Getting in Gear

Well, I haven't been blogging much lately - partly because if I get on to blog then I get lost in reading everyone else's blogs...which of course I LOVE DOING, but I find I am wasting a lot of time that I could be doing something else (um, things that I HAVE to do...and not as much fun of course!). And especially if I am checking blogs during my plan time at work, LOL! =) Anyway, I have always used my blog to help me keep track and journal our daily lives which in turn helps me with my scrapbook. BUT...the idea of actually turning my blog INTO my scrapbook is sounding more and more intriguing as the months fly by and Ava is still only 6 months old in her scrapbook - and she is *ALMOST* 2 and a HALF! So, I thought to myself well, if I'm going to plan to do that, then I better get some blogging done! =) I even have digital scrapbooking software but it still is time consuming AND you have to be in a scrapping kind of mood, so apparently it's not helping me. ha!

This post is going to be kind of random but of course, those simple small things that we do each day really are the BIG things in life, aren't they??????? These are also pics from my phone and of course I have loads more (I'll get to those someday!) but since I'm (SHHHHHHHHHHHH) blogging on my lunch/plan break, these are what I have to work with. teeeeheeee! My goal is to get back into doing more structured posts of actual events etc.

This is a pic of Ava at our local Hobby Lobby. One evening Ava and I took my good friend Nanci out to dinner and then we did a little shopping. Nanci often times watches Ava for us if we have mommy/daddy plans. We've been friends since college and she will NOT let us pay her!

Last week (ish), poor Miss Ava got the flu for the very first time. Yes, the vomiting flu. YUCK. Not fun for anyone. Now, obviously things are going to get passed around at the daycare, but one of the little girls apparently vomited at 4:30 on a Wednesday afternoon and went back THE.NEXT.DAY! Well, no wonder. Ava got it - along with EVERY SINGLE CHILD at daycare, the daycare provider, her daughter and lots of mommies and daddies (including me.). Boo. Here ishe is recovering. Sweet little thing. She didn't quite understand the whole throwing up thing. I think she must have thought we were saying "poop" instead of "puke" because later she said something to the effect of "I pooped in my bed." LOL

This is a picture of her helping me out at my school preparing for the start of the school year. If you can see the partial image on the Smart Board in the background, yep, that is Dora's torso. And on the table is her "lemon-dade" and popcorn. No wonder she keeps asking if we can go to my school now! :)

This is a picture of Ava while we were waiting at the airport here in town waiting on my sister and my nephew Jackson to arrive from North Carolina. They went on vacation and actually made the drive down there (my sister, bro-in-law and 2 nieces as well) but then my sister and J made the trip back via plane! :)

Watching their plane land!...

Every day when I pick Ava up from Miss Lisa's (if she isn't upset because we have to leave), then she asks if we can go to the park. This girl LOVES being outside. This was taken before school started. It stinks because we usually can't just go to the park right then because we need to get home for dinner etc. but we will also go outside to play at home and I try to make a quick trip to the park when we can. The problem with that is that then she doesn't want to leave! :) The crying is usually short lived, though!

She is so much fun right now (as usual, right!?). She is constantly cracking us up. Funny things

she has said lately...

• "Can you open the garage sale so I can play?" bahahaha! Her toys are in the garage and we all know her mommy loves her a garage sale! I guess she got the 2 mixed up.
• "Actually............" Her new favorite word is actually. One day at Jewel, she asked me what this thing up on the wall was. When I told her it was leaves, she said "Actually, it's a flower." Well, ok then! Now all of the sudden that is her favorite word.
• This one cracked me up...Me: Well, I better take a shower. Ava: Well, I better watch a Dora. Nice try little one!
• "I have Cheetos in my butt." No, I am not proud of this one but apparently she had Cheetos at Miss Lisa's as part of her lunch and then when she pooped she said this statement. Travis and I about died! I mean, how does she even know to say that???
• She is also repeating things I say a lot. For example, "Wait a second! I think I forgot something!" hahaha!
• While she used to be deathly (screaming) afraid of bugs, now they are "cute little baby bugs!!!" Crack me up.
• She can also recite her ABC's perfectly and count pretty well (sometimes up to 15)...when she wants to, of course.
• She is learning a lot at Miss Lisa's who does preschool daily and one night while we were saying our prayers she then breaks out with the Pledge of Allegiance! I was dying. I think she initally said "indivisible" and I was like "Oh, you want to say the Pledge of Allegiance!" She doesn't have it fully memorized...yet, but I'm sure she will soon.
• The other funny thing about that story was she kept saying "Here's your chocolate chip!" so I asked Lisa and she said they all get a chocolate chip after play time and before they start Preschool time.

