Jumpin', Swingin', Climbin'...and Just Havin' Fun!

Miss Ava had her final birthday celebration on Sunday afternoon with some of her closest friends.  It's amazing how many new people she's met this year, talks about, and plays with at school.  She wanted her "friend party" to be at Triad (a gymnastics facility)...I wasn't about to have 16 kids running around my house.  Maybe in a few years when she wants a sleepover...but it's going to have to be a lot less than 16...and when that time comes...NO BOYS! 

It was so fun watching the kids tumble, swing from the bars and ropes, jump on the trampoline, and play in the foam pits.  The instructor did a great job of introducing the kids to all the different areas, walking through what they could do, and then letting them explore on their own and do whatever they wanted.  This place was beyond fun and is a great place to have a party!

Isaiah and Ava before all her guests arrived.

Ava leading the line and getting ready to go in.

A little balance beam...

...Isaiah running on a trampoline and knocking over a mat...

...swinging from a bar and jumping into the foam pit...

 

...the in-ground trampolines (these are great and you don't have to worry about your child falling off)...

...swinging from the rope into another foam pit...

...a little bar fun...

...bouncing with Payton, a friend from her class...

...Miss Isabelle having the time of her life on the obstacle course...

...Ava and her friend Brooklyn climbing mats...

...Isaiah hopping along...

...a little more balancing fun...

...swinging with her buddies...

...Boo loved doing it too...

...hiding inside of a mat (so cute)...

...she couldn't get enough of this foam pit...

...a little parachute game...

...Daddy having fun too...

...the kids singing Happy Birthday to Ava and trying to knock her into the pit...

...Isaiah climbing out...

...Isabelle and Kevin diving in...

...the whole gang...

...and one last picture with silly faces.

 

Time for the gift opening.  Ava with her pal Reagan.

Ava with her classmate Lilly.

Payton and Ava

Tony and Ava...they've been friends since preschool.  They're in different classes this year but she still talks about Tony.

Ava's friend Rex

Addy and Ava

Allison and Miss Ava

Brooklyn and Ava

Alayna and Ava

Ava and her friend Reese

Jackson and Ava...I teach with Jack's Mom and we always talk about how these two may end up together!  We can always hope!

She got so many nice gifts and is very fortunate to have so many friends who care about her!

Ava, Isaiah, and Isabelle getting ready to eat ice cream and cupcakes.

Happy Birthday Bootles!

Miss Isabelle and Uncle Kevin...that girl loves her ice cream!

Time to dig in!

Thank you to all her sweet friends for making this day so special!

 

My Three Happy's

1) Lego Friends...these are amazing!  I'm surprised someone didn't think of making LEGOS "for girls" sooner.  Ava and Isaiah have TONS of LEGOS and love playing with them.  After church on Sunday they played with her new house and a mixture of other LEGOS for over an hour!

 

How cool is this LEGO house!

It even has swiveling chairs and the stove opens!

 

 2) Christmas baking has begun!  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE baking during the holidays.  I started making one of the things I put on our cookie plates last night.  The kids were happily playing with Play Doh and would sneak tastes of the dough as I was making them.  After 7 dozen...I called it a night.  Into the freezer those Peanut Butter Blossoms will go until it's time to deliver plates.

 

3)Thursday night TV...Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, and Burn Notice.  Andy and are ready to relax together and watch our favorites.

 

My Favorite Thing:

1) Gingerbread...I love all the books that are written about this crazy cookie...I love baking them, I love all the crafts and activities that go along with this theme...I love making homemade gingerbread play dough...I love it all.  I'm starting this unit next week at school and will be bringing home many of the activities I do for Ava and Isaiah to try.  There's so many math and reading activities I'm sure they will love!



Happy Birthday Bootles!

December 1st...the day Andy and I were blessed with our first beautiful daughter.  Today, Ava Lynn celebrated her 6th birthday with all of our family at our house.  Wow...six!  Six just seems so old.  She has truly grown up before our eyes!  When I first held her six years ago...she melted our hearts and has continued to do so each day.  I never thought that time would pass this quickly...I just want to keep her little forever. 

