Happy Half Birthday

 The day didn't really start out as a celebration of Avery's half birthday, but in the end it kind of ended up that way.  We started the morning with a safety event at Home Depot that included a landing of the medical helicopter in the parking lot.  The special build for the day was a wooden helicopter that Avery is hammering away at.

We met McGruff the Crime dog and got stickers and balloons from him...she didn't want to get too close though.

Then it was time to wait for the helicopter landing.  It was very loud and windy, but Avery loved it.

Once it landed, the kids were able to climb into the helicopter, look around and ask questions of the pilot and other members of the flight team.  Everyone was so nice and Avery just thought the helicopter was the coolest thing.

Smokey the Bear also made an appearance.  Avery was a little less apprehensive of him and actually gave him a hug.

After a busy morning and a nap to refresh, we went back outside to enjoy the fantastic weather.  It was so nice outside that Jeremy and I decided to give Avery what we decided to call a "half birthday present," but what was actually a Christmas present that we bought early and got so excited about that we ended up giving it to her early.  It was just such nice weather that we couldn't resist.

While Avery got a bicycle for her second birthday, she still hasn't been able to pedal the bike.  So, Jeremy and I thought that while technically a back-step, a tricycle would probably be a good idea.  Once we picked one out (by actually letting Avery sit on them and choose which one she liked), we just couldn't wait for her to have it since the weather was perfect to be outside and would not be come Christmas.  It was a success!  She loves it!