Facepaint!

Yep, I'm still "stalking" the amazing facepainter that works out here.  Darren & I try to take Ava to anything where you can get your face painted not only because Ava likes it but also because I think I have become a bit obsessed with seeing her get it done.  I love to see what she picks and it always makes her so happy.

Here are the last 2 she had done...a few weeks apart and both at the Chick-fil-a family nights.  All for free (plus tip). This facepainter is seriously the best!!

Balloons!

After coming back from Galveston, Darren & I took our own kid-free vacation for one day/night.  We headed to Splashtown (yes we are dork and yes it was awesome!) and then went out for a night in the Woodlands.  While we were away, Granny & Pops busted out the balloons and the book that tells you how to make balloon things.

Ava of course loved this as she wants to be a "balloon girl' when she grows up.  Of course, I came back and had to make like everything in the book and then Ava and I proceeded to have a nice "fight" with our "swords" and Ava's "shield" (which was actually a crazy balloon hat.  This was actually lots of fun and a bit exhausting.  Can't wait to do it again next time we go to Conroe.

Galveston - the Beach

Our last day in Galveston and we finally headed across the street and to the beach.  I have to say I was not expecting much since it is Galveston, but the beach was a lot cleaner than I remembered.  We all collected seashells on the beach (so Ava could do something crafty with them later), Darren built a sandman, and we all dipped at least our toes in the water.  I thought Ava would really be into the sandy part (and she was) but she really loved the waves.  She convinced Darren & Rudy to take her quite a ways out and I was surprised she did not get scared.

Granny, Pops & Ava arriving on the beach (check out how foggy it looks...the humidity/heat fogged up the lens as soon as the cap came off!) 

Darren & Pops swinging Ava through the water...she loved it!

Darren showing Ava the seashells we collected.

Rudy & Jeanie on the beach.  Rudy told me this photo would look like one of those pharmaceutical ads. Ha!  Kind of but I still like it.

And me playing with Ava!

Galveston, Oh Galveston!

Darren, Ava, Granny, Pops and I took a little mini vacation down to Galveston this weekend.  We hit the Strand, hotel pool, Moody Gardens and of course the beach.  We all had a really good time and despite it raining one afternoon, we managed to enjoy our 2.5 days there.  We even sang a ridiculous Galveston, Oh Galveston song like 1000 times and never got over how funny it was to hear Ava sing it. Oh and we ate out -- a lot!  Thanks G&P for coming along with us...it was really fun.

  

The 2nd day there, we were able to meet up with Michelle, AJ & baby Jack at Moody Gardens to do the Butterfly exhibit (kind of lame) and the aquarium (everyone's faves: sea lions and penguins).  They just happened to be in Galveston the same weekend so it was nice to catch up (and finally meet Jack!)

Here is Ava & AJ posing in the Butterfly garden.

Ava & AJ posing as butterflies.

Darren (upside down, you joker!) and Pops as butteflies.

Me & Michelle.  It was so great seeing you M and your boys.  Thanks for coming to meet us!

Birthday

Today was my birthday and Darren & Ava did something a bit different today for me. This year, they went out together and Ava was in charge of decorations and most of the gifts. She had a lot of fun and I loved what they did for me.

Here she is telling me about all the stuff.

Here is my awesome Tinkerbell cake (complete with jewelry).

And here is my Ariel card, Us Weekly, Sonic gift card (for cherry limeades -- Ava is a bit obsessed and let's admit it, we love them too!) and a gift card to my fabric store.

They were not supposed to get me anything as I had just gone shopping the week before but I loved my special party. They even picked out Hello Kitty & Princess balloons and I had flowers deliverd to me. I haven't felt like such a little girl/princess since I was a child myself. Great fun for everyone! Thanks Darren & Ava for making my day special! Oh and side note: Darren had Ava sign the card and write Mommy on it and apparently he only had to tell her the letters for Mommy (as opposed to showing her which is what I do when I want her to write something specific) -- she's getting smarter every day! I was impressed.