Smuggling Toddlers

Ava found out that crawling in and out her diaper bag is a rather amusing activity. She fits too! I thought I could smuggle her to St. Louis so I wouldn't have to pay for her plane ticket.

Ava's 2nd Birthday (3.6.08)

Since I haven't been posting on any sort of consistent basis, Ava's 2nd birthday has gone undocumented (at least in the blog-o-sphere world). She enjoyed a Mickey Mouse themed party, hosted at Grandma Trudy's house because our apartment just isn't conducive to large crowds. Most everyone knows that I am not so skilled in the kitchen area, but twice a year I attempt to bake-- Ava's birthday and Christmas. I couldn't find a Mickey Mouse cake pan so I improvised with a bear cake pan. The result-- a Mickey Mouse imposter but it fooled Ava. Uncle Mark came up from the Burgh to have a beer and eat some cake (Grandma Trudy has a well stocked liquor cabinet), and the family made it too, minus those from St. Louis:( Ava, of course , was spoiled with gifts, including a Sesame Street bicycle helmet, a baby scroller (as Ava pronounces it.. This was the hit of the day), clothes, toys, books and I can't even remember what else. So, here are some photos from a very fun-filled day.














Pap pap used his beloved knife to open Ava's gifts.















You never know how dangerous strollers can be.














Ava's 2nd Birthday.














Ava's 1st Birthday




















Birthday Portraits

Clothing Collage

Ava decided that in addition to her Minnie Mouse pajamas (thanks grandma Trudy), she also needed to wear her Easter dress and St. Patrick's Day snow cap (thanks Arkie). Here are a few photos of her silliness.

Easter Past

All I got was a freakin' banana?













Easter mornin'. The Easter Bunny brought "Everyone Poops."













Playin' the piano at Na's house













Where are all the eggs?

Daddy's Girl

Ava is straight chillin' in Daddy's Christmas gift.

Red hair + Red Sox = Ultimate Cuteness

Po's Trick or Treat

Ava's T.V. obsession is the Teletubbies. There is something about these puffy looking creatures that Ava just adores. Po, the red Teletubby and by far the cutest, is Ava's favorite. It only made sense that she dress up as this red, U.K. creation for Halloween. So here she is looking wickedly adorable.

Ava and daddy. What a cute pair.

Have we been invaded by space aliens?

Ava loves her pumpkin.

Stay awake Po. There is candy to be had.

Frozen Pumpkins

Pumpkin patch time seems like a lifetime ago seeing as how our pumpkins are now covered by a couple inches of snow, but I thought I ought to chronicle our adventure to Reeger's Pumpkin Patch at the end of October anyway. When I say "our" adventure I am referring to Courtney, Riley, Pap Pap, Matt, Ava and I. Reeger's had more than just pumpkins. There was a plastic pipe slide, a barn tour, (This turned out to be a bust. A dollar to get in only for Ava to see a horse, a bunny, a couple barn cats and a cow that mooed and freaked Ava out), a corn maze (Riley and Ava were too little for this), a hay ride (very cold but fun and heart warming) and various other fun and festive activities for little tikes. The hay ride took us to the patch where the kids were able to choose their favorite pumpkin. Pap Pap kept telling me that my pumpkin was lop sided and I should pick out a more round one. I liked my pumpkin with unique character. Pap Pap wasn't sold. I know I'm a little late, but these pictures are still cute.

The pipe slide.

Ava and daddy on the hay ride.

Ava at the patch.

Pap Pap's most perfect pumpkin.