18 months old

Ava turned 18 months old on Thursday! Where have the past 6 months gone?!? Friday evening Grandma B, Great Grandma S, Aunt Virgie, and cousin Sara arrived. Aunt Virgie had a conference in St. Paul on Friday evening and all day Saturday so Ava didn't get to see her until this morning. Everybody else rode along though to see Ava (Nate and I were just an added bonus).

Saturday morning Grandma, Great Grandma, and I went to the Farmer's Market after dropping Aunt Virgie off at her conference. We got there around 7:30, just before it got really busy. I haven't been to the farmer's market all summer. I love all the fresh produce and beautiful flowers. The weather was gorgeous all day long. After we got home all of us (except Great Grandma) headed to Como Zoo to get some pictures taken. We had my mom take Ava's 18 month pictures, and asked her to take a couple of family pictures while we were at it. We quickly learned that it's hard to catch Ava smiling AND sitting still for more than 3 seconds at a time. We did manage to get some cute pictures though. Thanks mom for taking them! I thought that it be fun and make for a cute picture if Ava rode the antique carousel at Como. Well, she was not a fan! She clung to me the whole time, and only smiled when Nate started running around the outside of the carousel to keep up with us. Oh well, maybe next year!

Saturday afternoon I took the Grandmas out looking for garage sales while Ava took a nap. Once Ava was awake we were off to the park. That evening we had a fabulous dinner! Nate worked hard all day smoking some of the most delicious ribs that I've ever had. Everybody went to bed with very full tummies last night!

The IA clan loaded into the minivan this morning and headed home after a game of cards. Ava and I took a nap to recover from the weekend before heading to the gym (we needed to burn off some of the many calories we consumed this weekend). Nate was busy wiping the entire house down with his new Norwex cloth (Aunt Virgie was here for her Norwex conference). Nate is sold on the new cloth. After listening to her talk about the many products that Norwex has to offer, and how they work I too am quite impressed. Having a little one in the house makes me think a little more about all the chemicals that we use to clean, and how effective (or rather ineffective) they are. Anyway, we started to wrap up our day with a short walk before dinner. The weather has been just perfect this weekend...sunny and high 70's.

I'm off again tomorrow and will look forward to cleaning bathrooms and grocery shopping. That's alright though. We had a great weekend and enjoyed the time that we got to spend with my family. The time always goes by far to quickly. Thanks for coming ladies...we love you!
One of the few times Ava smiled on the carousel
Nate, Ava, and I walking around the zoo

Our very independent little girl

Even Ava helped clean the sweet corn

Grandma B, Ava, & Great Grandma S.

Grandma B, Ava, Aunt Virgie, Great Grandma S, & cousin Sara

Grandma & Boppa B in town

We had a great weekend. We hung out Friday night, and I'm pretty sure that I fell asleep on the couch around 8:30. Saturday morning Ava and I headed to the gym while Daddy met up with somebody for awhile. He got home just as Ava finished lunch and I ran out the door to meet up with an old friend for a long lunch date. I then got home just in time to pick up a pizza for Ava and Cheryl. Cheryl came over and watched Ava Saturday night so that Nate and I could go to the Twins game. My parents were in town with a group that they travel with every year from my hometown of Watkins. The weather is absolutely perfect and we had a great time. Grandma really wanted Ava to come, but I'm so glad that she stayed home. The ballpark was packed, and it was nice for Nate and me to actually enjoy the game and not have to worry about her. Besides the game started at 6:00 and Ava's bedtime is 7:00. I'm sure that she had a much better time with Cheryl than she would have had with us. Nate and I got to enjoy all the fun ballpark foods (which showed on the scale on the gym today, darn it!), a good game, and a beautiful evening outdoors. Thank you so much Cheryl for coming over and spending your Saturday night with Ava!

Sunday morning we got up and headed to Bloomington to have breakfast and hang out with Grandma & Boppa B. We went to IHop since it was attached to their hotel. We had never eaten at one before. Ava devoured the pancakes! We spent a couple of hours at the hotel. Ava did not lack attention, and Grandma used every moment as a photo op. Ava said "bye bus" and we left. She was asleep within 5 minutes. It's exhausting being loved up so much, not to mention the most photographed child on earth.

