Bday Party

Ava and I got to have a fun girly afternoon today.  She was invited to her friend Emma's 3rd birthday party today, so we fixed her hair, put on her "make-up", and posed for some pictures =)
Mommy and Ava... in her purse she put lip gloss, a toy cell phone, a little brush, a little darth vader figurine, and some gummy bears.  (I love it... she's mostly girly, but has just a hint of Tom Boy in her)  The gummy bears were her treat to eat at the party instead of cake since she's allergic to it.
Watching Emma open presents.
One of my Best Friends from high school, Stacy.
and our girls, Ava and Emma... happy birthday Emma!

Story Time

We have a new reading routine at bedtime now.  We read three books (sometimes more depending on how late it is), and now that Cristian is reading... he reads the first book to everyone!   (It is such an amazing experience watching your child learn how to read... so exciting!!) Then Kyle or I read a book that Ava picks out, then a book geared more towards Carter (Good Night Moon, The Run Away Bunny, Pat the Bunny, etc)
Carter listening to daddy read Good Night Moon... he loves to be read to!

Cousins

We went to my cousin Kyle and his wife Carly's house for dinner on Wednesday.  The kids had so much fun playing.  Here they are having a little quiet time watching Wall-e.
How cute!

Fun at the Park

Today I took the kids to the park since it was another nice day.  When we left, however, it was still pretty chilly.  So we put hats/gloves on and off we went.
My three munchkins.  (today was garbage day so I took the opportunity to prop the camera up on the top of the lid and set the timer to take a pic of us)  This was Carter's first time facing outward in the Bjorn.  He loved looking at the world around him. 
Racing down the big slide at the same time.
Cristian
Ava telling me she's starting to get warm
Tunnel Slide
Cristian...my handsome lil' guy.  It's been so nice to still have him home half of the week... we'll be sad to have him gone every day next year!
Ava peeking out.
Carter getting ready to go down the baby slide.
He liked it!!
Cristian, Ava, and Carter
Cristian, Ava, and Carter -2
Cristian, Ava, and Carter -3
Riding their bikes home... there were so many people out walking today enjoying some fresh air.
Sidewalk Chalk time... here's Ava saying Cristian could use her piece of Chalk in "Just one more minute"
Artists at work (by the time we got home from the park, it was almost 10 degrees warmer than when we left... all we needed was fleeces and it was plenty warm).
Ava was interested in Cristian's masterpiece... here he is making the face of Mickey Mouse.

The Sweetest Boy

Carter has been such an easy child since the day he was born.  Happy, content, and very easy going.  

Carter cracking up at me... I'm so funny!!
Serious Carter... watching me blow bubbles.
I've mentioned before that he loves toys.  Here he is grabbing the toy I'm giving holding out for him.
So happy that he got it!

Black and white Carter
Bundled baby.
Play time on his gym-mini play mat.

Spring-like Day

It was ABSOLUTELY beautiful today... sunny and 50 degrees, it felt so warm out!  The kids loved playing outside for over an hour today without heavy coats and gloves.  Here is Cristian riding his new bigger bike.  (this week is spirit week at C's school and today was pajama day at school, that's why he's wearing jammies outside)
Ava posing on her scooter. (don't worry I made her put her helmet on before she rode around on it)
Carter hanging out outside just watching the big kids play. (I kept a coat and hat on Carter however, since he was chillin in the shade)
Evidence that Spring is on it's way =)  Soon I will have daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths all over my yard!!
and crocus too =)

Fun With Hair Dos

I've been having a lot of fun fixing Ava's hair in different styles the past week because pretty soon she's going to get her hair cut.  So, we've been braiding it, wearing it down and scrunching it so there's a little wavy curl (see pictures below), and today we did this.  
Her hair is going to look a lot healthier and thicker once we cut it (about shoulder length).  But I'm a bit sad because it's going to cut off the rest of her baby blonde hairs and the tiny little curl that's left).  Oh well, I knew it would happen...my hair did the same exact thing.  

Ava Dava Do

Ava Color 1:  I took Carter to get his 4 month pictures taken today, and when we got home Ava asked if I could take some pictures of her too.  I just took a couple, and here they are...

Ava Color 2
Ava Black and White 1
Ava Black and White 2

Birthday Parties

We went to two fun bday parties this past week, here are some pictures from both :-)

EMMA
The first one was a Circus theme... there were lots of games, face painting, and 2 clowns there. Here are the kids getting ready for a ring toss game.
Ava, with orange butterfly wings on, looking through a kaleidoscope,
watching the clowns.
Emma blowing out her 4 candles.

WYATT
Here's mommy helping Ava on her first time bowling.
YAY, Ava!!
Then she tried out this technique. 
And got all but one pin!
The baby lovers... Carter was passed around to all my friends, and I only had him when it was time to feed him.
Cristian bowling... his technique worked for him, but it was rather unique.  Almost like a baseball swing follow through =)
YAY Cristian!
Ava got a spare and was doing a victory dance.
All the kiddos, Wyatt is the blond guy on the left side of the table.  He also turned 4.