Here's to the Future

Imagine the life where you could do anything you want...nothing is holding you back.  There are endless possibilities...you could travel, explore a new hobby or activity you've always wanted to do, read a good book, bask in the sun...everything with no time limit.  This is the life...retirement!  Happy Days ahead for my Mom and Dad!

Yesterday my Dad, along with numerous other Ames Middle School colleagues, hosted a retirement party to celebrate their dedication to teaching.   Being that I was his daughter, I was never fortunate enough to actually have him as a teacher, but hundreds of other students would say that my dad was their "favorite."

Our entire family, including my Aunt Barbie from Indiana, came up to support him.  Here are a few pictures from last night.

Grandpa and his loves

How cute it this!

Love you Dad!

Ava climbing on the playground they had outside the pavilion

Kids love to climb...of course Ava and Isaiah discovered this rock and wanted their pictures taken on top.  I had one of Isaiah flexing his muscles on the rock but for some reason it wouldn't download.  I'll try it again later.  It was cute!

Believe it or not...Isaiah took this picture of me with my Aunt Barbie.  The following pictures were taken by him too!

Grandpa's head didn't quite make this picture but it still turned out well.

Sister's-in-law

Nice picture Boo!

My Three Happy's:

1) My Aunt Barbie...she's so easy to talk to...I wish she lived closer!  Ava and Isaiah really love her too!

2) Today we are are going shopping at Jordan Creek...I wonder what we'll find???

3) This morning...it went so fast!  Ava was up at 6:30 and Isaiah didn't get up until 8:00.  We basically went outside right after breakfast, the kids went on a bike ride with Andy up to our school while I walked Jackson, they played for a bit on the equipment, and all of a sudden it's almost 1:00.  I love mornings like that where we are busy and time flies.  It's almost nap time.

**One extra happy...

4) We discovered a baby bunny hiding in some hay in our garden.  I'll have to take a picture of it soon.  We fed it some celery and spinach...but I'm not sure it's old enough to eat food yet...no sign of mommy rabbit, but I hope she finds him soon! 

Our Ballerina

Seeing Miss Ava yesterday has really made me realize that our little girl isn't our baby anymore (she will always be our baby) but she is now a little girl.  Ava had her dress rehearsal last night and got all decked out with hair and make-up...let me tell you...she loved this!  Here are a few pictures of Ava...

Riding in the car...I kept saying...don't lean back on your seat or you'll smash your bun!

Ava waiting in the dressing room before her recital

Ava and her preschool friend Veda

I wish these pictures were less blurry but it was hard to capture a still moment because she was constantly moving.

I was so impressed with how well she did!  She even remembered to smile most of the time.

I can do some technology things...but am not good at scanning.  So I just took a picture of one of her pictures we ordered from Picture Day.  In the past year Ava has really smiled naturally for the camera...her true beauty really shines!

Tonight is her "official" recital!  She's very excited to get dolled up again and dance on stage.  This year we battled some weeks with her wanting to go to dance.  For a 4 year old, dance can get very long when you have practice every week for a whole year!  I think she was a little burnt out at the end.  Yesterday I asked her how she felt about it and she said she loves dance and wants to do it again.  I think it really made a difference for her to see why she dances each week...the recital, the fancy costume, the stage, and make-up...everything that comes with it makes it all worth while!  We may try a new tap and jazz program next year from a different studio or we may stick with this...whatever makes my little girl happy!

We're so proud of you Bootles!  You are an amazing dancer and have the most beautiful smile!  Good luck tonight!

My Three Happy's:

1) Watching our little girl dance her heart out!

2) Seeing my Aunt Barbie this weekend!  I wish we lived closer.

3) Eating marinated grilled chicken that Andy made for lunch!  It was SOOO good!

100% Success

...just a quick morning post...

I must say that Isaiah has really surprised us with his potty training.  Yesterday he was 100% successful...no accidents.  He LOVES wearing his "big boy" underwear and you can tell he feels so proud when he goes in his potty.  His toilet...the one that Ava used....is made by Fisher Price and plays a few songs when you "flush" it.  We do a "potty dance" to that song once he's done and he thinks that's pretty funny!  With Ava we had a prize box with candy and little toys and whenever she went she got to pick a prize.  That was nice but I didn't want to do rewards like that again.  Isaiah has a sticker chart and when he gets 20 stickers he gets to go to Target to pick out a toy.  Much better and he's not eating candy left and right like Ava was.  He also surprised us yesterday when he woke up from his almost 2 hour nap DRY.  What a big boy...we're so proud.  Hopefully today brings as much success as yesterday!

I was a little worried about how Ava would do at her staging practice for recital last night.  Amazingly she did great.  She went back stage, came out smiling, and did great.  Of course at this age, they don't remember all their steps and look to their adult helpers for prompts, but I was kind of afraid that she would be terrified of being on stage and seeing all these people in the audience starring at her...but she did great.  Tonight is her dress rehearsal and tomorrow is the recital.  This dance program has three recitals, but they have the little ones perform in only one.  I'm glad about that!  Our little ballerina is getting so big!

I have lots of pictures to post with some things we have been doing and will get to that either tonight or tomorrow...as of now...just and update...no pics.  Have a super morning!

