Goodbye For Now, My Nikki ...

Avery and her Good Friend Nikki

It's taken me some time to figure out exactly what to say, since wonderful memories with you have danced vividly since that last tear filled day. So here's my so-long, my goodbye, my farewell if just for now, since we will laugh again together someday, my Good Friend Nikki, and make new memories out loud.

You came into my life out of nowhere, 

from a place I now know is called Oregon, 

and returned back there again with me forever changed.

You brought good people with you to share from your life, 
warm people I'll always remember.

 Even a Dog and Dan, both as zany as can be,
everyday we had so much fun, I can't really even believe.  

 You took me to all so many places, great places that felt so warm,
especially in the arms of someone I truly adored.

 And bought me so many tokens, oh so much, 
all of which you didn't have to do,
 I was easily just as happy spending only the time with you.


 You were my first real friend, 
before I even knew what that meant.

 And all the pictures you captured, 

from our days and our fun, 

leaves me with so many moments to remember.

 
All the memories I'll cherish from 
all the time we spent together.

 You made me feel free enough to dance

and strong enough to act silly, even on cue.

 You made me feel beautiful, grownup, 
like someone to fully challenge the world.

 
 And goofy, don't forget all the goofiness, 
I really did like to bring out the 
goofiness, didn't I?


 You are all those things and more,
you were a wonderful first teacher to 
help show me what the world is really all about.


Thanks for all the memories, Nikki, past and more to come, 
I'll see you soon again, I promise.

Bouncing right into my big 4th birthday ...

Avery very happy for her big 4th birthday

A major life milestone happened the other day ... I turned 4 yrs old!!!  My awesomely fun birthday was as monumental as hitting that big benchmark itself.  Below is a slideshow of all the fun I had ...

Pre-birthday party fun feeding the ducks 

with Grandma Judy and Grandpa Eric

Super fun train ride the night before 

my super huge birthday party

The picture says it all ... for my party I had a

SCOOBY-DOO JUMPING CASTLE!!!!!

Lots of cross traffic getting in & out of the jumping castle ...

... including all the adults, like Grandma Wendy ...

... my good friend Barbara ...

 ... Grandpa Charles ...

... my super good friends Nikki and Dan ...

... and of course Daddy ... 

I couldn't push him out of that thing!!!

We had theme time blocks in the jumping castle too, 

like girls-only time since duh, "girls rule"!!!

Here is a video of our "girls-only" time ... way too much fun!!!

I eventually let stinky boys in as well ...

... but with my good buddy Mathew, I had to kick him 

out for a bit since he was getting way out of control ...

... so he had a nice break with his Daddy ...

... but in the end as the party went on & on, 

we were all getting pretty much out of hand!!!

Here's a video of us all having a real crazy time ....

Avery taking a quick break from the 

jumping castle craziness

Lot's of other fun stuff happened too, 

like good conversations ...

... tons of Eegee's cold slushy drink ...

... yummy birthday cake with good friends ...

... lots of neat presents ...

... and even goofy Daddy trying to hula hoop!?!!??

Then we had a super cool candy filled pinata!!!

 We all took turns knocking it around a bit ...

some kids took baby-like swings ...

... and others (like Shannon) swung for the fences!!!

Eventually the pinata exploded and

 all the candy was released ...

... and quickly swept up by all the hungry boys and girls!!!

Here's a video of us hording all the candy treats ...

Thanks to everyone for the super fun time at my birthday party and all the awesome presents.  And special thanks to my Mommy and Daddy ... they are truly the best parents in the world!!!

In loving memory of Scrappy ...

In loving memory of Scrappy, 2000 - 2012

Sorry I have been away for awhile, there have been very many life changing events occurring lately, starting off with this tragic one a few weeks ago.  If you haven't already heard, my dear good friend Scrappy passed away recently, it was very sudden and very unexpected.  She was already near and dear to my Mommy and Daddy before I even came to be, where once they brought me home from day one, Scrappy immediately took me in and offered me a welcomed space into their happy home. Below is just a sampling of our overfilled happiness over the years and if I could say one last thing to her, it would be this, "Scrappy, I will always remember you and always cherish our times together. You will always be a part of my life, forever."

Scrappy, the very scrappy puppy!

Our first introduction 
(her lick was so warm and welcoming)

The different faces of Scrappy ... 
Scrappy being a good dog ...

... Scrappy being a bad dog ...

... and Scrappy being a very bad dog!

Feisty Scrappy ...

... soccer ball playing Scrappy ...

... sleepy, leave-me-alone Scrappy!

Daddy even "fished" with Scrappy, taking her on long

walks in the hopes of reeling-in something great ...

... and wouldn't-you-know-it, my great Mommy 

fell for it, hook, line, & sinker ...

... where Scrappy was even both the Bestman and 

Head Bridesmaid in their Wedding!!!

Scrappy even had to put up with a sudden new

little sister (just like I'll have soon enough!) ...

... where Scout-No would want to do everything 

that Scrappy did ... like sit in her bed ...

... lounge around in secret places just like her ...

... relax outside in the grass just like her ...

... and even go to bed at the same 

exact time, just like her!!!

Good thing Suzie was around to help regulate things

 in those early years, otherwise there would 

have been major trouble brewing ...

... and they would have never become 

the best of best friends they were!!!

Scrappy was also sooo good at celebrating any 

holiday or event, such as dressing up for Halloween ...

... and then for Christmas ...

... and then for New Years ...

... and then again on Halloween the following year!!!

She would even let me bandage her all up,

even when she knew she didn't really need it ...

... she was a really great best friend to grow up with!!!

In her memory, I wrote a poem called "Forevermore My Scrappy" ...

Forevermore My Scrappy

I can't believe you are gone, nowhere to be seen of anymore

I can't believe you aren't around, just lounging across the middle of our floor.

All your sweet smells I dearly miss, from your long deep pants to your matted hair

All your loving stares I secretly hope, will catch my eye again somewhere, anywhere.

You had such a great big heart and full open mind, which made you all so easy to love

Now that I'm left here all alone, not sure what to really do, I feel like that cold hand with a lost single glove.

Scrappy, you were truly, the best friend, that I could have ever known

So much super fun, just not so super tall, and seemed to always always seem to really know it all.

In the end, I am changed forever, with my memories of you, to always make me smile

I know someday we'll meet again, and pick up like lost best of friends all the while.

Since that is what we are, and shall always be, forevermore my Scrappy.

I love you, Scrappy!!!