"O Christmas Tree"

It was like this Christmas tree was a new toy. Ava threw ornaments around the room, wore beads around her neck, yanked on lights, and nearly pulled the tree down in one swoop. It was fun to decorate and she LOVES to just stand and look at the tree and the few ornaments we did put out. Christmas seems to be taking on a whole new look now that Ava is older. She gets the whole present thing, hates Santa Clause (he is scary looking), but loves for us to read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" (which oddly is all about Santa). I am anxious for the great memories on her second Christmas and even more excited to see her face when she gets our present! (I guess you will all have to wait on that one too)

Bring on more snow, eggnog, Christmas parties, wrapping paper pieces all over the floor, and lots of awesome presents to give.

I would like to say our biggest gift this year will be the adoption of our new neice Yamrot! She will be coming from Ethiopia in a few short months. Congratulations to my sister and her family on passing the adoption court date and FINALLY getting their beautiful daughter! We can't wait to meet her!!!!! You can see her beautiful face on my sister's blog.

Is it really December?

I guess November is a blur. Looking back I barely remember what happened. Thank goodness for pictures and video's. The stay at home mom "brain syndrome" is not a lie!

I sit here today awaiting the big snow storm and fretting how I need to run to the store to stock up, but Ava is still sleeping (she had a big day at the Dr.'s) and you know how I HATE the cold. BUT, for Ava's sake I will go and make sure we have what we need in case the power goes out...because for some reason the power goes out almost every December anymore.

Time to weed through the Christmas decorations. A pile for next springs yard sale, a pile for keeping, and a pile for things I would love to pass down to Ava (this means I can't put them out this year, there is potential she will grab and break).

In my mind this picture sums up my fast growing little girl (some of you have seen it, other's have not, hilarious to me none the less. It's a day in the life of potty training, which of course means she has no pants on)...

Happy Birthday to my kick ass husband who works hard, plays hard, and treats me and Ava like we are the center of his universe...well unless he is playing hard. I'm laughing, but you all know it's true! Love you honey!

And now, here is ava.... mn k khd kgghjvvjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjgfdifgvoiffoggggggggggggggg
cvvvvvv vjjn

Well, that's about as understandable as her babble.

Happy Birthday Dejan. Thanks for all you do for us and especially for loving us as much as you do.

Why is this?

Seeing as Dejan and I don't go around hitting ourselves when we get mad or frustrated, nor do we spit our drinks onto the floor, why is Ava doing this? It's like children are animals. They poop and pee on themselves, throw up wherever is convenient, have this never ending dripping snot, spit everything out of their mouths, throw tantrums and hit things. Why is this?  :-)

Potting training is well underway, the snot has stopped for the moment (but I have purchased stock in Kleenex Brand Tissues), I have designated a sponge to cleaning the floor (you know, for all the liquids Ava decides to spit out), the tantrums get ignored to Ava's aggravation hence the hitting herself (I guess to get my attention), and the idea of doing this all over again makes me shutter...don't ask me about another baby and don't ask me what I did all day, I might just hit you! Oh wait; maybe I just answered my original question.

PS. Don' let me fool you, Ava is my biggest love and I'm enjoying every gross, hitting, tantrum. If she's the only child I get, I am the luckiest person alive!

A Prairie Home Companion

Garrison Keillor made me laugh pretty hard Saturday night and two quotes that keep sticking out in my mind...

"God created marriage so we don't have to fight with strangers" and

"When you die you either go to heaven with your wife's family or purgatory with your friends"

Thanks to Iowa Public Radio for working so hard to get the show to come to Des Moines...it's the only odd ball stop on their list. ha

Dejan may be gone all week, but Jenn and I start drinking wine every night at 5pm to make ourselves feel cool. I am so thankful she and the kids came up to spend the week with Ava and I, we have been having fun. As for the wine, bottle #2 starts tomorrow.

I HATE IT MOM!

We gave it the old college try...

she just wouldn't have anything to do with it ( I know, aren't I mean, I'm laughing at her)! Ava's first trick or treat at the Y went great after we took that silly costume off. She went straight for the candy box, then went again, and again, and again, and again, and again. Right on girl, you know exactly what to do. Now we need to work on what type of candy you are taking from the candy box.

We ended the night with a bang! Her first sucker.