Santa's Visit

Ava wants a ride in her new doll stroller.

Santa stopped by our house early this year. He must have known we were going on a trip. He dropped off an adorable pink kitchen, doll furniture, and two dolls for Ava just before bedtime. Santa brought Matt a play station 3 that he had to find with clues. I tried to snap a couple of pictures of Ava with her new stuff but she kept running from thing to thing. She wouldn't stop moving, even for a photo op. Matt couldn't wait for Ava to go to bed so he could check out the new video games.

On a side note, when we brought Ava downstairs, the first thing she pointed out were the 3 little Christmas tree's that were by her stuff. We put up all kinds of Christmas decor, but no Christmas tree this year because we were going out of town for Christmas. Because I knew this was going on video and we would be taking pictures, I thought it would look way more Christmasy if we had some kind of tree. Well Ava BUSTED us first thing on the video. She let everyone know she had not seen these trees before and that they were just props. Next year we will have a big Christmas tree even if we are going on a trip over Christmas.

Copy Cat

I was out on the balcony with Ava watching the kids swim in the pool below when she spotted a boat on the ocean. She pointed out to the water and said "butt" which translates to Boat. And then she was on a mission. She ran over to little game table and grabbed the binoculars. She had seen grandpa do this on more than one occasion. Those binoculars are heavy so I let her hold them long enough for me to get a quick picture and than I grabbed them and put them up. I didn't want her to drop them....I would have been in big trouble. Se was furious. Lucky for her I had my camera was handy. I know, I know, the place I put them was torturous. I moved them to a place that was out of sight out mind, and then of course grandpa was on the hunt the next time he thought he spotted a big fish, dolphins, or boat. Oh well, better hidden than broken (:

The Flasher

We were trying to get a good photo next to this great fountain in Cozumel. The fountain has been there since the first year I started going to Mexico with the Paske Family(2000), but was never working. Not that unusual for Mexico. Well it works and is beautiful. Anyway I digress, I was trying get Ava to look at me and smile. All she wanted to do is play in the water. She finally turned her head and flashed me, not her pearly whites, but her belly. I think she takes after her Aunt Lori....... Lori used to moon us when she was younger.

Snow Baby

This was Ava's first time playing in the snow. Last year she just sat in it where ever I posed her. This year she is a pro snow ball thrower. Anyone who knows me knows I have no skills when it come to throwing snow balls, or anything for that matter. Grandpa would build them for her and she would throw them and actually hit us (our legs of course). She loved the snow and every time we would go anywhere she would spot that snow and try to wiggle from my arms. Little girl don't you know the snow is cold I would say. Mom hates to be cold!

Badger Time!

Ava's cousins had one of their Birthday Parties at the Kohl Center. Included with the party was a visit from Bucky. Ava likes Bucky from a far, but wanted nothing to do with him up close. I don't blame her. Those big headed creatures are almost as creepy as clowns!

Mexico......and Finally Caught up on Blogging!

Family Photo

The Cousins Jumping in the pool!

Here are couple more pictures from our trip to Mexico. The last one is Ava and her cousins in the Airport. They would run up to the end of the moving walkway and race back. Ava being a wee bit slower would meet them while on their way back. When they met her she would lay down on the floor and act like she was so tired from all the running. She wanted them lie on the floor too. Of course they went with it and let her run the show. It was a nice way to pass time.

High Ho to Mexico!

Ava plays in the Sand at the Condo
Ava hangin' like the movie star she is
Ava with her cousins, all in their Jammies.

We took a quick trip to Mexico last week. We went with Matt's family and traveled back on Turkey Day. We ate in the Charlotte airport at Chili's and had a very delicious Turkey Dinner on Sunday. Ava loved that she could play outside, since it has been too cold in Wisconsin to enjoy the outdoors (well maybe too cold for her mom who has to watch her while plays outside :).

Just Not feeling well.

Ava had a hard night and was not feeling well. I slept with her in the spare bedroom and was surprised when I woke at 9 am that Ava was still sleeping. Believe me she needed the sleep after the hours we had been up in the night. I got up quietly and placed pillows around her. I stayed nearby so I could grab her when she wok up. She slept until 10:30 am and awoke in a good mood.

Who loves her babies?

Ava is all about her dolls these days. She rocks them, feeds them, and talks to them. It is so cute to watch her care for them. Her dolls are all pretty small, but when we go to cousin Grace's house, Ava plays with a couple of dolls that are much bigger-almost as big as her.

Quack Quack.....Happy Halloween!

