Palm Springs- pool time

We really enjoyed the new pool & hot tub. Ava especially loved throwing everything into the pool and would say "buh bye." She also really loved all of the lounge chairs and would climb on one, sit for a second and then immediately climb down and move on to the next. She figured out how to open all of the doors leading outside (and there are a lot!) so as soon as she was awake, she wanted to be outside.

Andrew really loved bringing all of his toys outside to play with.

The enjoyed a little dance party! Love Andrew's dance moves!

And enjoyed lunch poolside most days. Notice the Batman socks he's wearing. He insisted on wearing them outside with his shorts on....it was quite the look!

She carried around this boat which was almost as big as her.

Andrew loves stuffed animals right now and decided to bring all of them outside so he could cuddle them.

Miss Ava liked to take my coffee and drink it....like mommy, like daughter.

Andrew is becoming quite the little swimmer. He can totally swim, but refuses to take off his floaties.

The only other family picture from our trip.

Palm Springs

We spent the last part of January in Palm Springs. January is usually my least favorite month. The excitement of the holidays is over, my house looks bare after taking all the Christmas decor down, the weather is rainy and gloomy. So, when Nate booked us a trip for Palm Springs in January, I was really excited. His parents bought a new house down there, so it was our first time staying at the new place and it is beautiful! We had such a fun time, but it seemed like the days went by too quickly. I'm sure you all wonder how Nate can get away so often from work, but just so you all know...he works while we are down there. There is never a vacation that he actually gets to relax and not work. The pros and cons of owning your own company! We are just grateful that we can spend a little time away from home, in the sunshine. And I'm so thankful for my mother in law who helps me out with the kids a ton while Nate is busy working.

Nate and I were committed to working out on this trip. We spent lots of the days going on runs around the neighborhood. He was a good sport and went at a very slow pace for me. We were able to get away a few nights too for some dates which were so fun.

Unfortunately the weather was a little crazy and there was a huge wind storm on Saturday. Nate and his mom (his dad was already there) had to fly back to Portland for his grandma's funeral on Saturday, so while they were away, Palm Springs had 65-90 mile an hour winds. We held down the fort despite lawn chairs flying into the pool and doors flying open. It was pretty crazy. We did have several days of clouds and a day of rain, but when it was sunny we spent our days in the pool.

Ava could not get enough of being outside. She figured out how to open the doors and wanted to be outside as soon as she woke up until she went to bed. She loved being in the pool too. Andrew, wasn't as excited to be in the pool this time until the end of the trip. He really just wanted to play with his batman toys poolside.

Some pictures of us around Palm Springs!

Ava was all ready for the sunshine with her sunglasses that she liked to put on, but wouldn't keep on for more than a few seconds.

We always enjoy going to the street fair on Thursdays. Andrew calls it the carnival and the high light is definitely feeding the horses.

Eating ice cream sandwiches.

He really wanted a picture with the statue downtown Palm Springs.

She figured out how to open the pantry door and would go in there all the time and beg for food. She also figured out how to say apple juice "ap ada" and would stand near the fridge asking for it!

She looks so sweet and innocent in the picture above, and then you see her funny personality in the pictures below! Love this girl.

Another night at the "carnival"

This is what happens when you have breakfast with Pama...you get cupcakes!

One of the only family pictures and it's blurry :(

We spent a lot of time playing Go Fish & Slap Jacks

On our last night we went to a BBQ restaurant and Ava loved this pig. She is waving to the pig from our table in the picture below.

Our last morning Andrew really wanted to go for a drive in the Ferrari so he went with Papa to McDonalds and loved every minute of it.

1.18-1.28.2012- Andrew 4 years, Ava 20 months

20 months

Last Saturday (the 14th) Ava turned 20 months. Only 4 more months until she's 2...hard to believe!!! She has really changed a lot in the last month. Right after she turned 10 months, she got her 13th tooth, bottom right, 3rd tooth over. About a week later, she got her other bottom tooth, in the same spot. She is playing with toys more and more everyday. Mainly puzzles, her baby, her play food and grocery cart, books, her Little People animals, and Andrew's toys...his trains are her favorite. She loves to play peek a boo, hide and seek, or just run around and say "boo"....it's so cute! She gives me kisses a lot and when she does, she says, "mmm muh!" with lots of excitement. She used to not give kisses to anyone else on the lips, but just offer them the top of her head, but she is now starting to give everyone kisses. She is starting to play with Andrew really well and they love running around playing chase together and having dance parties. She laughs a lot and still starts dancing as soon as she hears music. She is saying more words each day. She will try almost any word you ask her to, but she doesn't always say more than once. Some words she's saying lately: mo (more), shh (this can mean either shoe or fish), sometimes she says ish for fish too, ku (cookie), oweeo (Ariel- her favorite princess and sometimes calls all princesses this), she also says oweeo when she wants an Oreo cookie. After we pray at meal time she always says "amean" it is the cutest thing and she is so proud of herself. She babbles a lot and I'm sure she is saying more than we even understand. She has taught her self how to walk backward. One day while we were sitting in the family room she just started walking backward, then she'd walk forward so she could walk backward again. She thought she was the funniest thing and it really is hilarious! She has to sleep with a blanket that has satin on it. She loves toothbrushes and will find Nathan or mine and put them in her mouth and walk all over the house with it. She still loves to look at books or have you read them to her. She does not sit still ever, unless looking at books. She still doesn't like watching t.v. but will watch it for a few seconds if Sesame Street is on. She is such a spunky little thing, but we just adore her and think she is the cutest, funniest, sweetest little girl. Love you Ava.

The many faces of Ava!

1.14.2012

Growing up

Doesn't it look like she's grown a ton all of a sudden? She looks like such a big girl to me now! She is talking more and more lately. Last night we were listening to some karaoke kids songs on tv on demand at my parents house. We were all singing and the kids were dancing. As soon as a song ended, Ava would say "mo, mo!" (more) She will pretty much try any word now. She also is really funny and thinks it is fun to walk backwards. She will do anything for a laugh. I just adore this little girl!

Last week

While Nate was in Vegas (lucky guy) for work last week, the kids and I stayed at my parents. We didn't do much, we all had colds that seem to still be lingering. My parents are remodeling their house so there was construction taking place all day long. So we usually stayed at our house during the day and then went to their house during the evenings and to stay the night. Andrew and I shared a bed, which I kind of like, since I really don't like sleeping by myself. Ava slept horribly...she didn't feel great, plus I think she is outgrowing the pack and play and just wasn't comfortable. I didn't bring my camera all week, so all of my pictures were with my iPhone.

We had taco night one night and Andrew decided to put chips in his taco...he wanted me to take a picture and send it to daddy.

The kids had fun playing in my sister's dog's cage at my parents house.

We went out to dinner one night at California Pizza Kitchen....

Andrew calls it the pizzeria.

(He brings his batman toys with him everywhere!)

We went to Starbucks....

and looked around at TJ Maxx, where Andrew found a Cars 2 book that he looked at for probably 10 minutes.

I am glad my parents live close by so we could spend the week over there. And we are all so glad to have daddy home. We missed him a lot!!!