Mi Vida Loca...

la mia vita pazza..., mein verrucktes leben..., min galna liv...,   no matter how you say it or what language, it's still my (our) crazy life!

Things sure have been crazy busy the past month, thus no blog posts.  But I've got a few minutes before bedtime and before I head out to the grocery store to update you with some pictures. 

Ava is attached to Nathan's hip the minute he walks in the door in the evenings.  They've been playing lots of basketball lately... actually as I type, Ava is being dunked into the hoop... and now Ava is crawling through the hoop which is on the ground.  We definitely don't have a delicate girly girl on our hands.  She is a rough and tumble, keepin' up with the boys, blonde haired, blue eyed beauty!

and a total 'Daddy's girl'

With Daddy studying on Saturdays Ava and I have had lots of other things on our schedule to keep us entertained.  The past couple of weeks we've had baby showers to attend.  Two of them were at our friends, the Spanik's, house.  Ava loves going to see Hali ("Howie") and playing in the toy room with Mr. Jon. 

Jon and the girls hanging out watching Ice Age during one of the showers.

and playing tea party with Tico the dog.

We got a little taste of warmer weather this past week and Ava and I were able to get outside for a bit.  It did us both good to get some fresh air and to run around.  Joshua and his Mom Kristi were able to join us one afternoon.  Ava and Joshua acted as if they hadn't seen each other in months.... oh wait, they hadn't!  They ran around chasing each other and having a blast. 

enjoying some yogurt

our blonde haired, blue eye beauty!

finally they understand the point of this swing!

As I mentioned I'll be heading to the grocery store here in a bit after Ava goes to bed.  Since going back to work and getting a glimpse of the nicer weather, I've decided to save Mondays - my only day "off", to have fun with Ava.  We're looking forward to going to the pool, playing in the backyard, and just having a day off to hang around the house and do nothing if we so desire.  This is what I love about Mondays, we can stay in our pjs if we want....

 make new friends...

have a photo shoot...

(photo courtesy of Miss Ava Reese)

and wear silly glasses.

"School" as we call it, has been really good for Ava.  She is playing with others and learning lots.  Last week when I picked her up she started whining when I walked in.  As I tried to ask her about her day she continued to whine so I sighed and said, "oh Ava, you are a handful girl!"  (not in a bad way, mind you)  Right after I said that, Loretta, the daycare's owner spoke up.  "Oh, but she's not, here.  She might be handful at home (and at times she is!!!) but here she is great.  She goes with the flow, helps the smaller children, listens when we ask her to do something, and is an all around great kid."  Say what!?!?

Ava is a great little girl.  Unfortunately she is a bit spoiled being the only grandchild and niece, which makes it hard to handle something.  Lets also not forget the fact that she is TWO.  I've heard the three's are even worse, but I'm holding out hope that it won't be. 

Ava has been surprising us nightly with the stuff she is learning at AKP (daycare).  We were singing during bath time last night, and she was singing her ABCs right along with me.  She is also bringing home games that she learns and tries to play them with us (clapping hands and spinning in circles, patterns etc.)  We're really excited to see what all she learns this fall when she starts pre-school three days a week.  It will be a whole new adventure, for all of us, and will probably make life, a little more crazy.  

Before heading to school this morning.

(Thank you GiGi for my new sweatshirt!)

Acting out...

Last Friday we added to our family... okay not "we" specifically.  Kristi, Nathan's older sister married Shaun Reed in Morgantown.  It was a simple and small ceremony only attended by a few people.  And that is exactly how they wanted it.  No big wedding for these two, no elaborate reception.  Just a ceremony with the Justice of the Peace (or judge... not sure, we weren't there!) and a family dinner at Sargrasso with a few friends thrown in. 

 the newlyweds

on our way into Sargrasso

(Nathan will HATE this picture)

We did drive down for dinner on Saturday, and it was nice to see everyone.  Ava though, was a handful.  She's been a handful recently, more so than normal.  It's quite possible that her acting out is a symptom or an effect of our new routine.  Or it could just be a bad case of the "Terrible Twos."

Two weeks ago we changed things up.  Sarah recently took a staff position with our church, Discovery, and so Ava is now attending daycare.  We had been wanting to send her to daycare for a little bit each week, so when this job opportunity came about, we jumped on it.  So far things have gone well and Ava seems to like it.  She of course did get a cold the first week, which was expected.  What wasn't expected was that she'd also get a fever and Sarah would have to take a day off work to stay home.  Fortunately, Ava's fever broke quickly and she is feeling better.  Actually, she was bouncing off the walls at the restaurant on Saturday night. 

We know it's going to take some time for all of us to get used to our new routine, but we'll get there.  And we know this is going to be better for us in the long run, no matter what people say - it was a God thing.  (We've had a number of people tell us -in their own way- that Sarah shouldn't go back to work.)  We may not get to post as much, but we'll do our very best to keep you updated on everything going on in the Berry Ann household.  Honestly, there isn't too much going on, we're quite busy with school, a new job, and daycare.  But as Spring rolls around (there is actually a blizzard outside at the moment!), we'll be getting into some more stuff and we'll share it with you.  And Miss Ava will be starting pre-school in the fall, so that will bring more fun as well.

Here are a few pictures from our "family" dinner on Saturday night.

Ava & Daddy in a somewhat calm moment 

 Kristi & Shaun

Ava & Uncle Todd... she LOVES her Uncle Todd!

Little time...

I've had very little time to blog lately, and most of the things that have come to mind have been things I want to put on my personal blog and not here.  So again, here are some more pictures from the past few weeks.

We have no clue how she even knew where her Halloween costume was, but one Saturday a while back, Ava took Nathan upstairs and when they came back down, she was a lion.  It didn't last too long, but for a good 45 minutes or so she played and cuddled with her Daddy on the couch... as a lion.

Have we mentioned our hideous green couch?  Usually it's covered with a nice chocolate colored cover, but when it's being washed or when we aren't having company we deal with the ugliness that is green.  It wouldn't be a bad looking couch if our cats hadn't ruined it and it hadn't been beaten up in all our moves.  So thats the "thing" you see in all our pictures... you'll never see it in person, it WILL be covered. 

Anyway, Ava has started this thing where she likes to stand behind you while you are sitting on the couch.  Not quite sure why, but she enjoys it, and does it with everyone, Daddy...

 and PawPaw too. 

Ava and her cool light up toy that she got for Christmas... and of course the "green ugliness."  Oh, and she likes to pull the cushions off.  Again, not sure why.

Another Christmas present, Ava loves her little table.  She tries to eat most meals here, against our wishes of course. 

movie time with her babies, which oddly, she could care less about.  Give this girl a matchbox car and she is in heaven.

in other dress up news (other than the previous lion)...  we aren't huge fans of princess stuff.  I think we've mentioned this before.  But Ava was given some princess dress up stuff for Christmas.  One evening Ava wanted to watch one of her "repeat" shows, one of the ones she watches over and over and over, and we just couldn't handle it, so we bribed her.  If she'd watch "Princess & the Frog" she could dress up like a princess.  That did the trick, even though she doesn't know what a princess is, she got to have fun in yet another costume.  (Have you seen the movie?  It's really cute, and the music is awesome... that is if you like jazz)

Look at that ponytail!  Ava's hair is getting so long, I just had to include a picture... our little girl is growing up.

And finally, a little play time.  Before you all freak out, she did not shut herself in there, I was standing right there when she climbed in and I wanted to see what she'd do.  The camera was on the table beside me and I was able to get this picture.  I never once took my eyes off of her... I'm not crazy!

In other news, we may be facing some changes at the Berry Ann household soon.  We're still going over things and trying to figure it all out.  As soon as we know something we'll let you know... but keep us in your prayers as we make some hard decisions.  And it's not bad, it's good... and different. 

*And NO, we aren't adding to our family... at least not any time in the next couple of years!  (I know some of you will think it's that)



just pics...

we have other pictures to upload, but these will have to do for now...

 



back to school...

Spring semester starts tomorrow, and that means I'm losing my husband.... hehehe.  Okay, not really, but there have been times recently when I've felt like a single mom.  Nathan crammed in as many hours at work as he could, although most not by his choice, to get ready for all the time he will be spending away from work.  As of tomorrow he will begin a new work routine that he has never done before; at work by 8:30am and leaving work by 5:30pm.  For those of you who know my husband, you know he is a work-aholic and can work anywhere from 6am - 11pm... or later if he needs to.  And that doesn't factor in his 40 minute drive. 

Enough about that, because tomorrow Nathan start his first class at NC State, and he couldn't be more excited.  He is only taking one class this semester to get back into the swing of things and then may end up picking up more in the fall.  Hopefully, he'll be able to complete his degree in roughly 3 years, and then who knows where we'll end up.  I can't say I wouldn't be dissapointed if we left where we are, we both really like it here.  We've made new friends and have a great church, and those are two things that are always hard to find when you move and start over.

But don't worry, we aren't trading in our (Old) Gold & Blue (not blue & gold people, those are Pitt colors!!!) just yet, at least I'm not.  I'll always be a WV girl at heart.  I figure though, a lot of things will be popping up around here that are red & white.

So here's to a great first semester back...!

Recap...

Well... Christmas was a blurr.  We both agreed that it didn't really feel like Christmas, although being at my Mom's house with lots of snow did help. 

This year we had hoped to continue to have our own Christmas at our house, but we also wanted to go visit two of our best friends for New Years, so we had to change our plans.  Instead, we planned on leaving out early Christmas morning and starting our journey south to WV.  So, we made Christmas Eve our Christmas.  Thankfully at (almost) 2.5yrs, Ava doesn't know the difference.  Friday morning I got up early and put the presents that Santa had left in the powder room (He knows we have cats who would eat the paper and ribbon - Thank you Santa!) under the tree.  Unfortunately, I didn't read the note that he left soon enough and forgot to put the candy in the stockings.  Oops. 

