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.

Easter Egg'stravaganza...

Today was our annual Easter Egg'stravaganza.  Bella came to hang out with us for a while before hand, and the girls had lots of fun playing with the train and basketball hoop.  Ava was so excited that Bella was here and that we were going to see the Easter Bunny that she refused to sleep.  She was wired!

At two, we headed down the street to the middle school.  (The Elementary and Middle Schools are about 2 blocks away.)  We were greeted at the door by non other than the Easter Bunny himself.  After a short hello, we headed into the gym to play some games.  This isn't your typical egg hunt, as there is not hunt!  The candy filled eggs are given out as "prizes."  This year we had almost 7,000 eggs.  Our journey group filled 1,032, and it seemed like nothing... my guess, we'll shoot for 2K next year.

could Ava be any happier?

The girls had their faces painted... of all things, Ava chose Larry from Veggie Tales.  She even had the option of a lady bug, her favorite, but the second she saw Larry, that was it.  Bella on the other hand, chose a pretty butterfly.  It's obvious which girl is more of a girly girl!

bean bag toss

duck pond - the number on the bottom told

 you how many eggs you got

gone fishin'

nerf ball toss... but Ava found it easier to just drop the balls in.

we had to see the Easter Bunny a second time.

On our way to get a snack (free hotdogs, popcorn, cotton candy, water, & capri suns)  Ava saw a puppy, and just HAD to give him a hug.  Bella wasn't as sure, but thankfully her Daddy was there.
 

The girls had a great time, even when we were standing in line for 20 minutes for a balloon.  And of course we had to have a balloon.  Ava popped hers in the car, and enjoyed the fact that she did.  Once we got home, and emptied her eggs, Ava read for a few minutes and then laid on the floor in front of the tv.  I had put in Tangled, hoping she'd curl up on the couch with me and sleep...instead, she fell asleep there.

our sleeping beauty! 

Looking forward to next year's Egg'stravaganza already!  And a special Happy 4th Birthday to Miss Bella!