She continues to be such a sweet little girl and is very sensitive and compassionate. She is always asking if you are ok, or "are you tired?" if you yawn. She takes care of her babies very well and is always making sure they are ok. We love you, Ava!

Ava's First Movie

We went to see Smurfs last week with the Hobson and Cunningham boys. We were the ONLY ones in the theater!! It was really fun. Being Ava's first movie, I wasn't sure how she would do...especially with the movie choice (not necessarily something I knew she'd enjoy) but she did great!! It was FREE popcorn night so that definitely helped. =) She giggled a lot at the little Smurfs! At one point she told Katie, who was sitting next to her, to check out her painted toes! LOL!

She only said "I'm all done" right at the end with about 10 minutes left so we went out and then immediately she said she wanted to go back in. So back in we went (after refilling our CAFFEINE FREE Diet Coke) and she sat and watched the rest. It was a decent movie and I enjoyed some free popcorn too!

Travis and I are excited that now we can start going to movies! I hope there are some cute ones out this winter for little ones!

SUMMER LOVIN'

I have been a HORRIBLE blogger this summer!! UGH. And summer is winding down. Here's a little bit of what we've been up to! The pics are not really in any order because I always forget to upload them backwards. =) Regardless, we have had a GREAT summer! I have so enjoyed every single second I've had with Ava and going back to work is always bittersweet. I am fortunate to have a job that I love and I enjoy my students, but of course, I will miss Ava tons. Luckily my days are so fast paced and get over quick and in the blink of an eye it's the end of the day!



Rock Band!!! Testing, Testing!!!



Lots of manis and pedis. :)




Playing with my bracelets while I get ready :)


Lots of splash parks, pool days, and fun hanging with our friends. Loved this pic of Ava and Lauren in their 4th of July suits!



Fun at the library. We frequented both public libraries to check out books and play. Ava loved it!


Putting our animals in time out!


We made it to the Fun Run most Friday evenings and Ava enjoyed getting her ribbon, seeing her friends and receiving a trophy on the last fun run of summer!



Out and about with Bitty Baby. Ava is all about safety, LOL!

Mommy and Daddy went on a vacation to Playa del Carmen, Mexico and it.was.AMAZING! It has been a few years since we've been on a real vacation and we figure it will be a few more til we are able to go on another one so we WENT FOR IT! AND it was our 5th Anniversary, so we figured the timing was perfect! =) Don't regret it one bit. It was perfect! We missed Ava, OF COURSE, but she did great with Grandma Holtman.











Here's Ava "swimming all by herself" as she will tell you. So glad I got her this life jacket with the floaties on the arms and the piece that goes across the front (Thank you, Annie for recommending it!). It is great!

Ava and I went on our annual "Girls" Trip to the Wisconsin Dells with my mom, sisters and my nieces and nephew. Mr. Jackson is the only "boy" allowed! <3

The Gang!!!! We had a lot of fun!



Great Wolf Lodge. 2011





We just recently went to our county fair with my friend Katie and her boys. It was melting hot, but the kids had so much fun riding the rides (see pic below, Holden is helping Ava! LOVE!), eating fair food, petting the animals, getting face and arms painted by the Zoo Lady crew and checking out the tractors. We also went to my hometown fair to watch my niece Isabelle sing in the talent contest. She did great!!!




Holden, Hunter, and Ava feeding the animals.




Ava and cuz Jackson. She absolutely LOVES him!




Fun at the Discovery Museum. We also went with Katie and her boys on a Friday night and "closed the place down" :) Ava enjoyed all of the areas there to play.