Finally........Halloween! Ava was the cutest duck. She would quack on demand and flap her arms. We handed out candy for awhile and then went to a friends house for pizza. Ava was positive that there was something in the candy she got and squished a couple of candybars with her teeth while they were in the wrapper. Her Favorite candy..........Mini M and M's. I started giving her one little mini before I change her diaper ( otherwise she kicks and flops) so yes I am bribing her to be good! We are still on our first little pack. Sometimes she forgets about her little treat and that is just fine with me.

Good Times in St. Louie

Ava trying to catch a bunny at Purina Farms, but he hopped too fast.
Ava is a bunny for a day at the Magic House. She loved the tennis balls from one of the "cause and effect" things. You are supposed to leave the balls, but Ava just wanted to keep them.
Ava played in the water. Luckily they had smocks or she would have been soaked. Of course she wanted to take these water toys with her.......what a little thief!
Ava you are so brave! This is a big slide she did by herself. Well I was at the bottom just in case :)

While my mom was out visiting, we planned a trip to St. Louis to visit Kate and her family. It was nice to make the drive with someone who could entertain Ava if needed. And we needed it! My mom packed a little purse full of goodies for Ava. Everything in that little purse was a hit. I took several of these items on my trip last week (which of course I probably won't blog about until next year!-only kidding) We went to Purina Farms and the Magic House while we hung out at Kate's. The day we went to the Magic House they were having "Trick or Treat". The kids all dressed up and Ava wore a bunny costume Ella wore when she was one. We took it off when Ava wanted to play in the water area.

Pumpkin Patch.......Yeah, Yeah Back in October.

Last month my mom came in to town. One of the things we did while she was here was take everyone to a pumpkin patch. The pumpkin patch had some animals to pet (too bad I didn't get a picture of the miniature pony eating my mom's leather jacket-tee hee), and a wagon ride pulled by Clydesdale horses. We were lucky to get a nice sunny day.

Push Comes to Shove

At first it seemed like they were having a good time, but then Ava decided she wanted Chase off! She is trying to push him off.

Finishing up Phoenix

Ava loved feeding Harley while we were in Phoenix. Although sometimes she would put her hand down and tease the dog. She just loves food too much to always share (:
Marley Park in Phoenix has a great little water area. Ava and Chase loved aim the huge water gun. Ava wanted to do everything that Chase did.

Even little Tally loved getting her feet wet.

Bumbo - Fun For All

Ava loved her Bumbo when she was smaller. She just had to sit in Tally's when we were in Phoenix visiting Jess. I thought a comparison of the two would be cute. Yes, Tally has as much or more hair than Ava, and in this picture Tally is only 4 mo. old.

Guess What I Can Do With These Hands?

On our way to Milwaukee a couple of weeks ago Ava was being so cranky. I pulled out my emergency gloves, that look like they are from the 70's, and let Ava play with them. They kept her entertained for at leat 15 minutes! Yes in Wisconsin you never know when its going to snow, so you should always have emergency gloves in the car (:

Come here little doggie!

Chase kept Maya and Ava entertained as he acted like a little dog and came throught the doggie door. They loved it. They were giggling like crazy. Pheonix was so much fun and I have a lot more pictures to post..........tomorrow...........or next week......well sometime soon.

Ava the Turtle.

While we were at the zoo we spent some time in the new play ground that opened two weeks prior. Ava climbed into the turtle and then climbed out where the head is supposed to be. She did not want to be a turtle. I was surprised she even climbed inside that turtles shell.

Another trip to the Zoo.......Yeah in October.

These little monkies were more interested in trying to climb the fence then the animals that were fenced in.
Sharing lunch
No Surprise, they were out in minutes.

We went on a play date with our firends Derrek and Deanna. We were lucky to get such great weather in October. These two had a great time and kept us running. And apparantly the lion at our zoo is a loud mouth, because he roared again while we were there. Or maybe he thinks Ava looks yummy......or maybe I look yummy........Only kidding.

At the Zoo .....Last month!

We got to watch our niece and nephew last month on a beautiful October day. We of course decided to make it a field trip that included lunch at Rocky's and Popsicles at the Zoo. The strangest thing happened that day. Just before the park closed, the Lion started roaring and I mean loud! We were right there watching him while he roared and roared. I have to say it was a teensy bit scary!

Blankie where are you.......?

Ava is way attached to a couple of blankets my mom made for her when she was a baby. Well of course I can only wash one while Ava carries the other one around. Well she was watching the laundry go around and she spotted her other blankie. She tried with all her might to open the washer. She wanted it out that instant! A video of this would have been much funnier, so you'll just have to imagine (: