January 1, Day 339

Happy New Year! Two little kiddies that were not tired at all!

December 31, Day 338

We ate at Kabuto's tonight for New Year's. Poor BJ, the guy tried to flip food into his mouth and just couldn't get it in.. fun times.. made me think of that Office episode...

December 30, Day 337

Can you guess what Ava got today? A potty seat! She carried it around and sat on it to read her book. She did sit on it after she pooped... maybe one day she'll sit on it BEFORE she poops!

December 29, Day 336

Tonight I met up with some of old college friends - hard to believe we graduated 7 and a half years ago! (Also, I used our old camera and this is a horrible picture... very blurry)

December 28, Day 335

Tonight the boys went to the bike shop, so Pamela and Adi came over to eat and play Dr. Mario. BJ got home and gave both girls a bath while we were still playing. When BJ told Ava she got to take a bath with Adi - she was super excited. They had lots of fun splashing each other. I think it was Ava's favorite bath time ever!

December 27, Day 334

I'm back! We were very blessed to get our camera back! Somebody found it on our street and turned into the police station. We are so thankful! So.. it is not a very exciting picture, but we had such a crazy day, returning and exchanging things. Here is one of Ava's new toys - a Magna Doodle.

December 25, Day 332

No picture today: I am officially in mourning for the loss of our camera.. it fell off the back of our car somewhere between our house and our last Christmas destination... slightly sick about this.. Visualize a sweet baby Ava trying to wrap herself up in a box - it was a sweet picture..

Merry Christmas!

December 24, Day 331

How many pieces can one little toy kitchen have?

December 22, Day 329

BJ and I went to the mall this morning, I like going to the mall here because they have different stores than we have. I found Ava these shoes, which I think are adorable, so I had to get them for her! I know they are the last thing she needs, but I do have a weakness for shoes (and they were on sale, with an extra 25% off! who can resist?)...

December 22, Day 329

We drove up to Fort Wayne and I don't have any picture except this one. I'm reading this book, because I liked another one this author had written, not sure how I'm feeling about this one...

December 21, Day 328

Sweet baby Ava is getting some curls! She had her two year apt. today and weighed in at a hefty 21 lb 6 oz.. and was 33 inches tall! Big girl!

December 20, Day 327

Today's Christmas activity: Ava wearing her Christmas dress! She looked so cute!

She also decided to curl up in the laundry basket while I was doing laundry. Silly Ava...

December 19, Day 326

Today's Christmas activity: trying to stay away from all the Christmas cookies/chocolates at my house! We also got a few more things off our Christmas list bought and enjoyed the snow!

December 18, Day 325

I made it through one crazy kindergarten Christmas party, time to relax for the next two weeks! I can't wait to get some quality Ava time in! Tonight's Christmas activity: watching The Muppet Christmas Carol with Ava and cousins.

December 17, Day 324

Today's Christmas activity: going a cookie exchange! I ate lots of good food and yummy cookies... and the pickle tree is back! Ha!

December 16, Day 323

Tonight Ava and I were going to make my favorite Christmas cookies, Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies for the cookie exchange tomorrow, but BJ said he would make them for me tomorrow! Yay!

December 15, Day 322

Happy Birthday to my sweet baby Ava!

December 14, Day 321

Tonight's Christmas activity: making gingerbread ornaments for my class. We'll decorate them tomorrow and put their picture in the middle! I think I'll let Ava make one tomorrow, too! I can't believe she'll be 2 tomorrow!

December 13, Day 320

Today we went to another birthday party, for Ava's birthday buddy, Tait. He seemed to enjoy his cake (even though his mommy tried to cut him off, ha!).

December 12, Day 319

We had Ava's birthday party today! If you ask her how old she is, she will say "Two" and hold up one finger, don't quite have the fine motor skills yet... I think her favorite present was her new baby doll and the baby doll crib I had when I was little. Although, you can see from the picture that she enjoyed sitting in it as well!

December 11, Day 318

Today's Christmas activity was supposed to be going to the Christmas play at church, but we didn't end up going because BJ's parents came down. So... instead, here is a new ornament that BJ's mom gave us..

December 10, Day 317

Today's Christmas activity: going to our small group Christmas party! We ate lots of food, played some Cranium, and had a gift exchange. The best present I got was not the one from the gift exchange though, I really wanted the hippo ornament from the staff party, and Sarah got one for me! How fun to have it hanging on the tree..