This evening both sides of our family came over for dinner and to celebrate Care Bear style.  I swear she chose this Care Bear theme based on the cake.  When we were picking out Isaiah's cake in August she wanted to look through the catalog too.  She instantly spotted this colorful Care Bear cake and it came with very decent sized stuffed bear on top.  SOLD!  That was it right there.  From that moment she has wanted her party to be based off of these cute little animals.  You'd be surprised how much Care Bear stuff is really out there.  She received so many nice gifts and had a blast.

This morning Ava woke up to open the rest of her birthday presents.  She got to open one the night before...Daddy's idea.  She was up and at 'em early this morning...so excited for her big day!

She's really wanted one of the Leapster games.  Along with this she got the Brave game and the Pixar Nemo, Toy Story, and Walle game.

How cute is the Care Bear cake she ordered?  I loved how it had so many colors.

Our Sweet Pea!

Mommy loves you!

I had Ava take pictures with everyone who came to her party. 

Silly Uncle Darrell and Cousin Kirstin

Great Grandma Richardson

Grandma Richardson

Uncle Alan and Aunt Karen

Grandpa Richardson

Great Grandpa Richardson

Ava and Isaiah...he was exhausted and was in no mood to pose for the camera.  He ate dinner, played a little, and fell asleep on the couch a little after six.  Andy eventually carried him to bed and he's still sound asleep.

Grandma Van Slyke

Aunt Jody and Tim

Daddy loves his princess!

 

Uncle Dave

Uncle Kevin and Cousin Isabelle

Grandpa Van Slyke

Aunt Julie

Miss Ava opening a bean bag...she really wanted one and Aunt Julie, Kevin, and Isabelle got one for her.

The princess on her thrown opening even more gifts.

Love the feathered boa...courtesy of Aunt Jody and Tim.  She also loved her Teacher Barbie.

Isaiah working on a craft on the floor!

Time to blow out the candles!  Happy Birthday Love!

Party's over, everyone left, Isaiah is sound asleep, so Ava and Daddy dug into her new Lego house set.  These Lego Friends are awesome!  A perfect end to a great day!

Ava Lynn,
Thank you for being you...our funny, beautiful, silly, and loving daughter.  We love how artistic you are and how your creativity shines through in everything you do.  You are an amazing big sister to your brother and will be to your little sister.  You're helpful, kind, loving, and have such a strong heart.  I love how you care so much about your friends and family and are always looking out for others.  You have a beautiful voice...your Daddy and I love listening to all the songs you sing...especially the ones that you make up on your own.  Know that we love you more every day and would do anything for you.  God blessed us six years ago with you and since then we've promised to be the best Mommy and Daddy we can.  We love you more than you will ever know and are so proud of you! 
                                                                               Happy Birthday Bootles!
                                                                               Mommy and Daddy

My Three Happy's:
1) Andy put together a slide show of Ava growing up on his i-pad and had it running throughout her party.  I loved seeing how much she's grown.  Those pictures in the hospital just make me want to cry!  Even though it's been six years I remember it like it was yesterday.

2) My baby turned 6!  I love having our families over to celebrate!  It means so much to all of us that we can get together.

3) The kids opened up Day 1 of their Advent Calendar.  In the pocket contained a clue that lead them to The Elf on the Shelf...the real thing.  After reading the story the kids decided to name him Christmas Tree.  They got this name from one of the elves nicknames in Disney's Prep and Landing.  Each day Christmas Tree watches over to make sure the kids are being nice and when they fall asleep at night he travels back to the North Pole to report back to Santa.  The next morning he lands somewhere different in the house to watch the kids again.  They were excited!

My Favorite Thing:
**A clean house...I'm seriously going to try to see how long I can keep it organized and picked up.  I also put in a new Scentsy that smells like Christmas trees.  LOVE that scent too!