Merry Christmas

Ava just had to have a red scooter this year, and I'm happy to report that Santa did not disappoint! I'm sure Zac was happy as well, he seems to love his little tike bike as well. What a great blessing to be able to see such overwhelming joy and happiness on Christmas morning. So grateful with all we have been blessed with.

Warmer Days

These were taken on a much warmer November day. We were headed to an early Thanksgiving dinner at Christy and Johns, thanks for having us along with everyone else! Ava loves the snow but hates the cold. She told me "I wish Christmas and winter were in the summer."

We could not get Ava to take the hat off for anything here. I was just so grateful that she wore the white shirt in spite of the ruffles! I call that a score. Lot's going on the next few days, Uncle Tony's Birthday, Daddy's Birthday, and of course Christmas! Today we are expecting a quick visit from a very busy man in a red suit - I know Ava is going to love it! Zac is still a little scared of the strange man - but Ava, well all she has dreamed about since Christmas decorations started appearing is a red scooter. We'll see if Santa can make it happen!

And we have TAKEOFF...

He's a full fledged walker now. He is too fun to watch walking. I just love when they first figure it out and don't have great balance. He is ever so proud of himself (almost as proud as I am), it is too much. He gives me the greatest smile and then just laughs while he is trying to walk and then, whoops, looses his balance and down he goes! He's excitement is what messes him up - I love it! This second pic I snapped in his great excitement right as he was about to go down. Gotta break out the video camera, and soon. Off course Ava doesn't see what is so special about it, she says "just about everyone I know can walk".

SuperHeros

Well now that tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I thought I'd break out what I'm most thankful for...my superheros! Our Spiderman is still going by the name Fredric and is loving the Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas Canon Song. She remembers it from Becca's wedding and we had to get the CD the other day, and haven't stopped listening to it since! She never fails to make me smile. She has a few imaginary friends lately, Carla and now Parker too. They are a complete hoot I'll tell you. She has them playing hide and seek and she is hysterical when she looks for them. She is calling out to them and asking them to stop hiding so good! I guess being invisible makes for real good hiding! She gave them both a bath tonight - you name it, they do it. Oh, and I'm sure she'd want me to tell you Carla's favorite color is pink and Parker's is green and they all like ham sandwich's. I would love to know what Zac is thinking, he just watches her run around here with Carla and Parker and laughs. This boy is too cool I tell you. He has such a wonderful personality - except when he gets mad of course. Then he has no patients and just yells something fierce. So yes, I am thankful for it all, and their Dad too, who helps make it all possible.

Two Step

He has started to take a few steps all on his own! He'll step from the ottoman to the couch - and stuff like that now! He is getting so big - my gosh! We have had some great 60 degree days in November (thank goodness since October was so darn chilly this year) so we were recently at the zoo. Just love the cool, crisp air and being out. Now it's cold again, 41 right now. We had music class this morning and I actually broke out the heavy winter coat for Zac and me. Ava is still insisting she only needs a fall jacket or hooded sweatshirt. Pretty soon we'll have a fight on our hands as the winter coat will be a necessity. Man, so many more photo's to post, so hopefully I'll have the Halloween ones up real soon - as Thanksgiving is just a over a week away!

One Amazing Year

Happy Birthday Zac Man Do! And let me tell you, this Man can do so much all ready. While he isn't walking yet, he is climbing stairs and racing all over on all fours. I never seen a kid move so fast. How amazing that it has only been a year, and I can't barely think of my life without him. He is such a sweetheart - how blessed am I?

Where has the time gone?

Okay, so I've been very bad at posting lately! So here are a few from today at Grandma Sue's leaf covered yard! Zac will be one in just two days and is standing on his own and actually managed to take two steps just the other day! He now has six teeth to chew through everything and anything! On another note, Jon and I just returned from Arizona. Before leaving we asked Ava what we should get her. Without hesitation she shouted "a football, a brown one". Well we managed to get her the football, which she loves. In the photos above you can see her with Grandpa Tom's football that she found in the yard. Such a boy she is!

Cake's on Me!

Zachary getting pictures for his One Year Birthday Invitation - crazy attempting to get this! He really wasn't that into it - I had to help him out a bit!

Pumpkin Patch

Well, it was a little chilly - but we managed to get out and get a few pumpkins to bring home! Ava is great at decorating them. She paints them all - and has been trying ever so hard to give them away! Can't understand why no one has taken them home.

Get this OFF of me NOW

She really, really hates to wear dresses! We were at a shop with Jon's sister, and asked her if she wanted something. "No", well after some thought and convincing, we got her to agree to get this one. Well - I guess she didn't really want it after all. While I forced it on her she was not happy. I promised she could take it off if she just let me get one last photo of her in a dress. How depressed am I?

A house where?

Ava says the craziest things I tell you. And, holy cow, she is imaginative too. The other day she was explaining to me about the house in her butt. Yes, you heard it right - she says there is a house in her butt. Then she tells me how her poop lives there, and when she goes to the bathroom, she is just letting them out. Does she think poop is like a pet dog or something?

Teeth

He currently has four teeth - all on top! Has had the two for a while and now two more just showed up this weekend. Trying to get the little dude to take a bottle now that he is eleven months and all - slowly accepting. But...he is too stinkin' cute to fight with! He is talking more and more - has a five word vocabulary (Dad, Mom, Ava, Bye, Night Night). I think he tried to say thank you the other day, but waiting to hear it a few times before making it official! He is climbing stairs (when I allow it) and loves it at the playground! So wonderful that he can do more on his own - Wow, what a sweetie pie - now will he sleep?

"Daddy, you be the princess

I'll be the King!" This is what she tells her dad when he asks her if she'll be his princess! She is bound and determined to be the boy no matter what. Pretty clever spin on things none the less. Well here are a few from her birthday, way back at the beginning of summer - where does the time go?

Three Years

Okay, so I'm way behind with this, but I just had to post still. I force my little gal into my wedding dress every year - and well since she now insists she's a boy - she wants nothing to do with it! I bribed her to put it on but didn't get a single smile out of it! I love it anyway - and I do still love the dress - Thanks Uncle Bob and Aunt Sharna! In any case her birthday pictures from June should be up soon as well!

Boston

We were in Boston last month for a little family vacation. It was hot and beautiful, just what a summer vacation should be! The two kiddo's flew great - Ava was fantastic on the plane, and Zac, well, not too bad considering he only slept about twenty minutes total. The fountains were a favorite for our gal.