Ava's 8th Birthday - Part 1

Wow! What a whirlwind week we had! It seems that we celebrated for almost a whole week!

We started with birthday pancakes at Ava's request.

Then we enjoyed cupcakes, not once, but twice! The first time was in Ava's class at school (I didn't even get pictures!), and her classmates were impressed that they were "homemade cupcakes"! I kid you not, they were pumped. I guess homemade does trump Wal-Mart bakery! The second round of the say was at a pool party for our ACTS program at church. Ava was more than happy to have a pool party on her birthday!

And this little guy was in true daredevil fashion. Makes my stomach hurt to watch him swim. He is just so busy!

After swimming, Nana and Pop came over to bring one new present. Ava was all smiles opening her new Elvis glasses case.

On Thursday night we were treated to dinner courtesy of Nana and Pop. Ava chose Mexican, because she loves when they sing and smear whipped cream in your face. :)

Ready for dinner

Just what she had been waiting for. 

On Friday evening, we hosted 9 other girls for an ELVIS themed birthday sleepover. After they all arrived, when the screaming started, I started to wonder if I had lost my mind! Bradley was a dream though. The girls loved him and loved to beat up on him! :)  They colored Velvet paintings, ate pizza, played hide and seek in the dark, watched the Frozen sing along, played Just Dance, freaked each other out with scary/silly stories, and I even heard them play Truth or Dare. Hilarious, but exhausting!

Before the real craziness began!

Ava was in the middle as she was "married" to Elvis. Funny girls. 

One thing I want to remember is how Ava hugged each girl after she opened their gift. It was just so sweet. She was just so excited and thankful for each present. 

Thank you, Thank you very much for coming! 

Up next, party time with the family! Here is a sneak peek! :)

The Last Full Day of 2nd Grade - AKA Field Day

I was very lucky to be able to attend Ava's Field Day again this year. I love getting the chance to go and see her participate with her classmates. It also gives me an idea of the dynamic of what her class has been like for the year. In a word, this class was LOUD. Lots of different, overbearing personalities that came together. It was a fun group, but rowdy. Bless Mrs. Mallory's heart. :) Ava has loved her and learned so much this year. We continue to be blessed with teachers that are challenging, yet understanding of a child who gets bored very easily.

 

 

So this last full day of 2nd grade was full of fun, sunshine, and water. Ava had a blast and this year was the first year she didn't want to leave with me, but rather stay and watch movies with her classmates. She's growing up on me... {tear}. 

 

Before school

Checking out the petting zoo

You know it was all over for this group of 2nd graders when the donkeys started pooping. The crazed laughter was crazy, especially from the boys.

My brown eyed girl

The giant slip and slide soaked the ground and these worms (seriously, feet long!) were crawling out everywhere. Harrison would have been in HEAVEN!

 

 

So, a wonderful ending to a fantastic year at NGS!

Sledding Adventures and Snow Day fun

5 snow days this week from an ice storm that happened on Sunday. Wow. Honestly, I can never remember the roads being so dangerous for so long. I don't think anyone was expecting the amount of sleet we actually got (6 inches) topped with an inch of snow. That just makes ice!

But, it was sure fun to go sledding in with the neighbors (one of whom is a classmate of Ava's)! We had such a great time sledding. I hadn't been sledding in about 25 years and neither of the kids have. We usually get such little snow that a sled would be useless. Not this time! So much fun, but so much soreness the next day!

Harrison was the first to want to go in. I guess all that butt sliding led to pants full of snow and his booty was frozen and done. Ava stayed for a while longer, but this momma made her come in after about an hour of sledding fun. Hot cocoa was waiting to warm these babies up!

Her first time on the sled and then she was hooked!

Harrison's first time

Then we discovered this bigger hill that you didn't even need a sled for....you can see Harrison just rode down on his butt!

While Ava chose to go down on her belly...

Then Mommy and Harrison...let me tell you, this hill was no joke! You seriously got airborne on it and fast! Like a roller coaster. My heart couldn't take it!

Love this little dog. I follow him on instagram. His name is actually Tuna. He is so cutely funny looking!

Tuckered out after sledding and in great need of a haircut.

Daddy brought in this huge icicle.

Poor Scout wants out in the snow soooooo badly. He loves the snow and wants to run free in it!