HAPPY BIRTHDAY AVA!!!

Ava had a wonderful first birthday party this past Saturday. The weather was beautiful, and lots of friends and family came to celebrate. It was crazy getting ready for the big day...I had lots of family coming in that day to spend the night, and Hunter had to be admitted into the hosptial that morning unexpectedly, so Jamie was not there to help me get ready...which means I had to run all of his errands that morning and was not there when all of my family was arriving. Luckily they were there to help me get everything in place before the party started. I don't know what I would have done if they weren't there to help. I did run out of time, and had to just throw my hair up. :( I guess I am glad I atleast got to put on some makeup, and Jamie was able to show up for the party for a little bit before he had to head back to the hospital.

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Ava had a candy themed party. I set up a candy bar for all of the adults and older kids to enjoy, and a mini baby bar with dried fruit and yogurt drops for the wee ones...in lou of goodie bags. We had a gumball guessing game and the winner got to take home a Candyland game. It turned out really great.

I made a large birthday cake and her mini cake and used colorful twizzlers as decoration.

We put tables on the front porch so that everyone could eat and watch their kids play at the same time.

Lollipops around the sidewalk leading up to our house. Banks was actually licking them! I mean he had to make sure! ;)

Lots of fun toys to play with!

Getting ready to open gifts.

Ava was so blessed and got so many wonderful things from her family and friends. Thank you all SO much!!


Mommy and Daddy got her a new red convertible!
She LOVES it!! Good thing her tutu fit!

Cooper shows us how she says CHEESE! Love those teeth!!
Banks had the MOST fun! All of the grandmothers at the party kept on giving in to him and letting him have more candy, even though momma said no. hehe. I think he really enjoy the candy party the most!!
Grandma Candy and Grandpa Jimmy

Maddy. She is getting to be quite the chunk!
Gavin enjoying some lunch and cake.
Grandmomma (my grandmother) trying on Shelby's (14 yr old cousin) glasses. HAHAHA

Poppi (my stepdad Rick) and Maddy (my sis Diana's baby)

Getting ready to sing Happy Birthday

She LOVED everyone singing to her and all the attention!

She didn't know what to do when we gave her the cake. She kept looking at us like she knew she shouldn't be doing it. ;)

We had to put some icing in her mouth to entice her. I think she likes it!

She didn't like using her hands, so she just bit right into the cake. It was like she was in a pie eating contest and couldn't use her hands. It was too funny!

We had a great day! THANK YOU to everyone who made the three hour drive to come down and share in this special day!! It was so wonderful to have you all there!! I can't believe my little baby is ONE. She is growing so fast!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY PRECIOUS AVA JANE!

Ava's A Cookin'

So I decided to get Ava a kitchen for Christmas. I found a great deal online for a pink retro kitchen, and it was just too good to pass up. So I ordered it. I just couldn't resist putting it together as soon as it came in. I mean I had to make sure nothing was damaged right? I couldn't wait until December and then call if something was wrong right? ;) It is the CUTEST little kitchen!! She already has all kinds of accessories (pots, pans, food, utensils, etc.) to cook with. Maybe Daddy will forget this was supposed to be her big Christmas gift, and we can get something else. Hehe.


Ava seeing her kitchen for the first time after she woke up...hence the pajamas. I think by the look on her face she likes it.

Checking out all the doors and drawers.

Standing in the drawer.....

.....to reach the timer. Momma's gonna have to keep an eye on this.

I think the kitchen was a BIG hit!! She is going to have so much fun playing and pretending with this as she grows.

(Oh, and her Mrs. Tara got her the CUTEST apron from Anthropologie for her birthday. I will have to post a pic with her wearing it with her kitchen.)

Goin Bananas!

This past Monday Ava and I, along with several other stay at home moms and kiddos from my church met up at Goin Bananas Playnasium for some fun! They have tons of bounce houses for kids to have a blast on. What I like is they have age limits on certain ones-even some for kids 2 and under! That way big kids aren't running over little kids. Now that Ava is walking, she was all over the place...of course never wanting to hold my hand or stay in one area for very long.


Here is one of the 2 and under bounce houses. It is one giant bouncer with several little inflatables inside. You just set them down inside and let them go!

Ava saying hi from the top of the little slide.

Ava and Gavin
Mommy and Ava going down the BIG slide!
She loved it and wanted to go again!
Tara and Gavin getting ready to go down.
Alana and Branna going down....Branna has the BIGGEST smile on her face!

They also had an area for smaller kids to play with toys and plastic houses/slides.


Gavin and Corbin

Alexa
Ava and Alexa. Can you believe Alexa is older than Ava? I think Ava is going to be tall!

It was also one of the moms birthdays, so Tara made us some wonderful banana pudding to have as a snack! It was SO yummy!!! (Esther & Alexa, Alana & Branna, Pieper & Olivia, Jamie & Corbin, Tara & Gavin w/Ava)

Jacob and Caroline
Happy Birthday Jamie!

We had a blast and will definitely be going back!! It was only $5 for the both of us!

I am so lucky to have such a wonderful group of stay at home moms to have play dates with! I love them all!!

Sweet Day with Gavin!

Gavin and Tara came over to play and help do a few things to help get ready for Ava's party. Gavin and Ava always have the best time together. Ava is having a candy themed party, so we all took a trip to the Sugar Shack in Bastrop to get a few specialty candies. We gave the kiddos their first suckers...sugar free of course...and they LOVED them!

"Mmmmm...this is good!"
Ava wasn't so sure about hers at first.
Giving it a try...
Luvin it!! Definitely can't live without these...

Going into a "sugar" induced coma.

After dinner, while Tara was loading up the car, I took a few pics of the kids. They were such troopers all day long! But as the pictures progressed, you could tell they were done for the day.

So sweet.
"Uh Gavin...what are you doing??"
"Mom, do you see where he is wiping that?" (look at her big eyes)

"GROSS!"

Poor Gavin is bored out of his mind! Thinking of a way to get Ava back for the previous pictures.

Guess whatever Gavin told her did the trick!

We had a fun time, and always enjoy their company. I hope Gavin won't be too upset with me for sharing these pics. ;)

Baby Calleigh Nicole

My friend Crystal had her second child, a baby girl named Calleigh, on October 5th. I was lucky enough to be able to drive to Waco a few days after her birth to visit with her and her family. Jamie stayed home with Ava so that I could visit with Calleigh without chasing her around the entire time. She was SOOOO precious. She weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces and was 21 inches long. Cute as a button with black hair. Totally opposite of Cameron, her 2 year old brother, who is very light skinned, light blonde hair and blue eyes. We had a wonderful visit, and I can't wait to go back and see her again!!

Welcome to the world Calleigh Nicole!!

Busy Busy Busy

I have been extremely busy lately!! I have been getting ready for Ava's first birthday party coming up this Saturday, and all of the company that is coming to stay with us as well. Also, Ava has started walking...everywhere! I have no free time anymore-chasing her around, which is why I have been behind in blogging. I hope to be able to catch up! ;)