Archive for the ‘Ava’ Category

Catching up

We just returned from a week-long trip to Nebraska. I think we managed to see every aunt, uncle, cousin, parent and grandparent possible. We had two Thanksgiving dinners, one first birthday party and many other occasions to get together with family.

I’ll start with our visit with my grandparents–they were kind enough to host Ava, Olivia and me during the first part of the week. I joked that the neighbors probably thought that I’d left Bryan and was moving in with them based on the amount of luggage I brought with us.

Gramma and Grampa took us in stride, spoiling the girls with games, books and good food.

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In most every photo you’ll see of Olivia in a high chair from this trip, she’ll be stripped down to a onesie or completely naked. The kid refuses to wear a bib, and spaghetti stains tend to set after a week. She doesn’t seem to mind the bareness as long as her tray is full.

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It’s a long story.

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Kids at play

We made good use of the warm weather this weekend. Good thing–it was fleeting.

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And speaking of culinary creations…

Ava has developed a taste for an old family recipe—peanut butter and pickle sandwiches. She makes them herself using dill pickle relish.

Her father made her a peanut butter and SUGAR sandwich last week, so I think this is a step in the right direction.

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Scary!

A post-Halloween ghost sighting…

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Overheard

Ava: Mom, I don’t want to go to kindergarten.

Me: Why?

Ava: Because kindergarten is so BORING.

Me: It’s great. You’ll love it.

Ava: No. I’ve decided I’m just going to be a grown up when I turn five.

Two step

Ava has Olivia in training, leading her all over the house to practice walking. Her hard work is playing off–last night Olivia walked from the couch to the staircase…and all the way up the stairs. She’s taking this mobility business pretty seriously.

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Weekend Round-Up

Bryan’s parents came down to visit this weekend. They took Bryan and me to lunch on Friday while the girls napped at daycare/preschool, and Karyl and I checked out the quilt shop downtown.

Doug and Karyl watched the girls while we attended a company party Friday night–which, by the way, was incredibly enjoyable, mostly because we knew the kids were in such good hands.

We were slow to start Saturday morning (or, Saturday afternoon, for Bryan), but we had a great time hanging out and watching the Kansas/Nebraska game. We grilled out Saturday night, despite very cold weather.

The Smiths took us to brunch on Sunday morning, and we checked out Bryan’s new lab space before they headed home. All in all, it was a lovely weekend. I snapped but one photo of Karyl and Ava playing before my camera ran out of batteries, but Doug took several shots. I imagine he’ll post them to his gallery soon. (Link at right.)

UPDATE: Doug’s photos are up–and they include some of the best shots we have the girls to date!

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Overheard: A.M. Edition

Ava: Mom, my pull-up is full like a full moon.

Ava: “I stepped on the scale, and my feet weigh fifty hundred and a million pounds!”

Mom: “I know the feeling.”

Ava: “I smelled my mouth, and it smells like dirt!”

Ava Fix

There’s a little game we like to play around here called “Where’s Ava.” Lately, she’s really taken it up a notch.

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Fortunately, she gives us a few hints.

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There she is!

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On to the next game, which is called “Let’s do that AGAIN!”

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