Ava's First Blog

Hi I'm Ava. Lets me tell you a few things about myself.

1. I am 10 years old

2. I love coffee ( especially Starbucks) 

3. I am kind, nice, brave, and I love sports

 

This me when I was little.

                                                                                                A classic

                                                                                                   

 

 

 

 

 

The Fabulous 4th of July

Soooo....years, and I mean years have passed since I've last posted on this blog.   Several times I've contemplated going back to blogging.  Last night after the kids were asleep something made me look up our old blog posts.  These memories that I read about and pictures that I saw made me miss it so much!  My three babies have grown up and I realized that I REALLY want to continue to use this as a journal for them to look back on and read as they grow older.  With that being said...I'm going to just resume as if  I never stopped. 


Yesterday was our towns annual 4th of July celebration.  For being a small town, Slater sure does it right and offers so many neat activities on the 3rd and 4th.  We are so fortunate to be a part of such an amazing community and to call this our home!

For years the kids have participated in the Kiddie Parade that takes place on the 3rd.  Ava and Isaiah have become too old for it and are now spectators of their little sister.  Violet is all ready to ride down the street with her bike all decked out in red, white, and blue.

Mama and her sweets

The flag...now that's a must in this parade!

Peddling down the road.

After the Kiddie parade, we went to Nelson Park to watch a juggling act, eat snow cones, and bounce on the inflatables.  The kids loved this one. 

The goal was to knock someone down with the inflated ball. 

The morning of the 4th we were all up and ready to go.  Look how much my loves have grown.  Ava is now 10, Isaiah is 8, and Violet is 4. 

Each one of my kids has been chosen to be a princess or prince for the 4th of July parade.  This year one of my former students, Lauryn Broer, asked if Violet would be her princess.  At first Violet was a bit hesitant since she was afraid she may not get candy in her bucket.  After much assurance that we would collect some for and would be back to watch most of it, she was 100% all for it. 

My sweet baby

Getting ready to go...and ready to throw LOTS and LOTS of candy.  The turnout for this year's parade was apparently a record so they only had a few pieces left by the time they got to us.  I had to laugh when Violet kept sneaking pieces of gum out of her bucket to chew.  That kid loves her candy!

Isaiah, Ava, Isabelle, and Avrey all ready to catch some candy.  We have made it a tradition to entertain our families for lunch over the 4th.  I absolutely love cooking for people and look forward to it every year!

Lauryn and Violet driving by.  Violet did remember to save a big Tootsie Roll for Aunt Jody.  She promised her she would. 

At 6:00pm on the 4th they announced the winner for queen.  They didn't win but we had fun selling tickets to our families and neighbors to support the community and the girls had a great time together.  Violet adores Lauryn.

How cute are they!!!

Violet and Lauryn on stage together.

I have no idea how another year has flown by but it has.  We have about a month and a half of summer left before we start another school year.  Time to soak up all that family time doing lots of things together.  Those are the moments I remember most and the moments my kids will remember growing up.  We have a list of some fun things the kids want to do this summer and will try to get to as many as we can.  Sometimes I feel I can get wrapped up in cleaning the house, worrying about what's for dinner, folding laundry, and thinking about all the stuff I have to do to prepare for another school year.  A wise lady, Julie Astarita (one of my teaching friends) has always told me..."Family First."  That's the truth!

My Three Happy's:

1.  It's 8:30 and I just finished a cup of nice hot coffee.  I must be getting old when I can drink a cup and it doesn't effect my sleep.

2.  I've been doing a lot of reading at night and Emily Giffin is one of my new favorite authors. Her  books are great.  Sadly I'm on her last one and need to find a new author to follow.  I really enjoy my reading time...even when it is 11 at night when I settle in for a  bit.

3.  My love my neighbor Krissy.  This evening I spent about 20 minutes chatting with her.  We do that often in the summer.  We are so lucky to have such an amazing family living next to us!