Last evening Grandma & Boppa V came over to hang out and we got chinese for dinner. Ava scarfed down my chicken lo mein like she hadn't eaten in days. Lucky for me Daddy got that diaper today. :)

I was off today. We all went to the gym this morning. We ended up leaving early, as Ava did not want to play there. She has been "something" today. She's quite defiant. I'm not sure why, or when it started, but I'm not a fan. Last evening she took two Dove chocolates out of the candy dish and bit into them (wrapper and all). Of course, I wasn't there (I think she has Daddy wrapped around her finger and challenges him more than me. I'm the "mean" parent). She has now been told that those are only for "big people". So far it's worked. This afternoon I was upstairs putting some laundry in and Nate yells up, "how do you get crayon out of furniture". Well I knew that couldn't be good. I went downstairs to find that Ava (who was sitting at her desk coloring on her paper with Nate right next to her when I went upstairs) had taken her blue crayon and evidently ran to the big chair and drew a Very long straight line down the middle of the cushion. Thanks to Resolve carpet cleaner you can no longer see it. She can now tell me that she only uses her colors on "paper". We'll see if that works. I think that she's hit the terrible two's about 6 months too early.

Tomorrow she's off to day care. We'll see what kind of trouble she gets in to there. Hope that you're all having a great week!

Linda, Joe, Karen, Grandma, me, Nate, & Boppa enjoying a beautiful night at the ballpark. The twins even won!

Me & Nate at the game

Me & Grandma enjoying our first night at the Twins "new" ballparkEnjoying a little ice cream

Grandma & Boppa got Ava a Twins bat at the ballpark the night before.

Love that face!

Grandma, Ava, & Boppa after breakfast on Sunday morning

Ava's first time putting graffiti on public property (I'm pretty sure that the colors were washable, so it's legal right?)

Boppa & Ava

Enjoying a little story

Yeah, she can be a little sassy

Ava even had kisses for Karen

The past 2 weeks

The past two weeks have been a whirl wind. When I haven't been working we've had a guest or we've been out of town. I started off the week of the 8th working Monday through Wednesday. Thursday morning our friend Tommy arrived from Decorah. It had been far to long since we had seen him. We were so happy that he could make the trip up here before school started. We spent the afternoon at the farmer's market and went "mini golfing" on the real turf course at Centennial Lakes Park. Unfortunately strollers were not allowed on the greens. So, Ava was on the loose! She was the ball collector and took her job very seriously. She was constantly on the go, and sometimes our goal was to hit our ball before she got a hold of it. That evening we grilled, put Ava to bed, and enjoyed a nice fire outside with some wine and smores. What a great evening! Friday morning Nate and Ava headed to the lake (since I had to work my 12 hour weekend shift) while Tommy and I made our way to the mall. After lunch it was back to Decorah for Tommy. Tommy, it was great seeing you. We can hopefully meet up again this fall!

Friday afternoon and evening I was home alone. I have to admit that I was looking forward to taking a nap and just having some quiet time. I did enjoy the nap, but the house was eerily quiet that evening. There was nobody throwing food on the floor, asking for a "bite, bite" as I ate my dinner. There were no toys on the floor, giggles or bedtime stories. I sometimes long for "quiet moments" during the chaos of our days. But when I have them, they seem lonely and I can't wait to once again hear "hi mommy, wuv you" accompanied be giggles and requests to read books.

By the time I got home Sunday evening Ava was already in bed. I packed my bags in preparation for our early morning departure for De Soto (Des Moines). We were on the road by 6:30 Monday morning to go and visit my sister, brother-in-law, and nephews. Zackery really wanted to take Ava to the state fair to see the animals. We got down there in time for lunch and then got to go and visit Zackery's new school that he was starting at on Wednesday. Monday night my sister was nice enough to watch Ava for us while we met up with our good friends Erin and Kevin for dinner. We had a great time...enjoyed margaritas, has good food, were able to catch up, and everybody watched as our waitress dumped a tray of food all over me and my white linen pants. Kevin was laughing so hysterically hard that all I could do was laugh. It was a mess!!! In spite of the green salsa on my pants and the sour cream in my hair, we had a great time. We wish it could happen more frequently!

