Saturday, March 26, 2011

Three Cheers for Ava!

Ava scored 3 goals today at her early, early 8:00 soccer game!!! She was so proud, we were so proud, coach was ecstatic!! We've all just been waiting for her to get in her groove and get in there and play. After the game coach came up to Ava and said, "Ava, I don't count goals....but I know YOU scored THREE !"


This pic isn't of her scoring, but she's out in the bunch somewhere!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

St. Patty's Day Scavenger Hunt

You will never believe who visited Ava last week!

A leprechaun!

Okay, so we never *saw* him or her, but the leprechaun left little clues for a scavenger hunt for Ava and she was so giddy about it. Afterward, she informed her friends that "a leprechaun meeted me!", to which they just stared at her, unable to decipher WHAT she was saying. I think she meant a leprechaun visited me! Ha!

I got the idea from this website

http://www.momtastic.com/parenting/features/127977-diy-stpattys-day-treasure-hunt

and hope to do one each year, or something fun and spontanious geared toward this festive day of luck!









Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Beautiful Day!

We had a wonderful day today!

Griff and I turned lemons into lemonade, when we walked to the grocery store because he wasn't napping AGAIN this morning. I think we are already starting to transition to ONE nap! Oh no! Anyway, it was gorgeous outside, mid 70's by mid morning, and just a great time for us both.

All three of us went to the duck pond in our neighborhood this afternoon. Also gorgeous! Ava just loves to explore and imagine and I love to follow her lead. Griffin thought the ducks were just about the neatest things he'd ever seen. Then he saw a dog and started panting, as he does, and the ducks were chopped liver.

Hung out outside for the remainder of the afternoon on a picnic blanket in the front yard. Talking and playing with friends.

Great day!

Follow Me, Daddy

"Let's have a parade! I'm the leader and you run behind me!"

Yes Ma'am!





Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Creative Girl

She builds her own Lincoln Log city.


Draws beautiful butterflies.


And "princess rainbows"


Creates, cuts and matches her very own matching game.


Conducts "ladybug races"


All on her own.

Creative!

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Ava's 4th Birthday Party

Friends, Furry bear friends, and FUN! Ava's 4th birthday was held at Build-A-Bear and the kids had a blast making their own bears! We went upstairs for cake and Happy Birthday afterward. The cake! OH, the cake! It was as delicious as it was beautiful. We were so thankful to a mother of one of Ava's school friends for making for Ava as her present. The. Best. Cake. Ever.



















Wednesday, March 9, 2011

First Storytime

And Griffin had a blast! He was so excited to sing and be with other babies. And as our old music pals will remember with Aves, griffin is the same way about staying put in my lap....he just wanted to crawl and explore, but still participate.









Friday, March 4, 2011

Happy 4th Birthday, Ava

March 4, 2011

Happy, happy birthday my sweet girl!


You were shocked this morning to wake up to the balloons covering your bedroom floor, streamers hanging on your doorway and the fireplace decorated just for you! Here are some pictures from our morning celebration. We then went to get a special sprinkle donut for breakfast.











There is so much to love about you at 4 years old!
I love your questions and inquisitions. You are just so insightful and curious.

I love your personality. The way you shrug your shoulders when you talk, use your hands to elaborate a thought, and speak with such passion and enthusiasm.

I love our nightly routine. It's the best time of day to sit and relax and talk to you about your day or your opinions or your thoughts. You still love back and arm tickles too.

I love playing pretend with you. Mommy /baby is a popular one with you and you love being the mommy. It's crazy how much you mimic and sound like me.

I love that you love to give. You make artwork for us or your friends on an almost daily basis. And your "gifts" for your neighbor friend are very generous ;)

I love what an artist you have become. You are getting more detailed by the day and really use your arts and crafts time to focus and work.

I love your outfits. Oh, your outfits! We've gotten to the point where we have surrendered in having a say in what you wear. For the most part, it's presentable, but there are some days where daddy and I look at one another and smirk. You come up with great combinations that you'll only be able to pull off for such a short time in your life, so why not?!

I love you as a big sister. There is no other way that our family should be than it is now. You were just meant to be a big sister to a little brother, it's just so evident and perfect in you guys.

I love how you are singing more challenging songs and make up words. We all do it, it's just so funny to hear this sweet, little voice singing her heart out and coming up with random words to fill in the blanks.

I love your intensity, your passion, your sweet disposition, your sassy side, your love, your caring, your curiousity, your experimentations and your challenges. You keep me on feet, day in and day out. Thank you for that!

Some Favorites, as answered by you:

Favorite color: "Pink" (surprise!)

Favorite movie: "Alexa and Leona" (The Diamond Castle)

Favorite snack: "SunChips"

Favorite song: "Skid-a-ma-rink-a-dink-a-dink"

Favorite subject in school: "Ms. Lindsey's class" (Music)

Favorite activity: "Painting"

Favorite hobby: "Going to the mall" (uh-oh!)

Thursday, March 3, 2011

A letter to Ava

Let me preface this by saying that the majority of my thoughts are going to sound a bit cliche, but I don't know how else to describe the fact that you are turning FOUR years old and time has gone WAY too fast (see?, cliche #1).



It's the Eve of your Fourth Birthday and I'm beside myself wondering where the time went (cliche #2, okay, I'll stop counting now.), Ava. You have grown into this beautiful, charming little girl right before my eyes, but I can vividly, VIVIDLY remember when you were just an infant, a baby, a toddler. Blessing us beyond words to have you in our lives and changing life as we know it. You are truly, genuinely one of a kind. I know I'm your mom and I'm supposed to say that, but you honestly have me pondering, on a daily basis, how I am so lucky to have you.



Yesterday you told me that you are not going to college. Yep, that's right. You made up your mind and you don't want to go to college. When I asked you why, you told me because you always want to be with me and never leave. I just needed to write this down because in about 10 years, believe me, I will want to remind you of this conversation. "And besides", you went on to say, "I already emptied out my collge bag." You see, prior to your new-found decision, you sporadically decided one day to pack a bag for college. In the life of a 3, as Daddy and I say, what isn't sporadic? So your bag contained all the essentials one would need, at 3 mind you, to go to college: a Barbie car, a toothbrush with a toothy timer, clothes, B.B., Lolli your stuffed giraffe, and other odds and ends, er, I mean "essentials". And now, it's been emptied. So your not going to college and staying with me forever. Note taken.



This year brought about a whirlwind of change for you and gave you a new role that will forever help define you. Sister. Yes, and my oh my, what a great sister you are, Ava. I am amazed when I sit back and watch you interact with baby brother Griffin. You are so thoughtful, caring, patient, loving and capable. You are MY teacher. Truly, I watch and listen to you and you teach ME about the person I want to be. How does that happen? It does and it has.



I came across a quote that a friend posted the other day and it summarized for me, my thoughts on how I feel about who you are and how impactful you are in my life.



"Motherhood is about raising and celebrating the child you have, not the child you thought you would have. It's about understanding that she is exactly the person she is supposed to be. And that, if you're lucky, she just might be the teacher who turns you into the person you are supposed to be." ~The Water Giver~

And to that, my darling little girl, I say "Cheers!" to my little individual. I couldnt be more pleased with the person that you are. Congratulations on turning four years old. I can't wait to continue to watch you grow and blossom. Even if you ARE still under our roof for the next 50 years. Truly.

With all the love I have,
Mommy (yes, I'm still mommy to you)