Seven is Sweet!

Today, our sweet little miracle Ava Nicole turned seven!  Time is flying by and it's hard to believe just seven years ago, we were being rushed for an emergency c-section and finally welcomed our little blessing into the world.  She made us parents, and enriches our lives more than we ever thought!  We don't know what we would do without her and thank our God everyday for having the most perfect timing and sending us such a miracle seven years ago!

 She enjoyed her birthday breakfast, and the first of many birthday candles and wishes!

 We headed to American Girl...her most favorite store.  We let her pick out a doll (she chose Julie Albright, the fun, funky 70's chick).

 Next we headed to Felini's her most favorite place to eat!  I ate there more than a dozen times when I was pregnant with her and it was actually one of her first words she said.

We of course let her open her presents...can you tell she was excited???

 Yay..my crafty girl received a sewing machine from Mimi and Papa!

 Gigi and G-Paw came and celebrated with us too!

 And Granny and Pop!

 My girl wanted a "horse" cake...well she got one with bright pink icing!

 Happy Birthday to you my beauty!

 Back at home with Marie Grace and her new love Julie.

 We love you our girl!  We are proud of the beautiful, kind hearted, giving, spunky, sassy fun young lady you are and we can't wait to see what your amazing future holds!

****Update***

Ava had a great seven year appointment!  Dr. Kuo things she is doing an amazing job at "growing up!"

 

She weighed and was inches tall.

And off to school he goes!

Sigh...our littlest lovie headed off to Pre-school today!  He was just as excited as his big sister and couldn't wait for this day to come.  Hard to believe he's old enough for school, but time doesn't stand still for anyone! I am a little sad that I won't have a buddy constantly by my side, but cannot wait to see where his new adventure takes him!

To get ready, we made treats for his class.  Glow sticks and bright year tags. He couldn't wait to hand them out

Big boy had to have his own sign too! 

Of course, he had to have a special outfit and new shoes! Such a handsome boy!

We are so blessed that they will actually be at the same school!!!  Sweet Ava can watch out for hime, and Bennett feels comfortable going to "sissy's school."

You could tell he was a little nervous, but he walked right in and followed Mrs. Melissa's directions, then started playing with a table toy.

 With one of his teachers, Mrs. Dana.

 After school with his best girl Coralyne!  It was so great to have a few familiar faces in his class this year! I think he LOVES her!

 Precious kiddos!

We know you will have an amazing first year of pre-school!  I can only imagine all the wonderful things you will learning and experiences this year!  We love you sweet little BB!

**Update of some funny things you said after your first few days of school**

*Mommy we did math today (clearly you heard this from your sister)

*Mommy can I go back today, I need to see all of my best friends!

*When you found out that you wouldn't be going on Friday, so were so sad and didn't understand. You asked why you couldn't go, then said "but do they not like me."  Sweet BB, I promise they LOVE YOU!

Bye Bye baby bed...

Well, it was time.  I've dreaded the day that the precious white crib, that held my babies for so many naps and nightime sleeps came down.  Sad and bittersweet all at the same time.  To be quite honest, sweet boy would have stayed in his crib probably until he was seven if we let him, but it was time and he was too big!  After searching for the most perfect bed, I stumbled across some plans for a "knock off" Pottery Barn platform bed.  So one week, we bought the supplies and got to work and Bennett's new bed.

After Nick finished it, it was my turn to paint.  We painted it with a midnight navy paint mixed with some Webster's chalk paint, then sanded and finished with a finishing wax.  It turned out AWESOME!  So proud of Nick, since it was his first piece of furniture!

The very last nap EVER in the crib. 

Silly boy!

New bed almost ready to go!

 

 Already for bed...

 He had to add all of his friends to the top of the bed.

 He LOVES it!



She's in 2nd Grade!

Yes, that's right second grade!  Today our sweet precious girl headed off to big bad second grade!  I don't know that I have seen her that excited ever.  She was literally shaking with excitement and "just couldn't wait!" Bless her and her sweet sweet soul! Makes our hearts swell that she loves school as much as she does!

 So proud walking in...don't worry we were following right behind her!

 It's going to be a great year, with Mrs. Crump as her teacher!

 Already for her day to begin.  You can't see it, but stacked to her right are her text books.  Right on top is the Bible!  How awesome is it, that these sweet kiddos will have God's word guiding them throughout their school year!

Good luck our sweet Ava girl! Here's to an amazing school year, new spelling words, letter grades and tons of new exciting adventures!  We know you will be the BEST 2nd grader ever!!!
Oh, and when you got in the car today after school, you said it was "THE BEST DAY EVER!"

Sweet Sweet Summer

WE LOVE SUMMER!  So why does it always seem to go by so very fast!  We kept busy this summer with swim lessons, art camp, playing with friends and just hanging out.  Ava took level two swim lessons and did amazing.  Couldn't be more proud of her, and she definitely conquered her fear!

 

She did so awesome swiming the WHOLE length of the pool.  She had to do it on her back, and then a breast stroke across the whole length.

 

We spent a lot of time in the back yard cooling off with the sprinkler or in the little pool.

 

 

Fourth of July we spent at home, grilling out, roasting smores and Nick even put on a firework show....

Before school started, we headed to American Girl with Ava's friends (Anna and Kate) and their mommies.  The girls had fun shopping and we all enjoyed a yummy lunch! 

 

 Towards the end of summer they went striper fishing with Nick.  Ava even caught a garr!

 After the fourth, we headed to Lake Burton to spend some time on the water with our friends the Robertsons.  It was definitely one of the highlights of our summer!

There are no words for this one...

The kiddos headed to the dentist in July!  It was Bennett's first visit to Dr. Don.  They both had an awesome report!

 This makes me laugh! Josie gave him the spit sucker thing...he loved to play with it.  Well, here he played with it a little to much and gagged himself!