Dinner is served...

My Mom, the dreamer, started the fairy business at her house.  She has real houses, fairies, lights, and this magical door.  The kids are captivated by the whole deal...to be honest, me too.  My Mom taught us to read, read, read, and to dream big.  Reading can take you places you never even imagined.  She has definitely continued that in her grandchildren.  Thanks Mom! 

After our last visit, I get some pictures in my email. One is a scene my Dad discovered outside, the day after we had left.  I have always found such humor in creative play scenes left around our house by Ava, and this one didn't disappoint...I'm still chuckling as I write this. 

In case you are looking at this squinting, wondering, what is that, well, it's fairy dolls lined up for dinner.  Each was given a roma tomato.  Quite appropriate seeing as they live in my Italian Mother's yard.

Too busy to blog is a good thing

and here is why...

Parades, lots of candy, and an Oktoberfest Parade gator ride with Daddy.

Fun with friends

Lots and Lots of silliness

Lots of dirt drug into the house

Road trips.  We took lots of them.  My Dad was a pro at the road trip.  I crave road trips all the time because of him, and, I also LOVE to stray from the usual route.  Only difference, he did it without a map, google, IPhone, or even road signs for that matter.  I panic without all of the above.

Corn maze and kitties...they seem to be every where since our cat passed away

 Trips to Camp Hamilton ...where Ava thanked mother nature, for all the beautiful weather she has blessed us with, by planting a tree...

and Camp Keokuk, where walking through the woods is a must this time of year.

Happy Harvest, Happy Fall, Happy Halloween...I'm too busy, I won't be back until November I'm sure.

AND Finally, the biggest event of the month...drum roll...

We took apart the crib and gave Ava her toddler bed.  How lucky are we that she just now started climbing out of her crib.  I was a nervous, slightly sad, wreck, Dejan was wondering what the big deal was.  As far as Ava, well, let's say she was "super cited" (that's excited for those of you who don't know this yet). We made sure to do this three hours before bed time. I just knew she was going to need to play on that bed. 
Ava picked out her bedding, toys, blankets, and stickers.  She was one happy girl. 

The big deal?  None.  She slept through the night (unlike me), but did wake up at 6am to apparently get dressed in her flower girl dress (from her uncle's wedding in arizona this summer) and couldn't find it.  She crawled into bed crying.  I was tired.  I said "WHAT!?!?"...and went to find it.  Every night since has been a success.  It really wasn't sad or stressful after all.  I love how happy she is, and her being more and more independent is a really good thing

Tire Swing coming full circle

I had one growing up, it was always part of our back yard. I had to bring back the tire swing.  My Dad is the only one who can hang it, and Ava knew it.  "Mommy, I want a tire swing.", "Okay, but I don't know how to do that.", "Well, Nonno does!", "Let's call him." , "I will be there Sunday!"


The great meeting of the minds...a manager and a supervisor.  You get the idea.



 This was one happy girl! She still has to swing everyday, at least 100 times.  I love it too.

I must note, my Mom came along too.  She spent the morning entertaining Ava and making fairy houses.  Put mine to shame and now mine are not good enough.  Thanks Nonna! 

Love you guys.  THANKS!

One reason to embrace cooler weather...being able to cut flowers and grasses that now grace our table(s).  I put in the plural because I have now moved it to my dining room, I can see it at all times there.  Much better.

Why September has been good...

 As a special treat for Ava's first day of school, I took her to the DQ.  This was clearly a big hit.  She sang a new song she learned at school and we laughed about it...mostly because I had no clue what she was saying.  

Ava had a great first week. She has been slightly timid but holds her head high and quietly joins in. We are so proud of her. 

There were a few rough days after school, but in the whole scheme of things, it has been flawless.  Her mind has been in overdrive, so this weekend we are heading out of town for some fun at the Iowa vs. Iowa State Game in Ames.  It's Iowa, it's what we do.

 We had a wonderful visit with my parents and celebrated my beautiful Mom's birthday. 

It really was a perfect summer evening, I only wish we could spend more evenings like that together.

 

  This picture cracks us up every time.  That is a DQ blizzard cup I found in the dishwasher.  I told you she loved the Dairy Queen.  So much so that she wants to wash the paper cup and keep it for later us. 

A crown (her first school project brought home), the "hiding tree" (I only wish I would have photographed the day we were there with my parent's playing hide and seek with Ava), and a fashion show are

just a few things that have made these days fun.  