Pizza anyone?????



My mom and I went to St Louis recently, as well, to the American Idol concert. We had floor seats so that was fun. =) We ate at the Cheesecake Factory, did a little shopping and met up with a friend that lives there that was also going to the concert.

(me UNsuccessfully hiding my drink from the photo, LOL!)...

So, as of tomorrow, we have ONE week til school starts. Next Tuesday is our first day back with an Institute Day. The kids come back on Thursday for a half-day and luckily for me, I get that day to work in my room because kids won't come to area classes until Friday. I will need it as I have TWO classrooms to prepare. One is pretty much ready after multiple visits this past week!! :) I am anxiously waiting to find out my schedule. It is always initially a nightmare and requires a few tweaks. BOO!

Anyway, I feel super blessed to have the best of both worlds! I can enjoy the summer with Ava and she also gets the opportunity to be around other kids at daycare while I go to work. We are excited that she is starting at a new one this year. Again it will be in-home with a woman named Lisa. I have many co-workers/friends that have kids that go there and have heard only amazing things about her. She does preschool in her home with the kids as well so I am excited for all of the things Ava's little brain is going to absorb!

*UPDATE*
I am pretty proud of myself so had to toot my own horn. Since I wrote my blog post "Today is the Day!" I have actually been really good about working out and eating better. I have cut out COFFEE (I've only had it like twice since July 5...I'm shocked! As I type this, though, thinking pretty sure I need some today =)
I have been doing P90X including the ab ripper, my old workout 'tape' The Firm, and taking walks, etc. I think I've only missed a few days. I have also been trying to eat better and will get a side salad if we eat out rather than getting fries. Of course I splurge, too. Yesterday we went to lunch and I got a horseshoe and we all shared pizza dough bites. Um, YUM.
I am not necessarily seeing any major difference *yet* but it is amazing how just one week (a little over) of working out can make you feel!!! Here's to hoping I can keep it up, especially after we get back from Mexico. I am pretty sure I won't be working out on vaca, though I always say I'll try.

Happy 4th of JULY! (a little late!!)

We had a great 4th of July weekend with lots of family and friends time!
Us at my friend Annie and Steve's on the 4th.



Ava in the bird area at our local zoo. I just thought this was the cutest pic of her so I did some fun editing on picnik.


Me and my munchkin at my friend Brooke's cookout. It took about 20 shots to get a decent one, LOL! and my smile is still goofy!


Cooling off at the splash area the day we went to the zoo! It was HOT!!!


Doesn't she look ornery???? =)

Today is THE DAY!

Well, that is what I told myself 3 days ago!! I have finally started working out again. This has been my goal since the beginning of summer and here it is after July 4th! Soooooooo---after much indulgence over the holiday weekend (and really the whole summer so far!), I am trying to get back into a good workout and eating routine. Unfortunately, I am either "ALL IN" or "ALL OUT!" I am not one that has the discipline to really watch what I eat (hence the reason I want to work out!!). I hate not being able to eat what I want!!! However, if I would just watch what I eat, then I wouldn't have to work out so much. UGH! HAHA! Truth is, though, I do love working out...once I get in my groove. It is ADDICTING...for me, anyway! And, I of course, LOVE the results!!! It is fun to see what I can do that might have been hard at first.

Before Miss Ava, I was working out like 2 hours a day. I would go to the gym right after school and eventually was running 3 miles (without stopping!), doing pilates, spinning, and some strength training. I even did the 3 miles of running and then went to spinning on several occasions. CRAZY, I tell ya! My goal was to get into shape before getting pregnant and I accomplished that. I did think I would continue to work out after having her. I knew it would be hard, but I didn't quite know how hard it would be!!!