My Three Happy's:
1) Seeing my kids both successful at something!  It's just another reminder of how big they are getting.
2) Night out with my teaching friends...I NEVER do this kind of stuff because I always feel guilty leaving the kids...but I had a good time.  My friend Lindsey is getting married in a little over 2 weeks and we all got together at my friend Wendy's house for appetizers, desserts, and drinks and had a little party for her.  Basically we just talked all night about school stuff, but it was nice to get all 6 of us together.  We don't do that often enough!
3) Beautiful days....sunny, breezy...just perfect!

Camp Richardson

Before I share our little "camping" experience here are a few random pictures of our weekend.  I had to share this one of Ava.  Believe it or not, she took this one of herself.  I tell you...she's pretty talented when it comes to photography.

You gotta love the eyes and big smile!

Yes...tomorrow is the day where we are really going to start potty training Mr. Isaiah.  Ava was 2 1/2 when she learned...but she learned in the summer when we were home.  Now that summer vacation has officially started, it's time for Isaiah to battle this.  He's not as interested as Ava was...so we'll see how it goes.  I'm sure we'll have lots of accidents but that's just part of the learning experience.  Isaiah picked out some Toy Story underwear and was wearing a pair on his head before bed.  Ava of course captured a picture of me tickling him...what a character.

It's not morning...it's actually about 1:30 on Friday afternoon.  What can I say...my kids LOVE being in their pajamas.  Ava will be in afternoon preschool next year and will not be able to take naps.  We've been trying to have her nap every other day.  I think if we'd let her, she'd continue to take her typical hour and a half nap, but we're trying to gradually wean her off so the fall isn't so hard on her...plus she loves having Mommy and Daddy to herself when Isaiah naps.  Daddy was mowing out back and we were drawing pictures with chalk.  Here is a rainbow that we made together.

Ava drew this sun...

...helped me make this flag...

...and made a pretty flower.

Friday night we met the Dietrich's (family friends) out for dinner at Hickory Park.  This is adorable Carter...he turned one in February.  He is an absolute cutie.  Wes made him this hat from a placemat.  He was all smiles.  He looks so much like his big brother Coye. 

Coye (5)  and Ava...Isaiah wasn't interested in pictures.  He was too busy devouring his cheeseballs.  For those of you who know Hickory Park...you can't come here without ordering cheeseballs.

No...Jackson really isn't this big.  On Saturday morning, Jackson was laying in Andy's lap on the couch.  They looked so cozy and cute I just had to take a picture.  This picture makes him look SO big!

We love you Toots!

So here we are...the camping experience.  Andy suggested getting the tent out to play in...we've done that before...but that turned into us "attempting" a camp out.  

Isaiah...in pajamas of course...helping Dad set the tent up.

Playing with the camping gear.

Ava was using chalk to decorate around the camp site.

Grillin' out!  Yummy!  Burgers, grilled vegetables, corn on the cob, watermelon, and garlic bread.  The kids always say, "You're a good griller Dad."

Ava, fresh out of the bath, in new pajamas, and bouncing on the ball.

Daddy starting the campfire.

Isaiah watching with interest.

He saw what Ava was doing and had to join in.  He loves his big sister.

A little game of catch.

Nice fire...those Boy Scout days really paid off!

Making s'mores with Daddy

Who doesn't love a roasted marshmallow!

Ava getting ready to enjoy the s'more she made.

Isaiah couldn't wait for the pictures...he started eating right away.

We had our neighbors, the Grimards, come over to make s'mores with us.

Cara and Elliott...Elliott is in preschool with Ava and Cara will be in preschool with Isaiah next year.  It's nice to have kids so close in age living right behind us!

Ava took this pictures of us...can you tell it's summer...no make-up, old clothes, and messed up hair!

At about 8:00 we started watching Toy Story 3 in the tent.

Jackson on guard.

When the movie was over it was a little before ten and the kid's hadn't fallen asleep yet.  Isaiah decided he wanted to sleep in his own bed.  About 2 minutes after we went in, Ava decided to come in too.  It was a late night, but we had tons of fun.  It rained anyway, so we're lucky we came in when we did.  Hopefully in the future we can do this for real when the kids get a little older.  For now, the backyard experience is good enough!

My Three Happy's:

1) Making s'mores...for some reason I love burnt marshmallows.

2) My loving husband...I slept in until 10:00 today...I never do that...but let me tell you...IT WAS NICE!

3) Every day is an adventure at our house...I can't wait to see what the summer brings!  Here's to summer vacation!

Silly Smiles

Okay...so here I am updating my blog with some random things from this past weekend and from this week.  Better late than never....hope you enjoy it.

When we got home from school on Monday the weather was gorgeous...the kids played in the pool, we grilled and ate outside, and then played out front while Daddy mowed the lawn.  The kids enjoyed an ice cream cone and were just "being goofy."  

A cute messy face

I just had to get a few pictures of Ava...she was wearing her crocs, a swimsuit, and bicycle helmet...what a character.   When I asked her to smile for a picture...this was the pose I got. 

Enjoying a little bike ride

Isaiah helping Daddy blow the pieces of grass off the driveway after mowing...he loves to help!

Ava taking a picture of herself

We love Daddy!  Ava took this before bed...Andy was getting ready to read her stories.

Enjoy the rest of the posts...my Three Happy's are at the end.