Diving in...

In the evenings after work and school we've been enjoying our time outside.  It's been rather hot, so we've been getting out our baby pool (#2 - this one has a drain, thank goodness.) Ava loves it of course, and I was able to capture some of her phone on my phone the other day.  You'll have to turn you head... I'm not a video editor, couldn't turn the video.

 

Ava also has been wanting to ride her tricycle, unfortunately the one she has is too big.  We got her a new tricycle yesterday and she enjoyed it for a bit, until she got frustrated with the pedaling.  I didn't put the "push bars" on it at first, but when I realized she needed a bit of help, I put them on.  We'll take them off as soon as she has a hang of it.  Technically we're probably a little behind on the tricycle riding, but oh well.  She'll get there.  Oh, and she got a big girl helmet and a bell to match... riding in style with Lambie along for the ride.

And then there's me.  I got bored and had to change my hair.... nothing drastic.  Unless I go super short there isn't much you can do with my cut. 

 

We'll be back soon.

we're still here...

It's been almost two months, but I promise, we're still here.  Every time I think about sitting down to write a post, I'm either laying in bed about to fall asleep or busy doing something else, and the thought disappears as quickly as it came. 

I don't get much time to myself, actually, I rarely get time to myself. Thus another reason I haven't gotten to write in a while. I do miss it. I saw just a few minutes ago that my personal blog hasn't been updated in 4 months...woah! It's definitely not because of a lack of things to say. It's plain business that keeps me from it. But I did steal away a little bit today to sit outside in the sun and read my new book "Strong Willed Child."

I hope she doesn't get any new ideas from this book!

We've got a lot of pictures to catch up with, so here we go:

Momma and Ava at Easter... getting this child to smile for a picture these days seems impossible.

so instead we get sneaky pictures, some turn out okay

 and some are just funny!

My loves on Easter

Ava may wear dresses and other cute outfits on Sunday, but don't let that fool you, she is 99% tomboy.   She'll take mud and dump trucks over dolls any day.

check out those mud covered legs!

Ava's drew circles for us.

in-motion shot... she bounces off the walls most days

and her independence drives her to try new things... like brushing her teeth with purple crayon.

Ava got a little preoccupied when trying to help water the flowers, she found soaking herself was much more fun.

We took another trip to the zoo back in May.  We are so lucky to live close to the zoo.  It's a relatively inexpensive and educational fun activity that we all enjoy.  We'll be heading to the Children's museum next Monday.

 

checking our height again this year

Ava loves the stingray tunnel

she's a caged animal... wish I had one of these at home!

last year Ava loved the wobbly bridge, this year she wasn't so sure.

our silly girl, posing with the turtle

2 going on 16... we're in trouble folks!

typical Ava

I swore I would never ever put a harness on my child....  foot in mouth!!!!!  This little monkey is a lifesaver and our little monkey loves it.   And we totally met all the strange looks we got with huge smiles.  Why?  Because our child was having fun, and had a little Independence and she was kicking and screaming while we tried to hold her hand.

When Ava does play with her dolls, this is usually what happens.  Each "baby" has a lovey... can we say OCD?

Miss Ava's hair sure has gotten long. But we like it that way and it's beautiful. So it's an adventure every day to see how we can best keep it out of her face at school. This day, she was quite cooperative and let me braid it.

Playing for her audience

Our first pool day of the season, we'll be having our second one here in about 10 minutes.

showing off her new "big girl hat" from PawPaw.  For being a tomboy she sure loves pink, and thew a fit when her baby baseball hat wouldn't fit anymore.

Potty training....   we'll we've started, but we're not there yet.  Ava still prefers the freedom her diaper gives her.  And with the warmer weather she's constantly on the run and doesn't like to stop to go to the potty. 

another shot of our muddy tomboy.  She's a keeper for sure!

We'll catch up more soon...hopefully.