A Surprise Birthday Party....for me!

The Cake Some Party Guests

More Guests

Brad, Ava, and Aiden Wagner

Brad managed to pull off a rather large surprise birthday party for me. My sister Shelly and I spent the day in Sioux Falls going shopping and getting pedicures while he frantically worked to get everything ready (with Ava no less). My folks and sister helped Brad by preparing food. Everyone from neighbors to relatives to friends came for the party. I was very honored and it was so great to see everyone. Brad even managed most of the clean up. I had a great birthday and thanks to everyone for coming!

Our Little "Tomboy" and the "Sprinkles"......

Backwards hat & painted nails...great feminine combo! Such a beautiful day for playing outside

So many babies to hold...only two arms!

Ava has certainly taking a liking to her baseball cap. She found it in her closet and she'd prefer to wear it 24/7. When we force her to remove it (showers, supper), she's never too happy. If she puts it on, it's always backwards. I'm not sure why she chooses to do this, but she does.

On a side note, Ava has recently noticed she has a tiny freckle on the front of her ankle. She often points it out and askes me "What is that". Well, one time instead of replying, I said I didn't know and asked her what she thought it was. She pointed right at it and said, "it's a sprinkle!" I couldn't help but bust out laughing :)

A Trip to the Children's Museum in Sioux Falls....

A ball machine....Ava really couldn't get enough At this part, it sucked the ball in like a vacuum

At the blocks table

The piano - a huge hit with Ava's jumping/running

Cousin Addie

The girls racing

The water table

My sister Shelly and her daughter Addie came to stay overnight with us last weekend. I decided to meet her in Sioux Falls on her way here so we could take the girls to the children's museum. Ava and Addie did extremely well, playing long and hard before tiring out. Hits this trip were of course the water table, but mostly for Addie, the piano, and the ball machine. I'd have to say the balls were Ava's favorite as they would pop out faster than she could retrieve them. Needless to say, Ava was asleep before we reached the city limits of Sioux Falls.

The Trendy New Cut....

Before: The Shaggy Look Sitting so nicely for Abby

Even a style

After: Front

After: Back

After: Side

Well, it was time to get Ava's hair trimmed again as her hair grows just as fast as her father's. Her last trim (2nd time to salon) did not go well. She cried lots so we were only able to tolerate about 30 seconds of cutting. This time, I told her the day before that we were going to Abby's (she knows exactly who that is as she sits in the salon every 5 weeks when I'm getting my hair cut). She loves Abby and was very excited. I told her she was going to have to sit in the chair and be a good girl to get her hair cut. She seemed like she was following me, and that night when she went to bed she proudly told me her plans for the next day. She said, "I'm going to Abby's when I wake up and there's no cryin". Well, she kept her promise. She was an angel so Abby was able to experiment with her hair a little bit. I just told Abby to do whatever she thought would look cute, so she cut and layered her hair. For the most part, her hair falls into the style naturally so it looks okay. I use the hairdryer on it sometimes after her bath which she loves and sits very nicely for.

Olympic Aspirations?

She jumps... Air time...

And sticks the landing!

We are not sure if the Olympics has inspired Ava, but she certainly does love to jump! While we don't love that she jumps off the furniture, we did allow it for a brief time just to witness how high and far she could jump. We were pretty amazed. I'm not sure how long the obsession with "flight" is going to last, but she continues to find new avenues to explore it.

On a side note Ava has some interesting things she does right now. She proudly calls helicopters "hot doctors". She asks a couple nights a week at bedtime if "Mommy workin, Hannah come soon" so she can apparently plan out her day, or to see when she will be getting rid of Mommy! She also seems to know exactly who I'm on the phone with just by the way I talk. Usually just a couple minutes into the conversation, she will walk up and ask to "say hi" to whoever it is. She is obsessed with playing babies right now. It is one of her favorite things to do, especially when daddy comes home. She quickly rushes him into her closet and directs him to where she'd like him to sit so she can hand him a baby. She isn't afraid to be bossy, that is for sure!

A belated Valentine's Post...

With her crown & fairy wand Hannah & Ava with their cut out cookies

Hannah never ceases to amaze me. She came over the week of Valentine's Day with sugar cookie dough. Her and Ava made heart shaped cookies and frosted and decorated them. Like I said...she amazes me! Her and Ava also made her special crown and decorated it. Hannah even made me a special valentine with Ava's handprints. It was too cute! We are so lucky to have Hannah in our lives. Brad and I say all the time that we don't know what we'd do without her!

Some sunshine.....FINALLY!

The car comes out & Ava is excited!

As you can see....she is in her glory!

Ava & Hannah posing by their snowman

While we have had a few sunny days, it always seems that they have been accompanied by bitter cold wind. Finally, we have had some decent days in the 30's to play outside. Hannah and Ava even built a nice snowman (no, we are not short of snow yet!). We resurrected Ava's car from last year that she rarely rode in but rather pushed, which is now a huge hit. I'm not sure if she was just thrilled to play outside, or that the car was that much fun. Just makes me so excited for spring when we can play outside much more!