Fall Festivities

As soon as the 4th of July is over, I am ready to put up my fall decorations. I'm not kidding. I was actually quite impressed with myself this year... I held out until mid/late September before filling my house with pumpkins, leaves and all things autumn. September through New Year's Day is my favorite time of year. I know, it is a lengthy time period, but I love that for 4 months straight, our home is always filled with special decorations and that there is always something fun and festive to do!

Today was one of many spent celebrating the season. Ava and I went to the Fall Festival held at Bur-Mil Park. Our day went a little something like this:

Upon approaching the festival, the pumpkins ("pun-kins") immediately caught Ava's eye. Ava spent several minutes trying to find the perfect "baby pun-kin", but before she could decide on one, the next attraction caught her eye...

The hayride. Actually, it wasn't necessarily the hayride that caught her eye... But thanks to my brother, the tractor got Ava's attention immediately. "Tac-tor! Tac-tor! Ooooh! Tac-tor! Touch it!"  

Being pulled by a tractor, sitting on a pile of hay, riding through the trees, and feeling the breeze on her face was Ava's favorite part of the day.

 

Getting to snuggle up with my baby girl on the hayride was definitely my favorite part of the day.

Up next? Face painting. What kid doesn't like a little face painting action, especially when it comes with a bubble-gum flavored lollipop? It was no surprise what Ava wanted on her chubby cheek. Her favorite animal... A "buh-tuh-bye." 

What better to wash down a lollipop than a bucket of popcorn. And not just any popcorn... KETTLE CORN! This was the first time Ava has ever had popcorn. She approved. The only problem now though, is she will expect ALL popcorn to taste as yummy as kettle corn. Somehow I get the feeling it won't matter. :)

As we made our back to the entrance of the festival, Ava took off running and started screaming, "Hayride! Hayride!" I was more than happy to have another opportunity to snuggle up with my Shoogie.

We made one last stop through the pumpkin patch...

And Ava finally found the perfect baby punkin.

Happy Fall Y'all!

Back in Action

Last school year, we had the privilege of eating lunch with a kindergarten student, Ziya, once a week. Ava and I fell in love with Ziya and we hated to have to say goodbye at the end of the school year.

We had such a great time getting to know Ziya last year, that I decided to volunteer as a lunch buddy again this year. After a few e-mails back and forth to the school, I was thrilled to find out that my request had been granted, and Ava and I were paired up with Ziya again this year!

Ava and I packed our lunch, loaded up in the van, and headed over to Joyner Elementary. Before pulling out of the garage, I told Ava where we were going and she joyfully shouted, "Yi-Yah!" the entire way to the school.

As soon as Ziya set foot in the cafeteria, she and Ava reunited as if no time had passed at all since the last time they saw each other.

They ate lunch together.

Made goofy faces together.

And thoroughly enjoyed each other's company.

Ava and I are so excited that we get to spend another year with Ziya!

A Few Simple Truths

This past weekend was spent at my parent's house, celebrating Matt's upcoming birthday. While we were there, we discovered a few simple truths.

Truth: When meteorologists forecast chilly temperatures, I pack accordingly. When the meteorologists forecast incorrectly, and my daughter has no warm-weather clothes, nudity becomes the only way to go.

 

Truth: Feeling the breeze is great. Feeling the breeze on your biskies is better.

Truth: My mom no longer has any flowers left in her yard. Ava picked off every petal... naked.

Truth: Eventually the temperatures got cool enough to warrant clothes.

Truth: There's nothing better on a cool, autumn evening than roasting marshmallows and a blazing fire.

Truth: Ava is a fan of S'Mores. (Notice the Tar Heels hoodie Ava is wearing? It was Matt's when he was little... Awe :))

Truth: My parent's chocolate pudding cake (cooked over the campfire) is second to none. Ava agrees.

Truth: I love my family.

Truth: Matt is about to turn 33 and he just keeps gettin' better! Happy (early) birthday to the most amazing husband and father ever!

New Ride(s)

For the past 6 months, our family has only had one car. While having only one car made going to the grocery store, running errands and getting out of the house a bit more challenging, it was surely not impossible. Due to my amazing husband, who often rearranged his work schedule, and my amazing friends, who constantly offered rides, Ava and I were able to get out of the house on a pretty regular basis.

