Ava & AJ, Day 2

More from our trip to Houston. Sadly it was cut short because after lunch Ava got a fever so we headed home. Might have actually been a good thing since Michelle and I were exhausted!

Getting ready for the ride to the park...

Michelle helping Ava on the zipline thing...

AJ sliding...

Trying to get the kids to pose in their cute clothes before lunch with Kari (this is the new dress I made for Ava)...

AJ actually posed nicely...such a little gentleman (and cutie!).

We had a great time with AJ & "Shell"...always good to see old friends who have moved away!

AJ & Ava, Day 1

While Darren is in SA for his PE test training, Ava & I headed down to Houston to see Michelle, AJ & Anthony for the weekend. AJ & Ava had a blast together....

swinging...
kissing...

eating giant ice cream cones...

and climbing trees!

I Love ALL Cats...

Many times I have caught Ava hugging the cat statue that sits on our fireplace. She rocks it to sleep (sometimes even laying it down in her bed after singing a lullaby to it) and today she spent about 20 minutes with the statue...hugging it, loving it and kissing it. She really does love all cats!

Fun Stories

I thought I would share some conversations/phrases that come directly from Ava over the past few months. She's becoming quite the little girl and cracks us up with the things she says sometimes.

1. On picking up the dry cleaning, "Daddy's clothes, so cute!"

2. Upon hearing "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas on the radio, "My song! My song! Mommy & Daddy's song!" - this by the way is her song...she requests it non stop by asking for the Good Night song.

3. Ava trying to get Daddy's attention.
Daddy: "Ava, I'm talking to Mommy right now. Please wait."
Ava: "Mommy, stop talking to Daddy."

4. Mommy & Me Mommy trying to unravel a big mess of yarn so they can crochet.
Ava sings: "What's gonna work? Teamwork! What's gonna work? Teamwork!" - her favorite song to sing from the show the Wonder Pets.

5. Mommy: "Ava your cinnamon roll is on the table."
Ava: "Oh boy, oh boy! Thank you Mommy!"

6. When asked to sing a song to make you go to sleep, Ava sings "Go to sleep Daddy baby. Close your eyes." or she says "Mommy princess"

7. Mommy & Daddy being silly in the car and doing awful fake laughs.
Ava: "It's okay guys." She thought we were crying.

8. When her friends were over for a playdate and we sat down for lunch, Ava did the sign of the cross "Father, Son, Holy Spirit Amen" and then launched into her school prayer "God is great...." all on her own!

9. After waking up from her nap, threw a huge tantrum and tried to hit Mommy. Once she calmed down, Ava said "Sorry Mommy. No hitting. No hitting."

10. Daddy & Ava playing in tent.
Ava: " Best friends."
Then Ava pulls Mommy in tent and wraps her arms around Daddy & Mommy and repeats "Best friends."

11. Ava takes a toy, wraps it in fabric scraps or other random items, proceeds to sing "Happy Dirday (birthday)" and takes the "gift" to the recipient to open.

Sunday Fun-day

While Daddy was off doing his Fantasy Football draft, Me Mommy, Gabe, Sawyer and Lexie came over to hang out and play.

I entertained Me Mommy by throwing Smokey's toys to him..always hilarious.

And then Sawyer and I played doctor...

Pretty sure that is not the right use for that tool...

Me Mommy's Birthday Dinner

We, along with the Tilsons, went out with Me Mommy tonight to celebrate her upcoming birthday.

Sawyer & I played with my princesses while we waited for the food.
Striking my classic "pout" face for the camera.

And having cake afterwards at the Tilsons. Notice that Me-Mommy's cake says that she is 73..she's not. She's just joked about being 73 for years now so Mommy decided to make her eternally 73 on her cake from now on.

Privacy Please!

Seriously? Can I get privacy while in the midst of potty training? Nothing like sitting on your own little potty, eating popcorn and watching TV to help you get comfortable using the potty. Still a work in progress though...

G & P's House

Some photos (retouched by Mommy...just for kicks) from our Conroe visit.
Swinging...



Playing on the "playground" with Granny...

Chillin' with Pops...

and the catfish Pops caught (and threw back)!

School Game

Here is video of a game that Granny, Pops & I started playing back when they came to stay with me in August. It's the "Going to School" game and it is too much fun!

Fishing in Conroe

We headed down to Conroe for a wedding this weekend and while there, I insisted on going fishing (I LOVE it!).

Casting off...


And here I am showing my excitement for the plastic fish dangling from my line.

1st Day of School

Today was my 1st day back at school. Here I am getting ready to leave...such a big girl!!!

Sitting on the bench outside school this year...

and last. What a difference a year makes! I had a lot of fun today and kept telling Mommy all about the dragon at my school (from the book we read) after she picked me up. I did amazing this year..no crying at all. I was happy to see both my old friends and new. And I was really good about saying hi to my new teachers too.