Memorial Day Weekend 2014

This year's Memorial Day Weekend was packed full of activities...several of them impromptu or last minute, which makes for a QUICK weekend. But we squeezed a lot of fun into those few days.

I took Thursday off to go out with Ava, my mom and my aunt to decorate family graves. Ava did great driving out to all those rural cemeteries, and I learned a lot about my family history.

Friday Wynston and his dad left for their annual father/son camping and fishing trip. We sure missed him, but this is something we're used to and we sent lots of cute pictures. :)

Watching Daddy pack the truck for camping.

When asked to smile, the girl smiles.

 Friday we painted, we played with bubbles, we went to a park, we had dinner with our friend Katie, then we went to meet a sorority sister's brand new baby.

Sleepy smiles

Someone's learning to pose.

Saturday we got some yummy drinks at Mama Jeans - their lattes are amazing and Ava tried strawberry milk for the first time. Then tires and a sticker book were bought, shoes were tried on while out shopping with me and Grandma Janie, yummy Acambaro Mexican food was eaten, and a babydoll was cared for so sweetly by Little Miss.

Sunday Wynston and I had brunch plans with a group of friends we are soon going on vacation with. Final plans were made, with lots of laughter and anticipation and food I probably shouldn't be eating before hitting the beach.
Ava spent that time nearby at a family pool, being watched by the kids of our friends. This was the first time I'd left Ava with teenagers/young adults...but one was a certified life guard and I hear Little Miss had the BEST time, all snapped into the safety of a life jacket. :)

Monday we went to the lake with most of the folks we'll be vacationing with...working on building up our pre-trip tans and spending some nice fun time on the water with family. Ava loves the lake and was talking about it first thing that morning. She even hung out with her cousin Mitchell on a big floating mat. I'll have to get that picture off Wynston's phone and put it on here sometime.

This year's Memorial Day weekend was great. It will be a hard one to beat. But while we had some great family times this year, we can't forget the freedom that has been secured by our troops. Someday as Ava helps us decorate those graves, we'll make sure she understands the true reason for the holiday.

I hope you all had a nice long weekend as well!

Camera Roll

Some recent pictures and adventures! :)

A pretty slow morel season this year. But Ava sure loved this big guy we found.

Breakfast at the farmer's market.

Ava and her buddy Bennett relaxing.

Chasing bubbles.

Ava and friend Wyatt enjoying some water playtime!

Ava and friend Adalyn, at Adalyn's 2nd birthday party.

My sweetie and her sweet tooth.

"Bubble Birthday TIME!"

Two years old. Unbelievable. Our girl is growing up fast. And right now Ava loves to announce what's going on, like "Yogurt Time!", "Bath Time!", "Go Outside Time!" and she has been talking about her "bubble birthday party"  for quite a while now.

Last Saturday we gathered with a small group of friends and family to celebrate the big 2. Once again we had the party at the lake by our house, this time choosing a small covered picnic table very close to the lake. While the breeze coming off the lake was nice, it was not so conducive to party decorations and the bubbles we were rocking. But we still had a good time, complete with a cute sprinkle cake, sprinkle ice cream, a bubble machine or two, feeding the fish down at the marina and lots and lots of bubbles. :)



Here's part of Ava's birthday invitation. Fun fun!



Cheese Balls, Melon Balls, Blow Pops and Pop Rocks...a loose shout out to the bubble theme!



Our lakeside setting, blowing around our cute banner and balloons that matched the invites. You can't even really see the banner here, hanging from the ceiling. Boo.

 

Grandma Cheryl and cousin Leonnie.



Little Miss sneaking some icing off the cake.

Ava and her friend Adalyn eating cake on her new picnic table we got as part of her present. It's so cute and little!

Pretty eyelashes down at the dock.

Ava and her friend Wyatt feeding the fish.



Little Camera Roll, and an Apology

Let's start with the apology. I haven't updated the blog in...well...let me go look. Two weeks. Two weeks?! How did that happen. Well, there's been another work trip (to lovely Raleigh NC). I've also accepted a new position within my current company. I'm stepping my game up, and my calendar is filling up as a result. My days are BUSY. Which is a good thing. Hopefully once I'm past this crazy learning curve, I can start to have some breathing room again.

Anyway...what's new with Little Miss.
She turns two in less than two weeks! Crazy. If you ask her for her age, she will specifically tell you "almost two". Party plans are in process. This year's party will be much smaller and more intimate, but hopefully out at the lake again!
Her two year checkup is approaching. I always can't wait to hear her stats, plus no shots this time! In fact, we are good to go on shots till kindergarten. :)
New teeth. She's got a mouthful.
Hilarious conversations with Ava. The other day she told me her daddy was 67. She knows her full name. We're working on days of the week and the names of her fingers. She is currently using the word "mice" in place of "mine". So if she sees a toy or snack she has or wants, "that's mice". She asks to listen to Luke Bryan or Florida Georgia Line on the radio. She has a fascination either with our friend and neighbor Matt, or she just loves saying his full name.
Her super smartness continues to amaze me. She now recognizes jet trails in the sky as places where planes have flown, among numerous other observations.
We are taking FULL advantage of the spring weather and are playing a lot outside. Including for hours on end with a bucket of water. The clothing changes haven't been this numerous since she was a newborn!
Ava starts gymnastics tonight with friend Aria (Wynston's cousin's daughter). I can't wait! Cuteness PLUS a way to burn off some toddler energy! You KNOW pictures will follow.

Here's a few pictures.

Jumping in the trampoline on a nice day!

Worn out after said jumping session!

Sitting with Poppy during a Randle Chowning fundraiser concert (from Ozark Mtn Daredevils).

A sweet smile and a sweater I wouldn't mind having in my size!

Sitting pretty in a hat she picked out. It's hit or miss each day on whether or not she'll wear it.