The end of May 2011

 We love our neighbors! We have two sweet baby girls (one next door and one across the street). This little one is Miss Allison! We need to get a picture of Miss Timber too! Avaree visits with the girls in the evenings (usually after 7 pm) when it is cool enough to play without Mommy worrying about her getting too much sun! :)



Daddy got to be home with us a couple of Saturdays in May, and on this day we talked him into going to the park! YAY! :) Guess what we did first? That's right...somebody LOVES to SWING (wing, wing!)!!

 She enjoys sliding more now too!

 On Memorial Day, we took Ave swmming. She was just a little thing last year, so it was like this was her first time to get in the cool water! Her little face (and her Daddy's) was priceless! She just giggled the whole time!

 This was after she let go of Daddy's hand and dunked herself underwater, and then she wanted to do it again. I'm going to need some nerve pills next time... :)

(Left) Memorial Day 2011, (Right) Memorial Day 2010 and first time in the pool!

It is amazing what a difference a year can make! :)

The end of school, Ave's last day at Mrs. Donna's, and more family fun pictures to come! HAPPY SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can I just say that my baby slept until 8 am this morning--and she probably would have slept longer, but I was afraid something was wrong, so I woke her up! YAYYYYYYYYY Summer!!!!!!!!!!

The Dallas Zoo with GiGi and G-Pops!!

One weekend in early May, we headed to the zoo with GiGi and G-Pops! It was an absolutely beautiful day!! It was around 70 degrees with a light breeze, and seriously it was perfect! :) Avaree loves being doted on by her grandparents, and I don't think they mind it either! ;)

We hadn't even been inside the zoo for five minutes, and Ave needed a little rest in the "children's zoo." G-Pops was happy to oblige! :)

 

"1, 2, 3, jump!"

Avaree started signing "fish" as soon as she saw the pond! :)

This is how princesses ride... :)

GiGi and Ave looking at the animals...!

I love black and white photos. I love hand photos. I espeically love black and white hand photos! I think these next two pictures are my very favorites. The caption should read "love." :)

"love"

Of course, she also had to "help Daddy" with the wagon!

Everyone was very good about smiling for my thousand pictures (yes, even Daddy!)!

I never get tired of this face!

Fun in the leaves!!!

We took at little snack break, and Avaree discovered that she loves strawberry ice cream!

I mean, she REALLY loves it! :) Thanks for sharing, G-Pops!

Then she got some popcorn from GiGi!

My fearless child not only rode the camel, but cried when she realized she couldn't get back on and ride again! My camera was delaying compared to my usual shutter speed, so I didn't get the shot I wanted, but you can tell she acted like this was just something she does every day! :)

 Watching the Penguins ("peeeeeee" as Avaree calls them, let's hope she can say Penguin soon! ha!) with Daddy!

 This picture cracks me up! I had the bright idea that I would go to the other side of the penguin tank and get a picture of everyone (plus a penguin or two) through the glass. Well, it is still a cute picture! Of course, everyone is looking at me but Ave! :)

 On the train with Mama!

 Watching G-Pops and Daddy inside the train instead of watching the landscape and the animals! :)

Family pic--thanks for taking this, Gigi!

 My child LOVED the carousel! I told Daddy that we need one in the backyard, but nothing has happened yet. ha! I was turned around backwards on one of the animals, so that I could get good pictures! Avaree gave Daddy a kiss from her perch on the hummingbird!

 Then she borrowed GiGi's sunglasses! :)

 Then she laughed at Gigi! :)

Precious, happy face...

 And with a yawn, the Princess exited the zoo in style. Along with her friends turtle and penguin #6 (GiGi and G-Pops got them for her at the gift shop!), we all left the zoo for a yummy meal and a bath! :)

We had a super fun day at the zoo, and we can't wait to go back! :)

Stay tuned for more pictures coming soon!



Catch Up--A weekend in CS!

Our summer officially began yesterday (PTL!!!!), so I think it is about time for a quick catch up on the life of our little princess! :) The last weekend of April we packed our little car to the brim and headed to College Station for Mimi's 90th birthday celebration to spend time with family!!

It is no secret that my child loves to be outisde, but I'm not sure if you know how MUCH she loves to be outside. She wakes up saying "out side side peeeez" (outside, please?)! :) So, she was uber-excited when she found out that G-Pops and Gigi got her a swing for their house! :) As you can see, it was dark..and she was still swinging! 

 Ave helping Gigi make deviled eggs for the party!!

A special moment of FIVE generations: Mimi (the birthday girl), Avaree's great-great grandmother, Mema, Avaree's great-grandmother, GiGi, Avaree's grandmother, and Daddy!!!

 Avaree, GiGi, and Daddy!

 Aunt J, Uncle D, and Avaree.... The princess wasn't quite cooperating at this point. Such is the case when she doesn't get a nap!

 "Won't let Satan blow it out....I'm gonna let it shine..!" :)

:) Much, much more to come! :)

20 months!!!!!!!

My precious angel girl turned TWENTY months old today! There are no words to describe how amazing she is. She is learning soooooo much right now, and seeing the joy of discovery on her face is priceless. I am more in love with her every day. She is loving, intelligent and beautiful. She loves to be outside. She loves to say her prayers! And on Friday (one day shy of 20 months) she FINALLY started saying and signing MAMA!!!!!!! (She says over 50 words, and signs way more than that, but for some reason, she has never said Mama in conversation or when calling me.) I never thought one little word could mean so much to me!!!!!!!!!!  :) My cup runneth over with joy and blessings...

Thank you, Lord, for my little blessing.

(More posts and pictures soon...!)

Easter 2011--19 months old! :)

I.am.so.behind. The AP Language exam is next week, summer starts in 18 more school days, and Ave and I are both feeling better, so maybe (just maybe) I'll get to catch up on the blog! :)

For now, here are a few pictures from Easter Sunday. We were in Fort Worth Easter Weekend (for David and Maisie's wedding!!!) and I never even got my camera out once. We got to see alllll of my side of the family though! I did take pictures with other people's cameras, and I am still waiting on a few of those. :) More to come.

Beautiful girl! :)

 Okay, I'm ready to go, Mommy!!! :)

 She loved her hat--at least until we got to church. Then she just wanted to put it on others. :)

 Family Picture...(I think I do have a better one on my camera, but Avaree a small person has hidden my battery charger. This is the same person that hid lost her Daddy's remote for THREE weeks. HA. :)

 After an AMAZING church service, we had Easter lunch with Granmama and Pop Pop at Texas Roadhouse by the church! It was yummy! :)

Ave and I were both pretty sick this week. She woke up slightly coughing on Saturday morning, but it was a full blown sickness by late Saturday night/Sunday morning. So after fever and not sleeping (since we had just finished a round of Antibiotics the previous Thursday) I took her to the doctor on Monday afternoon. Our pediatrician put her back on an extended round of the antibiotic that she had just gotten off the week before, and we go to the ENT on Monday for a scan of her sinuses. She is as happy as can be, but she has been sick soooo much this year. Please keep her in your prayers as we desperately seek for a way to help her stay well. Did I mention that we only have 18 more days until summer break? I know that will help her too! :)

There are more pictures to come...including our recent trip to CS for Avaree's Great-Great Grandmother's 90th Birthday! Stay tuned. Love to all.