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!!!

Happy Mommy's Day ...

Avery and her one-of-a-kind Mommy

Happy Mommy's Day, Mommy!!! You are the best in the world!!! Remember that I said it first, no matter what this baby # 2 says.

Avery making and serving breakfast to her 

one-of-a-kind Mommy, and her Mommy's Mommy

(in other words Grandma) on Mother's Day