Emma's Birthday Party

This weekend, we helped celebrate Ava's friend Emma's friends birthday. We started the day going for a swim at a local indoor pool. It was really cute - an activity pool for the kids that included a water slide and other fun water features.

After the swim, we headed over to Pizza Hut for some lunch. The big girls sat at their very own table and were surprisingly very good with limited adult supervision.

We came home, and Aidan crashed hard for a nice long nap, while Ava decided to take a shorter cat-nap. Why does it seem like when you think they'll take a good nap, they never do?

We had lots of fun...thanks guys!

Here are the big girls:
The Birthday Girl:

Opening our present - an old school Cabbage Patch Kid:

Ava's Portfolio

Here are a couple of the pictures Ava snapped with her new camera. Now, I know the quality isn't that great, but we really didn't buy it for that purpose. Since having her camera, she has not once asked to use ours. We plan to print off some and put them in her baby book.

Kickin' It Old School

Here's our handsome little man practicing his poses for his model shoot. He put himself this way and sat there for quite a while. Such a natural:

Ava's Birthday Extravaganza, Part 3

For Ava's final birthday celebration, we went to Gram & Dzia's for a family party. We started the day by going out to breakfast, where Ava was serenaded by the servers and presented with a birthday sundae (yes, we let her eat ice cream after breakfast...it was her birthday).

After breakfast, we went to hang out until Memaw, Pepaw, Uncle Drew, Uncle Ross, and Ashley came over for dinner, cake, and presents. She got all sorts of cool stuff, including: a scooter, lots of dress-up clothes, a purse, a doll, and a book.

Ava with her pile of presents:
Her princess scooter:

Some of her dress-up jewels:

Trying on her drees-up clothes and posing with Uncle Ross and Ashley:

Snow Day

Ava picked a great day to be sick, because that same day, we got the most snow since 1996. I would say there is a good 10 or so inches out there. Of all the days not to have to venture out, I was glad I was cooped up with the kids. We were literally in our pajamas all day, and did lots of snuggling and lounging.

Here are the kids watching Sean shovel the driveway:
Our backyard:

Our street:

Sick Girl

Poor Ava came down with the flu at daycare. We picked her up, brought her home, and just let her lounge. She was feeling pretty lousy, but thankfully, she is feeling much better.

I think she is beautiful even when she is sick and feeling her worst:

Ava's Birthday Extravaganza, Part 2

For Ava's "friends" party, we went to Gymboree. For those of you unfamiliar with Gymboree (besides their clothes) they also have an indoor playground/gym with all sorts of climbing stuff, mats, and activities.

When you have a party there, you get the whole place to yourself, they provide balloons and goodie bags for the kids, a gift for the birthday child, and a teacher that plans age-appropriate activities as well as helps to cut and serve cake AND clean up afterward. After this weekend, I am convinced I am finished throwing parties at home! We would recommend it to anyone.

Here are the kids playing the "hold still" game:
We played with ribbons:

Isn't Aidan's face precious? Such a boy:

And here is the birthday girl blowing out her candles. We had to re-light one, because she wanted to blow them out while we were still singing:

Ava's Birthday Extravaganza, Part 1

On Ava's actual birthday, we started the weekend of festivities off with a party at daycare, going to Toys R Us to spend her gift card, off to Pizza Hut for dinner, then home to open her present from Mommy and Daddy.

Here are Mommy and the Birthday Girl (notice instead of pizza, Ava wanted to eat salad):
The proud girl with her gift:

The photographer-in-training. Ava is OBSESSED with our camera, so we found a kid-friendly version that takes real digital pictures:

Here's Katie!

As promised, here are the pictures of our visit with Katie and Jenny. After having held two very cute and sweet newborns within one week's time, I am happy to report that I am not feeling that dying need to have another little bundle myself. There have been no drastic measures quite yet - and won't for a while - but we feel very blessed to have two healthy (and I might add, cute) kids.

Here are the ladies...it won't be long before Ava is giving Katie make-up and wardrobe tips:
Doesn't Katie look like a little doll in Sean's big man-paws?:

We realized we hadn't snapped Aidan with Katie, but we documented his visit:

The People Have Spoken...And They Have Spoken Clearly

Sorry honey, but it is painfully obvious who our readers have sided with. In a landslide victory, you voted that Aidan will look like Daniel Craig when he grows up.

