Tyler and Ava

A few weeks ago we went to pine view for a night of boating with the young women. Tyler and Brad came up with the boat. Ava and Tyler has fun covering each other up in the grass. Tyler is always so good to Ava and plays with her whenever we are all together. She adores him!

I'm gonna miss this!

I know that we are supposed to enjoy every stage of life for the good that each offers, but I can't help but feel a little sad. The summer has flown by so FAST! It has seriously been one of the best summers I have ever had. I think that I was able to spend more time being a "mom" this summer than I have had since Ava was just a tiny baby. I have really loved every minute of it. Last week were sitting in the living room eating lunch together at her princess table and the thought occurred to me just how precious those moments are. It is not very often that I get to spend the whole day from start to finish with my sweet girl. It was seriously the best gift that I could have been given this summer and I am truly grateful to the gift giver! I am so excited to be back in school and have a busy schedule again, but I know that I will always miss this time in my life one day too. I am so thankful for the opportunity that I have to be going back to school. The way everything has just fallen into place is truly a miracle (at least in my eyes). There are definitely days when I wonder what the heck I am doing but I really know that I am doing exactly what I am supposed to be doing right now. I just wanted to post a few pictures of some of the "highlights" of our summer since I was kind of a slacker with my blog this summer. For now I will try and enjoy each day for the good that it brings because I know that one day I will look back and miss it! There is a song by Trace Adkins that says exactly what I am feeling! Here is the chorus:

Your gonna miss this, your gonna want this back
Your gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times, so take a good look around.
You may not know it now but your gonna miss this.

Check this out!

I have decided to copy Katie and my Mom and take the picture a day challenge. Yes, I know it is not January but in my early 20's I decided that I would set new goals for myself on my birthday every year. So, if you want check out A Day In My Life go HERE

Happy Day!

My cute new book shelf!


Ava and Elomy (Emily)


Look at that serious look on her face!

I am 27 today! I feel a little old, but still in my twenties so its all good for a few more years at least! We went out and celebrated my birthday last night with dinner at Benihana's. Sharon rounded up the whole family and it was so fun to be with everyone! Ava was very impressed with having her dinner cooked right there in front of her. They even had special chop stick for kids! I even got the special singing that come with Benihana! They have a big drum and a tamberine they beat while they sing to you (Katie and Carly can laugh about this!) and I even got my picture taken. We had a good laugh cause it looks like I was all alone for dinner in the picture. We came back to my house for my all time favorite, lemon sour cream pie from Marie Calendars. Ava has now requested that we go there for her birthday, she was very impressed! Thank you Sharon and Brad for making it such a special night! Now I am off to school - I have class from 9 - 3:30 today and I am actually very excited about it. I have some really good classes this semester!

Where does she get it from?

Most of you who really know me know that I am not one who loves cleaning. As a child I used to tell people I was allergic to work (meaning house work). I am messy and not so organized when it comes to keeping things tidy. I am getting better and learning that if I stay on top of things I can keep my house clean. Ava on the other hand doesn't mind helping out. She loves to wash mirrors, mop and vacuum. There has even been tear shed over me not letting her vacuum long enough! I had to laugh yesterday when she brought all her shoes out to the living room, lined them all up and proceeded to clean every pair! She even resorted to scrubbing some of them in the sink with soap and a scrub brush. I don't know what gave her this idea but I know it was all her own because she has never once seen me do it. She never ceases to amaze me!

My cute girl!

Ava and I got to go boating twice this week! Ava was nervous about getting in the boat the first time and said she wouldn't do it. But, we got her in the boat and she LOVED it! Bryan (chris brother) let her drive the boat, you should have seen the smile on her face! I was so sad I did not bring the camera on the boat :( I did get one of her driving with Brad though!

Ava's home!

Ava got home last night after a two week stay in California. It is so nice to have her home! Her plane came in 20 minutes late so I was very anxious by the time she was in my arms. She was actually happy to be home and didn't cry this time. Last time I picked her up from her Dads she cried in the air port for almost an hour. After picking her up we wen to Katie's so she could see her cousins. That is always the first thing she asks to do when she gets home. It is always so cute to see how excited they all are to see each other again. After we wen to Katie's we went to neilsens for some ice cream. By the time we left Chris and Ava were dunking their fingers in their ice cream and trying to get it on each others face! Then Chris taught Ava how to catapult her ice cream off her spoon! It was a fun night and it is so nice to hear her cute little voice in the house again. I miss you so much when she is away!

River Trip

Katie and Ryan go on a river trip every summer with a group from Ryan's work. This summer they invited Becca, Nick, Chris and I to come along for the fun.  We had a blast!  It was so much fun to be with my sisters and create more memories together.  I look forward to any time that we get to spend together and have a good time and we always manage to have the BEST time together!  We all took a turn throwing each other off the raft.  Katie and I went in twice together, I got Becca three times (she never got me back either!), Nick pushed Ryan over board and Ryan managed to push me and Chris in.  We cliff jumped, and got a good laugh when Ryan got dumped out of his duckie and we had to rescue him. Thanks Katie and Ryan for such a fun weekend!

Lesson on Love

Love.  It is a strange thing.  I don't think there is one way to really define it.  There are many types of love we experience through the course of our lives.  There is the love you feel for your friends, your neighbors, your family, your children, your spouse.  There are the emotions of "falling" in love and being totally consumed by love.  There are just so many wonderful ways that we can experience the emotion of love through the course of a lifetime.  There is one very specific moment in my life were I really feel like I new what love was.  Ya know the kind of love that is enduring, requires sacrifice on behalf of another, is completely unconditional, and lasts truly for a life time.  I will take you back to the day.  August 10, 2002.

This is the day my niece Savannah was born.  I was living in Long Beach at the time and was not going to miss this event for anything in the world.  My sister was scheduled to be induced that day so I started the drive that morning.  I barely made the big event.  She was born way faster than I anticipated.  I ran into the room just in time to be apart of such a beautiful day.  The thing that stands out to me the most about this day is the spirit I felt that day.  It was a gift, because I was so not worthy of it.   A gift that will always hold a special part of my heart.  I just remember watching my sister and thinking that she was the most amazing person I knew.  I went home that night and of course couldn't sleep, but I remember laying there are thinking, WOW that is what love is.  Love at first sight. The love between a mother, father and there child.  The first look that you will never in your lifetime forget.  There is just no adequate way to truly describe it!  Today that special girl turned six!  I can't believe it.  I have had the experience this love twice since the first time six short years ago. But still today Savannah is so very special to me.  There is nothing like a niece and I love Savannah to death.  Happy Birthday sweet girl!  I love you.