Family Fun at the Fair

                                                                                         
                                                     Ava petting the goats

                                      Riding the Merry Go 'Round with Brooklyn

                                           Watching the kiddie roller coaster with Lyla

                                                    Having fun at the fair with Daddy!

                              Ava is all ready for the fair...complete with cowgirl boots

                                                Ava's first pony ride

Today we continued our family's fall tradition of going to the North Georgia State Fair.  It was a beautiful day and we had a wonderful time.  We took advantage of the free admission and free rides from 10:00 am - 11:00 am today, since it was family day.  Ava's favorite part of the day was riding on the Merry Go 'Round.  I think she rode it five times!  Mommy's favorite part of the fair was watching Ava on her first pony ride.  The day was even better because we were hang out with some of our fun friends, the Culps and the Evans.  Even though Daddy doesn't love going to the fair, he was a trooper and "faked it until it was fun!"  I love having and continuing fun family traditions!!!

Gymnastics!

                                               Doing a forward roll down the wedge

                                              Getting ready to do a backbend

                                              Learning to do a split

                                               Waiting for class to begin

                                              My little gymnast

                                             Learning to do a forward roll

Today is Ava's first day of gymnastics!  It is a tumbling/cheer class for 3-5 year olds.  Ava had a blast, even though she was the youngest of the group.  She enjoyed "rolling" down the mat and jumping the best.  I am so glad that she had a great time.  Secretly, I hope that there is gymnastics and cheerleading in her future!

First Day of K3

                                         Ava getting into the car after a great first day

                                         Walking to the car like a big girl....sniff, sniff

                                               Putting her bag in her cubby

 
                           Picking up her heart of the door, to show she was here today

                                              Ready for the first day of school...K3

                                           The traditional "on the front steps" picture

Today was Ava's first day of K3!  I am not sure who was more nervous, she or I!  Okay, I was more nervous because she slept great last night and I didn't really go to be until way after midnight.  I was so nervous about her new teacher (who is wonderful), making new friends, going to the potty at school and the waiting and walking to my car at pick up time.  All of my worries have been set aside...well a little bit anyways.  She did great!  She walked right into class, said hello to her new friends and even followed the teacher's instructions perfectly.  At the end of the day, she walked confidently to my car carrying her little blue school bag.  I will have to admit that as I was sitting in car line and saw her walk out of the school building and wait for me to pull up, I got a little teary eyed.  How did she get so grown up all of a sudden.  I feel like I dropped off my little girl this morning and a few hours later, I picked up a big girl.  I am so very thankful for the wonderful preschool that Ava's attends and thankful that she had a wonderful first day!

Blues's Clues Day!

                                Finding her first clue, on her handy, dandy notebook

                                         Working on her writing clue

                                                      Finding clues

                                         Lining up all the clues she found throughout the day

                                     Mommy wore blue stripes...just like the host of the show

                                         Eating breakfast and watching Blues Clues

                                 Finding the clue it was time for reading and naptime

                                        Wearing stripes just like the host of the show!


It's Blues Clues, Blues Clues!!  The show Blues Clues is one of Ava's most favorite shows.  She even had me get her a notebook the other day at the store, like Blue has so that she can write down little "clues" throughout the day.  We really did not do anything out of the ordinary for our Blues Clues day, I just used Blues' paw prints to tell Ava what was the next thing on our agenda that day.  Ava LOVED running around the house and finding all the different clues and paw prints.  It was not a big deal, but I hope that it did make a memory for Ava and made her last day before K3 started, an extra special day!

Our 2nd child is a.........

