The Arboretum

Monday Ava was out of school, so we decided to have Hayden stay the night Sunday and head to Dallas on Monday for the Arboretum.  It was so cold.  I got introduced to a double stroller...man those things are a workout! I am not use to pushing 80 lbs up hill in gravel.  LOL 

The kids enjoyed it though.  We went with my aunt Mary.  She is 90 and a breast cancer survivor. 

Hayden didn't have a jacket and didn't want to wear a pink and leopard one so he decided to wrap up in a blanket.  

The kids had a blast and we all went to eat at "Betty's Place" afterward.  A chinese restaurant that we have eaten at with my family for nearly 15 years.  

Our Saturday OUT

We left early Saturday morning to run some errands.  Decided to stop in on a football game, remembered Founder's Day was going on and then planned for another Fall Festival late afternoon.  

We were literally outside ALL day and it couldn't have been a more beautiful day.  

We went with some friends of ours to Founder's Day and I didn't have my camera.  Ava won the stick horse olympics, played with a python (held it herself and wrapped it around her arms), jumped to her heart's content in bounce houses, rode a pony and before leaving hopped on a kiddie train ride.  She had a blast.  All the adults had fun too.  We got free food and fellowship.  It was at at local high school with a parade to start it off. 

Next stop, another Fall Festival.  Ava, N, and N had a blast.  The girls got their faces painted (suppose to be ponies) N played laser tag with Dustin.  We waited in line to go down the huge slide and were told no due to the girls not having socks.  I was beside myself.  O well. 

After all the fun we relaxed in our lawn chairs with blankets and hot chocolate to watch Spiderwick Chronicles outside on the jumbo screen.   It was a great day. 

Oh, and Ava rode the "mechanical" bull for 20 seconds.  LOL 

Fun with my Cousin

Ava and Hay had a terrific time last night.  They have always played well together and look like siblings.  

There are so many pics the will say more than anything I could write. 

I don't know where Ava picked up sticking her tongue out in pictures.....

Our weekend with the Aunties

Ava and I (and sometimes Dustin) go about once a month to Dallas to spend time with my great great aunts.  Auntie C is 87 and Auntie M is 90.  We try to spend a whole day visiting, listening to their stories and eating is always a priority.  We choose really good food and share a lot of laughs. 

Ava is such a joy to them.  She is almost old enough to stay the night alone...maybe next year.  I just pray that they make it.  

Aunt C has had several strokes in the past month.  She is now living with Aunt M.  It is sad and very reminiscent of the beginning of the end with Granny.  

Since Ava was a baby she has had a fascination with the water fountain at "the aunties" building.  

Here is a pic of our latest excursion.  

Saturday in Pictures

We had a blast watching the gymnasts.  They were great.  Ava slept through about half of it....kids! 

I couldn't get good pictures of the show because they were moving to quick.  Most of my pictures are blurry even on the correct setting.  Urg! 

We did have fun though. 

Preparing for the Big weekend!

Our day started at 4:30.  We were up with Ava who is having some major allergy induced asthma.

Bless her heart.  I think we should name her nebulizer, as it is a constant companion this time of year.  

Massimo went to be pampered at 7a.m.... bath, trim, ear clean, nails filed and teeth brushed.  We can't do it anymore.  At least I can't.  I should video my attempt and send it to America's Funniest Home Videos.... trying to groom a 95 pound dog that is taller than me standing.  

Here in Texas, some say that "yankee's" are all persons living north of the Red River.  LOL 

I may not agree but this weekend is the Red River Shoot Out (I think they have changed the name now) and there is such a competitiveness in the air.  We are braving it and heading to Dallas anyway to meet and watch the USA gymnasts on tour.  Ava is super excited.  

Sewing is still coming along....may not have anything to show by Christmas but should by Easter.  

Oh, and last night we went to eat sushi.  I told Ava that if she would eat one piece I would personally call Santa.  I knew that she wouldn't do it...well she shoved a california roll in her mouth, gagged, chased it with her drink and said, "Mommy pick up your cell and call Santa."

There is no doubt Ava is mine.  She will call your bluff in a split second.  I told her that with the time difference he was fast asleep with Mrs. Claus and we shouldn't wake him as that would not be beneficial on her behalf.  It is now 8:30 and I have to figure out who to call so that she doesn't recognize the voice.  We used to call my Papaw, but now she knows his voice... the joke is on me and I better produce.  Think I have the perfect solution...more to come.  

Sewing Endeavors

So,  I have reconnected with an old friend....my sewing machine.  Last night I started sewing again and then had to stop and laugh.  I will continue this journey and see where it leads me.  

If you will notice, I sewed one square wrong....hahaha.  I was talking to Ava about a book Dustin was reading her while I thought I could multitask....I soon realized I could not.  

