Ava & Mom

I finally took the time to have Jon take a few pics of Ava and I! 

Tickle tickle!

Big kisses

Big hugs!  I LOVE Ava's hugs.  Super tight squeeze and she always smooshes her cheek on mine!  They are the best.

Dad Attack

Ava's knows dad is great for romping around and rougher play. Here she is doing one of her favorite things with him, attacking him and knocking him over.

Here I come Dad!!

Valentines

Ava had her Valentines Party at school.  All the kids loved their snacks, passed out Valentines, and made a Valentines craft.

Ava's Valentines

Class artwork

Time for snacks

Ava's class went from 10 kids to 23!

Here the kids are singing a song.  Its a song they always sing before eating.

Ava and her cupcake!  Of course, icing first!

Ava's Valentine to us. So cute!

1/2 Birthday

Grandma and Grandpa came down from Nebraska over Valentines weekend so Jon and I could go on a date. They also brought a special surprise for Avalyn since it was her 1/2 birthday! Jons family has been celebrating 1/2 birthdays ever since Jemma was born on Jons dad's 1/2 birthday.

Do you like the 2 1/2 candles?

Ava was very excited about blowing out the candles.  She also kept saying, "BIRTHDAY CAKE!"

She blew and blew but they were trick candles, lol.

She also got some gifts.  Some stickers, play-doh, and some new clothes!

2 1/2

Wow, it's hard to believe you are 2 1/2! You are not a little toddler anymore. You are a little girl now. Full of personality!  You continue to keep us on our toes and laughing daily.

On January 2^nd you moved into the 2 ½ -5 year old pre school class!  You were doing so well with the transition period they went ahead and moved you in full time a month and a half early!  You are getting better at your colors and are starting to sort things by color.  You also make sequence patterns, for example red yellow blue over and over in a line.



Some fun toddler talk – You say this while rubbing your belly,  “I hungee…for a sucka.”  You love suckers.

“What are you dooing?”  “Com ere Momma/Daddy…wite NOW!”  “NO Momma/Dadee!”  “Stop it!”  “I wuve you” “NOO Thank You” (while pointing your finger at us)

It’s also cute that you add  “ies” to a lot of your words, like  “Snackies”  and “Juicies”

You and your "snackies"

You have some new favorite cartoons.   They are Nick Jr’s Paw Patrol and Kai-lan. “Paw Patwol Peas?”  and “Wanna watch KiLaaan” are heard often throughout the day, lol.

We are working on potty training.  It’s going well with #2 because it’s easier to catch before it happens.  You always get sooo excited and say, “Momma Momma!!  I poo poo on Poddy!”  Then you go tell dad and give him a high five. However, #1 is coming along more slowly but you are starting to make the connection.

Look at how tall you are!  You are definitely going to be taller than mommy!

Some of your favorite activities are painting, reading books, riding your bike, singing, and dancing.

You love listening to music in the car.  You get mad when songs end though, lol.  Also, if I'm skipping around the stations looking for music and you hear something you like, you let me know!  "HEEEEY!  Tuwn. That.  ON!"

Some new skills - Riding a tricycle, spinning in place, walking on tip toes, half way stands on hands (donkey kick form Gymnastics), taking your coat off, putting your gloves on/off, taking off/putting on pants, going potty.

Fun things over the last few months – Playing in the snow, birthday partys, the Holidays, visit from Santa, your first show (Sesame Street), Valentines, Mr. Stinky Feet, and Fun Run.

You always give the best hugs and kisses.  You come and sit next to me and give me a big hug around the neck and put your cheek right against mine.  I love it.

Race Car Driver

Ava is getting really good at riding her tricycle.  I never get tired of watching her, its just too cute!  She usually says "come momma!"  because she wants me to chase her.  I also think its so funny that when she gets to the carpet she uses her feet.

 

Valentines Craft

I saw these online and wanted to try them, with a twist.  I wanted to make a sun catcher with beads, glitter, sequence, etc.  Well, the contact paper wouldn't stick so the heart ended up with a big air bubble in the middle. 

Second round, we just used  tissue paper.  I thought it would still be like a sun catcher.  Only problem, the tissue paper is so fragile that Ava kept ripping them or smashing them to bits, lol.  So I ended up handing her the hearts one by one.  The contact paper stuck this time, and we ended up with a cute finished product.  We made 7 total.

The top left heart is our first try.  It's still cute, but the entire inside of the heart is open with air.  

 

Snow

We got dumped with a foot of snow so we were bunkered down in the house for a few days. Jon got to enjoy his Christmas gift, a snow blower! After 5 years living in our house we finally got one and it was awesome! Ava also had some fun playing out in the snow. I think my fuzzy socks on her arms are a nice touch, lol! Anything to keep her warm.

Wow dad!

Snowy butt!

Blasts right through the foot of snow.

Kick!

Donkey Kick

This is one of Ava's new skills from gymnastics, the donkey kick. Sometimes she gets so high she's almost in a handstand!  On occasion she'll also hop to the side, kind of like a mini round off.

Emotions

Our little actress!  Here is Ava acting out different emotions.  I think "mad" is the funniest.  But, sleeping with her eyes wide open is pretty funny too.

Butterfly Birthday

Ava had a blast at McKenna's 3rd birthday.   It was an adorable butterfly theme.   Pastels, butterfly garlands, crafts, and more.

There was a fun craft table.  The kids were able to design their own butterfly's using a butterfly sticker, tissue paper, and colorful rhinestones.  All the kids seemed to really enjoy picking up handfuls of rhinestones!

 

McKenna's new baby sister Kaelyn enjoying the birthday.

CHEESE!

The punch box was a big hit.  The kids punched through the circles to claim their prize.  Ava was ecstatic when she pulled out smarties!!

Jaiden regarding her prize, "Look Mom, a hair thingy!!

The birthday girl blowing out her candle.

Ava kept saying, "ice cream!"  But when I gave her the ice cream she was not interested.  Turns out she thought cupcakes were called ice cream.  Here she is with her cupcake, she doesn't mess around, lol!

Ava cracks me up, she's eating her smarties with a spoon.

Time for gifts!

So cute how all the kids gather around for gifts.