Ava’s First Trip to Disneyland

We’re house- and dog-sitting for Ava’s aunt and uncle in Huntington Beach CA for the Thanksgiving holiday. Besides having fun at the beach, Ava has had fun playing in someone else’s house (and having two dogs around makes it more enjoyable).

On one of the days, Ava and Dad went to Disneyland…Ava’s first Disney park experience. Ava was excited from the moment we got into the car to drive there. She chatted the whole way there, and then had the bonus of a bus ride from the parking to the park entrance. By the time we got to the park, Ava was jumping with excitement.

We timed it about perfectly – just as we were walking in the Christmas parade was starting. Here’s the little peanut in her “monkey” position (aka on Dad’s shoulders) so she can see better. Note the look of awe in her eyes.

Ava loved the toy soldiers, and the dancing characters.

But her absolute favorites were the ice skating Mickey and Minnie.

Right after they came by she was still all smiles…

After the parade we took a train ride around the park (which was a hit, but unfortunately nothing photo-worthy). Then we headed over to Toon Town, which had a lot more that was Ava-sized.

Ava liked driving the cars (and fire trucks) around the little town.

The Christmas trees were another definite hit.

And of course the horses on the carousel were fun too!

Ava definitely loved Disneyland…we’ll be back again when it is warmer (and when she is a bit older)…

 

We’ve been exploring the area as well. We drove down the coast one day towards Newport Beach, then went across to Balboa Island. Here are Ava and Mom posing on a bridge by the water.

Ava has also discovered slot machines (Mo’s aunt and uncle have a vintage one in the house). She loves feeding the monster with quarters, pulling the handle, and announcing either “no win” or “jackpot”….

Of course no trip to California would be complete without some beach time. Ava had fun posing along the boardwalk in Huntington Beach, yelling “cheese” at the passersby as she took photos.

Happy Thanksgiving from California!

Fall in Arizona

Now that it is finally cooling off here in Arizona, we’ve come out of swimming/hibernation mode and are enjoying walks, playing in the park, and being outside.

Lately Ava has been liking the tractors, so the park that has an old tractor is a perfect opportunity for her to do a little driving.

When Papa and Lola (Scott’s parents) were in town, we went to a farm that had a fall festival. Ava is getting ready to get on a horse for a ride…she overcame a little apprehension and then didn’t want to get off.

Ava liked the pigs in the petting zoo.

And Ava and Sofia liked the big hay maze.

Here’s Papa explaining the engineering of the carousel to Ava the following day.

In typical girlie girl fashion, Ava needs certain accessories when she goes in the car, starting with a pair of cool shades.

Accented by pig tails (in honor of the pigs at the petting zoo?).

Besides all the outside fun, Ava is having lots of fun at school. At lunchtime she tells us who she played with at school, what they did, etc.

Ava is also a little climbing machine – whether it is getting into her car seat by herself, or her high chair, or up the ladders or slide, Ava is happy when she’s on the go.

Speaking of which….got to run! Stay tuned for the Halloween pictures.

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….

First Day of School

Ava started preschool this year. Its only 3 mornings a week, but it reminds us just how quickly our little girl is growing up.

Monday was her first day…she woke up ready to go.   Chanting “school, school” while eating breakfast we knew she was excited about what laid ahead.   Before we took her, we had to do some first day of school photos.

Standing tall in her pretty dress…

With Dad (and her toy school bus).

Saying “cheese” with Mom.

School was all decked out with the full red carpet treatment for the kiddos.

Within a few minutes of dropping her off, Ava was making friends and playing with all the new stuff.

After class, Ava kept talking about how much fun she had. She especially likes the pet bunny, Mumbles,  that is in a cage outside the classroom, as well as the tractors doing construction near the school.

Our little toddler is definitely growing up fast!

Minnesota Part 2–“Go Fast”

Being from the land of 10,000 lakes, Mo(m) grew up on a boat. When we got to Nee Nee and Pop’s house, there was the tiniest little lifejacket waiting there, so that we could take Ava out on the boat.
Ava was excited about it just sitting in the driveway….

After seeing and reading about boats in her books, Ava finally got to go on one. She loved feeling the wind in her hair…

And liked that Pops was a good driver (with Nee Nee as the backseat driver).

Ava did insist that since there are no pedals, she technically could drive the boat….

Ava and Pops liked the water…

The next time we went out, Ava’s first words were “go fast” – she was definitely enthralled with the fast boat and the wind in her hair. Before we took off, Ava posed with Uncle John.

And clowning around…

Here’s Marcy, John, Ava, and Mo checking out a sailboat across the lake.

We did have plenty of fun on land too. The nearby school had more swings, which was perfect for a 3 generation photo…

After all that fun, it was clear that we have big boots to fill for entertainment….or is it Ava that has big boots to fill?