Pampered

Granny & Pops came to town to watch Ava while Darren & I headed to Dallas for the Warrior Dash (D is running it - not me!).

Before we even left, we already got a taste of what G&P do for Ava...pamper her! Pops read her a book while Granny did her nails. If that is not the life, I don't know what is.
Here's Ava as we were leaving town...her cute little smile makes it hard to leave.

Pinkalicious in Ava's Room

I finally finished this giant painting I was working on for Ava's room. You can read more about it here, here and here. Almost done with redoing her big girl room. Just need to put shelves in her closet and do the silhouette paintings for above her headboard. So happy to be knocking things out! And of course Ava loves all the new changes!

Art Fest

We headed downtown today for another festival...this time an Art Show that my dad was participating in. We all had a really good time and again, Ava got her face painted and enjoyed a snow cone. She also begged us for cotton candy...which she proceeded to NOT eat and played with the bag instead until the whole thing was a sugary pink mess. Still worth $3 as it kept her very entertained.

Posing outside the festival...I love these signs. They had this one, one that said EAT and one that said PLAY.

Ava & Pablo having a good time.

Ava loving her cotton candy toy.

And Ava enjoying her giant snow cone. Or shaved ice. Whatever you want to call it. Note: She actually sat and rode in a stroller for a good portion of the show!!! Shocking as she had not done this since before she was walking. Or at least not very often when she is with us.

Then & Now

Darren in the 80's (notice the shirt)...

and Ava now.

SpringFest

Today we checked out the SpringFest festival at the shopping center out by us. It was a great day to be outside and they had kid stuff for Ava (like face painting, arts & crafts, and bounce houses) as well as all sorts of booths. It was great for people watching and we all had a lot of fun.

Here is Ava with her face painted at lunch...she finally decided to be something other than a cat! A beautiful butterfly!


A rare family photo...

During the festival we stopped not only for lunch and a snow cone but also ice cream at Amy's.

And we also took Ava to see Cinderella who was at Learning Express. Ava saw her and whispered "She's gorgeous!"

Bluebonnets

I've always wanted to take photos in the bluebonnets, especially of Ava, and this year we finally did it.

Hanging Out

What Ava Has Been Saying Now

More recent musings from Ava:

1. While lounging in bath tub (on back), “This is the life!”

2. Talking about playing on playground at school “I was a princess and I ran away. Prince Davis went to his castle. I ran to my castle.”

3. On way to Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt “We go to the Easterwood hunt?”

4. Singing songs from school “When the gates are open wide, gonna sit by Jesus side” and “Oh sienna” instead of “Hosanna!” (She must really love her friend Sienna...of course the triplets in her class used to think Sienna's name was Santa). Also sings "Swing your arms and sing for Jesus. Shout Amen, praise the lord. Clap your hands and sing for Jesus. Shout Amen!” complete with hand motions.

5. After cats got their haircut she started calling Zaphod “Curly Shirley” and then said Ford looked like a hamster so she called him “Hamster.” We asked what Smokey’s new name was and she said “Wally.”

6.“Goo Ga needs some hair clips.” Gesturing towards Chickie who is under blankets in her grocery cart. Darren asked her later who Goo Ga was and she said she was her baby sister. Is that a hint Ava?

7. Here is what Ava said when asked these questions:

Favorite color: Pink
Disney princess: Jasmine
TV show: Max & Ruby
Things to do: Color
Toy: My truck (a dump truck Darren got her for Christmas)
Animal: Chickie
Snack: Waffle (blueberry)
Drink: Pink lemonade
Song: Hop in a Circle (Yo Gabba Gabba; think it actually goes Run in a Circle)
Book: Pinkalicious

Let's Go Fly A Kite

This afternoon Darren decided he wanted to take Ava to City Park to fly the kite they bought weeks ago. Even though I was still recovering from the stomach flu, I decided to go too and I am glad that I did. I had a great time watching them fly the kite, play soccer, and blow bubbles. And I was able to just lay in the grass on a nice day.

Here is Ava flying her Brobee kite and laughing b/c she kept almost hitting Darren with it. The people walking by would laugh too b/c Ava was laughing so hard. It was a great day for kite flying because it was windy enough that you could throw the kite in the air and it would fly. Although really any day recently in Austin would be good b/c it has been SUPER windy here the last few months!

Ava flying her kite solo...trying to do tricks like her Daddy pretends to do (kind of hard to make your kite do tricks when it is not really a trick kite).

Ava = happy

Darren pulling off one of his many "trick maneuvers." Ha! He made me laugh doing this kind of stuff. I also think it is funny to see a grown man flying a Brobee kite by himself and trying to do crazy things with it. Good times!

Ava, resting & checking out Darren flying his kite. I mean her kite. Ha.

Oh one more thing. Did I mention that I have been going to this park for 2 years now and this is the first time the lake has been anywhere near the park area? Lake Travis has been so low in the past I never knew the park really should look like this. Really much better this way then when I used to come here.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone!

Ava heading to church in her new polka dot "party" dress.

Hunting eggs outside...she had to switch into her casual play clothes as it was a bit wet out in the grass...she also decided she needed rain boots.

Checking out her stash of eggs!