April 5th 2006.......(4-5-6)

Happy 6th Birthday Avery Elise Gardner!!!

My sweet not so little anymore girl is growing up! I can't believe 6 years have gone by since she entered this world in Chicago IL almost 2 weeks early. I remember going to my Dr. apt. on April 4th and the Doctor telling me I was not dilated or effaced at all and that I would most likely go to full term. I was fine with that but I can't remember exactly why but that night I really wanted her to come and longed to have her in my arms. I kept telling her to come now and low and behold at 1am on April 5th my water broke. She listened to her Mom and has done so ever since!! Avery was a good baby, a good sleeper and eater. She was basically a dream baby. She never went through the terrible 2's or 3's or 4's. She has always just been my little side kick ready and willing to help, cooperative, and for the most part has always just been happy. I feel so blessed and privileged that Heavenly Father trusted me to be his precious daughters earthly mother. We love her so much!

Eric and I did the traditional birthday decor. She was funny because before she went to bed she kept asking if we were going do decorate, and what would it look like. She said, "I am sure I will know you are decorating when I hear you blow up balloons." The kids really love that part of their birthday so it makes it more fun for Dad and I to get creative. I always think in my mind what their little faces will look like when they come down in the morning. I keep telling Eric he should be a professional party decorator(at least with the crate paper part of it) he is a very talented man.

I did the shrine(as Eric calls it).

Avery's school picture all framed up for the "shrine." I just call it my way of celebrating another year with my beautiful girl.

Eric was pretty much in charge of the crate paper.

We let the kids choose where they want to go for their birthday dinner as a family. This year Avery chose to go to Culver's. Our fast food joint of choice the will forever remind us of Madison Wisconsin. It's fun to see what they will choose each year. So off we went a day before her birthday(because Mom has an activity she is in charge of at church birthday night). No worries she will get her favorite curry chicken dish with red peppers and rice tonight. She deserves to be spoiled today!

I also think she is the smartest girl in the world for wanting a chocolate mousse cheesecake from The Cheesecake factory for her cake this year. Yep....my girl!!! I would have done my typical creation for her this year but I am happy with her choice. I may have given her the option to mix things up a bit this year too : )

Making a wish.....

Opening presents....

By far the gift of the day!! Notice how crazy her hair is....well that's because she was dancing around the house and going crazy when opened up the gift she had been longing for. The new Legos for girls are the cutest creation Lego has ever created! Avery loves them and had been wanting the Olivia house for a long time. The details in it are amazing. She has quite the little village of Legos. My kids love to create things and pretend play with Legos. We will have them forever!! Someday Avery's kids will play with them!!

The best part about Legos.......Dad loves building with the kids just as much as they do!

This picture pretty much sums up the day! It was a pretty good birthday for our Avery. She more than deserves it.

Avery Gardner..........
Is the biggest blessing to me and has been my little angel since the day she was born. She is the sweetest girl with a heart of gold. The other day I was upstairs trying to pick up the house a bit when I heard the vacuum running in the basement. I went downstairs to see what was going on and without being asked she had cleaned and vacuumed the entire basement.

Avery loves to be outside. Lives for playing with friends, her siblings, and doing errands with Mom or Dad. She has always loved that. She makes friends easily and has the greatest imagination. She recently learned to ride her bike all on her own without training wheels(she is competitive so when she saw her brother take off, she was going to be next). And she took off! She still loves to stash things in a purse and her little sister loves to find her treats(that she saves for months) and knows which ones carry the good stuff. She is a girlie girl but also knows how to play hard and we recently discovered how athletic she is with soccer and are excited to get her into a program after we move. She also loves to dance so it will be fun to see what her interests will be as she tries new things next year when we are settled. She is already looking forward to being 7. She is convinced that when she starts loosing her teeth, she will officially be old.

She is a very good student and has enjoyed school very much this year. She is reading well and has even started reading out loud The Book Of Mormon. She is the best big sister in the world and Thomas and Brynnley love playing with her. It is fun to see them all play. The other day they were in the little pool we have outside making up games for hours.

She loves going to church and learning about the gospel. Having little children around is a constant reminder of why the scriptures always say become as a little child. Avery will always say a prayer the moment she looses something. She does that even before coming to me and asking me to help her find it. She is already applying her faith as children so easily do. I am grateful she has such wonderful teachers that teach her every Sunday.

We love you so much Avery Elise!! You are beautiful inside and out and we loved celebrating this special day with you!!!