back into the blog to bid summer farewell

I know, I know, I know. We've been gone a long time! Had some major camera + computer issues = no patience and I gave up on it all! Not taking photos, but I couldn't get them onto my computer UNTIL tonight!

So, I'll start by just saying we had a great summer! June was long and lovely - parks, pool, playing outside. July went by quite quickly with the 4th, lots of rain, Logan's 4th birthday and a trip out to Ohio, not to mention check-ups and dental appointment after dental apointment after dental appointment for Charlie and the boys (mostly Charlie). August, well let's just say before I knew it it was time to start setting up my classroom and it's offically back to school for me, Carter, and Logan. No more sleeping in, no more spray ground, sprinklers, pool, sparklers by the firepit, or catching fireflies and avoiding those awful mosquitos.

Goodbye summer 2010! Thanks for the White Sox and Cougars games, Brookfield Zoo visits, Route 66 Raceway time trials, Arlington horse races, and Great America rollercoaster rides. Thanks for lazy afternoons in the hammock looking at the clouds, water fights, t-ball games, the backyard slide and sandbox sand creations. So many days were full of fun and relaxation spent with my favorite people!

Here are some photo highlights:

our first trip to great america - the boys loved it!

first pig tails

made it across, all by himself!

fun at the spray ground 

 logan turns 4

sports birthday, sports presents (thanks to both grandmas and auntie natalie)

cute in the car

dolphin show at brookfield from underwater viewing

one of our weekly park visits with teacher's kids

backyard water fun in the neighborhood

orioles t-ball

carter and great-grandpa in ohio

aunt debbie and ava startin' some water fun

hiking to the waterfall with aunt debbie in ohio

ava's favorite summer car ride entertainment

captains game in ohio just after logan's birthday

white sox win with 11 runs. the boys first white sox game.

miss gayle's brother and nephew racedat route 66 raceway in joliet

 bye-bye summer! thanks for all the fun!

 

mother's day tea

Logan's preschool class had a Mother's Day celebration last Thursday. Mrs. Dawn had the kids perform a few songs, read a touching poem to us and showered us with sweets and presents. The day was full of surprises and Logan treated me like a queen serving me my dessert and drink, taking my trash, giving me gifts and lots of hugs! His teacher really went all out for our special day. Too bad school's out before June, Dad's miss out!

logan's right in the middle, kinda behind the girls

mother's day

I hope all the Mom's out there had a wonderful Mother's Day. I know I did. Of course I have the greatest gift already - three beautiful children! But I was able to be celebrated last Sunday when I got a card and flowers from the boys, Ava, and Charlie. We went to breakfast and out to Arlington Racecourse for the day before heading to Austin's 13th birthday party (yes, 13th! more on that in another post.). The racetrack had their petting zoo and pony rides and it was cool out but the sun was shining bright. We had a nice lunch and watched maybe six races and let the boys pick horses. Logan's pick won us $3.20 one race! They love the track and it's so family friendly these days we've decided to go again with a cooler and food of our own to picnic and watch the races. I'm a lucky Mom to have such wonderful kids and a great husband to spend the day with!

waiting for a table at breakfast. carter's starving.

ava would rather be walking around.

and lo, well he was too hungry to even agree to be in the picture!

so much happier now that the food's on the way!

arlington racecourse

nope, not watching the ponies, watching the tractors go by!

ava, meet goat. goat, meet ava.

waiting for pony rides.

 

i think the boys thought they were riding the same horses that the jockies would be riding...

carter hung out at the rail all day.
you should have heard him cheering for his horses!

logan watching and asking if his pony is winning

me and charlie. thanks for a great mother's day!

ava turned one

On April 21st Ava turned one! We had a little party for her here at home and she loved every minute of it! She was walking around everywhere and even knew what to do when we were opening presents! Charlie, the boys, and I got her a big polka dot anywhere chair that she climbed into the moment she saw and sat down like she's had it forever! She got lots and lots of clothes, bathing suits & cover up, pajamas, shoes, some jewelry, and even a chandelier for her room! Everything a girl could ask for! We had the most beautiful and tasty cupcakes thanks to April and the house was full of pink flowers and pink pompoms hanging from the ceiling. It was the perfect day for our Ava's first birthday! So many pictures to share...

swirls, polka dots, mmmmmm cupcakes!

showing off how well she walks

plopped down and happy in her new chair

present time! ava's taking clothes out of the boxes and gift bags.

time to sing and blow out the candle (well, i blew, she clapped)!

enjoying some frosting

loving her new shoes from auntie natalie!

she kept taking them out of the boxes and wanted them on her feet!

Oh my Ava! A year ago I was waiting and waiting and waiting to meet you and now you've been here, part of our family for one whole year. You're so busy crawling and walking, always on the move. You always have a smile on your face and I love those teeth, all those teeth! Your eyes are so big and full of happiness. I love how loud you are with your big big voice when you try to get a word in. I love how smart you are showing us peek-a-boo, clapping your hands, raising your arms up to the sky to show how big you are, blowing a big kiss to say I love you, waving hello and goodbye, turning the pages of your favorite book and making little noises like you're reading on your own after hearing a bedtime story. You're our little doll and we love you to pieces. I'm so lucky to have you for my daughter. Happy first birthday to my Ava tomorrow!