I am also unfortunately NOT.A.MORNING.PERSON!!!! Never have been and don't think I ever will be. haha! I know I could probably make it 'habit' to get up early and workout...but ICK. I love my sleep!! For now, I am trying to work out during her nap time OR after she goes to bed. We also go on walks and then if I get in some weights, I feel pretty good. I am also sprinkling in some P90X (a few of the one I like!) and the P90X Ab Ribber..."I hate it.......but I LOVE IT!" LOL

I am also trying to be more conscious of what I am putting into my mouth. I was getting into the habit of having an evening snack (= ICE CREAM) every night!!! WHY? Cuz I can, I guess! And I also love me some wine in the evening. I haven't been drinking enough water and too much Diet Coke so those are things I'm working on. AND NEWS FLASH...I have even GIVEN UP COFFEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Since Ava was born, I think I've literally had a cup of coffee every single morning. I do love it, but it is not the coffee that is bad, it's the YUMMY, DELICIOUS hazelnut creamer that I pile in the cup. 3 tsp = 50 calories so I know that right off the bat, I've consumed 50 (and probably more...) unnecessary calories. Now, I'm not saying I'm giving it up forever...just maybe I don't HAVE to have it EVERY DAY. Jeesh! And I would never think of drinking coffee black. Ewwwww! =)

But...I am not loving the GUT I am developing. I am thankful for clothes that can cover it yet I am tired of not being able to wear half of my clothes and feel comfortable. And not to mention the flabby arms I have. EWWWWW! hahaha!

So. Today is the day!!! =)

Here's to hoping I can keep up the routine. Especially once school starts up again. I know it will be hard, but hoping if I kind of go extreme NOW while I have time, then I can do mild workouts during the school year and just maintain.

Little Diva - ReAdY for SuMMeR!!!

Well, we made it through the entire church service this past Sunday without having to go RESCUE Ava! YAY! She did cry the moment we walked in and I stayed with her for a few minutes but then she did great!! Whew...PRogReSS!

I am thoroughly enjoying my summer with her! It is going to go by WAY TOO FAST, as always...though I do believe I am a better mommy because I get to go to a job I love and it gives us a little separation time, too. And as I talked with some of my teacher friends recently, we've decided that we really don't think being a stay at home mom in the dreaded WINTER would be much fun!

She is at an age where she is really taking everything in, learning new things and retaining so much. She will say things and I'm like, "WOW, how does she know that!" It is so fun!!! She is a very perceptive and observant little thing. She notices the TINIEST things, for example the cow on her yogurt container that is literally the size of her pinky nail! The other day we were in the basement and she noticed that the little area of the basement floor where the paint had chipped and said "Puppy right there." Do you see it????



She was eating chips this day and said, "Boot?" I guess she might take after me a little bit and have an artistic eye! :)


She loves to sing and I'll be excited to get her back into Kindermusik in the fall. She can sing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" It usually goes like this...
Twinkle, Twinkle (or Crinkle, Crinkle, sometimes)...Star How I wonder...Are Like a Diamond in the Sky

I think she knows it's cute and she usually sings it
repetitively at bedtime when we are snuggling. haha!

Our summer is pretty low-key.....which I LOVE!!!!!! I don't have her signed up for anything but we enjoy the Fun Run every Friday evening, going to the pool on Tues and Thurs with friends and Friday playdates. We also are signed up for both BLM and Normal Summer Reading programs and we usually go exchange our books on a rainy day - which has been a LOT lately. (BOO!). We also hit up garage sales on Thursday evenings, Friday mornings or Saturday mornings...and I do have to do go the chiropractor 3 times a week (and 2 times a week soon) and they are very kid-friendly. The girls there help keep her occupied or she can go into each area with me, as well. The only thing that really scares her is the adjustment bed which moves. She cries most days about that but there have been a few where she has been ok. The day I stopped for Starbucks and got her a cake pop - there were no tears!!! LOL
Dr. Steve does not scare her though, which is good and he is a tall guy! She will say hi to him and want to show him her snacks, etc. She even says "Dr. Steve?" when she plays with her little Dr. kit!



Ava's friends at the Fun Run...The Cunningham boys, Hobson boys, Corinne (who Ava will go to daycare with in August!) and some little boy I don't know. I am assuming he knows Holden or Colin, ha!




Ava LOVES her new water table! It is technically a sand and water table and we bought sand but haven't put it in yet. I like having it on the front porch and I don't want sand dumped out all over the porch =)