Thanks to all who said our boy would look like the Bond stud, and not the Anthony-Michael Hall wannabe!

Happy 3rd Birthday Little Miss!

(This is posting at the exact time Ava was born...)

It is SO hard to believe our Ava has turned 3 years old today! It sounds very cliche', but I can still remember being in the hospital with her just like it was yesterday.

We are planning a BIG birthday weekend:

Friday...dinner out with Mommy, Daddy, and Aidan;
Saturday...pictures taken in the morning, birthday party at Gymboree in the afternoon;
Sunday...birthday party with all the grandparents and other family

Ava - we love you so much and are amazed by you each day. Hope you have a great day!

Welcome Baby Jackson!

Yesterday, our dear friend Ashley gave birth to a BEAUTIFUL baby boy (I know he's beautiful, because I got to see him and hold him today).

Jackson weighed 7lbs. 5 oz. and was 20 3/4 inches long. He has a nice round head and pretty skin.

Ashley was blessed with a pretty easy labor and delivery - that probably means it will be a lot easier to decide if she wants to do it again!

Congratulations Andy and Ashley!!

Look-Alike Contest

Sean and I are having a bit of a disagreement when it comes to which "celebustud" Aidan will resemble when he grows up.

Earlier, I posted that I thought Aidan will look just like Daniel Craig (a.k.a. Bond, James Bond). Well, Sean is kind of on board with that, but thinks he will look more like Kevin McKidd (Grey's Anatomy, Rome, and The Journeyman).

I thought I would let the readers decide. You have until 1/22/09 at 7 PM to vote for who you think our little man will look more like. (Please see the poll on the main page).

Daniel Cr...oops, I mean, Aidan:

Kevin McKidd:

Daniel Craig:

Welcome Baby Katelyn!

Katelyn Victoria was born today at 12:00 PM. She weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces and is 19 inches long (petite thing!). We plan to visit the new baby tomorrow - look for a picture soon.

Congrats David, Jenny, and big brothers Ian and Logan!

Babysitting Ian and Logan

This past weekend, we watched Ian and Logan while their mommy and daddy went out to a work party. We were more than happy to do it, as it was the last date night David and Jenny would have before the arrival of baby Katelyn (keep checking in for an update on her arrival).

The boys were really good - in fact, I think (rather, I KNOW) they were better behaved than one of my own...not naming names.

All the kids had a blast together, and to prove it, here are some cute pics from the evening:

Ava and Ian copying one another (each stuffed a ball down their shirt):
The little monkeys jumping on Ava's bed:

And the highlight of Logan's night? Cornering Gobi:

Aunt Jan's Visit

This past weekend, we had a very special visitor in town. Aunt Jan came from Michigan to visit us (well, probably came more for the kiddos, but we're used to things like that).

Aunt Jan is Julie's aunt and godmother. We were unfortunately unable to drive to my extended family's for Christmas, so she decided to come to us.

We went out for a nice dinner - the kids were SO good - then came back to our house for some pie and coffee and more visiting.

Although the visit was short, we still had a wonderful time catching up. We plan to drive up there some time soon. Thanks for coming to see us Aunt Jan!

"Cereal With Milk"

Ava wanted cereal with milk for breakfast. Not just dry cereal in a cup, but a real bowl of cereal. And not only that, but she even wanted to drink every last bit of milk from the bowl. Miraculously, no drops of milk were spilled:

Playing Dress Up

I came home from a doctor appointment on Monday to this:
I started giggling immediately at the sight. Then I asked Sean if he asked Ava if she wanted to wear that, or if she wanted to. Turns out, as soon as she woke up from her nap, she requested her tutu, crown, and ballerina slippers. Too cute.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

This year, we were lucky enough to be able to ship the kids off to spend the night with Gram and Dzia so Mommy and Daddy could go out and hang with some adults and do adult things. We feel very blessed to have such wonderful parents to volunteer to do that!

Below is a picture of Sean and I getting ready to head over to some friends' house for a night of food, games, and cocktails.

Just wanted to wish our readers out there a very happy and blessed 2009. We hope this year brings lots of joy, health, and good fortune :)