Earth Day Fair

A few weeks ago (obviously) we went to Frisco's Earth Day Fair and enjoyed the kites, the plants, the info and the performance at the new black box theatre. They had a medley of performances from the children's theater and Ava was in Heaven. She saw "Belle" and "Captain Hook" to name a few.

Spring Dance and Theatre Recital

Theme: 'Punzel Goes West written by Mrs. Misty, Ava's homeroom teacher

Characters: 'Punzel, Teddy Tornado, Cowboy Prince and Bessie Big Boots--Ava said she chose Bessie because she becomes nice at the end and everyone wanted to be Rapunzel. 'Atta Girl!

Skills: Line Memorization; Finding their spot on stage and various tap, jazz and ballet skills. At parent teacher conferences, Ava's dance teacher told me that Ava was selected to be a line leader which is an important role, her classmates follow her lead onto the stage and depend on her to find her mark, so they can as well.

We were front and center to watch her and that turned out to be a bit of distraction as all she wanted to do was make sweet googly faces to baby brother. Ha!

Time Flies: A First Birthday Party

We had a great celebration with dear friends and Gigi and Poppy. We'll get to see more family for birthday wishes in a few weeks, so we kept the party small. We had a bright decor with an airplane cake...time flies. Mommy made the birthday banner and overall, our little boy just felt so loved and special.

Griffin tore up his carrot cake! He was unsure at first, but once we showed him how it was done, he couldn't get enough. He just grinned ear to ear as we sang Happy Birthday and loved on everyone. What a fun day to commemorate ONE!

Behavior Management Chart

The other day Ava decided that she wanted a hula hoop. I told her that she could sure earn her way to getting one. She drew up a plan in her head as to how she would get the hula hoop. A "calendar" as she called it. It will have a picture of the hula hoop in the middle with squares around it to try to earn x's for a good attitude.

I really just pulled the "oh, that's a good idea" and "uh huh....great!".

To my surprise when we got home, her mental blueprint came to life and she created her own behavior management chart. She asked me, I had nada to do with this chart, if I would draw the pictures of what she wanted to work on.....hands for no hitting, feet for no kicking (yes, we've got some physical behavior to curb), smiley face for a good attitude, etc.

She really wants to earn that hula hoop, so we'll see....

Marriage Thought by Ava

:::snuggling with cat:::

"I feel like I'm going to marry Boo. Well, at first I'm going to marry my brother and he'll be my wife. I mean, he'll be my husband and I'll be the wife. Then I'll marry my cat."

Happy FIRST Birthday, Griffin!

You woke, as usual, with a smile on your face. Love that smile. We sang Happy Birthday to YOU and you just ate it up. What a wonderful day. A day that sure doesn't feel like a whole year has passed since we met you.

Happy Birthday my Beautiful Boy!

A Letter to Griffin

On the eve of your FIRST birthday....

My Griffers, tomorrow will be your very first birthday and I sit here relishing the snuggles we just shared before I put you to bed. You like to get nestled in my arms and look up at me with those baby blues, OH those baby blues. We rock until you get drowsy or are too playful to sit still, either way we share in a connection each time I get to put you to bed at night.

Griffin, I fall in love with you deeper and deeper each and every day. I remember so clearly meeting you for the first time, which was one year ago tomorrow. The doctor pulled you out and held you up, and when I saw you for the first time, you were the most beautiful thing I had ever seen! You cried and it made mommy cry because I had waited so long to meet you and hear that sound. I held you in my arms and said, "Look at that face!" and you looked right into my eyes as if we had known each other forever. In that moment, I knew I was your mother and you were my son and you would change my life forever…

And now a year has passed since that amazing day. In this incredible year, I saw your very first smile, heard your first giggles, and I cheered you on when you began to roll for the first time. I cheered as you struggled to crawl because I was so proud and amazed at how far you’d come. You came into this world, 7 lbs and 7 oz…a tiny little baby, so pink and soft, so innocent and dependent and absolutely perfect in every way. And now, you are a little boy.... 21 lbs, laughing, talking, waving…charming every person who is lucky enough to meet you. You are walking everywhere, you are one today, but beginning a journey—

You have developed into such an amazing little person already. You are the sweetest, most loving child I’ve ever met. You are kind and gentle-hearted. You are so smart and strong. You melt my heart every time you smile, and when you lay your head on my shoulder after a long day…it helps make the world right again.

Words cannot express how much I love you, my love, my precious son. You are my sunshine, my heart, my everything. I’m so very proud of you and honored to be your mommy. This last year has been filled with priceless memories and I look forward to so many more to come.

Love,Mommy

Mother's Day 2011

I'm one lucky mama.

First Haircut!

Ack! I can't believe we'll have a one year old next week. And in true big boy fashion, it was time to trim the scragglies a bit. Ya know, since we were getting a party in the back, up front, however......pure business.

Before:


During:





After:


And what a big boy! He didn't even wince, whine, or worm around. We were afraid he would freak since the little boy ahead of us was screaming bloody murder!!! For 10 minutes!!! Griff wasn't even fazed. He even gave the hair dresser some smiles. It made her day after her previous client.

Love his new big boy hair!

Bathtub Bubbles

4 Year Well Visit

It was a little delayed, but we went recently and Ava did great. She had the hearing and vision screen, which she passed. Funny, she was so specific on the name of the objects she was looking at, "American flag" instead of "flag" and "sailboat" instead of "boat", gave the nurse a little giggle.

Stats:
34 lbs. 6 oz.

40.5 inches

Polio vaccine

Items to start or continue discussing:
-Stranger Danger
-Fire Safety
-Gun Safety- especially what to do when you are at a friends house and if guns are there.
-Match/Lighter Safety
-Address/phone number recollection

Eating is very hit or miss right now. Some days she eats a ton and others, not so much. It all seems to even out. Some days, Ava can be picky while other days she eats asparagus and cod. It just depends, mostly on her mood...oh to be FOUR!

Sleeping. Ava has become an amazing sleeper. It took a good three years, lol, but she averages 11-12 hours a night. Bedtime is around 7:30 and she'll fall asleep around 8:00, after playing for awhile. She wakes up around 7:30 the next morning. Of course with the weather being nicer and the sun being out when she goes down, she has neen fighting bedtime recently.

Overall, a healthy, bright, active, happy 4 year old!

Spring Soccer Wrap-up

Ava's 2nd season of soccer has concluded and what a difference in this season from the last. She was much more interested and participated this spring. She scored goals and played defense and overall, just kept up with the game. Griffin and I were sad to miss the last game of the season because he was sick, but Daddy said that Ava did awesome! She took the ball from an opposing player, turned it, dribbled it down the field and scored! It might sound simple enough, but for those of you who have never witnessed 4-year-olds playing soccer, this is a big deal.

Way to go, Ava! We shall see if she wants to play again in the fall. She insisted that she take karate, and so she has been in Martial Arts for the past month and is loving that. {Pics to come}