San Diego Fun

For us, summers in Arizona always include at least one break from the desert heat to enjoy the Pacific surf. We spent a week in Solana Beach, just outside San Diego. We all enjoyed the cooler weather, ocean air, and being able to be outside.

Our first stop was where we used to go, pre-Ava: Del Mar dog beach. Chase was in heaven – he can never get enough of swimming in the ocean after one of his toys. Ava loved watching the dogs frolic in the water almost as much as she enjoyed the tractors working on the nearby lagoon.

Chase making a last second appearance into the mother-daughter photo.

Dad and Ava on the rocks along the beach cliff.

This year’s condo was in a complex that had a private beach entrance. The overlook was a perfect way to enjoy the ocean without Ava getting all sandy. And a great background for some more family photos…

Ava loved all the flowers – she couldn’t stop picking them to bring one to Mommy, or Chase, or just to smell. Here she is caught red-handed…

One of the days we went down to the La Jolla cove to watch the seals. Ava posed briefly for a photo with the seals dotting the hillside behind her.

A shop near the condo has a cow out front. Of course Ava needed to pose with the painted cow.

Ava loved being able to be outside at the park. Here she is running around the park down the street. She loved chasing the birds, and playing with the other kids. And she even learned how to swing on a big girl swing.

When she wasn’t running around, Ava played mommy with her dolls. Here she is smiling with the little bed that she made for dolly – you’ll note that she even makes sure that dolly has some matchbox cars to keep her company.

Since the train station was only a short walk away, and Ava loves trains, one of the days we took a train ride. The smile on Ava’s face was totally worth it – she talked about it for the rest of the trip.

Watching the train pull away from the station…

Ava managed to get a hold of the camera one day…here she is with a pretty good self portrait.

Of course any vacation on the beach includes lots of walks along the sand. Or in Ava’s case, running along the sand.

The downside is that the vacation was only a week, and we returned to 100+ temps still in AZ. Until next time – Sayonara San Diego!

Summer Video Fun

Ava is a water child – whether it is playing in the pool, or squirting Chase with the hose, Ava loves to play with wither. She has become quite the little swimmer. Ava loves diving off the side of the pool and gliding through the water. She’s even starting to dive down to pick up her diving toys in the baby pool.

Click the image above to play the video.

 

Ava has taken more interest in pretend lately. She especially loves her dollies, whether it is feeding them, or waking them up from a nap, or taking them for a ride in their stroller. Here’s a video of Ava getting one of her dolls up from a nap, and giving her some water.

Click the image above to play the video.

 

Ava also loves Minnie Mouse (recall her birthday party). She likes the show, but her absolute favorite part is the end where the Clubhouse team does the “Hot Dog Dance”. Here’s a video we caught one night of her doing the dance.

Click the image above to play the video.

Got to run…she’s on the loose….