Ava's School Christmas Party

Ava's placemat and ornament

Sitting still on her "spot"...miracles do happen!

Getting ready to sing Jingle Bells with her class

Ava and her buddy Caeden

Ava's class with Miss Laurie

Its party time

Mommy and Ava at the party

On Thursday, Ava has her first school Christmas party. Last year because of the snow, Ava had to miss out on a Christmas Party. It was such a fun time to see Ava with her little school friends. It blessed my heart, and there were a few tears, when I watched Ava sitting still and singing Jingle Bells with her class. I am so thankful for the wonderful teachers and school that Ava attends. They teach her academically but most importantly they teach her about loving Jesus.

Tomorrow!!

At our house we LOVE the movie Annie (the original one done in like 1984!). We even have the soundtrack. Here is Ava showing just how much she loves the music in Annie!

Lazy Saturday

Lazy Breakfast watching Fresh Beat Band


Lunch at Steak and Shake

Watching a movie with Daddy

Sometimes its nice to just have a lazy Saturday. We started the day by leisurely having breakfast and getting ready for the day. We all went to downtown Acworth, to try to make some Christmas memories. It was an epic fail. What was advertise as a Dickens Christmas with children's activities ended being three adults dressed up in costume and then five or six little game tables set up. It was a little disappointing but we made the best of it. We took a little drive, we went and played with the puppies at Pet Co, and then ate at Steak and Shake. After naptime, Daddy and Ava watched Ratatouille. The big news of the day was that Ava stayed dry all day long. YEAH, YEAH, we are on our way to being potty trained!

Play Therapy

YEE-HAW...playing dress up, she said she was Jesse!


Playing with new friends Liam and Declan


Ava's favorite is playing in the ball pit

Having snack after play time

Ava has just started going to a new, fun, play therapy place. It is called Babies R Talking and it is amazing and has been so beneficial to Ava so far. It has been such a great place for Ava, because she enjoys being active. The play place combines fun, free play with speech therapy. The children are able to play with a variety of activities, while a speech therapist incorporates speech therapy with their play time. It is practical practice of using speech in everyday, social and life situations. Ava is having so much fun playing that she doesn't realize that she is having speech therapy! So thankful for finding the fun, educational and helpful play place.

Seeing Santa

Ava went a saw Santa Claus today! She did great! Last year, we have the typical, screaming, crying, red faced picture, but not today. She sat right in Santa's lap and sad, hi!! Even though she did not tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas, I know he knows what she wants!!

Decorating For Christmas

Mommy and Ava

Putting up the star

Watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Stockings hung with care

Playing with her Manger Scene

Ready to decorate

Today we decorated our house for Christmas. We put up the tree, hung the stockings and decorated the outside of the house. Our Christmas tradition is to watch Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer while we put up the Christmas decoration. It was a wonderful day, full of making memories. My heart is full!

Jesus Loves Me!

Ava singing "Jesus Loves Me" in the car!

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

Snack time with Me-Me

Newest family member Emma Grace

The kids tables



All the yummy food


McClellen loved her cupcake

Playtime



Outside fun



Bob-Bob giving Ava a hand

knocked out from all the fun!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! It truly was a happy thanksgiving. We spent the day at Me-Me and Bob-Bob's house for lunch. It was great to spend the day with my grandparents, parents, brother and sister in law, nephew, nieces, aunts, uncles and cousins. There were a total of 20 adults and 9 children. Thankful, thankful for the amazing family that has blessed my life! God has been so very good and gracious to our family.

2 Samuel 7:18

“Who am I, Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?"

Operation Potty Training

Princess Pull Ups

Princess Panties

Princess Potty Seat

Watching Elmo potty DVD

Making Cinnamon Apple Cake


Cooking in her kitchen

Forts are so much fun


Playing with Mommy's phone on the potty

Yesterday we began "Operation Potty Training"! We started our adventure by going to Target and Ava picking out her pull ups, big girl panties and potty seat. Of course they were all Princess or Toy Story, since those are her favorites. We spent the day in the house, making a cake, building a fort and working on going to the potty. The morning was a little rough with four accidents, but in the afternoon we actually had success! After Ava got up from nap and we played around a little bit, I asked her if she needed to go potty. We went into the bathroom, sat on the potty and success! We celebrated and Ava got a treat out of our treat bag. Today we begin again...hopefully another stress-free day!