Celebrations!

Well, we have been busy the past few weeks with TONS of celebrations! Here's how we spent some of them!!

EASTER!!!

Easter was especially fun this year because Ava is totally into all these magic people who manage to get into our house at night (Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, etc!) and leave all sorts of fun things.

In order to get her to stay upstairs until we were ready to go down (to take pics and video), we told her that she better not go down 'cause the Easter Bunny might still be there. She was looking down the stairs and then excitedly ran to us and said, "I saw a shadow!!!" I said, "Really? What kind of shadow?"

With wide eyes and the pure excitement of a 3 year old, she said, "Bunny ears!!" It was just perfect. :)

The girls both got baskets that the Easter Bunny hid for them...and Ava got to find a few eggs that were hidden as well. They both got bunny ears in their baskets, and Ava was so sweet to help Bella with hers first. She truly is a wonderful big sister!
My sweet girls...

Well, hello there! :)

Ava found one of her eggs!
My sweet little Bunny. Later, we all met at my parents house for an Easter Egg hunt with all the kids. It was a perfect day, and everyone had a blast!

Belly had fun, too! Here she is playing with Grandpa Mike!

Belly found some eggs she wanted to test out...

This is the closest we got to a decent family picture. I swear this was the best out of about 20 or so!! Belly does not like to look at the camera. She's always finding other things soooo much more interesting!

I caught Grandpa Mike and Bella just hanging out. He's got a special place in his heart for babies (especially his granddaughter babies!), and it is sooooo sweet!
I will admit that it was a bit difficult to explain to Ava the real story behind Easter. It's hard for intellectual adults to comprehend, much less a 3 year old. But, we're working on it!

SARAH'S GRADUATION!!!

Aunt Sarah graduated from nursing school a few weeks ago! I am a complete emotional mess and I totally got a little teary and got a big 'ol lump in my throat when I saw her walk across that stage! Caught me a little by surprise, I must say!

Sarah- we are so proud of you!! Congratulations!!


Ava snuck up during the ceremony to get a quick pic!The fam! :) Ava was in a mood and didn't want to smile at that moment...but it turned out great anyway!

Sarah and Kyle!There's that smile we've come to know and love!
A rare Ava-Mommy pic! LOVE!

PREEMIE PARTY!!!

You all know that Ava spent a month in the NICU when she was first born. Each year, the hospital where she was born throws a Preemie Party - when all the preemies reunite and everyone gets to see how well all the other babies are doing! It was really nice!

Here's Bella enjoying the festivities!

And Belly with our favorite and awesome night nurse, Karen. Karen was always wonderful. Since I couldn't be there all the time, she spent lots of time with me on the phone at night giving me all the details of Bella's updates. Sometimes she would talk to me for 10 or 15 minutes just telling me about Bella's day. No one else did that, and I really appreciated it. I will always be grateful for her.
A group picture! Bella never once looked up- she was mesmerized by the plastic silverware in front of her!

AVA'S FIRST CLEANING AND CHECKUP!!!

Ava had her first official dental visit! (There was a picture I posted about 9 months ago of her in a dental chair- that was just me looking at her teeth real quick- but for this one, I was like a real mom and sat in the waiting room while she went back). She did great!! Tracey was wonderful with her, and Ava was super pumped about the Ariel sparkles that she now has on her teeth!
The most important part! Picking a prize....or 17!

Here's Ava with one of my fab assistants, Ashley. She was (not surprisingly) great with Ava! Notice Ava's bag-o-prizes....she doesn't leave the office with anything less than that! Ever. :)

FAMILY WEDDING!!!

Congrats to my cousins, William and Jessica, who got married this past weekend! It was a perfect day for a wedding, and we had a blast!!
My mom, me, and my Aunt Patty (my mom's sister- aka: Aunt Poopy. Yep, that's what I said...Aunt Poopy).

Think we're related?! :)
Some of the girls.

My cousin Erica (sister of the groom) and my bro, Pat!
Pat caught the garter and Noo (Pat's girlfriend) caught the bouquet! And that's William, the groom!

It was so great to see my Aunt Patty....I haven't seen her since my wedding 7 years ago! I always love hanging out with her, and I really wish we didn't always go so long between seeing each other! We are NOT waiting that long until our next visit....right, Patty?!?! :)

Here she is with sweet Belly.

ANNIVERSARY AND MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Speaking of our wedding, we celebrated 7 years a few weeks ago! It actually fell on the same day as Mother's Day. We celebrated the night before by going to the Zac Brown Band concert (just like we did last year on our anniversary!), and we had a blast!!!

Mother's Day was great, too! The weather was perfect, we went to church in the morning, then came back to our house and had a small brunch for the moms. We ate outside and it was perfect! Patrick and the girls got me a necklace that I love- it has the initials of the girls', a teeny cross, and a little pearl. I had an inkling, though....

A discussion I had with Ava weeks ago....

Ava: Mommy, Mother's Day is in 2 days (really it was in 8 days!), and we have a present for you. It's a secret. .......It's jewelry!
Me: Oh, really?! Oh, okay, but I think it's a secret, so shhhhhh, don't tell!

A week later:
Ava: Mommy, Mother's Day is in 2 days (actually 2 days this time), and we have a present for you. It's a necklace!


Hahaha. Kinda funny! But, it was a great Mother's Day and Anniversary! Happy Anniversary, Patrick. I am truly lucky to have you. :) I love you.

GYMNASTICS JUBILEE!!!

Every spring, Ava's gymnastics place has a "Gymnastics Jubilee"- and it was super cute! They did a little routine and got little medals at the end....this is a terrible picture, but if you look real close, you can see her standing on the "podium" and saluting for everyone! She was so proud!I mean....does it get any cuter?!?!
With Daddy when we were all done! (I'm super sad 'cause my camera didn't focus properly, so this one is a bit out of focus...but it was waaaaaay too cute not to include)!

Daddy's little girl or what?!

Watching all the other girls....such a good listener!
When we were all done- we went for a little post-gymnastics treat!
So, that's what's been going on with us lately! I hope y'all are doing great!!!