Pumpkin Carving

Here are some fun pictures of Ava and Nick carving our pumpkin. As you can see Nick did most of the work, while Ava just played with the pumpkin goo. Ava chose the design...complete with heart eyes. She looks forward to going outside and lighting the pumpkin with us every night!

Down on the Farm

We recently visited Southern Belle Farms in McDonough for a day of fall fun. Ava loved picking out her pumpkins, watching the pig races, riding in the cow cars and seeing all the sites on the hayride. The weather was beautiful and it reminded me why fall is one of my favorite times of year!

The Windy City

A few weeks ago, Papa Guy packed up his girls and we headed off to the Windy City for a few days of fun. This was Ava's 5th time flying, but her first time having her own seat. I do have to say that she was the best 2 year old passenger on that Delta flight. Here are a few pics of us at the airport...Notice Ava appropriately wore her Delta colors and Captains hat!

We arrived in Moline to spend a day with some of our old friends, from when we lived in Illinois. Ava and Anna Rose became the best of friends.

Ava especially loved baby Andrew...and she couldn't get enough of him.

It's hard to believe that it's been almost 20 years since we moved to Georgia! It is pretty special when you can have 3 generations of friends in one room. Below is Ava, myself, Brenda & Anna Rose. It seems like yesterday that Brenda and I were dancing around in dress up cloths singing to Debbie Gibson.

We had a great time visiting with everyone in our old hometown, but Sunday afternoon we were off for a 3 hour drive to Chicago. It's been such a long time since I've been to the city. I remember going with my grandparents to watch the Cubs play at Wrigley Field...what fun times! We arrived at the Chicago Hilton (gorgeous hotel) went and had a quick pizza dinner and were off to bed. Ava was very excited for bedtime as she got to sleep in her big girl bed (toddler aerobed). You can tell from the pics below how much she loved it.















The next morning Papa headed off to his conference and us girls headed the magnificent mile for a fun day of shopping and a very special visit to the American Girl Cafe. American Girl was amazing and Ava was in heaven with all the baby dolls! Here she is with her first bitty baby whom she named Lila.

We then ate lunch at the American Girl Cafe. Everything was decorated in pink and black and the food was delicious! They even provided a baby highchair & teacup for her new baby Lila. We had such a fun day and we can't wait to visit the new American Girl Bistro in Northpoint Mall soon!

Over the next few days we ate at some great restaurants, went to Navy Pier and rode the giant ferris wheel & carousal, played with Curious George at the Chicago Children's Museum, and visited the animals at Lincoln Park Zoo.

The Sweetest Words
You never know what might just slip out of a 2 year old's mouth, but a few weeks ago, Ava said the sweetest thing. We were at the Cotton Pickin Fair, getting ready to pack up from a very busy Dizzy Dragonfly weekend. Ava's hair was particulary curly that day due to some major humidity when my mom asked her "Ava did Daddy give you those curls." Without skipping a beat Ava replied..."No Mimi God did." I wish I had a video camera to show her expression and so you could hear her tone but it was basically...duh Mimi you should know that God gave me my curls! So on that note...here are just some pics of our little ham.

This one is post bathtime...au natural curls!

Ava's new fish

Ava loves all kinds of animals, but it seems every time we go into Pet Smart she is drawn directly to the fish. Soo...we told her a couple months ago when she was potty trained then she could get her own fish. So as you can see we are VERY happy to report that Ava has been potty trained for a few weeks now. Here are some pictures of Ava with the new love of her life...Blue. Which she very appropriately named after the color of her new beta fish.

Uncle Kiss...

We all know how much Ava loves her aunt and both of her uncles, but on this particular Saturday her Uncle Kiss was the highlight of her weekend. These two pics were just too sweet not to share.

Ready for Game Day!

Here are some fun pictures of our little bulldog getting ready for game day. She couldn't decide whether to sport her red or black game day dress (courtesy of The Dizzy Dragonfly)!

It's so much fun being TWO!!

Well...most of the time as long as you aren't getting your two year vaccinations!

Don't worry Ava survived and once again entertained the nurses with her pitiful bottom lip!

Ava loves being two and loves to play all kinds of fun things, especially when it mimics mommy.

She loves to cook something yummy up in her chef's outfit and new kitchen!

She loves to curl up and read a good book in her sleeping bag.

She especially loves being outside shooting hoops and cruising around on her 4-wheeler.

But at the end of the day there is nothing better than hanging out with daddy, enjoying a messy Popsicle!