Early Egg Hunt

Last Sunday we headed to Gridley for an Easter egg hunt and to play with the cousins. I know it was a bit early, but the McDowell's were in town and we thought it would be fun to do it with them there. It was a great day and Ava had a blast. She loved seeing her cousins and getting chocolate.

Ezra, Ava, and Abby waiting for the hunt to begin.

Still waiting. Ava was having a hard time being patient.

The kids were all lined up while Nonna explained the new prize eggs. Ava was not listening very well and kept trying to open the door. She actually opened the door and started before Nonna said go.

Ava finding a cleverly disguised pink egg.

Rachel found one of the high up eggs. On this day Rachel was celebrating her 14th birthday.

Ava enjoying her chocolate. She actually threw the money from the eggs aside because she just wanted chocolate.

EmmaLee, Bob, and Ezra checking out the eggs.

This picture is for Steve. Love those leg warmers Sherrie!

Everyone is gathered to claim their prizes. The kids had fun taking turns picking from all the goodies Papa & Nonna bought.

The girl cousins made this awesome fort. Bella made the sign which reads, "Favorite Cousin".

Ava hanging out with Lily and Parker inside the fort.

March Photos

March just flew by. It seems like time continues to move faster and it is hard to keep up. Ava is growing and changing all the time. She is amazing and I want to make sure to capture and preserve each moment.

Ava is learning to manipulate scissors. On this day she spent a long time just cutting paper into small pieces. It was good practice and she was so focused.

Ava continues to help me in the kitchen. I love that she always wants to wear her apron and baker's hat.

Ava cracks me up. On this day I gave her 2 spoons to make some music. When it was time to eat she decided to eat with both big spoons. Ava is actually quite good using both hands. She favors her right hand, but uses her left too. We are waiting to see if she will continue to be ambidextrous as she gets older.

To help Ava stop sucking her thumb we have used gloves to cover her thumb. She doesn't wear them very often. Every once in a while she puts socks on her hands at night. It is pretty funny.

Cello Wars (Star Wars Parody) Lightsaber Duel - The Piano Guys

Ava loves this video. She asks to watch it whenever the computer is out. She especially likes when Darth Vadar plays the accordion.

Ava the Super Duper Big Girl

Ava turned 3 and became a "Super Duper Big Girl" a couple months ago, so this post is a bit behind. I just want to make sure I don't forget to record what Ava is like at 3 years old.

Ava one year ago...

Ava March 2012

First, I just want to say how proud and lucky I am to be Ava's mom. She is a wonderful "big girl" and I can't imagine my life without her. She makes me laugh, smile, and enjoy life. I have learned a lot from Ava and know I will continue learn and grow as the years go by.

Ava is a sweet "big girl" (I have to say big girl because Ava get's mad if I ever say little girl and will correct me). She is very caring and seems to feel things deeply. Ava is in tuned with others feelings and is concerned when others are sad. She likes to make people feel better and even has us pretend to be sad, so she can do things to make us happy. I think she is going to be a good friend as she gets older.

Ava is also strong willed and determined. Ava likes to have things the way she wants and will let us know if she is not happy about something. She has thrown some good fits, but unfortunately they don't help because I am also strong willed and determined. I am glad for this personality trait and think it will serve her well if she uses it for good, but I do dread the teenage years.

Along with being strong willed Ava is growing more independent. She often says, "I am a big girl and big girls do that." She likes picking out her own clothes and does a good job getting dressed on her own (we help when needed). She also brushes her teeth, washes her face, and is learning to bathe on her own too. Eating is also more enjoyable now that she feeds herself and usually uses silverware (Ava can twirl spaghetti around her fork). Ava is all about being a "big girl" and doing things for herself.

Ava is also a very helpful child and likes to clean. Ava is learning to make her bed and keep her toys picked up. When asked to clean-up she starts singing the "Clean-up" song and goes to work. She rarely complains and only does if she is tired. Ava also offers to help around the house. Whenever I clean she wants to help me, so I try to find something (without chemicals) that she can do. She also helps Rich with the dishes and has just started helping set the table. It is so wonderful to have a little helper around the house. I just hope her enthusiasm to help and serve will continue as she gets older.

Just like most toddlers Ava is all over the place and has many interests. We are trying to expose her to different activities and allow her to discover her passions and talents. She still loves all kinds of music and enjoys "playing" the piano. She sings all the time and even makes up her own songs. Sometimes it is like living in a musical as she sings about what she is doing. It is entertaining and makes me smile. We think Ava might have a talent for music so, we our considering buying a piano and starting music lessons in a couple years. We just want to make sure we encourage Ava in whatever she finds a passion for.

Ava is also showing an interest in two of my passions, photography and cooking. Ava has her own camera and loves to use it. When I use my camera on outings Ava will often ask to use her's too. She also likes to help me in the kitchen. When I put my apron on Ava runs down the hall to her room to get her apron and chef hat. She has made a variety of things with me, but her favorite is always the treats. Ava loves to measure and stir and can even crack an egg. I think she would like to do a lot more than I am willing to let her (cutting with knives, etc.), so as she gets older I will teach her more and more.

This is just a taste of what Ava is like. She has so many wonderful qualities and a loving personality. I love her so much and am grateful each day Heavenly Father sent her to me.
Some Ava Facts:
Height: 36 1/2 inches - 40th percentile
Weight: 30 3/4 lbs. - 50th percentile
-Ava can ride her tricycle without help.
-Ava is potty training. Today she has gone 21 days with clean/dry pullups.
-Ava knows her letters and the sounds they make.
-Ava is learning numbers and how to write her name.
-Ava loves to read and go to the library.
-Ava enjoys board games and puzzles.
-Ava likes doing arts and crafts. She enjoys painting with a brush and her fingers. She is learning to use scissors.

