FIVE!!!!!

Five years ago today we welcomed this sweet babe into our lives.  

I remember looking down at her, so tiny in my arms, and wondering who she would become and not even understanding how this little being would even grow out of being a baby.   

I had no clue how truly blessed we would be to have Ava in our lives and just how much our lives would change because of her.  

She is such a joy, so brave, thoughtful and caring.  I love her facial expressions and her infectious giggle.  Ava has a way of telling even the most boring of  stories that will have you rolling on the floor laughing (she must get that from me).  We are so lucky to have this little 5 year old in our lives.  

We get to spend the day today doing what she has chosen.  Pancakes with nutella, Niagara Falls, Rainforest Cafe and to top it all off....the circus!  

Happy Birthday Ava.....you are now a WHOLE HAND!

(and yes I bawled my eyes out the entire time I wrote this post!) 

Look who's got a new camper!

Barbie....thats who!
 

highlights from our camping trip::

:: is it wrong to be jealous of barbie?

"eating fruitloops" was the BEST part of camping...according to Ava

The kids and I were sad to see the end of our camping adventure and are already planning the next one!

{this moment}

Joining amanda and friends in "this moment"...capturing a moment from the week that I want to cherish and hold onto. 

wasn't that a party?

Today we.....

                                 :: celebrated the birthdays of Ava and my nephew Isaiah

                                              :: spent a lot of time swimming in the pool

                                                      :: got a little TOO much sun

                                                              :: rocked the speedo

                                                                   :: killed the pinata

                                                :: devoured the most delicious cake

                                            :: and cake pops ( looked gross...tasted great!)

                                                  :: cooled off with watermelon

                                                         :: got some noisy gifts

                                                          :: and some peaceful ones

       :: acted like crazy animals...what would a party be without unsafe pool behaviour??

                                          :: and were basically all around ADORABLE!

holla.. it's a birthday party!

My dear sweet Ava is turning 5 (I know, I know...where has the time gone!) and I have been deep in prep mode for the first of her  many birthday celebrations.

  She specifically requested a maxi dress for the occasion, so using this shirring tutorial I got to work and made this adorable dress along with

matching hair barrets using fabric covered buttons hot glued to dollar store clips.  I sense a new obsession budding!

Tonight I got to work on ruffled streamers to hang for festive decor...I used this tutorial from Dana's amazing blog MADE.

On the list for tomorrow:: putting loot bags together, ordering balloons, pre-chopping veggies and making cake pops.

I am a bit nervous about attempting these (I have been procrastinating.... they were supposed to be made last week and frozen for the big day but  fresh is best right?)  I am going to follow these instructions from the woman who created them herself, Bakerella...how can I go wrong.

wish me luck.... i will most definitely need it!

thanks for picking!....

..We are a strawberry obsessed family... usually Anthony eats a little basket himself!   Since I have such fond memories of going picking with my grandma and we have the NEED for berries,  I thought it would be fun to take Ava to Murphy's farm in Binbrook for a little mother-daughter bonding session.

Ava was up for the challenge and grabbed a big basket that she was sure she was going to fill in no time flat...in fact was pretty cocky about the whole thing!

She was meticulous about finding the "perfect berry" and had to show me each one she put in her basket.

She picked and picked until she just couldn't even "stand it one minute more"....she was so "tired and sweating like a BIRD".  Guess  how many berries she picked until she had her "sweating like a bird" meltdown.

15

To be fair, the strawberries were very tiny and few and far between because we are nearing the very end of the season.

We decided to combine our efforts and see if we could just try and fill one basket and guess what....Tadah

....look at all of those delicious berries.  My intention is to make some sort of jam (like last year) but I'm sure they will be snatched up by little hands before I even get to it.

On our way out we drove past these adorable signs hanging on posts

this one says "have a berry nice day"

Ava thought the best part of the adventure was when we drove past this sign

and of course she added "your nose" to the end.  She thought that was the most hilarious thing she had ever heard and laughed about it all the way home.

A good time was had by all....well ...my back hurts and Ava NEVER wants to go back again but by next strawberry season all of those complaints will be forgotten and I'm sure you will find us back in the berry patch trying to fill our baskets.