Ava Lately

Ava is definitely a little athlete.  She picked up a basketball recently in our cul-de-sac and started shooting hoops.  It's a pretty high net, but she made quite a few baskets!

She enjoys practicing things once she learns she knows how to do something.  So, on the day these pictures were taken, she asked if she could change into something to play basketball.  She then came downstairs, dressed, OBVIOUSLY, for basketball.  :-)  That's my girl.

The light outside was so nice, I asked if I could snap some pictures of her with the camera in my phone.  She obliged.  :)

Ava wanted me to take her picture by her Lego structure.  :)

These are Ava's drawings of the different Disney princesses.

Cinderella (Sidrelu)

Jasmin (Jasmn)

Ariel (Arel)

Princess Belle (Prises Bel)

 Ava wanted to help me assemble these "beachy" treats for our 4th of July cook-out at the Quinns' house.
 

They were vanilla pudding mixed with Cool Whip and some vanilla wafer crumbs, topped with more vanilla wafer crumbs and a few Swedish fish, garnished with a beach umbrella. :)

Peace, love and one well-rounded gal,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas this year!

We're in the midst of celebrating the holiday season and this time of year, which helps us reflect on everything with which we've been blessed.

This year, we went for a free carriage ride at The Avenue. IT was a bit chilly waiting in line, but we made our way through it and enjoyed a warm snuggly ride with our friends the Hoffmans. Liam has been teething lately, so I was just glad he made it through the ride! He enjoyed watching the horses as we waited for our turn.

We also went to the His Kidz Christmas play at church on Saturday. Kids 13 years and younger can act in the play. They did an amazing job! Ava really seemed to enjoy the play, singing and "choreography". She clapped enthusiastically after ever number. Liam also sat through 2/3 of the play, before Doug got up and walked around with him in the back. (I was suprised that Liam made it that far, honestly!)

Liam now says: car, truck, duck, tower, flower, Mama, Daddy, more, Ava, tree, thank you (tay-too), apple, ball, block. I'm sure there are others, but these are what come to mind right now.

Ava has such an amazing memory. I don't know how she remembers half the things she does! She is excited to celebrate Christmas this year and asked Santa to bring her lots of toys (when I told her she could have one big toy or lots of less big toys, she opted for "lots of toys"). She also mentioned that she will be happy with whatever Santa brings to her. That made my heart melt. She wants a "purple coat and a small blue coat to give to Liam". I think it's so sweet that she is thinking of her little brother and trying to be his voice for Santa. She wants to make sure Santa doesn't forget to bring something to Liam!

When we wrote out Ava's letter to Santa, Ava started out by saying that she thinks Rudolph is cute and that she hopes he is okay. It was at that point that she asked for the purple coat, etc. I have no idea why she asked for a purple coat. Too funny. Maybe because she already has a pink one and a blue one... :-) I think she was actually asking for a purple snowsuit (not coat)...

The tree is up (lit and decorated), I made four recipes of truffles this year (Oreo truffles, Kraft's simply elegant chocolate truffle recipe, buckeyes, cookie dough truffles), I've had my fill of hot spiced cider and we've had a holiday party celebrating with friends in our home. It doesn't get any better than that. Everything else is gravy. But I'm sure there will be gravy on the menu before the year is up... ;-)

I love to watch the look on Ava and Liam's faces as they see Christmas lights and decorations. Liam's repetoire of words isn't lengthy, but lengthy enough that he can say "Oooh! Wow!!!" whenever he sees houses lit up with lights. :-)

Life is good.

Peace, love and starry-eyed babes,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam

Visitors: Grandpa Bill & Grandma Pam

My Mom and Bill came down for a visit on their way down to Georgia, a few weekends ago. They spent a few days in Florida, with Bill’s sister and brother-in-law, and then returned for a visit with us for a few days. We had a great time while they were here!

Ava took her first trip to the circus the first weekend that Mom and Bill were in town. We went to the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus at Philips Arena. I haven’t been to the circus since I was seven, when some of the “Griffith cousins” (minus Benjamin, who lived in TN), went with Uncle Bill (a Shriner) and Aunt Lillian! This go-around, Doug wasn’t too enthused about heading to the circus. The version he remembered from his younger days was half-baked with visions of creepy “carnies”  (Carnival folk).

Ava and Grandma Pam waiting in line before attending the circus


















The circus has changed since I was seven. There was a huge flat screen (apropos considering we were watching at “Phillips Arena”) that flashed background movement / lights, etc. We got to watch “Bello”, a non-speaking / hair-product junkie / nice clown attempt many of the circus acts successfully. Circus clowns, elephants, tigers, dancing dogs, white and black horses, zebras, tightrope-walkers, teeterboard-acrobats, and two guys who balanced themselves in the equivalent of two flying hamster wheels on an axis. Grandma and Grandpa prepped Ava for the event with a circus-themed book that remains her favorite weeks later. Ava was entirely amazed with the first half of the circus, but by the end she seemed to be satisfied with people-watching the crowd behind our seats. J She was probably on sensory-overload, by that point.

Ringling Brothers Fun


















Elephants


















Elephants


















Notice the "spotters" on the ground...


















Craziness at great heights


















Tigers


















Talented tigers


















We ventured to Chuck E. Cheese, where Ava really enjoyed playing in the tunnels / play area. Somehow I got conned into pushing her up the steps so she could get into the tunnels. Another little girl (about four, I’d say?) seemed to be claustrophobic, so I helped her through the tunnels. I found it interesting that my almost-two-year-old daughter was running around the tunnels at lightning speed, without any fear. There I was, 5 ½ months pregnant, crawling around in kiddie-tunnels. J Grandma Pam and Grandpa Bill also took on this responsibility when they took Ava to McDonald’s Play Place one day while I worked. Ava now requests that we go there by name, “Pay-Pace? Pay-Pace?”

Ava is very fond of Chuck...


















Ava on a ride at Chuck E. Cheese

























I took up residence on the steps... Ava went down the slide so fast, I just decided to stay in one spot!

























We also went to the park, took lots of naps (Grandkid and grandparents alike :-)), went to Boneheads, went to the mall and rode the carousel, made heart-shaped cookies on sticks (post-Valentine’s Day festivities), enjoyed people-watching at THE BEST WAFFLE HOUSE in North America (exit 265 in Marietta, GA :-)), danced like crazy people around the living room, and just had a great time being together.

Heart-shaped cookies on sticks - Can you guess which Ava decorated?


















Thank you Grandpa Bill and Grandma Pam for making the trek down to see us! We love you, and always enjoy our time together. Since your visit, Ava continues to ask for “Grandpa? Grandpa?”, and has pointed to different seats at our breakfast table and at our guest bedroom, asking for “Grandpa? Grandma?” She misses you!

With love,
Shelly, Doug and Ava