Ava teasing Daddy

I wasn't really sure what to title this post. This is a video of Ava doing her "thing" and it's a sort of combination of tickling or teasing and a "goochy-goochy-goo" thing. It's so funny and here she's teasing her Daddy with it. What she'll usually do is crouch down and curl her fingers in front of her face and start making this goofy little noise. Then she comes at you and gets you. (Really, how does one explain the make believe silliness of a 21 month old???) We hope you enjoy the video.

Cookie or Clapping?

Today Ava & I were eating at Qdoba with Ellen, Will, & Jeni when Ava heard a good song come on the restaraunt speakers and she needed to do something in reaction to the groovy music. Problem was, Ava had a cookie in her hand at the time so she did the only thing she could: she tucked that cookie under her arm and held it tight there while she clapped her hands to the music. Ellen could only laugh and say that Ava was a born multi-tasker. =) I remembered to tell you all the story tonight because I was treating her shirt for stains and found chocolate marks in the underarms. =)

Ava's First Haircut

Ava had her first haircut and did so well. Note the sucker in her hand in the bottom picture? Magic! She sat and let our friend Janna cut her hair and didn't even hardly move. Next time will probably be a nightmare but... =) Jeff & I love her new look and it seems from the compliments that she garners everywhere we go that others like it, too. We were just ready for it not to be a crazy mess whenever it wasn't pulled back from her face. I think that Janna cut a little over 3 inches off, I couldn't believe it had gotten so long. With the new 'do I think she looks alot like Jeff's little cousin Lucy Farley.

Ava on the Piano (Then and Now)

I have some old videos of Ava that I'm pretty sure I haven't shared. Even if I have, I'm sure you'll love seeing them again. :) Here's a video of Ava playing the piano at about 8 months. I apologize for my videography skills, you'll have to turn your head to watch this first one because I don't know how to switch the orientation. The second video is of Ava playing the piano yesterday at 21 months old. Can you believe how much she's changed and grown?!?

A quick update

This is just a quick update to let everyone know that we are "this" close to being moved out of our house in Brandon! We have some cleaning left to do and there are a few items left in the garage but we're in good shape and will be closing on Monday. Yay!!

Ava's settling into life on the farm well. She and I went for a ride with Grandpa in the combine on Monday and then today I caught her in Grandpa's recliner reading the "Successful Farming" magazine. Apparently, she's going to like farm life.

I am unpacking and arranging all of our items that we brought to Marv & Theresa's. The mounds of stuff are a bit daunting but one box at a time, we're getting it done. Wish us luck!!

More pictures from California

Trick-or-treating in California with the cousins! We had a Ballerina, Golden Princess, Bumblebee, and a Purrty Kitty. We weren't sure what Ava was going to wear for her costume when we arrived in California so Taylor created ballots and we all voted. (The other two options were Zebra and Bumblee.)

Ava's Peapod Travel bed was a hit with all the kids and even though Ava never actually slept in it, the tent got a lot of use during playtime.

California with our Anema cousins

The second half of our California trip was spent with Jeff's sister Amy, her husband Paul, and their three kids: Taylor, Samantha, & Jackson. Ava had a blast with her California cousins and didn't know what to do with herself when she came home and they weren't here to entertain her. We got home late Sunday night and all day Monday she seemed lost and out of sorts. After six days with those three to play with, I can understand how quiet and boring our house seemed!

Mud puddles! Fun for everyone!!

Ava, Jack, and the Cozy Coupe. Ava LOVED this car and if anyone came near when she was in it she said, "No, no, no, no!" Lucky for her, Jack didn't mind sharing as bad as she did and we caught the two of them going for a ride in the coupe.

Taylor is full of ideas and plans and activities. While we were there she created a slide show and then voting ballots for Ava's Halloween costume and gave dance lessons. Here are the three girls taking Taylor's dance lessons, something right up Ava's alley as you saw in the video from a few days ago. :) Bring on the tutus, Taylor! Ava's looking forward to more lessons in December!!

We have so many pictures of Ava and her cousins that I think I'll have to post more another day. Thank you, Anemas, for all the fun we had at your home in California! We look forward to more fun this Christmas when you come to Iowa!