Just Another 60 Degree Day in January...

Today was another warm, 60 degree day... in January. So, we did what we do best. Play outside.

Ava mastered the art of blowing bubbles.

We played bocce ball in the yard.

Ava colored our driveway with chalk.

And enjoyed some time in the rocking chair...

While looking ridiculously adorable.

As we were playing outside, a large military plane practiced landing over, and over and over and...

These pictures do the size and closeness of the plane no justice. It was huge. It was loud. It was close. It was amazing and creepy all at the same time. It astonishes me that something so large and so heavy can seemingly float through the air. Every time it flew overhead, I stood in the driveway, admiring it like an airplane-obsessed elementary school boy.

I've said it before and I'll say it again... I enjoy these 60+ degree days, but I'd love to see that beautiful girl below bundled up in fleece and playing in the snow! Come on , winter. Just one big snow! Just a few days of sledding and being stranded in the house with my lovely family.

Meet Morgan

This is Morgan. Isn't she beautiful? Morgan is now a part of our everyday life. I have the honor and privilege of taking care of her during the day, while her mom returns back to work.

I have to admit I was a little bit nervous how Ava would react to a new baby in the house... all the time. My fear became a reality a few weeks ago when we kept Morgan for a day as a "trial run." After just minutes of being here, Ava marched up to Morgan, deliberately pointed to the front door and stated, "Morgan. Go Home!"

Fortunately, between then and now, Ava has done a 180 and has a completely different outlook on Morgan. Ava is more helpful, loving, playful and caring than I could have ever imagined. Ava helps me feed Morgan and change her diaper. Ava plays with Morgan and sings to her when she is fussy.

On top of helping me with Morgan, Ava has been helping me around the house. Today, she helped me make dinner. 

Ava also helped me do the laundry.

When the household chores were over, Ava enjoyed playing with all of the baby gear that has been in the attic for the past year and a half.

Fergie also got some use out of the baby toys that have recently come out of hibernation.

While Morgan was napping today, Ava was goofy...

And silly...

And bad to the bone.

I am so grateful that I get to spend my days at home with my baby girl. Getting to spend our days at home with Morgan is a bonus!

Boots

These boots are made for walkin'

And that's just what they'll do

One of these days, these boots are gonna walk all over you...

*For the record, Ava had just used the potty, and requested to put her boots back on before putting her diaper back on. I complied. I also got the camera. Oh, and I hope you now have the song stuck in your head. Like I do right now.*

Moo-See-Um

Recently, with birthday money from my grandmother, we bought Ava a membership to the Children's museum. Or as Ava says, "moo-see-um." Today, my parents came to town, and we spent most of the day playing and exploring at the moo-see-um.

Hands down, Ava's favorite part of the museum is the train. Not because she is obsessed with trains in general, but because she is specifically obsessed with The Polar Express. Until she can read the plaque that says, "Gate City Express" on the side of the train, she can think it's The Polar Express for the next couple of years.

Ava enjoyed serving Oma and Opa hot chocolate while riding on TPE.

Ava went to a campground, and sat around a fire.

She fell in love with the cot at the campground.

And pretended to fall asleep. Don't you love her relaxed sleeping face?

Ava and my mom climbed into a cockpit and flew a plane.

Ava ran up to the plane's engine (which was spinning and making me very dizzy), touched it, then ran away laughing... about 100 times.

She cooked a meal.

And served the meal to Oma.

Ava picked flowers from the garden.

Apparently, said flowers were radioactive... Check out that glowing mullet golden hair.

While all of this was going on, Matt found a table of wooden blocks and immediately turned into a 5 year old boy.

See the fire truck? See the tree? See Ava hiding behind the tree? I am not sure why, but Ava was terrified of the fire truck.

I took this picture while sitting in the driver's seat of the fire truck. Ava is kneeling on the steps to get in the fire truck saying, "No! No mommy, no!" If Ava wasn't going to enjoy riding in the fire truck, nobody was.

Ava and Oma hopped in the police car and took a ride to the slammer.

Ava played receptionist...

And then took care of the babies at the hospital.

She went to the grocery store.

Then played with puzzles...

Worked on her gross motor skills...

Threw brightly colored geometric shapes into a blue barrel...

And painted a masterpiece.

Whew! Ava had a busy day. This explains why she looks simply exhausted (yet adorable) in the final picture. Ava loves the moo-see-um and can't wait to go back. Thanks to her membership, we'll be back soon!

Isn't It Supposed to be Winter?

It's January. It's winter. Yet, somehow, it is 65 degrees outside. Instead of sitting inside, pouting, and wishing for snow, Ava and I have spent the past several days outside. Don't let the jacket in the picture below fool you... The temperatures did not warrant a outer wear, but for some reason Ava wanted to wear it.

I get exhausted watching Ava go up the ladder, and down the slide. Up the ladder, down the slide. Up the ladder...

This is Ava's, "I'm serious about what I'm doing" face. If her tongue is out, you know she is working hard.

Apparently it's hard work letting gravity do it's job while going down the slide too.

After Ava wore herself out on the slide, it was time for her other favorite backyard activity... swinging. We have 3 completely different swings on our swing set to choose from, and this is her favorite.

Ava also spent a good portion of her afternoon playing with her best bud, Fergie. Ava loves getting Fergie's toys and throwing them across (and by across, I mean 4 feet) the yard.

Unfortunately, Fergie likes to play 'keep away' more than fetch. Fergie isn't the greatest at letting Ava throw the bone more than once. It's a good think Ava enjoys running around the yard trying to catch Fergie.

Once Ava realized it would be no easy task getting the bone away from Fergie, she decided to go back to what she knows. She knows swinging, and this time, it was Little Baby's turn.

Eventually, we moved from the back yard to the front yard, where Ava enjoyed taking her car out for a spin.

The following day, we ventured over to the Natural Science Center. Ava loves looking at the animals, but on this day, one such animal got a little too close for comfort. Take a look at one (of the many) turkeys that roams free around the park. Ew. He was huge. He was ugly. He kept shaking his feathers (which sounded like a rattlesnake), and scratching his wings across the cement. The only way I will ever have anything nice to say about this guy is if I find him on my plate on the fourth Thursday of November this year.

We scooted around the turkey, and found ourselves in the petting zoo.

These guys are much less creepy than the turkey. Wouldn't you agree?

Then it was on to the animals that we could look at from behind a fence. First up, the miniature horses. Or as Ava calls them, donkeys.

Next, the gibbons.

The wallabies

And last, but not least, the newest member at the Natural Science Center, Bone Crusher. This enormous, and 92 year old snapping turtle is a sight to see, for sure! Although he is a completely different species than the turkey, his creepiness factor is right up there with his feathery friend.

What better way to end a weekend outdoors than with a bubble bath. Bubbles to blow. Water to splash. Crayons to color with. Toys to play with. What's not to like? Plus, check out that cute little girl sitting in the tub.

We're so thankful for the beautiful weather, and the ability to play outside in the middle of winter. With that said, it is also possible to play outside in a backyard covered in snow! I'm just sayin'... Bring on the white stuff!