Early Christmas

Ava is growing a mustache…its coming in pretty well, don’t you think?



Adam’s family got together early in December and Ava was given a few presents to open. She got some princess gloves and a shovel, so I will be putting her to work this spring!



She also got lots and lots of art supplies, which is perfect for her.



Ava and her Aunt Katrina and her huge gift of art supplies. Its almost taller than she is, and that is saying a lot!



Ava and Aunt Winona

We had a nice evening and enjoyed seeing everyone.

Christmas Parade and Brody's Birthday

You know when your day starts off with a bunch of clowns you are in for a treat, right?!



Adam and Caroline both dressed as clowns for our 'Jack-in-the-Box' Float in our town's Christmas parade. This float has been a tradition for the store since I was a little girl (maybe even before). It took a break as my sister and I were both older, but now that Ava is here, we had to bring it back! It's only fitting that Adam be a clown. Dad and I have both been clowns, even Stacey has been one, so it is sort of a right of passage to be in this family!



After we sent them off to line up, we made our way to Nana's house and then on to our normal parade watching spot. Ava was only too excited to see her buddies! Baylie was sick :( so she was the only girl in the bunch!



Of course the firetrucks lead the way and it was a touch too loud for this group!









We are still teaching Ava how to run out and get candy- she isn't a very aggressive candy catcher :) Only the other hand, Jenny was trying to teach Brody how to be mindful of the younger ones- apparently it is one way or the other, there is no middle ground when candy is involved! ha!



Finally we could see the Jack-in-the-Box!







They didn't stop and let the kids come out at any of the stops and crank the handle. Adam was worried about kids getting hit by the forklift, so Krystal would do it for them and then Caroline would pop up and throw the candy at them. But I insisted we let Ava and her friends walk out there- thank goodness I know the driver really well :)



One Turn



Two Turns



Three Turns



There she is! :)



I don't know if I have ever laughed so hard at Adam! He is such a great sport (and Daddy)!



Ava enjoyed seeing the Pirate Ship and the nice Pirate lady handing out beads





Tow-Mater



And the special guest of the parade- Santa Claus himself!



After the parade, we always walk back to Nana's house and help her decorate her tree, Adam and Caroline ended up eating lunch as well (after they cleaned up of course) and then we all headed home. Ava needed a nap before Brody's 6th birthday party!



I didn't take any pictures during the actual party (shame on me- I was too busy socializing and taking pictures on Jenny's camera-which obviously is more important), but I did manage to get a few of our nerf gun war we had after it was over.



What was even more hilarious is when Adam did this duck and roll thing, this big 6'4" guy rolling across the playroom floor was too much for me to take! Of course, all good things must come to an end and this one ended when Adam shot Brody straight in the eye! lol!



Ava and Trevor's favorite thing to do- get a phone and either a) play games or b) watch Disney channel!

 

Thanksgiving and Black Friday 2012

Our Thanksgiving morning began like all others have- getting up to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and Adam making a trip out to pick up a newspaper with all of the Black Friday ads in it for me :) About halfway through the parade we paused it so Ava and I could make rolls for Thanksgiving dinner.



Both Adam's family and my family come together for Thanksgiving. It seems to work out quite well for everyone. This year we had 20 people, so it was a full house, although I'm sure if a few more had decided to join us, we would have had the room :)

I had it set up where everyone could eat together in the dinning room/front room. We weren't all at the same table, but at least we were all together.



After stuffing ourselves silly it looked like a middle school dance with the girls are congregating together separately from the guys who were watching, what else?, football.



As you can tell from the pictures we didn't have near enough food....



Pinterest has been a great source of inspiration and a huge time waster ;) but I saw this picture where someone took a photo of their child in one of the cozy coupe cars with a Christmas tree on top and I said that would be so fitting for Ava since she absolutely LOVES her little car. Next thing we know is Dad has gone out and gathered some limbs and tied them together and has Ava in the car posing for pictures- haha!



It will be a sad day when she is too big for that car!



After eating and socializing we broke out the game Quelf and if you aren't familiar with it you need to RUN and get it- it has to be one of the best games ever created, espeically in a close friends/family type environment. At one point mom had to sit under the table until it was her turn again.



Grammy had to play the air drums whenever it was Maxx's turn- haha!



Mrs. Karen had to dress herself like a present.



Mom ended up getting the most stunt-type cards- she also had to wear a piece of paper taped to her forehead with the word Quelf written on it. I'm not sure if she will ever want to play the game again. Actually she might, because I think she won- but I really can't remember any more at this point.



After everyone left I had a short amount of time to clean up and get ready to head out shopping. Mom and I left at 8:00 Thursday night and didn't get home until about 2:00 the next day. We shopped all night and had a good time with friends. Marty and Caroline actually came out and shopped from midnight until about 6:30, it was their first Black Friday experience  I think we were able to get just about everything we had on our list to get even though it was crazier than I have ever seen it. Of course I'm not one to get into confrontations over sale items- they aren't that big of a deal to me, but it is exciting to shop on Black Friday :) Ava has already started asking when she can go with us, but I have assured her it will be a long time from now :)

Clint & Kristin Are Married!

 

Clint and Kristin were married mid-November. Adam was a groomsmen in the wedding so we had the rehearsal/dinner on Friday night and the wedding on Saturday. Josh was Clint's best man so he and Julie were our guests for the weekend.

I think it is safe to say that after the weekend, Julie is one of Ava's favorite people. The guys had to be at the venue much earlier than we did, so we had us some girl time! We painted our nails and then went on a hunt for a coat for Julie. Thankfully since we didn't find on, she didn't end up needing one, but its Florida weather, you just never know!

 

 

 

 



 

 

The wedding ceremony was outside and the reception was held inside. It was a beautiful wedding and we all had a lot of fun. Ava especially liked the part where she and her buddies, Brody and Trevor, could throw birdseed at Mr. Clint and Mrs. Kristin as they left :)