                                                      Side view, showing spine

                             
                                                     Little foot

                                                    Little hand

                                          Profile view of that sweet face

                                                 
                                                      Close up view of face profile


The Cooler family is adding another girl to our family!!  Her full name is Annalynne Mincey Cooler, but we will call her Anna.  How did we choose that name?   Many people have asked and here is our reasoning for choosing her name.  First of all, since we are the "A" family we had to stick with the "A" theme, Adam, Abbey, Ava and now Anna!  Secondly, we wanted to have both Biblical and family significance in her name.  We chose the name Anna because is means GRACE.  First of all because it is only by God's grace, that we are saved, loved, justified and sanctified from our sins and made new through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!  Second, it is only by God's amazing GRACE, mercy and favor was I able to become pregnant again!  Third, one of my most favorite women of the Bible is Anna. She was the first woman (other then Mary) that saw and held Jesus.  Her entire life she spent her time in the temple, worshiping and waiting for the Messiah.  Like Anna of the Bible, I want my daughter to have a strong, sincere, lifelong love of Jesus Christ.  The rest of Anna's name comes from my and Adam's moms.  Lynne is my mom's middle name and Mincey is Adam's mom's maiden name!  I know that is sort of a mouthful, but we really did take our time in deciding on this sweet little girl's name, just like we did with Ava's name!  We are so very thankful for this new little life that will be joining our family at the first of December.

I had another appointment today with the "high risk" doctor.   They spent almost an hour doing a very intensive ultrasound to check out every little part of Anna and also to make sure that I did not have any signs of problems with my pregnancy.  I was a little nervous at this visit because I know that because of my age and some family history, that our baby could be at risk.  After every picture the tech took, I seemed to relax more and more.  One funny thing that happened during the ultrasound, was that Anna decided to "talk" the whole time. Every time the tech would show me a picture of her face, her mouth was moving!!  I guess we have another talker in our family...shocker!!  At the end of the visit, the doctor came in and went through all the pictures with me and said that we had a very healthy baby girl, with no signs of complications in the baby or with my pregnancy. When the doctor said those words, I could do nothing but say, "Praise the Lord!"  On the drive home I could do nothing by sing, cry, and give praise to my God, who has shown such grace to me and my family!!  GOD IS GREAT AND GREATLY TO BE PRAISED!!

Learning to be a Southern Girl

                                                    Learning to shuck corn

                                                   Finished product

This afternoon, Ava and I went to our local farmer's market and purchased from local produce.  When we got home, I sat down and taught Ava how to shuck corn.  Since she is already a southern belle (notice the pink tutu), I wanted to make sure she also knew how to cook like a southern belle!  It was so fun shucking corn with her, because when I was growing up my mom taught me how to shuck corn.  I love passing down family traditions and memories on to my children.

Family Folly Beach Trip 2012

                                                   
                                                      Chasing seagulls

                                                      Jumping off Daddy's shoulders                                                    

                                                     
                                                      Doc helping McClellen ride the alligator

                             Ava was so worn out from playing that she fell asleep on Daddy

                                            Ava jumping in her sand hole...fun for hours

                                         Doc and Grammy enjoying the beach

                                     Hudson, Ava and McClellen riding the alligator

                                         Playing in the sand

                                        Adam and Brad "watching" the kids!!

                                        Hudson, Ava, and McClellen covering Adam

                                         Ava is such a Daddy's Girl!!

                                       Grammy helping Ava build a sand castle

Hudson and his lizard friend

                                     
                                         Having a short visit with my GWU friend, Jill!

                                          Ava had so much at the beach with her cousins

                                                        Mommy with Ava and Baby A

                                                       Wow...my future looks great

 
                                         Doc and Grammy with their grandbabies

This past week we were at Folly Beach, SC with the entire family; Doc, Grammy, Brad, Carri, Hudson,  and McClellen!  It was super fun being with the family and enjoying the beach, though it did come with an interesting twist added "bonus"!!  When we arrived at the beach, Adam became sick with a HORRIBLE 24-hour stomach virus.  The virus the made it's way through the house and everyone was affected!  Ava was the only one who did not get sick, but she has experience said terrible, horrible stomach virus the week before! !  As we were heading home from the beach, Adam, Ava and I were able to stop and have a short visit with my college friend, Jill and her family.  Even though it was interesting with one person, down with the virus each day, it was still a super fun, family beach trip and  we are thankful for the special, bonding time together with our family!