Summer Fun

Ava & Daddy racing....amazingly Brad is winning!

Swings were a big hit once again

Big Smiles!

Playing in the laundry basket

Mommy's Sunglasses

With the nice weather has come some great times at the park. Ava really loves the park this year and she is so independent. We really don't have to help her with anything. She is able to get on all the playground equipment by herself and gladlly goes down the biggest slides without a problem. The swings are still a big hit, the higher the better. What a difference a year makes. I remember last year having to stand next to her pretty much the whole time and having to constantly help her. Now, she prefers to do things herself.

The Rail Comes Off...

We decided it was time for Ava to not be "confined" to her crib anymore. While we don't have her "big girl bed" yet, we thought it would be a nice transition to just take the side rail off her crib and put the toddler bed side on it. This way, she can come and go by her herself. The first few days went extremely well after our talk about not getting out of her crib until she woke up. She was very obedient and took good naps and slept normally for those first few days. It was a little hard for us to get used to at first, especially her coming in our room and staring at me in the morning when I was still sleeping. Well, we have had a few rough evenings since then. She has come out at 10 or 10:30pm wide eyed and raring to go. She will gladly go back to her crib when we tell her she has to, but I think she just likes the idea that she can come out and see what we are up to. Her sleeping has gotten to be a little less as she is waking up earlier, but hopefully this goes back to normal once she adjusts. She is growing up!

Ava Learns to Pedal her Tricycle...

While we have been logging hours on the tricycle for nearly a year now, there has been no pedaling until recently. She just discovered how fun and fast she can ride, and she loves the trike! There was a couple frustrating days at first as she'd often get "stuck" as she'd call it and want someone to help her. Now, with just over a week of riding, she has mastered both forwards and backwards pedaling. With the nice weather, we spend lots of time on the driveway!

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.