addition to our family.

Yes, she is passed out!!

Getting ready for the animal show in the lobby.

The girls petting the hedgehog. He was SO cute!!

Daddy chillaxin in the pool. Isn't he a hottie??

Avery coming down the slide

Striking a pose at the end

Kendall getting a little carried away by the slide. She always made the funniest faces of fear coming down, but would end up with a smile!!

We made S'mores by the pools every night. The girls especially enjoyed this part!

Avery roasting her marshmallows with one of the workers

Kendall showing off her finished product

A proud Daddy with his girls

Avery & Kendall in the pool cheesing it up after S'mores

Making crafts in the craft room. I'm telling you, this place is AMAZING!

A view of the entire room. Notice Daddy watching a movie in the background.