Favorites:
Color: Red
Food: Strawberries, Pasta, Fruit Snacks, Pretzels, Milkshakes, Chocolate
Restaurant: Taco Bell (likes "torta and cheese", AKA quesadilla)
Clothes: Snow White costume, Minnie Mouse dress, and shoes
Songs: "Choose the Right", "Jingle Bells", "Psycho Killer"-by Talking Heads
Scripture Stories: Baby Jesus, "Baby Moses & Big Moses", the Creation, Samuel the Lamanite
Movie: Snow White, "My new Snow White" (AKA- Snow White in Italian)
TV Show: Curious George
Characters: Mickey Mouse & Friends
Animal: Panda, Dog, Hippo
Best Bud: Luca

Foolish Mommy & Daddy

Last Saturday we went on hike (really nature walk) at Sunol Regional Park with my parents. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shinning and there was a nice cool breeze. We were all enjoying the trail until Rich and I became careless and did something foolish.

As we started our walk we told Ava to stay on the trail. She was doing a good job and listening until we led her astray. We saw some big rocks just off the trail and thought Ava would like to climb them. She agreed that it would be fun so we approached the first rock. Ava played on it a bit and I took some pictures. Then we saw a cooler rock just a little farther up the hill and thought it would make for some better pictures, so Ava and I headed toward it with Rich trailing.

Now, if you are thinking warm sunny day, big rocks, grassy foothills means potential danger than you are smarter than us. We were so caught up in the moment and taking pictures we ignored the warning signs and common sense. Fortunately, for us this story has a happy ending.
Just as Ava and I reached the rock I heard Rich shout, "rattlesnake". In a flash Rich grabbed Ava and got her out of harms way. I then turned around and ran which was probably stupid, but I panicked. For what ever reason the snake turned around and went back under the rock. I never saw the snake, but Rich assures me it was a big. Then with heartbeats racing we carefully made our way back to the trail and stayed on it.

That experience taught us some good lessons. First, follow the guidelines to be safe and don't be foolish. We were blessed that nothing bad happened and the snake reacted the way it did. It also confirmed the power of prayer. I said a prayer earlier that day asking for safety and I know that prayer was answered. I also said a prayer of thanksgiving later that evening for the safety of our family. For these little life lessons I am grateful and even more grateful we are all okay, especially my sweet little Ava.

This picture was taken after the fact with a telephoto lens while safely on the trail. The snake disappeared into the crack that Ava and I were just a couple feet away from.

Family Pictures

A week ago we updated our family pictures. Yes, I had long hair then. I wanted to take pictures before I cut my hair just in case I hated it short. I figure if I leave it short we can take more family pictures in a couple months. Anyway, we took these pictures along the American River bike trail where we go on walks. It is a beautiful place and something we all enjoy together.

The only bad part was the weather was not cooperative. It was REALLY windy and cold. It was hard to keep our hair under control and poor Ava was freezing by the time we were done. Even with the challenges we think we came out with some good pictures. Here are our favorites...

Can you see the wind blowing my sweater and our hair...crazy.Ava loves her Daddy so much. She is slowly starting to turn into a Daddy's girl.Daddy snuggles always make Ava feel better.

Since Ava was little we have always rubbed noses. It is just one of our things.I love this picture mainly because I love to squeeze Ava. Sometimes she likes it and sometimes she doesn't, but I squeeze her anyway. I just love her SO MUCH!

This was the last picture. By this point Ava was cold and more than ready to be done...you can tell by her expression.

Just for fun. We tried to get Ava to join in on the action, but she wasn't in the mood.

Butterflies

The week of Ava's birthday a special gift from Papa & Nonna Bowling arrived in the mail. It was a butterfly kit. It came with 10 butterfly eggs and a butterfly home. We were all excited for this gift and the opportunity to watch the butterflies life cycle. The eggs shortly hatched into caterpillars that ate and got bigger. After a week the caterpillars formed chrysalis. Then a couple weeks later the beautiful butterflies emerged. We kept the butterflies for a few weeks until it warmed up today. We have been feeding the butterflies fruit and sugar water. Ava has been helping Rich feed the butterflies each day.

Today we decided it was time to release them. The weather was perfect and they seemed ready. Ava opened the top of the home and a couple butterflies flew right out. It took a little longer and some help for the rest of them to leave their home. Ava did not want to touch the butterflies. She just enjoyed watching Rich and I help them find their way to the flowers in our backyard. The complete journey was a lot of fun to watch and a great learning experience.

ChrysalisAva using a little dropper to feed the butterflies sugar water.Ava releasing the butterflies. Right next to her head on the right side is a little orange blob that is a butterfly.

Rich trying to get Ava to put a butterfly on her hand.

Ava trying to blow on the butterfly on the orange to encourage it to fly off.

Ava watching a butterfly.

Rich putting one of the butterflies on the flowers in our peas.

Me holding a butterfly. They really liked to stay on our fingers.Rich holding a butterfly.

I Did It!

I have always wanted to cut my hair super short and finally I did it. I have had short hair in the past but this is the shortest it has ever been. It feels great! I think I like the way it looks, but I for sure love the way it feels. It is so light and easy. My hair has always been heavy and weighed me down. It is amazing how a haircut can change that and lighten my step.I had Rich and Ava come to my haircut for support and also so Ava wouldn't freak out when I came home looking like a different person. She was happy for me to get my haircut and said she wanted me to dye it green (that is my favorite color).Side and back view. My hairdresser did the whole haircut with a razor.

Rich put off getting his haircut, so our hair could be the same for a few days. My hair is just a little bit longer still.