Tuesday morning I went in to get Ava. I go in and see her standing in the pack-n-play with no diaper on. She has never taken her diaper off before. I pick up the diaper and hold it, asking her what it was. She pointed at it and said, "diaper, on, on". Her sheet and blankie were covered in pee, and I quickly noted that she was as well (she was sticky from head to toe). Needless to say, she wore the pj bottoms to bed that night. In to the shower she went with Nate that morning. After breakfast we packed our umbrellas and ventured out to the state fair. It rained on and off throughout the morning, but wasn't bad. Ava and the boys enjoyed seeing the animals and of course all of the food. Ava made sure to try everything...corn dog, cheese curd, funnel cake popsicle, chocolate chip cookies, and chicken strips. She of course loved everything (shocking, I know). She was exhausted by the time that we left that afternoon. Nate and Brent went and played golf that evening while Ava played outside with Reece and enjoyed a MUCH needed bubble bath.

Wednesday morning Grandma & Boppa Becker were there when we awoke. Brent and Nate picked them up from the airport around 12:30 am, as they got back from their Alaskan cruise. Ava got up and had a pancake breakfast with Zackery before he boarded the bus for his first day of school at his new school. Ava was obviously exhausted from her day at the fair because later that morning she fell asleep on Grandma's lap and it was almost impossible to wake her up for lunch. We all had lunch and then loaded the car for the ride home. Ava slept for another 2 hours on the way home which makes the drive go so much more enjoyable.

Yesterday she went to day care and today she was home with daddy. She slept in both days. I think that she's ready for a weekend at home as well. She'll be spending tomorrow evening at home with our family friend Cheryl while Nate and I meet up with my parents to go to the Twins game. The weather is supposed to be beautiful and I can't wait for an evening out at the ballpark.


Ava & Tommy on their way to pick up Tommy's golf ball

She is so excited to be wearing Black & Gold! :)

Reece, Zackery, & Ava with the biggest bore runner-up

Ava petting the largest bore

Ava petting a calf

Learning to lead a calf. I don't know that she's so much a 4H kind of girl.

Exhausted, and this is before she ate all of the food.

Ava & Reece

Ava with her apron and hat on, getting rather to gather her fruits and veggies in her basket at the "helping hands" farm

Reece and Ava picking apples

Ava on the run

Trying to get as much funnel cake in her mouth as possible

Our attempt at a family picture before we left the fair. Ava was asleep within 5 minutes after this picture was taken.

Erin & me

Zackery & Ava enjoying breakfast together before his first day of school

Boppa & Ava with their hats on

One happy Grandma with one exhausted little girl

A play date & the cabin

Ava had a fun filled week. She spent a couple of days at home with Daddy and a day at day care while I was at work. Thursday we hung out and then went over to Cora's house (ok, it's really Mike & Kristi's house) for dinner and a play date. Cora had the pool all ready when we arrived. It was a beautiful night out (except for the mosquitoes that ate me alive). The girls played while we got to catch up a bit with Mike & Kristi. I've tried for almost 18 months to get a good picture of the girls together. It is impossible. I finally got one where both of them are at least looking at the camera. After the pool party we sat down for a wonderful meal and then enjoyed some entertainment put on by the girls. Thank you Mike & Kristi for a wonderful dinner! We're already looking forward to our next get together.

We planned on leaving for the cabin bright and early on Friday. Ava, however, was exhausted from her late night with Cora so she slept in. We finally got on the road and were able to enjoy a beautiful day on the lake on Friday. I was even brave enough to get the skis out. I haven't skied for almost three years. I got right up, and wasn't nearly as sore as I thought I'd be come Saturday morning. Unfortunately it rained all Saturday morning, but eventually the sun came out and Daddy got out on the skis. We headed home after lunch today and Ava is fast asleep in her own bed. It's back to work for me tomorrow.

Ava had a great time playing on Cora's horse.
Ava standing in shock at how lean & fit Cora is, and Cora standing in shock at Ava's many "curves"

The one picture I have of the two girls looking at the camera

This was the aftermath of an attempted hug

Cora going in for the kiss

It was a good morning on the lake (which led to a delicious dinner for us)

Ava get up close with the fish (and she's not too fond of it). She was however trying to grab onto the minnows the day before.

Our little sailor