10 on Tuesday (even though it's Wednesday)

I had planned to do a 10 on Tuesday yesterday, but didn't get to since Ava and I made a quick trip to KY to take my Nanny's dog back to her. It was a nice little day trip, but would have been much better if it hadn't rained on us for most of the day. So here is a little recap of what is happening around here.

1. I have been working on Ava's birthday party. Invitations will be going in the mail tomorrow, but if you usually come, it will be on August 15th this year.

2. Ava loves to help with things (except cleaning up), especially in the kitchen. Here she is on the 4th "helping" me with a cobbler I made. Peach cobbler, yum! I actually think Ava ate more of the pecans then she put on the cobbler!

3. Several pictures here from a few eeks ago. How did she manage to spill a container or bubbles on top of her head?

4. Ava is big into dressing and undressing herself right now. She loves picking out her own outfits and for the most part does an okay job of matching, though last week's magenta top and Christmas pajama pants was a bit much! If you notice in the pictures above her tank top looks too big, it's because she insists on trying to take things off and slide them down her waist. Which never works, but she really tries hard.

5. A few recent scrapbook pages. I really need to find time to do some more, but it doesn't look like that is happening!

6. No, we have not decided on a name for the new baby yet. I call him Cletus and for some reason, my friends on facebook keep messaging me really concerned that his name is going to be Cletus. Seriously, people? Seriously?

7. Last week Bradley and I celebrated our 7 year anniversary. We made a quick trip to Jackson and ate at the Olive Garden. You would have thought Ava had never been to a restaurant because as she was eating salad, she kept saying, "I love this meal!" Yeah, it was good and to celebrate we did a little quick self-portrait.

8. Ava is all excited because we bought supplies for Nana to sew her a "Dopey" costume. At least that's what Ava calls it. It is actually a Dorothy costume from the Wizard of Oz which she loves!

9. On one of the last hot days that we had, I filled up Ava's pool. She was sitting in it waiting to go down her slide and said, "I'm so egg salad!" That's Ava speak for "I'm Excited!" Cutie!

10. I go back to work tomorrow. Summer is over for me. Back to the grind!

Crafting

Ava has loved doing crafty stuff this summer and we have spent a lot of time coloring, drawing, gluing, stickering, and making all sorts of things. She has a little basket in my craft room and digs in it for stuff all the time. Nana also gave us a huge box of craft stuff that we have used and played with. Anytime I tell her it is craft time she is beyond excited. For the most part, I just give her the supplies and let her do the rest. Here are some pictures of Ava crafting some animals that came in that box.

I couldn't help laughing when Ava brought me this cow and said, "Mommy, why does her tootie look so funny?"

A couple of our animals with their eyeballs attached.

A Funny Conversation

Scene: Driving in the car after leaving the Dollar Tree where Ava wanted to buy 3 or 4 gross looking baby dolls. (Now the Dollar Tree has great stuff, but their baby dolls, not so much!) I told her maybe she would get a new baby for her birthday and then we left. Fast forward to in the car driving.

Ava: I want to buy some babies...

Bradley: Okay Madonna.

Me: laughing

Bradley: or Angelina

So while this little conversation played through my head and I was laughing, I saw this running through my mind. It is a scene from Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update making fun of Angelina and Madonna. You will prob have to view the commercial since this comes from NBC, but they have TONS of SNL cips including some older ones. Browsing fun!

A Few More from the 4th

Here are a few pictures from our actual 4th of July celebration. We had supper with Joe who cooked a delicious meal accompanied by my peach cobbler (with help from Ava). We did a few fireworks in the backyard and then headed to Dyersburg to watch the fireworks. We had some storms roll through right after the fireworks, but luckily we got to see the good stuff (not that Ava paid attention because she had to go potty!). Ava got more enjoyment from helping Daddy light the smoke bombs and throw the poppers. She didn't much care for the sparklers or things that made loud noises. You can see in some of the pictures she was plugging her ears. We all had a great time and enjoyed the holiday.

She was annoyed because I wanted a picture of her in her shirt.

Happy with Daddy because he had the little popping things that you throw.

Celebrating a friend's birthday

After last year's disaster at a friend's party, I thought we may have been banished from all birthday parties in the state of TN. I don't know if I talked about it on her, but rest assured, it was bad. So I was kind of dreading this year's party and hoping that Ava behaved much better. We talked about it for days and how she wouldn't be getting presents because this wasn't her party and that hers was coming. So Ava picked out a present and away we went.

I was shocked that my child was very well behaved (you just don't realize how bad it was last year!). We only had one small incident and that was dealt with quietly and quickly and the rest of the time, she had a blast! The party was held at a little place that offers the bouncy items to its guests. Ava was very hesitant about those because the air pumps were very loud and she does not like loud songs lately (unless she is making them!). But once she finally got in, she loved bouncing and had a fantastic time. She was such a great kid and definitely did not want to leave when it was time to go!

Here she was saying, "Mommy watch me!"

Got to check out the cake!

Ava's first time in her pool

Last week we filled up Ava's pool so she could enjoy some swimming. She was so excited to get a chance to splash around and cool off. She had been asking for a yellow pool so when we brought this home she had said, "It's just the one I wanted!" Too cute. Once she got in the water she said, "I like to swim in the water. It makes me happy." Who could resist letting her lounge in the pool?