Happy 80th Birthday G-Paw!

Last Wednesday Grandpa Gene/G-Paw celebrated his 80th Birthday! On Saturday we threw him a little Birthday get together to honor him and this huge milestone. We had a great turn out of friends and family, and it was so nice spending the day together. Ava had the most fun in her role as the "unofficial" hostess and of course loved the attention from all of Gigi & G-Paw's friends. Here are a few pictures from our day...of course the majority of these have Ava in them (go figure :) I'll post some more once I get them from Mimi & Papa.

Here are some fun pictures throughout the years. I made a video that played during the party of G-Paw through the past 80 years. I won't post it because it's over 15 minutes long...so here are just a few to look back!

Below Right: Betty & Gene at Prom

Their wedding Day

My parents wedding Day

Below: Jennifer & Grandpa Gene early 1980

Chris and Grandpa in Montana

Our wedding 2004

The boys & Ava 2005

Noah's Ark

On Saturday, we headed over to the Noah's Ark Animal Refuge in Locust Grove. It's a really great place that runs strictly off donations. You are free to wonder amongst all the animals (deer, goats, a lion, a bear, monkeys, birds, llamas, and many other animals). You might have heard of them a few months ago in the news as they rescued a lost Zebra that was found wandering around this area. We had a great time even though it was 100 degrees and we highly recommend it to anyone that loves animals.

Kenny Chesney

Summer wouldn't be the same without seeing Kenny Chesney in concert. We were excited when we were able to get last minute tickets...even if our noses were clearly bleeding. Oh well, when good friends, good drinks and great music are involved everyone is bound to have a great time!

Even though the weather started out rough...it didn't hold us back as in typical tailgating fashion we pulled out the trusty UGA tent and huddled underneath for a fun time. We didn't make it in to the concert until Sammy Hagar (not quite sure why he was even there), and really enjoyed Brooks & Dunn & of course Kenny!

I didn't get too many pictures...as I was too busy dancing and singing away :0

The girls before going into Turner Field

(Marisa, Jenn Long, Amanda & Me)

Smile Boys!(Chad, Chris, Brandon, Nick, Todd & Cory)

Wiffle Ball Reunion 2008

While Mommy and Ava were away for a few nights working on Dizzy Dragonfly stuff with Mimi, Daddy and some friends decided that a wiffle ball reunion was long over due. This was a frequent event that took place during our time at West GA, so Nick, Todd Long, Todd Meyers and many others dusted off their "hitting it deep" t-shirts and got ready for baseball, beer & brats. Here are some pictures that Nick took of their fun time...I think they are already planning the next reunion sometime in the near future...next time Ava and I are out of town that is!

Goin' Bowlin'

At the end of June, Nick and I had to attend a wedding reception for his good friend Brian. Mimi and Papa met us in Buford, picked up Ava and took her to dinner, bowling and ice cream. Needless to say she had a great time and has been asking for us to take her bowling again soon. Mimi and Papa said when one of them would do well she would jump up and down and yell WAY TO GO PAPA! She had so much fun and was super excited that they had a baby ball just her size. We met them after bowling at Brusters and of course she pitched a fit when she saw us because she did not want to leave!

She asked the lady for pink shoes...this is what they gave her.

A squeeze from Mimi

Ooh...this ball is heavy!

"Ava Day"

Even though, Ava has a small library of her own she was super excited when "Ava Day" arrived and we visited the library, played at the playground and ate lunch at Zaxby's. When we switched Ava to a big girl bed we told her if she stayed in her bed for several nights straight she would have her own special day...Ava Day. Well that day came and she decided she wanted to go to the library, play at the playground and have lunch at Zaxby's.

I had so much fun spending the day with Ava...even though that's what I've been doing for the past 3 years :) It was just a fun and special day not worrying about the time, where we had to go to next, or rushing around doing errands. Now we just have to somehow convince Ava that not every day is Ava day!

God Bless America!

The 4th of July is always a day that we look forward to. Once again we had a fun filled day. What could be more American than spending the day with great friends on their boat, having a picnic, napping in your daddy's arms, playing with your friends, and watching fireworks!

Early in the morning we met our good friends Todd & Jennifer at the lake. We had tons of fun skiing, tubing, floating and just wasting away!

Getting ready to ride the tube with Daddy.

Todd & Jennifer on the tube...right before Nick decided to take them for a "real ride"...it didn't end so great!

Floatin away with Uncle Todd after a picnic lunch.

Taking a little snooze on Daddy.

Later that afternoon we grilled out with Todd & Jennifer and headed over to the Robertson's house to hang out and watch the great fireworks show over Lake Spivey. We have been lucky enough to spend 4th of July at their house for the past 4 years and this year Ava really loved the fireworks and hanging out with her friends Abigail and Hana.

Posing for a pick in the dress Mimi made for her...check out the matching flip flops Mommy made!

Fun with Friends

Yesterday, some of our great friends The Meyers Family (Todd, Brooke, Camille & Quinn) came over to grill out and have a much overdue play date. The girls had tons of fun playing in Ava's kitchen, playing in the baby pool, feeding the neighbors goats, sliding down the slip-n-slide, running in the sprinkler and having ice cream sundae's. We love spending time with them and can't wait until we see them again soon!

Enjoying some yummy hamburgers, mac & cheese & corn on the cob!

How many girls can you cram in a kiddie pool?

Ava slides down the slip-n-slide

Camille gives it a try

Quinn didn't hesitate!

The best of friends...Ava had to show them the ropes when it came to feeding the goats.

Enjoying an ice cream sundae after playing hard outside.

After everyone left we looked over at Ava and she was zonked out!

Happy Father's Day!

Ava is one lucky little girl to have Nick as her daddy! Even though they know how to push each other's buttons at the end of the day they are head over heals in love with each other. While Ava and I get to spend a lot of time together since I've been at home with her, Nick and her have their own special activities such as playing outside, fishing, washing cars etc. We are both very blessed to have Nick in our lives and hope he had a wonderful Father's Day!

On Sunday we headed to church for a wonderful service then met Mimi, Papa, Uncle Chris, Gigi & G-Paw at Maggiano's for a family style lunch. We had a great lunch, enjoyed spending time together and it was funny to see who would finish the apple crostada...I won't tell on the person who won that large task. We were able to grab a few pictures with everyone before we headed home...imagine that...you know I don't leave home without my camera!

We all had a great day spending time together and I feel truly blessed to have gotton to spend it with 3 magnificent fathers! We love you Nick, Papa Guy & G-Paw, and we hope you had a wonderful day!