A Day in the Life of the Weenigs: Avery's Portrait Day

Ok, there is a wonderful tradition in my husband, Marcus' family, to do a formal portrait of each child at the same age. We do our kids' portraits just before they turn 4. So last week, it was Avery's turn in the spotlight,and she just ATE it up! She looked so sweet with her hair all curled (thanks Aunt Coco) and her pretty pink dress. Also, thanks to my sister Coco for watching little Owen while I helped Avery! And to top off the day, Mom even took Avery to her favorite place-McDonalds-for lunch!Here are a few snapshots I took outside the studio...

Our little babygirl, Avery (almost 4-not a baby anymore)...such a beautiful little face.

"Oh, please (posing with a cheesy smile), no pictures!"

"Let me tell you how it goes, Mom..." (and other words of wisdom from the munchkins)

September 2010

Owen was trying to coerce me to get him a treat the other day...He used force. "Get me a brownie or I will cut off my leg!!" OK, if you must. Brownies are definitely more necessary than legs.

May 2010

Avery was quietly eating lunch when she had an epiphany. "Aren't Barbie and Ken the GREATEST couple ever?!! Well, Ken follows Barbie everywhere right?" Guess we know who'll be leading the way in HER family! What a hoot that one is.

November 2009

My sweet Owen, who's my "best buddy", told me the other day, "you make my heart feel better"...awwwww. Ditto, little man!

October 2009

On our way somewhere in the car, Owen grabs hold of his feet and yells, "I forgot to paint my toenails!" Soooo glad we got him a brother--hopefully soon make-up and ballet slippers will be a thing of the past! YIKES!

Sometime in Sept...

Owen has been Mom's little side-kick in running countless errands for the new house and the other day when were going home, he cried and said, "Nooooo, I wanna go aHome Depot and get 5 window coverings!"...

When we pulled up to wait in the HALF-HOUR-LONG LINE to pick up the girls from school, Owen, exasperated, asks, "Is dat da STINKIN' line?"

And after asking Mommy 26 questions in 10 minutes, he finally asks, "Am I bwiving you twazy, Mom?"

5/19/09

Recently, our house has been having some plumbing issues, and here was Avery's cheerful observation: "Our bathroom is like a port-a-potty...no sink to wash your hands and the toilet doesn't flush!" (the handle broke off)...Avery is FREAKED OUT by port-a-potties!

2/12/09

Avery asked me if I like Barbie dolls, and I told her, "they're ok. They've never been my favorite thing to play with though, even when I was a kid..." She then asked me about Aunt Coco cutting off Aunt Michelle's Barbie's hair when we were kids. I admitted that it was me who did this despicable thing. Then Avery got this look of complete amazement and I knew she was, at that moment, PROUD to call me her mom. I recognized the familiar mischievious twinkle in her eye, and I knew, at that moment, she was definitely MY daughter...Help ME!

1/25/09

Avery told us today after church, "I think I'm feeling the Spirit." When Marcus asked her what it felt like, she said, "It feels strong--in my chestes (her chest)". He asked her, "but when do you feel the Spirit?" "When I do good..."

1/20/09

Madison informed us on the way to school today, "I wish I wasn't white!" "Why would you say that?", I ask. "because when Martin Luther King was making those laws, the white people were SO STUPID!"

10/22/08

Avery and Owen were jumping on my bed and Avery tells me, "I might be a champion of jumping when I'm older...I haven't decided yet."

10/15/08

As we were driving in the car tonight Avery asks me, "Mom, why are we even here?"

"Why are we here in the car?", I say (thinking she was tired of driving everywhere)...

"No, why are we even living?"

(Yikes, why you gettin' all deep on me in the car, girl?) Well, we're here to get a body, and make good choices so that we can..."

"No...I mean why can't we just be dogs!" (with a look of longing on her face)

(Ok...well, at least she's not questioning the reason for her existence--RANDOM--if only life were so simple...eat, sleep, chase balls)

10/6/08

Avery sat next to me the other day and as she gazed seriously into my eyes, told me, "Mom...you have to love your kids more than your clothes you know...even your underwear". Guess she thinks 'cause I'm endlessly doing laundry that I might treasure my undies more than her??? But with Avery you can't just laugh--she expects to be taken very seriously in these moments.