Memorial Day Weekend.....

 

Roy, Lisa, Carly, &  Layne 

 

Owen & Carly (difficult to get a shot as they are both on the move)

Ava & Carly

Carly loves to give kisses &Owen didn't know what to think! 

Family photo at Gary & Joyce's

Carly loved playing with all the toys in our basement 

Layne & Ava 

 

 

 

We had a busy Memorial Day weekend.  We finally purchased the TV for the basement, so Brad was busy hanging that on the wall and getting all the speakers installed, once again reassuring us that cardboard boxes are the best toys for kids!  Roy & Lisa made the trip down from Alexandria to stay the weekend as well as Aunt Joann from the cities.  It was fun getting Owen and Carly together although Owen pretty much ignored Carly the whole weekend.  Carly really liked to get close to him, even trying to give him hugs and kisses, but he really didn't want much to do with that.  It was comical! Carly and Ava played well together which was sweet.  Layne spent one night with us and we enjoyed having him.  Ava loves to have company so she was right by his side the entire time.  It was great getting to see all the family.

Ava Tries Gymnastics...

Waiting in line at the bars

Ava getting a turn on the bars

Even a flip!

Balance beam: low one first

 

Even a flip on the high beam from the child who is scared to stand on our kitchen counters!

Her whole class of 4-5 year olds

 

Ava & Tiana (from our old daycare)
Luverne offers so many wonderful community education activities for young kids.  It was hard to pick which ones to put Ava in this summer.  We have never tried gymnastics and they put on a little class that lasted four days, one hour per day which was a great introduction.  Of course, Ava was super excited to go (huge change from last summer prior to preschool when she was scared to try anything!).  She knew many of the girls from dance or preschool.  They did some elaborate stretching as a group and each got their turns jumping on the trampoline and doing flips, walking on the balance beam, and the swinging on the bars.  Ava really seemed to like it although wasn't able to do many of the activities without assistance.  You could really tell the 5 year olds that had taken a whole year of gymnastics already.  She is disappointed that it's over and asking what we are going to do next week!  

Ava's First Bible School....

 

 

 

Unfortunately, with the extra dance practices and recital falling in the same week, Ava had to miss most of Bible School this past week at our church.  However, she fit right in for the last night when she was able to attend the whole time.  I brought snacks and ended up staying to help serve and clean up.  Ava had a blast and didn't even really have time to talk to me when it was her class's turn to have snacks.  She even made an iron-on t-shirt. 

Ava's Last Dance Recital this Year...

A 

 

Ava's "Candlestick" dance move 

Enjoying the popcorn!
 Ava had her last official dance recital of the year. It was lengthy (3 hours).  We made it through about an hour before taking the kids home to put them to bed.  Thank goodness Ava danced first.  Her group (the youngest) danced two numbers and they were very cute.  They even got to each do their own personal dance move.  Ava chose to do a candlestick folllowed by the splits (almost!).  She loved every minute of it!