December 9, Day 316

Today's Christmas activity: making Max wear the red snowflake bandana he got from his haircut. That's about as Christmas-y as it got around here tonight. This may also be Max's last appearance since we are contemplating giving him away to some people who want a friend for their dog. I have been going back and forth, I'll be sad if we do, but I'll be glad he has a home with more attention (and no more dog pee to clean up!).

December 8, Day 315

Today's Christmas activity: reading Ava a Christmas story in front of the 'Yuletide Log' - (does this count as a Yuletide log?)

December 7, Day 314

Christmas activity for the day: decorating cookies at our friend Nikki's house. Ava really got into the sprinkles. I think the sprinkle jar was clogged with icing. What fun!

(Two pictures, I know.. cheating...)

December 6, Day 313

Ava looked very cute for church this morning. She liked standing in front of the tree and getting her picture taken. I also wrapped presents today, yippee for not waiting till the last minute!

December 5, Day 312

Christmas tree is up and decorated! We decorated it after Ava went to sleep, wondering how many ornaments will be in the same place tomorrow!

December 4, Day 311

We went to our first Christmas party of the year - the church staff party. There is always an ornament gift exchange, and things do get a little heated. I had my heart set on a hippo ornament in a bikini.. but Sarah played dirty and I didn't get it.. ended up with a snowman on a plate!

December 3, Day 310

Oh my girl is so funny...

December 2, Day 309

Nicole has inspired me to try and do something Christmas-y everyday. I figure I can do this, because I will probably be doing something for Christmas at school, if not at home. So tonight: lights for the tree in my room! The kids colored and cut out ornaments, so I've got to get the lights on tomorrow so we can hang our ornaments! Maybe I'll remember my camera and take a picture of my class tree tomorrow!

December 1, Day 308

Tonight Ava and I were reading stories on my bed. She decided she wanted more milk, so I told her to, "Go ask Daddy." Daddy must have been busy because I heard lots of thumping around in the fridge and when I came to investigate, Ava had gotten the gallon of milk out and was bringing it to me... what a silly girl!

November 30, Day 307

I went to the library tonight to get some fun Christmas stories - I love reading Christmas stories at school... I'm hoping Ava will sit long enough to listen to these, too!

November 29, Day 306

So our furnace has decided not to work.. It is staying at 67 degrees right now, I'm hoping it doesn't get to cold tonight! Hopefully it will be all fixed tomorrow!

November 28, Day 305

Ava got a cute little tree for her room. She loved putting lights on it and trying to put the little pink ornaments I got her on it, but she needed hooks! Maybe the ornaments will go on later...

November 27, Day 304

I'm going shopping tomorrow.. maybe it won't be quite as crazy as it was today.. or maybe it will!

November 26, Day 303

Happy Thanksgiving!  Ava with all her cousins and great-grandpa!

November 25, Day 302

What better way to start off a four day weekend, then by watching New Moon!  I'm thankful for a night out watching a movie I really wanted to see.  I did enjoy it.. maybe I'll read the books again...

November 24, Day 301

Tonight I am thankful for fun new Christmas decorations (and getting them at the Orchard Country Store with our family discount!).

November 23, Day 300

Today I am thankful for our neighbor giving us some mums.  So pretty!

November 22, Day 299

I am thankful that Ava got a subscription to Babybug for her birthday!  Now I won't have to read the same Babybug magazine over and over and over (I have it memorized)...

November 21, Day 298

Today I am thankful for hand-me-downs.  While I was doing laundry, I thought about how nice it was that so many of the clothes Ava is wearing right now are Adi cast-offs!

November 20, Day 297

Today I am thankful for great deals at Target!  I was going to buy this dress for $7 for Ava when we did our family Christmas shopping and I decided not to.  When we went back to Target tonight it was $3.24!  So, Ava got a new dress tonight!

November 19, Day 296

Tonight I am thankful for dinner with old friends.  I forgot to take my camera with me, but our conversation brought up the classic pickle tree that we had at our Ward's Apparel dinners... oh the fun we used to have!

November 18, Day 295

Tonight I am thankful for my church - it was our Thanksgiving dinner.  We had a good time sitting with our small group.

November 17, Day 294

Today I am thankful for the chai my husband made for me... it is nice to have a hubby who used to work at Starbucks and knows how to make me all the drinks!

November 16, Day 293

Today I am thankful for my peppermint chapstick..

November 15, Day 292

Today I am thankful for my job!  What other job can you have where you are dyeing t-shirts for a Thanksgiving feast?  Sometimes, I do wish I was at home with Ava all day, but I think I get the best of both.  I love having summers and breaks with Ava and I think I need to get out of the house or I would go crazy!