Massimo

Our dog, Massimo, is definitely a true member of our family.  He weighs in at roughly 90 pounds at 11 mos and has true character.  

He enjoys sitting in chairs, resting on tables and when he wants to come inside to nap in his crate he simply rings the bell.  The bell I am speaking of isn't just any bell, it is our wind chimes.  He will scoot a chair over until he can climb up and reach the chimes.  He then rings them until he gets our attention.  He will hit the chimes, run to the back door and wait.  If no one opens the door he will continue this until someone does.  If we don't open the door, he gets put out and goes the the nearest window and barks.  

I really think he is part cat.  He is a 90 pound dog/cat combo.  Dustin is thinking about taking him bird hunting this fall.  Don't know if he is mature enough yet, but we shall see. 

Ava likes to ride him like a pony and he fully condones it.  He really loves her and feels like its a special treat to wake her up in the mornings.  He is so gentle and she always gets right up when he wakes her.  

Ava's best friend

Ava has had the same best friend for nearly two years.  Her name is N.  They just got back from Disney yesterday and we had a playdate today.  Acutally we cleaned the boat in preperation of winterizing it and had free child labor.  LOL 

Our boat's name is Wave Hog.  We are still Razorback fans even though we live in Texas. However we are die hard Cowboy fans....as I am listening to the game while I type.  Felix Jones is amazing tonight. 

N decided to dump water on Dustin, so he got popped with a towel as the last picture shows.  LOL 

Ava is going to become a roll

Ava is indeed my daughter!!  She will eat bread before anything else and more times than not will make it a full meal.  When I was in college, my roommate and I frequented AQ Chicken House and I would make a meal of rolls and fried pickles.  

I asked Ava earlier what she wanted for din din.  Her reply was six rolls from Chicken Express.  

Out of all the places we can eat or things I can fix for dinner, she always wants bread.  So we left to get her six rolls, cheese sticks and sweet tea.  I know this is NOT at all healthy, nor do I care. She is on the brink of 5 years old and weighs in at 35 pounds on a good day.  She ate her dinner heartlily, we dressed her newest "ouchie" and I think we will play another round of Froggy Boogie before calling it a night. 

A follow up from last night.  Our team lost the game.  Dustin said we have potential.  We shall see.  My dinner date was a blast from the past.  We went to Maggiano's (a favorite) and shared photos and fun conversation.  

Ava posing before the Big Game.

Our high school (we have three, but the actual one Ava may attend) is playing our rival tonight: West Plano High and it is homecoming.  Homecoming is so different in Texas.  We do Mums.  My mom is familiar and I never understood it until now.  The bigger the Mum the better.  LOL 

  

Dustin and Ava are going to support our Boyd Mustangs.  We love them because they are the same colors as SMU.  We live right down the street so we normally take Massimo with us to the JV games and sit on the lawn.  

Ava dressed herself and resembles Punky Bruster sans the bandages. 

I am going to Dallas to eat with Amanda, a friend that I have reconnected with.  She was one of my first friends when I moved to Van Buren in first grade.  My other first friend was also an Amanda.  We were all in Brownies together.  I am so excited to eat dinner with her while she is here. 

Ava and her Ouchies

As most of you know Ava has had her fair share of ouchies.  

Today we add to that tally.  She of course wanted it documented, so the pictures are attached. 

Ava and a friend of hers, Ashley, were throwing dirt clumps up into a tree and watching them filter back down with gravity into smaller pieces.  A little friend, Austin, decided to pick up a rock and throw it at the girls.  Well, it hit Ava smack in the forehead and all I heard was screaming and then saw the blood. 

She isn't dramatic at all.....hahaha 

The Grocery Store

Well, I guess Ava thinks that now when we go to the grocery store she needs to pose for a picture. 

We went yesterday to pick up some stuff for MOPS last night and in the middle of the produce section I find her sitting on a bail of hay and leaning toward me saying, "take my picture mom".  

I started laughing, didn't have my camera and then remembered my cell phone has a camera on it. That picture will be posted after I find the cord to connect it.  I will have to admit it is cute.  

On a more serious note, my aunt Carolyn has had her third stroke in two weeks.  She is at a hospital in Dallas and we will go see her tonight after Dustin gets off work.  We are supposed to have "the talk" when I get there.  "The talk" refers to discussing living arrangements, car privileges and so on.  The unbearable realities a geriatric faces when independence teeters on the cliff and dependency/assisted living is the unwelcoming tap on the shoulder. 

I love how most of my friends are getting to hear the stories their parents are telling about how hard it is to take care of ailing parents....ha!  Their parents life is my life.  I will be able to comfort my mom with her parents as I have already traveled this road. 

I am a 28 year old living as a 50 year old.  I wouldn't change it, but wow how much perspective is acquired.  My lenses to life sure have changed over the course of four years.  I know it doesn't matter how long we live; it just matters what we do with the time we do have.