I will miss all this warm sunny weather, but for now we will savior everyday, every acorn found in a pocket, every leaf laying on the kitchen table, every morning swinging on the front porch, every hike through the "forest" at Wildwood Park, every trip down that slide, and every flower picked along the way.

 

OH!! I have to tell you about the picture below...I heard her talking and busily walking around.  When I came to see what she was up to, she told me "Now the kitty can measure herself too!"  It is a measuring tape taped up on the door.  I love this girl toddler.  :-)



SCHOOL!

Meet your teacher day was a big hit last week, Ava was timid but curious and

actually didn't want to leave.  I was happy about that.  The picture is her first "homework" assignment completed.  A picture of herself (and daddy).  She is to bring this on her first day.  It kind of makes us laugh.

This morning I woke up to this notice from my IPad

(and no, class didn't start at 12:20AM) and my heart skipped a beat.  I am timid now, but make a big deal about her first day and she says "NO" when asked about being excited.  Now I'm worried.

  Despite the "No's", she wants to get dressed for school right away.  She picks out her own outfit.  Whew!  Some of you have seen the get-ups she sometimes wears.  12:20 comes up fast and she was eager to get her back pack on and head out the door.  My eyes are misting and she talks the entire time.

 That's Buzz Lightyear of course.  I am starting to think he has given her the courage.  She seems so at ease about going to school.  My eyes...still misty.

 "COME On Mom!."  I am clearly going too slow as I take pictures and wipe my eyes.  I pull it together, walk her to class, stay for 20 minutes and worriedly say good bye.  This is Ava.  She never wants to be left in a strange place.  SHE DOESN'T BLINK AN EYE and I have to ask for a hug bye.  I leave feeling happy. She made me so proud and wasn't scared.  The sadness sets in as I am walking down the hall. I am leaving her behind in a strange place after three year's with people I barely know.  (can you see where she gets her worried side from-ha).  I walk to the car, call Dejan in tears.  He is a much bigger person than me.  He says it's OK.  She will do great.  She has to go to school.  Hang in there honey.  We hang up and THEN I turn on the radio.  WHY!?!?  They are playing that stupid song from Titanic and I just lose it.  Don't worry I am totally laughing at myself, so you can too.  I turn that crap off, go home, and find this in her room...

Her favorite blanket, that goes everywhere, is just laying there on the floor.  So you know, I cry again.  I blog, exercise, clean a few windows, and am ready to go pick her up.  I know it will get easier, but today was sad and I can't wait to see her cute face and give her a big hug.

Some people say, "You and Ava need time apart.  You are too close, and she is going to have a hard time."  To those people, mind your own business.  I admit, I have some really bad moments, and when I need to cool off, I go.  There's not a lot of places to go where I live, but I go.  Leaving allows me to breath.  But let me tell you why you should mind your own business.  Do you know all the things I would miss, and all the things she's not going to want to do with me later.  Stay at home life is not all peachy, but most days are fun and full of love and laughter.  I hold her tight and feel this will eventually give her the courage to face the world head on, full of confidence. 

I enjoyed capturing a few moments from a fun day in the life of us...

Woody got a lot of play time this day and finally got left behind (just like that). Flowers ("for mommy") and a rock ("for daddy") picked during a walk through the woods.



         Ava was adamant about learning to crush walnuts through my old school chopper,

 and I just love tripping over those shoes and sweaty socks.

Picking out her own outfits, with seer delight, is allowed on most days (even though they make me cringe, she needs some space to be Ava), and her "so cited (excited)"

face just makes me giggle...EVERY TIME.

Not an overly exciting day, but each moment was delightful to capture and a gentle reminder how we should all be more like kids.  Enjoy your children, but remember to take some breathing room, as needed.  :-)  I am just fine staying home with my daughter and she seems pretty darn happy to me...I also wish people would stop worrying over how shy she is.  She's not shy, just around people she doesn't quite trust yet (and frankly, I am quite happy about that).  She will go to preschool in a couple weeks.  Things will change.  I will hold tight to every hug, sweeties, cry, dance party, and yes, even the bad days we have had.  They too are lessons to be learned in some odd way.

On a side note...this is my new ride. I LOVE it and know it totally geeks me out even more, except for the fact those bikes are worth some money. I wheeled and dealed it down to twenty bucks and hauled it home in the trunk of my car...you can imagine the big eye roll I got from my husband.   Ava told me it was going to be "my bike, I will learn to ride it and you can give it to me, okay?!"  :-)  Okay.