Trick or Treat!

We did our annual trick or treating at Gigi and Papa's house. This year was extra fun as Ava got to go with some very special friends that she has in Papa and Gigi's neighborhood. Jordan (8) and Eliza (6) took Ava under their wings for a super fun night. Aubrey hung in there for a street in a half, but had to get home to something very important.....bed! For some reason I don't have a picture of her full ladybug outfit. She looked so cute in it! Ava picked her costume out all by herself this year. She initially wanted to be a kangaroo, but they didn't have her size. So she chose Scooby Doo. I have to say, she was grinning ear to ear as people would go by her and say "Hi, Scooby Doo!" They kids loved her costume and Ava loved the attention! She would even bark at them at times! I have to say, Papa & Gigi's neighborhood was so fun. Lots of people get into Halloween in their neighborhood with fun decorations and mini haunted houses. This year, Ava really seemed like a big girl as she basically went trick or treating all by herself and I chaperoned.

 

Ava and Jordan or should I say Scooby and Kitty!

 Look how excited Ava is!

 Little Ladybug!

 Sweet Friends!

 Afterwards, I found Ava and Gigi sharing secrets!

 She's the best secret keeper I know!

Halloween Fun!

We have been busy doing all kinds of Halloween activities. We made cookies for Ava's pumpkin patch day at her class! Ava is a messy cook (like her mom), but she loves to cut out the shapes, ice the cookies and put sprinkles on them. She did a great job!

The finished product! They were yummy and her school friends liked them!

Aubrey and I visited Ava on her special Pumpkin Patch Day at school! They got to wear their Halloween costumes! With all of our activities, we are getting our money out of the costume that Ava picked all by herself. She initially wanted to be a Kangeroo, but it didn't come in her size. So this was her second pick! The kids loved it! They kept gathering around her and squeezing Scooby's nose.

Ava's class and teachers Mrs. Brandi and Mrs. Kelly

Cutest little Scooby Doo I ever have seen!

Ava's idea to get down on all fours like a dog

Sisters

This is how Ava decorated her pumpkin she picked out from school! A pumpkin kitty cat (very easy and no mess!)

Check out the bottom teeth.....she's worked hard for those!

We went the Fall Festival at our church! Sweet ladybug Aubrey hung in there as long as she could. Ava could have stayed all night. I missed the picture of her riding the pony, but I captured some of her at the petting zoo.

She thought the baby pig was so cool!

On the way home Ava decided to have a new costume...STICKER MAN. This is what we found when  we got her out of the car. She is so funny and creative!



Laundry helper

When you have stairs and a baby this is how you multi-task. You put the baby in the basket and carry both up the stairs....





I don't think she minds :-)

Same parents, different genes!

It is so funny how the same parents can have completely different children.

Ava sleeps on her back, Aubrey on her stomach.
Ava gets upset when she falls, Aubrey gets right back up.
Ava is a jabber, talking at 7 months. Aubrey hasn't said words and she is almost one.

Case in point. I took pictures the other day of the girls playing.

Here is how Ava plays........all toys are grouped according to subject or  lined up perfectly straight.  

Here is how Aubrey plays, dump everything out and play!

I know Aubrey is too young to put things in a line. But it appears that we have one child who is type A aka a Ava Leigh and one who is type B aka Aubrey Madeline. I love both of these little ladies and seeing how they are fearfully and wonderfully made!

"Avaisms"

While eating breakfast Ava asked me "Momma, why did God make me a girl?" I replied "because he wanted to make you a girl and you are very special." Ava said "I'm going to ask God why he made me a girl." "Okay" I said. Ava looked up toward the ceiling and said "God, why did you make me a girl?" After a moment she looked at me and exclaimed "I can't hear Him!" I explained to her that as she gets to know Him better by praying to Him and learning about him, she will learn to hear Him better. I really wanted to say "Sweetie, welcome to the rest of your life! You will often think you can't hear Him."

Ava asked again and then got frustrated that He wasn't answering her! What a sweet moment.

Hello Big Tex!

We took Aubrey and Ava to the State Fair of Texas. I took off of work to enjoy this very special day with the girls, Papa and Gigi. We were sad that daddy was unable to make it, but he was there in spirit. I am more sad that the battery in my camera went down and I was only to capture a couple of pictures.
We started out at the "Little Hands on the Farm" exhibit. Ava and Aubrey were great helpers as they performed several farm chores and earned a "dollar" each! They were able to use their dollars to purchase snacks. Ava was happy to pick something out for Aubrey.

Sweet little cow with sun in her eyes

 Farmer Ava hauling her sister around!

