Welcome to the Morrow County Fair!

We decided that we would have a "fair" birthday party for Ava this year. I had seen a party on a blog that was a "Fair Day in May" theme. I loved how she took a simple idea and added homemade touches. So The Morrow County Fair, was a little mix of carnival/vintage fair. I had so much fun planning this party and making all of the fun decorations, food, games & prizes. I think it came together great and most importantly Ava and her friends had tons of fun!

It started with the homemade invitation...

This is the "Welcome to Morrow County Fair" ticket booth.

Each kid received a bag to put their tickets & prizes in. Girls had flower hair clips and boys had giant suckers.Ava had fun welcoming her guests.Her party dress & red cowboy boots. The fabric really inspired the whole thing.Mimi made her a special party hat...number 5 of course! Everyone got to take home Jams & Jellies from Jaemor Farms.

Kid's tables complete with bandana table cloth, hay bales & ribbon wands.

Ava's special birthday chair
We lunched on fried chicken, hot dots, corn on the cob, watermelon & giant dill pickles!Drinks were served out of mason jars.Gigi loved her old fashioned Stewarts cherry cream soda! Time for Games...isn't that what a fair is all about? We made booths out of pvc piped wrapped in red ribbon. The kids could play the goldfish game, duck pond, balloon darts, bean bag toss and have sack races. They received tickets for playing. Before they left, they headed to the prize booth to claim their prizes.As everyone came in they dropped their tickets in the hat. We drew two tickets (one kid prize & one adult prize) for the raffle.

There was also the kissing booth. You had to guess how many hershey kisses were in the jar...226 & Coty won.

Lincoln, Kris, Cora & Ava enjoyed the sack race!Glad Ava isn't competitive Vada and Bennett had fun playing with the ducks & water!
Love this picture of my sweet mama and grandpa. So thankful for my mama, I couldn't have done it without her. She helped cooked, cleaned, sewed, helped me make glycerin gold fish soap, set up, cut out, painted, and took care of my sweet Bennett. She never once judge or looked at me like I was crazy (at least when I could see her face). She put up with my antics and was a tremendous help!Ava loves Uncle Chris so much!

My boys Old friends are the best!Ava and her GigiNot quite sure what happened to his hair...I decided to go true "fair" style with homemade cakes & pies! Gigi made her delicious poundcake which was a huge hit with whip cream and fresh strawberries.Time to sing happy birthday! All ready in her #5 party hat! Hum...trying to figure out how to bite into the caramel apple. Opening presents! Everyone was so generous and Ava loved everything she received. The photo booth was a huge hit and a fun memory! Everyone (adults) included had fun dressing up and posing for the camera. Each child took home a frame, and will get a photo of themselves to remember what fun they at The Morrow County Fair! The fun Durden family.
Uncle Chris is such a good sport!

And last but not least...me and my amazing husband. We'll just end here.

Happy 5th Birthday Ava Nicole!

A little hard to read the number 5 infront of birthday. Time flashes before my eyes, and just like every year I think back on Ava's arrival! So scared we were, yet so overjoyed to finally have our miracle girl arrive safe and sound.

To say she gives me a run for my money, well that would be an understatement! She is seriously the sweetest most empathetic little girl, yet at the same time smart and sassy! She is loving kindergarten, is tormented by her brother (yet loves him at the same time), loves nature, is creative beyond belief, so artistic, loves music, loves to dance and is full of personality! We are so lucky that God knew we needed an Ava in our lives and are so better because of it! We are blessed beyond belief! Here's to many more precious girl, we love you more than life itself!

Here are just a few pictures on her actual birthday. The party post will come soon!

Ava eating her traditional birthday breakfast, enjoying a few presents, and her 3rd cupcake of the day!

