Victims of Conn. school shooting

Avielle Richman - known to her family as Avie - moved with her family from San Diego to Connecticut about two years ago, reports CBS Station WCBS, and was still known by her parents Jeremy Richman and Jennifer Hensel as "their California girl." Melissa C. Stewart, a family friend, told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "When they first moved here, it was hard to keep shoes on Avielle because she was so used to running barefoot on the beach in San Diego."

The curly-headed little girl loved a lot of things - horses, Harry Potter, the color red. After watching the Disney movie "Brave," she even tried archery.

In a blog called Avielle's Adventures, Richman would tell friends about their family life: trips to Iowa and to the Thanksgiving Day parade in Stamford, and Arielle's 6th birthday at the horse stable, where she was taking horseback riding lessons.

"Today is Avielle's sixth birthday," her dad wrote. "I know that every parent says this, but holy cow, I can't believe how fast the time flies!"

In August, he wrote about the newest milestone for his "little hummingbird," who was about to start first grade at Sandy Hook. "We can't believe it," he wrote. "Jenn and I are both very nervous and excited."

Credit: AP/Richman Family Photo