Afterwards, we went to see the REAL animals. Ava loved petting all of the animals. Her favorite was the baby horse because "he is so soft."  She also loved to watch all of the baby pigs drinking milk from the momma pig. She always ask me what animals have milk for their babies. She did not want to leave this exhibit!!!

Ava then enjoyed her very first state fair corney dog.....okay she only ate the breading as I have a semi-vegetarian!

The baby horse that she loved!

Ava then enjoyed her very first state fair corney dog.....okay she only ate the breading as I have a semi-vegetarian!

It was time for the rides at the kids midway. The first choice was the airplanes. After a couple of times around, Ava decided that it was FUN and she would giggle and squeal with delight after each turn. For the second ride we rode the balloons. I think my weight made the balloon spin extra fast. My petite Ava could barely stay in her seat and this frightened her. Luckily, no one else was on the ride and they were able to stop it. After several other rides and a trip to the fun house (which was not fun when she ran into the mirror) she decided the airplanes were the best! She rode the airplanes several times with me, Papa and Gigi!

We visited the very HOT butterfly exhibit and took a sneak peak tour of the new aquarium. Ava was able to pet the stingrays there. It is so funny, she has so many fears of trying new things, but when it comes to petting animals or stingrays......no problem!

Aubrey was such a champ. She enjoyed the people watching and took a nap there. She was never fussy. She is such a trooper! She was in awe of Big Tex as was Ava. All of my fair stories involve Big Tex so Ava enjoyed seeing her story come to life!

There are so many other things we wanted to visit, but as Ava says "we will go back tomorrow!" Probably not tomorrow, but next year. I have to say, you know your getting old when the fair physically wears you out! We ended the fair day with a chocolate dipped ice cream. Ava polished it off to the very last bit. Oh, and don't think we didn't leave without cotton candy. Ava wanted yellow, but pink did just fine!

Look who is 11 months old!

I can't believe that our "baby" will be one next month. I know I say something like this every month, but time just flies by too quickly. Things we love about our sweet Sunshine:

• You always know when she is ready to go to sleep because she puts both of her hands behind her ears (sometimes holding them). It is the classic Aubrey "I'm ready for bed" pose.
•  She loves to sleep on her stomach, butt in the air with no blanket.
• She gags on food with too much texture (ie: things with pasta in them).
• She loves to giggle when you turn her upside down.
• No one can make her laugh as much as her sister can. Well, when Ronix fetches she laughs hysterically at that, too!
• Aubrey will often grab my hands and move them around. She will make my hands clap and gets such a kick out of it. She moves my hands like they are her puppet!
• She is quite the mamma's girl. I treasure this so much as I know this will end when she decides that daddy holds the key to her heart as well as anything she wants.
• She loves to ride in wagons, strollers and bike trailers.
• Exploring is her favorite thing to do. She also is very into pulling anything out of a bucket. For instance clothes I just folded, diapers out of her diaper bin, etc......
• She is still not talking much, but she sure does smile and giggle all of the time. She also will make loud noises to compete with Ava when Ava is making loud sounds.
• She is transferring from couch to table and will stand by herself for a couple of seconds.
• She is in 12 month clothes....and if I were buying something for her I would by 12-18 months. Ava wore 12-18 months around 24 months. So funny!
• Aubrey can find the smallest spec of dirt or debris on your floor. Loose a diamond and I guarantee she will find it (and maybe eat it!)
• She loves daddy's ring. She always touches it first with her index finger and then puts in her mouth. She follows this sequence to a tee!
• When you tell her "no, no" she stops and looks at you and puts her index finger to her mouth. Then she proceeds to do whatever we were saying "no, no" to again!
• When she decides she is done with her bottle or cup she proceeds to chunk it across the room. It's as if she is saying "I'm done with that."
• She has such a sweet, joyful and gentle spirit about her.  Her laugh is infectious and her entire face lights up with every smile. Again, she reminds us of pure sunshine....she warms your heart and your soul!

Fantastic Fall Family Funday!

Oh, how I love fall! The weather has been absolutely gorgeous and we have been thoroughly enjoying it! We decided to get the Burley out and introduce Aubrey to it! We took the girls for a bike ride at Harry Myers Park. This is their first "sister ride. " I remember when we first purchased the Burley, we decided to get a two seater "just in case" we had another one. So glad we have another sweet lady to fill that second seat. During the ride, Ava had her arm across Aubrey to protect her. It was so sweet and unexpected might I add.

Sisters in the Burley

The driver pulling his princesses in their chariot!

Ava taking Aubrey for a ride!

What child doesn't like puddle jumping?

Little biker babe!

I love family days like this! The girls had a blast and so did we!