Springtime fun

With the arrival of spring we’ve been able to enjoy the outdoors more. Ava loves the patio at the new house. Every day we have to water the flowers and the garden, and make sure that there is plenty of hummingbird food in the feeder. At school this week Ava’s class made little birds nests – Mo said it was great to see the whole class coming out with their nests and smiles on all the kids faces. Ava was of course anxious to show it off again at home…

 

Now that daytime highs are in the 80s and 90s, we’ve been able to swim more. We love pool time – not only is it good fun for the family, but Ava sleeps so well when she is tired after an hour of swimming. Here’s Ava showing off her swimsuit coverup.

This year Ava is doing swim lessons – she loves her coach and is getting to be such a great little swimmer.

Showing off her airplane back floats.

We even got a quick video of her swimming last week…here she is swimming across the pool…

Click the image above for a movie of Ava swimming

And a video of her doing her swimming back to the wall.

Click the image above for a movie of Ava swimming

Since Ava is such a good little fish, she can even catch bubbles off the bubble machine out back…

Click the image above for a movie of Ava catching bubbles

It is 100 degrees here today….off to the pool to cool off…

Happy Easter!

How time flies – just last year Ava was getting her hair and was beginning to understand Easter egg hunts. This year she’s been talking about it for a few days leading up to the weekend.

We started out making some Easter sugar cookies. Of course you can’t make Easter cookies without wearing your Easter bonnet!

Here’s Ava proudly showing off the finished product!

Ava got a package from Lola and Papa with new socks. She of course had to wear them right away…although she did share one with Chase.

On Saturday Ava’s preschool had an Easter egg hunt. Which started off with some crafts. Ava was making Mom a bookmark along with some of her school friends.

After a brief story, Ava was ready for the hunt. Ava and Lilly are eyeing the best route to maximize the eggs.

Ava is getting a little last minute coaching from Dad…

After they said go, Ava was off and running…

On Easter eve it was time to color some eggs. Ava is going topless to avoid coloring her shirt too.

Under Dad’s watchful eye, Ava manages to stir the eggs around the colors.

And she is very proud of her egg coloring skills…

Easter Sunday was filled with more fun. After church we went to Sofia’s house for brunch and playtime.

Happy Easter everyone!

March Madness

No, not basketball. Just moving our family a whole 2 blocks to our new house – 2 full truck loads worth. Ava loved moving day – between the “big truck” and the “movers”, Ava had fun watching all the activity.

Among the moving and settling into the new place, Ava has been able to take advantage of the nice weather. After watching the horses at WestWorld, Ava decided that Chase looked like a good horse…

On one of the windy days, Ava was able to (briefly) fly the kite…

Although her technique is a little different, she was able to keep it afloat.

Yesterday we ran into Ava’s classmates at the park. Here they are riding Chase.

Obviously even Chase finds it fun.

Finally, Ava is a budding photographer.

Happy springtime to everyone!

We’ve Moved!

It has been a little while since we posted some photos. In the last few months we have: sold Mo’s condo, bought a new house, moved into the new house (early March), and rented the old house. Whew. With all that going on we didn’t get a chance to update photos. So, without further ado, here are some updates from the last few months.

At school, Ava and her classmates made Friendship Salad for Valentine’s Day.

Ava likes clowning around the sculptures in Old Town.

 

Building sand castles in the park…

Ava has also started hiking more. Here she is guiding Chase along the trail.

We’ve also had some unseasonably warm days – the earliest we’ve been in the pool in years. Ava loves flying high!

More to come…

Winter in the desert

It has been a busy January…we’re just now getting around to posting some photos. We’ve been having some good weather, which is perfect for being outside. Especially when you get so see cool sunrises like this…

Ava loves taking her baby doll for a walk along the paths….

Ava loves playing in the grass at the park near the house. Here she is in her running pose.

Our little triathlete is also starting to bike a bit more.

Ava also has shown some more interest in tennis. Here’s her first lesson.

And she loves hiking…here she is after feeding some fish at a pond along the hike.

Of course Ava still has to be cool in her shades.

Ava started tap/ballet/tumbling class. Which is really just an excuse to dress her up in cute tutus.

Ava’s friend Sofie turned 2 and had a birthday party at the petting zoo. Ava loves chasing the animals around. Here she is imitating the chickens.

Feeding the goats.

Showing us that the is taller than the donkey.

And doing a Mexican standoff with the pony.

Of course Ava had to drive the tractor as well.

Time to run to the park….More posts to come…

Christmas 2011

Let’s just say that Ava was definitely into Christmas this year. We had put some gifts under the tree prior to Christmas eve, but after she went to bed a lot more gifts came out. Christmas morning was priceless, seeing her run out, stop dead when she sees all the new gifts, and shout “Santa"!”. That moment itself made Christmas more enjoyable.
Earlier in the week, Ava and NeeNee made Christmas cookies. Ava is getting to be a good baker…


On Christmas Eve we had some friends over…6 kids under the age of 2 1/2 in the house!
Ava and Sofia played with books (and Ava tried to open presents)
Christmas morning (actually all day) was continual day of opening presents, playing with new toys, and repeating.
Ava with her new bike, and the baby doll high chair.

Trying out her new bike.

Playing with her new kitchen toys.

Opening more presents…

Enlisting Pops to help play with the toys.

Of course Ava still managed to be a bit of a ham…
She likes the new toys…tent, train cars, etc.



After all that fun, Ava will be disappointed when Christmas is over…although now she will be even more excited (if that is possible) for Santa next time.