Consumnes River Preserve

On Monday we went to the Consumnes River Preserve in Galt.  It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed a long walk around the wetlands.  We started on the River Walk trail and ended on Wetlands Walk trail.  We did not walk the entire trail but did go pretty far.  Ava did well, but we had to take turns carrying her part of the way.  We did take a break on a bench and ate lunch while we watched the many birds swim in the water.  By the time we made it to the car we were all tired and ready for a rest.  It was a fun day and I think we all enjoyed the beautiful nature created for us by a loving Heavenly Father.

Ava excited and singing as we start our walk.

Ava consulted the map and trying to figure out where we need to go.

Ava looking at me with her binoculars.

Rich and Ava using binoculars to see the birds.

Ava and Rich heading down the trail.

Rich showing Ava a Cattail.

Ava started getting tired and got a ride on Rich's shoulders.  I love this picture because she pulled just the thumb part of her glove off to suck it.  It has been a really challenge trying to get her to stop sucking her thumb.

Rich is such a good daddy.

Rich took a picture of me setting up to take some pictures of some thistles I thought were interesting.

Me trying to get Ava to take a picture with me.  She kept running away.

I finally got her to stop for a minute, but this is the best smile we could get before she took off running again.  At least she was enjoying herself.

A big loud train came by and of course Ava plugged her ears.

I love shadow pictures.

The lighting wasn't great (too bright) but at least we got a picture of all of us together.

This is where we ate our lunch.  There really were hundreds of birds, but you can't tell from this picture.

Ava was so excited to use my camera and take a picture of Rich and I.  She used a remote plugged into the side.

Again, not the greatest picture due to the lighting, but it is nice to have another photographer in the family to get pictures of the two of us together.

Making Memories Not Just Dinner

Today Ava made my day while we were making guacamole for dinner. She leaned over, put her arm around me, and we had the following conversation...

Ava:  "Mommy, I like you."

Me:  "I like you too.  In fact I love you."

Ava:  "I love you too."

Me:  "Thanks sweetie.  You make me happy."

Ava:  "Mommy, you make me happy too."

Pumpkin Carving

The day before Halloween we carved our pumpkins.  Since the weather was nice we did it outside in our backyard.  Ava decided she wanted a scary jack-o-lantern and told Rich to make a mean one.  I made a sad face.  I finished mine up first so I could make dinner.  We took a few pictures, but unfortunately we forgot to take a picture of the three finished jack-o-lanterns.

Ava and Rich (yes, that is Rich with a crazy wig) with all of our pumpkins.

Ava excited to start carving her pumpkin.  She tried so hard to do it by herself, but she eventually gave in and let Rich help.

Ava and me.

Me pretending to get Ava with my yucky pumpkin goo.

Ava decided she needed to get me too with pumpkin goo.

Ava drawing the face to carve on her pumpkin.

At first Ava drew a really nice face, but then got carried away and kept going.  I was amazed that Rich was able to follow the her directions and carve a face.

Ava being silly and pretending to carve Rich.

Rich and Ava working together to carve her pumpkin.

Rich trying to make sense of Ava's drawing.

Ava making a sad face like my pumpkin behind her.

Halloween

School Harvest Festival

Ghost Lollipop Walk.  Ava helped me run this booth during the first part of the party.  She is such a good little helper and so patient.

I loved this activity.  The kids blew bubbles using a cup covered with a paper towel soaked in bubble solution and a straw put through a hole on the side.

Carmel apples.  Ava and I helped with this station too.

The kids playing Simon Says with one of the teachers.

Ava eating a ghost made from marshmallows.

Ava fishing for treasure.

This was Ava's favorite game.  It was a haunted mansion filled with candy.  The kids had to dig to find candy.  There wasn't a limit on how much candy each kid could get.  I think that is why Ava liked it so much.

 

Halloween Surprise from Papa & Nonna Kurz

On Halloween Ava got a tin filled with candy and popcorn in the mail.  She was so happy and she has been enjoying the goodies ever since.

 

Meatloaf Foot For Dinner

While looking through a Halloween cookbook Ava found this recipe for a meatloaf foot.  She thought it was funny and decided we should eat it for Halloween.  Ava helped me make it and she enjoyed eating the toes.

 

Trick-or-Treat

Since Ava got so much candy at the church and school harvest festivals we just went to our friends' house to trick-or-treat.  Ava only knocked on one door and then we spent the rest of the evening with them.  I don't think she minded since they had good candy and let her eat a lot of it.

Temple Picnic

Yesterday we started off slow and lazy.  In order to get us moving I tried to bribe Ava with donuts.  She liked the idea, but made an even better offer.  She thought a donut picnic at the temple would be nice.  We agreed and decided to get ready, so we could run errands and enjoy a picnic at the temple.

By the time we all got ready it was getting close to lunchtime.  I tried to persuade Ava to have a sandwich picnic at the temple, but she was firm about the donuts.  Since I already made the offer I couldn't take it back.  Instead we had sandwiches and then donuts for dessert.

It was a beautiful day at the temple.  We enjoyed being together and walking around the temple grounds.  I am so grateful that Ava loves the temple as much as me.  I love that she often asks to have temple picnics and always calls it "my temple".  Ava truly is a sweet inspiration to me and keeps me focused on the importance of temple covenants.  I want to be with my family forever and know through the temple ordinances I can.

Ava and Rich eating sandwiches first.

Ava loves Angel Moroni.

Ava with her donut.

Ava loves her some sprinkle donuts.

Ava stopped right here and said, "I want to take a picture with daddy."

Harvest Festival

On Friday we had our ward harvest festival.  Ava looked forward to this party all week.  She was excited for all of us to get dressed up.  Ava was also excited about eating cornbread.  We had a lot of fun at the party and Ava got a lot of candy at Trunk-or-Treat.

The most beautiful Cinderella in the entire world.  She really did look beautiful and she was so happy.  Ava decided on the Cinderella theme for this year.  She also picked out mine and Rich's costumes

Ava with her fairy godmother.  I made this costume.  It is the first thing I've sown completely by myself using a pattern.  I know it wasn't hard, but it was a big accomplishment for me.

Ava with Jaq the mouse.  Unfortunately for Rich I didn't have much time for his costume, but it worked.

Ava excited to eat cornbread and cheese.  She picked out 2 kinds of cornbread.

Costume Parade.  You can see her glass slippers as she carefully walks like a princess across the stage.

Ava at the fishing booth.  Ava swung the fishing pole so hard she almost took off Sister Ensign's head behind the water.

Ava pumpkin bowling.  It took her a few pumpkins but she finally got them all down.

The big hit of the night was Whack-a-Priest.  The line was out the door.  Ava loved it.  She was funny because she was so gentle.

Ava won this delicious wormy cupcake at the cake walk.  She gobbled down the gummy worms right away.

There was a photo both, so we were able to get a nice family picture.  I'm grateful to Brother Jensen for volunteering to take pictures.

Little Chef

Last Monday Ava and I made brownie, pudding, and whip cream trifles.  I put on my apron, so she decided she needed hers too.  Ava also put on her chef hat.  She told me when she wears the hat she is the chef and I am the cooker.  As we made the dessert Ava reminded me over and over that she was the chef and I was just the cooker.  It was important to her that I call her Chef and not Ava.  When we were done and took off our aprons and hat we went back to being Ava and Mommy.