Labor Day

To celebrate Labor Day this year we labored in our front yard. We removed the small maple and replaced it with the bigger fuller one I got for my birthday. We also planted the smaller red bark maple in the front of our house. After taking a break and buying some new pots at Home Depot we put up Ava's tree swing. We put her in it and she took it for a test drive. She didn't seem super excited, but was not unhappy either. She gave us a few smiles and seemed content.

Rich digging out the old maple to make room for our new bigger, fuller, and more beautiful maple. I still like our old maple, but it really didn't work well in the space. It found a new home in the back yard next to our water garden.

Me next to my beautiful birthday present. I smile everytime I come home and see my two new trees.

Ava and Luca enjoy the shade of our tree while we worked.Ava unsure what she thinks about the swing.
Ava enjoyed kicking her dad in the head while swinging.

Flora Tropicana

Last Saturday we went to a nursery in Elk Grove called Flora Tropicana. It specializes in three things we love: water plants, Koi, and Japanese Maples. It is nice to visit and walk around their pond displays, but it is even better when you go planning to buy something. This trip we got two kinds of maples, a mini horsetail, and a water hibiscus. The big maple was an early birthday gift from my parents...thanks mom & dad. The other maple has red bark and is something we have been looking at for a couple of years.

Mommy & Ava is a funny chair. Daddy & Ava next to a pond of Rich's dreams.
Papa Harry & AvaAva sitting on a butterfly bench. She's a little tired, grumpy, & ready to go.Creepy, but cool spider I walked under before noticing it.

#2 is coming

Ava starting cutting her 2nd tooth this week. It is the other bottom front tooth. The first tooth is taking forever to pop all the way up and I still haven't been able to get a good picture. I am excited for Ava to get her teeth so she can chew food, but I'm going to miss her cute gummy smile. Wow, my baby girl is growing up so fast!

Peach Pie Delight

The recipe for Rich's favorite peach pie recipe is now on my food blog.

CLICK TO CHECK IT OUT

1st Asparagus & Sun-dried Tomato

On 8-31-09 Ava had her first taste of asparagus and she made some funny faces while eating it. She definitely didn't love it, but she did finish it.

On 9-2-09 we had some pasta with a sun-dried tomato sauce and Ava really wanted some, so we gave her a little taste. At first she wasn't quite sure what to think about the tomato and then she begged for more.

Where did my little baby girl go?

Ava amazes me everyday and recently I have been amazed at how big she is getting. I knew she would have to grow, but it is happening so fast. Rich weighed her on the Wii Fit the other day and she is about 18 1/2 lbs. She is also growing out of all her 6 month clothing and moving into 9 months even though she is not even 8 months yet. Ava has been growing so fast that the muscles in my arms are not keeping up. At church I hold her for at least 2 hours and by the end I feel the burn. Today I decided just to leave the car seat in the car because with her in it, it is just to heavy to haul back and forth. Oh where, oh where did my little baby go??

The top picture is Ava in her 9 month clothing. I wonder what she'll be wearing at 9 months?

The bottom picture is Ava in a cute turtle costume some friends gave us.

Funny Faces

Last week Ava started making the funniest faces and sounds. It started when I was eating a cupcake Rich brought me and she went crazy. She really wanted it and kept making her crazy face until I gave her a little lick of the chocolate frosting. It was hilarious. She also made the funny face and sounds when we were trying to get a nice photo of her in her temple dress. I love the photos because she looks so pretty and then has the goofiest face. Ava really is a crack up.

Sacramento Zoo

On Saturday the 22nd we went to the Sacramento Zoo as a family. Ava and I went last month with family, but Rich had to work. Last time we didn't make it on the new Conservation Carousel, so Rich took us back so we could have a ride. I was excited to ride on the Sea Turtle with Ava, but was told I could only stand next to her. Rich rode on the Poison Arrow Frog and then took a picture with Ava on the Praying Mantis. This was Ava's first carousel ride. At first she was enjoying the ride, but halfway through she starting crying and I had to hold her until we stopped. Unfortunately she was tired and her tooth was bothering her, so she did not have the best day.

Ava and I pretending to ride together. I was pretty excited about the sea turtle, but was surprised at how small it was.

Me standing next to Ava because I wasn't allowed to ride with her while the carousel was in motion...so sad!

Rich and Ava pretending to ride the praying mantis.

We thought this carousel seat was funny and wonder how many people realize what they are sitting in.

A future zoo keeper??

Rich and Ava rest for a moment after looking at the small cats.

We enjoyed watching the giraffes using their long tongues to eat.

Daddy's shoulders offer a better view of the animals.

We stopped for lunch at the zoo picnic tables.

Ava finally fell asleep at the end of the day.

1st Avocado & Edamame

On 8-23-09 Ava tried avocado at Papa Bruce & Nona Alicia's. She made a few funny faces at first, but had no trouble finishing it off. On 8-26-09 I mixed some pureed edamame with rice cereal. I wasn't sure if Ava would eat it, but she did and even wanted more.

Still Cooking

I know I have been bad about updating my recipe blog, but that doesn't mean I've stopped cooking. I don't always make something new each week now, but I do still enjoy finding and trying new recipes. I kind of go in spurts. Sometimes I make several new recipes one month and then the next month just one new recipe. I still take photos of new things we've tried, so I will post them for you to check out. If anything looks appetizing and you want the recipe leave a comment and I will post it on my food blog.

Crispy Chicken & Buttermilk Biscuits

Beans with Hazelnuts & Bacon

These are crook necked squash from our garden that I made into baby food for Ava. I have enjoyed making all of Ava's food.

Shrimp Salad with Serrano-Basil Vinaigrette- I got the vinaigrette recipe from Bobby Flay and adapted for the shrimp salad. The shrimp are coated with the vinaigrette and sauteed.

Peach Pie- I make this peach pie every year for Rich. He really likes the almond crumble topping.

Pictures at the Sacramento Temple

For Family Home Evening (FHE) this past Monday we reenacted our temple pictures from the sealing. We forgot to take a horizontal picture for a specific frame I already have on the wall and since it was so hot that day in July we didn't take photos around the temple. Monday was the perfect day, so we thought, because the temple was closed and it was cool. When we arrived we realized going to the temple for FHE is a great activity, so many families were there. Luckily we were one of the first to arrive so we got some nice shots without people running around in the background. The only sad thing was Ava has not been in the happiest mood this week so she is not smiling in the photos and was easily distracted by everything around her. When you see the photos of Ava next to the rosemary (I helped plant) and the red flowers you can see the anger and curiousity on her face.

1st Tooth on the Way

Today we felt Ava's first tooth. It is just peeking out on the bottom left side. We are excited and will post pictures once it is fully visible.