I grabbed our new video camera and waited for Ava and Na.  The first thing she saw was "Mickey Mouse!!!"  Ava has been in a huge Mickey phase, and it's come out of nowhere.  We don't have cable, so she doesn't watch 'the Clubhouse,' and she's only had one book until now... it's kinda funny how kids just gravitate to these things.  Anyway, she ran quickly to her new beanbag chair, courtesy of Mimi & PawPaw, and sat down with Mickey.  That of course was short lived as she noticed the presents under the tree and she dug right in, opening not only her presents, but also ours. 

 enjoying her new Mickey Mouse puzzle. 

It plays music and Mickey drives his car around the track.

 Ashley got into the Christmas spirit early as well.

Saturday morning, Christmas Day, we headed to Morgantown.  Ava got WAAAAY too many presents.  We actually had to leave some there because we didn't have enough room in our car.  We've already decided that next year, Christmas presents WILL be passed by us before they are purchased!!! (sorry grandparents, our house isn't big enough, and we already have too much)

 proof that I was there... I'm always behind the camera.

 basketball hoop

 Daddy teaching Ava how to run the prized train set, although this is only a small portion of the whole thing.  Right now it's set up on a 5'x4' mat in our living room... it definitely isn't small.

 Lambie even got to go for a ride

That night we made our way farther south to Charleston.  We hadn't even gotten our coats off when Ava found more presents.  Again, we left stuff there, as we didn't have room.  (Thank goodness we're getting a new bigger car/suv next year!)

 Ava received tons of stuff again, but this is the only picture I managed to get.  The number of new DVDs that we brought back was outrageous.

Also while we were in Charleston, we got a chance to see G-Gma Virginia Ann, who has since been referred to as Nana.  My cousins called her that growing up, and although it didn't take with me, it works well for Ava.  She has so many grandparents that we're trying our hardest to distinguish between all of them.  We also got to see my Aunt Mel and a few of my cousins, including Ginny and Jake who were in from NY, via Va.

As I mentioned above, the snow at my Mom's house, made it feel a bit more like Christmas.  We were hit with a small snow storm, and got about 6"... on top of the already 6+" they had.  Have I ever mentioned that they live on a mountain with God?  Most of the time, even when the city gets nothing or very little, you can guarantee that Mimi & PawPaw have a good bit. 

PawPaw bought Ava a small sled so we took it out for a little fun.  Unfortunately, our girl is growing so quickly she won't fit in it next year.  Ava had a blast, we were outside for well over an hour running back and forth down the road.

 we were running, I couldn't run fast enough for Ava, she loved every second

Mimi & Ava heading back up the drive. 

Ava loved the fact that Abbey, PawPaw's dog, enjoyed running with us.  Every time we took out, Ava turned and called to Abbey to come with us.  

Once we finally headed North again, we stopped off in Philippi to see Gigi and the rest of our extended family (the Long's and Armstrong's - minus Uncle Ort.)   Once again, Ava enjoyed the cat toy much more than her own.

Tuesday night was the WVU vs. NC State bowl game.  I debated putting up a post called "A House Divided..."  but didn't have the chance.  Confusing?  Yeah, it probably is to most people, especially WVU fans, but I haven't gotten to that post either.  Nathan has finally chosen NC State and will be starting there next week.  No, we aren't moving, at least yet, but it did make WVU's loss to our "new" school a little easier. 

 Ava and Daddy watching the game... before it went totally downhill. 

And this picture, I love, it's hilarious.  After WVU more or less gave up, so did everyone else in the room.  If you hadn't left the room and you weren't playing on your phone, you were having a conversation that had nothing to do with the game.  Shoot, at one point we even skyped with my cousin Amanda... during the game.  We're such great fans!

After finally returning home to PA, we got one good night's sleep before hitting the road again.  This time, we headed out to Northern VA to see Amanda Jo, Brett, and Trent.  We made excellent time, thanks to our new GPS - I totally feel cool now, everyone has a GPS,  and got there around 4 on New Year's Eve. 

Ava and Trent couldn't have been more excited to see each other and they spent the whole weekend all over each other... literally.  We went to Old Navy to get out of the house on Saturday and Trent more or less sat in Ava's lap in the cart.  It was quite funny, you could tell at times that Ava needed space, and Trent just wasn't ready to give it to her, and vice versa.  They played and played, and watched as many videos as we'd let them.  I was proud of both of them, they really didn't fight and shared toys quite well. 

On the way back from our very small shopping trip, we glanced in the back seat to see this:

They didn't let go until we got to the house.  And I promise it wasn't posed.  They even shifted their hands a few times to be more comfortable.  So very cute!  (the boys didn't find it nearly as cute, and I think Nathan was re-calculating how long Ava should be locked in the basement away from boys)

 the boys... playing with cars...

cuddling watching a movie

We had a great time seeing everyone over the past week, but man are we glad to be home.  There are so many little comforts of home that you take for granted.  (ie, our bed, internet access, schedules/routines, etc)
Hopefully we'll get to update again soon, I'm sure we'll have plenty of things to talk about, 2011 has only just begun.

Happy New Year

2011