Happy Halloween

This year for Halloween, Ava was a bright pink Octopus (complete with 8 tentacles of course). We got to go trick or treating with some friends from Nick's work and their two children Eliza & Jack. Ava had so much fun and said "thank you very much" when anyone gave her treats.

Nick even had his own disguise...an old man costume.

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!