Star of the Week

Back in September Ava was the Star of the Week in her class.  As a special treat she got to bring home Benji Bear the classroom mascot for the weekend.  She also brought home Benji's journal, so we could record something special we did with him.

Ava decided to take Benji on a bike ride on the river bike trail.  After school we got ready, packed some snacks and headed out on the trail.  Benji rode in my basket on the front of my bike.  We rode to Hagan Park and stopped at a bench by the river.  We had a snack and enjoyed the view before heading home.  Ava loved taking Benji on a ride and was excited to write in his journal.

Ava loved being Star of the Week.  She got to be the line leader and sit in a special chair during the week.  All the other kids made her a book.  They each wrote something special about Ava and drew a picture.  Ava felt so special all week and enjoyed the perks.

 

Monterey on my Birthday

On my birthday (way back in September) we went to Monterey.  We stopped by my favorite bakery, Parker-Lusseau, first.  To make sure there were enough almond croissants I placed an order for a 1/2 dozen earlier.  We picked up my croissants, cookies, and a few other pastries to try.  It was a great way to start the day.

Most of the day we spent at the aquarium.  We looked forward to seeing the new tentacles exhibit.  It was interesting and Ava enjoyed seeing the Nautilus.  I think my favorite part is still the sea otters.  I was excited to see many sea otters in the Bay through a telescope on the outside platform.  Rich and I both enjoy the outer bay exhibit.  Ava's favorite exhibit is still the penguins.

After the aquarium we ate a late lunch at California Pizza Kitchen before heading home.  Back at my parents place we finished celebrating my birthday with my favorite checker board cake.  Once a year I look forward to my mom making me this cake (from scratch).  It is delicious!  It is so good that I let everyone have one piece and then I take home the rest to eat myself.  Rich and Ava might get a little bit more, but not much.

My favorite almond croissants from my favorite bakery.  It is probably a good thing this place is in Monterey or I would probably be there once a week.

We always take a family photo in the clam shell.  It is a tradition we started before Ava.

My parents and my sister-in-law, Elizabeth, came with us on the trip.

Rich trying to help Ava see the Sea Otters in the Bay.

Ava's favorite exhibit, penguins.

The jellyfish are fun and relaxing to watch.

Ava and Rich playing in the touch pools.

Ava's 1st Day of Kindergarten

On Wednesday, August 13, 2014 Ava started Kindergarten at PJ Shields.  Ava's teacher is Ms. Bair and she is in room 2.  She was so excited to start school she had a hard time going to sleep the night before.  That morning she was up early and ready to go.  She was excited to wear her new Lego Movie shirt and Little Mermaid shoes.  Ava wanted to meet her classmates and was eager to make friends.

Ava jumping for joy.

Ava was so excited she kept dancing around.

Ava was so excited to wear this Lego Movie shirt.  She kept singing, "Everything is Awesome".

Ava picked out these light-up Little Mermaid shoes.

I made these Lego flower barrettes.

To keep with the Lego theme I made Ava a fun lunch.  This was the start of Wacky Wednesday Lunches.

Some Baskin Robbins to celebrate an awesome day!

Temple Anniversary

On July 25th we celebrated our 5 year temple anniversary as a family.  Five years ago after Ava's adoption was finalized we went to the Sacramento Temple and became a forever family.  It was a special day and something we celebrate every year.

This year our anniversary was on a Friday.  We decided to have a special dinner that night and then drive up to the temple to watch the sunset.  Ava and I decorated and bought "fancy" plates from the thrift store.

The next morning we got up early, got donuts, and had a picnic at the temple.  We then walked around the temple grounds as a family.  This is a family tradition and something we all love to do.

Ava likes to make silly faces, so we decided to make pirate faces.

Ava found a frog friend.

Mission Reunion

We had a surprise mission reunion for my mission President Cleve Dibble.  He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  His daughters along with a Sister from my mission Michelle Brousseau Frank setup the reunion.  This was the reason for out trip to Utah.  It was great to see old friends and companions from the mission.

President Dibble had figured out something was happening, but was still a little surprised. When he walked out of his home we sang our mission song We'll Bring the World His Truth. (except it was in Italian).  He recently had a chemotherapy treatment and was probably feeling very tired.  He told us of his recent mission call.  They were called to manage the church's for profit farms.  For the past 2 years they have traveled to the different places around the world that the church has farms.  They found people willing to serve on these farms.  There is a cattle farm in Florida, Potato farm in Idaho, farms in Chile, Walnut farm in Gridley.

When he spoke I could feel his love for me and for all the missionaries that he served.  His love for me is a reflection of his love for the Savior.  After he spoke to us he took the time to speak to each of us.  He asked us not to leave before we had the chance to say hi to him and sister Dibble.

"The Big Temple"

Ava loves "the big temple" or as it is really known the Salt Lake Temple.  Our trip to Utah would not have been complete without a tour of the temple grounds.  We did not have much time, so we quickly walked around the temple grounds and toured the visitors centers before they closed.

Cabela's and A Brief Rest

After a long hot day walking around Thanksgiving Point we were about to head home, but then saw Cabela's nearby.  Cabela's is a giant hunting, fishing, camping store that is part natural history museum.  In the store are many taxidermy animals from around the world.  We have never been in a Cabela's before, but have heard about it.  We are not hunters, but since we were so close we decided to take the opportunity to check it out.  It was pretty interesting and worth the short detour.

Even though it was a long day we still had plans to go to the Salt Lake Temple that night.  We headed back to the hotel for dinner and a brief rest.  Poor Ava was a real trooper and took a quick nap in the car.

Thanksgiving Point Farm

Since we were going to do two activities at Thanksgiving Point we decided to purchase the all inclusive attraction pass.  This allowed us to go to the farm.  I thought it would be fun for Ava to see a real working farm.  Unfortunately by the time we headed to the farm it was HOT, HOT, HOT.  It also wasn't what I expected.  It was not really a farm.  It was more like a zoo for farm type animals.

Since the ticket came with a free pony ride we went.  Ava had her pony ride on a beautiful horse named Luna and then we toured the "farm" quickly.  The only thing we saw unusual and interesting was a Sicilian Miniature Donkey named Banjo.  For some reason I really like Donkeys, so I thought he was cute.  We actually stopped long enough to feed him, but then we had to get out of the hot sun.  We cooled off with some ice cream which was much more enjoyable than the "farm".