Sure, I dreamed of the day that I could drive to Target on a whim, just because. But for some reason, I was under the impression that that day was a long way off. Until one day, about a month ago, I got a phone call from my wonderful husband. It went something like this:

Me: Hey

Matt: Are you opposed to early birthday presents?

Me: What?

Matt: Are you opposed to getting birthday presents early?

Me: What?

Matt: Well, go outside, because your present just pulled in the driveway.

Me: (Mouth wide open, tears streaming down my face and in complete amazement)

God has been so faithful to our family and I cannot express how thankful I am for all of His provisions. I also can't even begin to say how much I love my husband and how much I appreciate everything he did to completely surprise me with my new ride.

I am so proud to be a mini-van mom!

While we're on the topic of new rides, take a look at Ava's! If you know my daughter at all, then you know she is obsessed with driving. She will try to drive anything round... From doughnuts to smiley face stickers. Since Ava had a somewhat ridiculous amount of money and gift cards left over from her birthday and Christmas LAST year, she marched right into Toys R Us and purchased herself her very first car.

She is in love.

Pinteresting

-Back in May, I was told about this website, Pinterest.

-At first, I didn't quite understand the concept, and I didn't need another thing to suck time out of my life... so I never went to the website.

-Then, about 3 months ago, I had some time to spare, and I decided to give Pinterest a try.

-Fast forward to present time... I am hooked, addicted and pinning like a mad woman.

I quickly started to feel ridiculous... Pinning all of these adorable things and not making one attempt to re-create any of them. So, feeling inspired, Ava and I made the following to give Mimi, Poppy, Oma and Opa on Grandparent's Day. Ava is obsessed with butterflies, so I thought this craft would be the perfect way to let the grandparent's know how much they are loved.

As if Ava's footprints in butterfly form weren't cute enough, each canvas was wrapped with color coordinated, polka-dot ribbon.

Since my first Pinterest re-creation, I have attempted several more. Here are some of my favorites if you want to give any of them a try!

Crock Pot Chicken Santa Fe
Santa Fe Chicken Salad Wraps
Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings
Blackberry French Toast Casserole
4th of July Strawberries
Toilet Paper Pumpkins

Book Exchange

It goes a little something like this:

1) A friend sent me a Book Exchange invitation.

2) I sent one book to a specific person listed on said Book Exchange invitation.

3) I sent the same Book Exchange letter to 6 friends, and those friends each sent the Book Exchange letter to 6 other friends.

4) Ava eventually ends up with a ton of new books, sent to her from the friends of my friends.

5) Ava enjoys opening up new books in the mail as they arrive.

6) I enjoy reading something other than, "Go, Dog, Go!" for a change. :)

Thanks to everyone who has participated!

A Little H&H and R&R

For Labor Day weekend, our little family of three traveled to Hilton Head, SC to visit Matt's sister and her family.

We splashed in swimming pools.

Traveled down water slides.

Ate the world's largest pizza. (Compare the pizza in front of me to the regular sized pizza box on the stove behind me.)

And had the best time with the best cousins!

After spending several days in Hilton Head, Matt, Ava and I drove to Garden City Beach, SC where we spent a week resting and relaxing!

For the most part, our days looked something like this:

Go for an early morning ride in the stroller.

End up at Ava's favorite place. The Garden City Pier. Ava loved running around the beams and splashing in the waves.

And posing for a ridiculously adorable picture.

We enjoyed some Mommy/Daughter snuggle time.

After leaving the pier, and returning to our towels, it was time for a mid-morning snack... Diva style.

Followed by drawing butterflies in the sand.

And making wading pools with Daddy.

Daddy taught Ava how to make sand drip castles.

And Ava splashed in the Ocean.

Ava and I enjoyed playing right at the water's edge.

After playing hard on the beach every day, Ava LOVED taking outdoor showers.

And going for evening golf cart rides.

We enjoyed spending time together. Plain and simple.

Occasionally, we went out to dinner.

And enjoyed evening strolls on the beach.

During one such evening stroll, we found someone to take a family picture.

We also spent some time on top of the Garden City Pier... Where Ava got her groove on.

The following picture was taken LAST year during our 2010 family beach trip....

And this was taken just this past week. Wow. How time flies.

I wonder what next year's picture will look like?

Thank you, Brian and Jennifer, for letting us stay at your place. Thank you, Garden City Beach, for always recharging our batteries. Thank you, Lord, for the many blessings you have given our family!