Sprinkler Park Goodness

My nieces Paula and Samantha are in town to visit for the month. This past weekend, they came down for a visit and we went to the sprinkler park and out for a nice lunch.

Once again, Aidan totally got into the sprinklers, and Ava freaked out any time the water got too close to her face. This time, we spent some time on the playground and the kids had lots of fun running around crazy. Most of all, Paula and Samantha had a blast.

Here is Ava trying the rings: My sweet little boy is getting so big:

Ava's got this goofy grin-thing going on lately:

Notice the concentration:

Ava, Paula, and Samantha:

Ian, Logan - You've Got Some Competition...

This past Friday, we had our friends Chris and Megan over with their kiddos Drew and Layla for a night of pizza and kids running around crazy.

All four played really well together, and Drew looks like he has taken a liking to Ava. Wonderful - boys are already lining up for her affections: Three minus Aidan:

Picture Me Rollin'

Last Christmas, Gram and Dzia bought the kids a Power Wheels. I find this super ironic, as I was never allowed to have one when I was little. I guess that's what grandparents are for: spoiling their grand kids.

Aidan doesn't want much to do with it quite yet, but Ava digs zipping up and down the sidewalk in the convertible. If you ask me, this is one pretty sweet whip:

RIP MJ

OK. So how totally and completely sad is this day? First Farrah Fawcett, but even more shocking...MICHAEL JACKSON? I am in total and complete shock about this. So shocked that I seriously feel a lot of grief and sadness about this.

No matter how strange he got throughout his life, he was one talented individual. His death is as huge to my generation as Elvis' was for my parents.

I know I will always remember the day and how I found out we lost "The King of Pop"...

How We Spent Fathers Day

For Fathers Day this year, I started the day by making homemade biscuits with sausage gravy and scrambled eggs for breakfast. We played with the kids at home for a bit, then took them to one of the local sprinkler parks.

Aidan, being the true boy he is, LOVED it and would at times just stand there getting sprayed in the face. On the other hand, Ava was a true princess/priss and whined and complained any time the water got too close.

We came back home for lunch and naps. After naps, we watched "Kung Fu Panda" and then made dinner. What Fathers Day would be complete without a trip to "Lowes"? After our hardware store errand, we ran out to "Maggie Moo's" for some yummy ice cream treats.

It was a nice, relaxing way to celebrate Daddy on Fathers Day!

Happy Fathers Day...

...To all the Daddys in my life!!

R.I.P. Paci

This week, we have had to say goodbye to one of Aidan's best friends: his Paci. Aidan has slept with the same paci every night since the day he was born - the same one we got from the hospital.

We noticed Aidan had been chewing and biting paci quite a bit, and knew it was only a matter of time before he would bite through. One morning, I picked up the paci to place on the side of his crib, and noticed the puncture-wounds. Very sneakily, I snatched it away before he noticed.

The first night he was without it, as soon as I closed the door to his room, he started punching the mattress and yelled, "MINE, MINE, MINE!!" It has been a few nights now, and he seems to be coping well without it.

To help fill the paci-less void, Ava chose a stuffed animal from her bed for Aidan to cuddle in case he needed some comfort. Such a sweetheart!

Here is one of the very first pictures of Aidan and Paci (notice how big it looks next to his little face?):
And the last picture of them together:

Brusha-Brusha!

Aidan has really started to insist doing things himself - and like a BIG BOY! Here are a few examples: if we ever ate tacos for dinner, we would give him everything in separate little piles. The last time we made them, he demanded eating it like a real taco - he has even eaten his first soft taco from "Taco Bell".

And brushing his teeth. We practically have to wrestle the toothbrush out of Aidan's hand to rinse and put it away. Not only does he brush his teeth like a big boy, but he saddles up next to the sink by climbing on the step-stool.

Would it be cruel and unusual if I tied a brick to his head to make him stop growing so fast??

Show Me Some Love!

I had to blog this as evidence that Ava and Aidan truly do love each other. I wanted to document this so that in a few years when they are at each others' throats, I can show them these pictures to prove them otherwise.

One Sunday morning while watching cartoons, Aidan decided to cozy up next to "sis sis" in her little chair to watch together. Here is the progression:

So, uh, do you mind if I sit here?:

OK, but only if I can give you a hug:

Oh yah? Well, I want to give YOU a hug:

Happy 2nd Birthday Ryane!

This past weekend, we helped our friends Megan and Aaron celebrate their daughter Ryane's 2nd birthday. The party was a pool party - which the kids LOVED - complete with sandbox fun and even a good old fashioned water balloon fight.

It is crazy to think how old everybody's kids are getting...I can't even talk about it :)

Here is Ava showing Ryane how to use the keyboard:

The absolutely ADORABLE cake. Megan's brother-in-law was in charge of this and knows someone who bakes cakes. It was so pretty, nobody wanted to cut it:

The birthday girl looking very confused as all the strange grown-ups were singing at her:

Pure Torture

Does anyone else have this problem? We literally spent 45 minutes trying to get Ava to let us trim her toenails. Lots of screaming, crying, kicking, and pleading ensued - so much, that I looked out the window to make sure someone hadn't called the cops on us thinking we were hurting our kids!

Ava used to not care in the least, but for some reason she has decided to make it VERY difficult. We are at a loss and trimming toenails has become a dreaded day in our house!