Ava turns 10!!

As one can tell, May is a crazy busy month for us!!  Lots of birthday's in the family!!

Ava's big day was on the 17th....she was with her Mom that week and had a fabulous Martial Arts party with all of her friends from school :)   So she got to have an extended birthday that lasted into the following week, which everyone knows I am all about birthday month's!!!

Here we are for a little pizza and cake celebration that Grandma Cookie through for Miss Ava!

She is getting so grown up lately!!!

Partners in crime....Ava & Bella (TWINS)

Ava is ALL ABOUT Scooby Doo and this year I think she got as much stuff and cakes of Scooby Doo that one child can get :)  Here is her favorite Ice Cream cake!

Ava - you are a preteen and it blows my mind how fast you are growing up!!  You are such a loving soul!!  You have the heart of gold when it comes to Bella and you are such a big helper!!

You are like a little mommy :)   You still have your love of drawing and have a love of collecting "little things"  I always find some "little things" in your room after the weeks you are here! Your favorite books right now are Geranimo Stillton, Scooby Doo is your favorite characater and if we would let you, you would wear a certain brown (FLEECE) Scooby Doo PJ set every night to bed :)

You are a big daddy's girl and love sitting on his lap each night after shower time.  And you love to talk!  Such a talker and loves to tell stories!!

I have loved watching you grow these past few years and I can't wait to see what is in store for you this year!!   Love you Ava!! Erin

Slaker again....School started

It is now November 5th and I haven't posted since August...wow!!!   I tell you what life is so busy and just seems to get away from us, but I need to make sure and update this as I LOVE going back to see what I have posted in the past....as my little ones are getting so big so fast!!! 

I will update with as many pics on what has been happening the past few months and then continue to go forward :)  Miss Lizzie started 1st grade in August....amazing the pics from when she started Kindergarten and how much she looks so much older!! Not to mention that she grew a foot over the summer I think!   She has no pants!!   Love the beginning of school pictures...they look so sun kissed tan from lots of pool and lake days over the summer :) 

Love Bella and her fun hair....and her little sleepy eyes in the morning....she is 15 months here. 

Mommy & Lizzie...my twin....me and her stick out like a soar thumb in our blended family as all the others in our family are blonde as can be!!!

The shot I get each year now in front her of school



Next up Ava & Grace's big day of 1st day of school.....they started about a week after Lizzie did

Ava is in 3rd grade now

Grace is in 8th grade...she is the big fish now in school and is growing up each day

The family shot....love this pic!!!

Another one as I love to snap as many pics as possible....because the chance of getting all 4 girls to look with eyes open is no easy task.

The 3 big girls.....

I really can't believe how big they are getting.

I try to cherish as many days as possible b/c before I know they won't even be this size anymore :(

ENJOY EVERY DAY!!!

Ava is a ballplayer now.....

Last year it was Lizzie and Grace and Ava didn't want to do the softball thing...but after going to quite a few games and not being able to play she was all about it this year!!    She had her first game this week and was she sooooooo excited!!  She is #10...wearing it proudly like her step-momma and she even got a double on her first time up to bat!!   They do machine pitch, but it didn't phase her....wherever that pitch came in....she hit it.   Went 2 for 2 and played shortstop.   Did great!!!

Sponge Curlers are the best

How many times as a kid do you remember putting sponge rollers in your hair!  OMG I used to all the time.  Well Lizzie is an old pro at it as she LOVES getting fancy for school, but Ava well when she asked for me to put them in her hair after Lizzie I about fell out of my chair.   She very rarely likes to get "Fancy".   

Her hair is so much shorter than Lizzie's and it was a little damp so honestly I figured it would just have a little wave (b/c Lizzie's never works if it is a little wet)  WOW was I wrong!!!   Holy Shirly Temple!!!  Her face was priceless when we were unrolling the sponges!!! 

She looked absolutly ADORABLE!! 

I love Lizzie's face in the mirror..she still had hers in

Holy Snow...

Ok I am to the point where I have had enough of this snow...whew...today's dumping of snow was a little unexpected to say the least.  Considering it was 60 degrees on Saturday...oh that's St. Louis weather for you!!  

It was pretty though..on my way in to work this morning..there is this one road that just has all sorts of trees everywhere and the snow just sits so perfectly on that little stretch.

Lizzie on the other hand was non too impressed with the snow.  As we were driving to school this morning the phone ran with the typical 636-250-xxxx number that I know by heart at this point (considering her school district has been off 10 times I think this year)   They are actually supposed to be on spring break this week, but nope that was cancelled and they are making up snow days this week.  They do however get off on Friday.   Well anyway she was supposed to be going to Fancy Nancy play for a field trip and once she heard that phone ring...the tears started flowing.  Ugh it was so sweet that she loves going to school that much....BUT mother nature took her best bet on these country roads out here and #10 it was.  

Ava had a school project that we completed tonight...Idaho was her state and she was in charge of making a poster with some important facts.  All I have to say is wow the internet is amazing for kids!  God I remember those sick Encyclopedias with the GOLD pages that sat on our built in shelves over at the house I grew up in.
WOW how much has changed since those days. 

Ava's Turn for some basketball

Lately it has been all about Grace and some basketball...but Ava is actually playing right now too.  This is her first year playing with the YMCA and she is loving it!   She is a monster when it comes to being agressive.   Since this is their first year they play against boys too..but that sure doesn't stop her!!

Bella on the way home from the game....all smiles.  Her first tooth came through today!!!   Suprisingly it has not been that bad.   :)