First Day of Kindergarten

Yes, you read that correctly...kindergarten! Today was Ava's first day of school. I can't believe that my sweet girl is ready for such a big day. She was a little apprehensive as she is going to a different school this year, but I know once she meets her new friends and see all the wonderful things her new school has to offer she will love it! Not to mention she only has 10 kids in her class...talk about a lot of individual attention!

I was more worried about myself than her, however walking into the school and seeing how loving her teacher is my poor heart was put at ease. Seriously, it sounds crazy put leaving her there I was truly at peace knowing that she is loved and well taken care of.

Poor Bennett took it harder than anyone. It was so pitiful to see him run to her room yelling "ada" "ada". He will have the biggest adjustment.

We picked her up at 2:00 and the biggest smiled beemed from her face! She was so excited and actually eager to go back the next day!

We feel so blessed to have such a wonderful, nuturing school to send our sweet bean to and look forward to all the wonderful things she will learn in Kindergarten!

Sweet Summer Time

Warning...very long post. What a whirlwind of a summer, but an amazing one at the same time. So blessed to be able to stay at home during summer break and enjoy the freedom of lazy days and soaking up every last waking moment before Ava heads to kindergarten. To say we were busy...well see for yourself!

We had so much fun as a family bowling one Sunday afternoon. I almost won, but caved to the pressure in the end.Ava got to go to Miss Jan Walker's Children's Gallery art class. She had SOOOOOO much fun that week, and it was worth every penny. Her favorite part was getting her knee neep. My brother and I went to this same camp when we were little and it brought back so many memories. Miss Jan really channeled Ava's artistic talent and we will definitely go back next year!BB loves to wear sissy's hand me down purple helmet and "ride" the trike.Ava girl and Mimi had a special weekend, just them and got to go see Toy Story 3! So after church I tried to snap some shots as Bennett ran around. Nothing in this world sweeter than a tan, meaty legged boy in a sweet summer bubble.Can you see the curls in the back? NEVER cutting those off!Directing traffic on Laney RoadSeriously melt my heart!We signed Ava up at The Swim Center. She did Amazing and exceeded our expectations. She was not afraid as she has been in the past and was one of 2 out of 10 kids to get promoted to the next level. So proud of her!By day 2 she was swimming by herself, face in water, holding her breath. She even dove down and picked up objects off the bottom of the pool.Lining up to jump off the diving board. She marched right up with no hesitation.Whoops missed it. Trying to take a picture, video tape and watch crazy b was one to many tasks for me. She almost jumped over her instructors head. She then swam by herself to the other end of the pool.SO PROUD!You know I couldn't leave out a photo of wild thing. It was over 98 degrees and no shade at the pool. So for 5 days he drank jumbo sized waters...all of it! Here he is sweating and sippin on his water...in his sunsuit of course! Messy Marvin...I can't keep him clean. He could eat a slice of bread and be a mess. We enjoyed time at the lake with Granny and Pop. Bennett wasn't too sure about his floatation device...Well, needless to say he decided he wasn't having it!Ahh...this is better!My precious little lady. Her favorite thing to do was find "shells" off the bottom.Nothings better than spending a hot summer day with great friends. This is our best attempt at a group shot.Eating pizza picnic styleJust floating away with her shades on!

What a wonderful summer, and I am so sad to see it end. Great family, great friends, great memories and great times make my heart full.

Happy 4th of July!!!

My sweet little firecrackers were raring to go on the 4th of July! You know I had to have them matching firecracker outfits. Precious if I do say so myself!

Not quite sure if he was yelling at something or just excited to be wearing his firecracker bubble. As we have done for the past 6 years, we headed over to our friends the Robertsons for some pool fun & fireworks over the lake.

Ava had fun swimming with her friends.

Marisa helped the girls roast marshmallows by the fire pit. The kids enjoyed sparklers.By the time the fireworks started over the lake, sweet B had enough. He was so tired and all he wanted to do was snuggle. I didn't mind a bit! We hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July, and we are so thankful for all of those who risk their life so we can enjoy our everyday freedoms!

God Bless America!