Sunday, August 29, 2010

Toto, I don't think we're in 1L anymore!

We kicked off the start to Josh's 2L year with a special Ode to our 2L, HLS recitation. I'd love to publish it here, but it's so full of inside jokes, cheesy rhymes, and silliness that we'll just keep it to ourselves.


Sporting our 'HLS is my Hero' shirts, of course.


Giving HLS some encouraging smooches


The pile is growing, but so is the Bave. Each year we stack up Josh's books and see how Ava measures up in comparison.

1L book stack versus Ava 2 1/2 years

1L & 2L book stack V Ava 3 1/2 years


Just a sweet shot


Got a little Galinda in ya'?
Can't you just hear her singing, "Ooh, I'll show ya' what shoes to wear, how to fix your hair..."


On Tuesday morning a dear friend, E, came over to have school with Ava.


Mary, E's grandma, came to play too.


A little dress up in the home center
(Please note this is not a Red Hat. No offense to any Red Hat Society members who may read this blog (hahahahaha), but when I worked at a little cafe during undergrad they made my life miserable. I'd see a mass of red and purple headed to our counter and just groan. No m'am we don't have any fat free dressing, Yes m'am we still have some smoked salmon (pronounced saL-mon) salad left, No mandArian oranges on the salad, yes m'am. And mean, oh my goodness. Downright catty, brought back memories of junior high and high school ick. Turns my stomach just thinking about it. Okay, moving on.)


Playing lots of pretend (also not a Red Hat, it's hot pink)


Ms. E is already such an artist. She is almost a year younger than Ava, but loves to color more than any little one I've ever seen. I see artsy design in her bright future.


Look at that determined little tongue.


Coloring together


A little dark, but I love this one.


Uncle Brandon, Aunt Sarah, and Cousin Nolan came to see us for a few days.


We arrived at Sara Sara Cupcakes just in time to hear the loudest train in the universe.


Sweeties with the sweets


Uncle B was brave enough to hold the chocolate monster during her cupcake feast.


What? HLS out on a school night? Toto, I don't think we're in 1L anymore!


Love the swinging action shot, thanks Stacy.



Silly girl, she's learning to pump her legs to keep the swing moving.


On Friday we had a playdate at the park with the Browns.


Love this puffed cheek face. It's hard to catch on camera, but she makes it a lot.


Grace is so brave and balanced.


The girls found another friend.


Running in the sunshine


This picture melts my heart. Do you remember holding hands with your friends? Such a sweet, fleeting time in life. Just innocent, happy to be together and headed the same direction.


Posing by the sparkly pond
Seconds later the mommies spotted a gigantic snake swimming in the water, fast-paced Oprah walking ensued


Friday night serenade by HLS


We heard a variety of musical genres, here were a few of the selections:
Lovestoned by Justin Timberlake
Itsy Bitsy Spider
Creep (slight lyrical edits) by Radiohead
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Baa Baa Black Sheep


Have you ever watched a little girl fall even more in love with her daddy? Click to make this big and look at her face. She's absolutely smitten.


This weekend JK and her mommy came to visit us! After we picked them up from the airport JK's mom and I were talking a mile a minute in the front and the girls were doing the exact same thing (with slightly more giggling) in the backseat.


Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters...

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Because my name is Autumn and I say so


Why is my blog decorated for fall? Check out the title of this post. School has started and I'm sick of 106 degree weather. I'm operating on the Field of Dreams "If you build it they will come" philosophy. I splash around fall colors and leaves and the temperature will cool down. Don't judge me. Just enjoy the new header and sip some cider, ice it if you must.
(PS, if any of you would like me to design a header for your blog please let me know. It's more fun than playing dress up with your best friend's Barbies.)

Anywho, Aunt Jaryn and Dusty came to see us this week. It was such a relaxing, lazy few days spent together. Ava kept them entertained with constant board games.


This is the actual Hi Ho Cherry-O game that Josh and Jaryn played with when they were little, so sweet.

Fun for everyone


So I've been debating whether or not to share these next few photos. I know some of you will think I'm crazy, but that's okay because the rest of you already know I am. Xanadu is wonderful, but the bedrooms are SO spread out. The kid bedrooms are upstairs in the center of the house, while our master is on the first floor on the far end. The three of us have never slept more than a few steps away from each other. Ava actually slept in our room until she was 18-months-old. She didn't grow a third eye, or sprout hair on her tongue. She is independent, articulate, and can fall asleep all by herself. It worked for us because we were all three comfortable with the sleeping arrangements. I know it's not for everyone. Keeping that in mind, you can imagine how we (read I) felt about Ava being upstairs alone. If we had another kiddo up there with her, or there was a firehouse pole she could slide down if she needed us I might be okay.

It was decided that she would have a bedroom upstairs, but would sleep in our master closet. It's quiet, cool, and dark (even during nap). There are two sets of doors between where she sleeps and where we sleep, so privacy isn't an issue. She's fine with the arrangement. It may not be forever, but it's what we're doing right now.


She even has a princess night light that stays on until she falls asleep.


Of course she still has three bedtime books each night. We read two when she was 2-years, and we'll read four when she's 4-years old. Not sure when we'll end this system, maybe we'll switch over to chapters when she's 5. This is one of her favorite parts of each day, even in her 'Sleeping Closet'.


We had to take Jaryn and Dusty to Sara Sara Cupcakes.


You haven't lived until you've sat on their AstroTurf front lawn at dusk with a glass of ice-cold milk and a melt-in-your-mouth cupcake .


Ava'a new favorite is Germain Chocolate.


Tomorrow HLS resumes classes. He actually earned 5 hours over the summer, so technically he never stopped. It's hard to believe that at this point last year Ava and I were making t-shirts and writing songs to cheer him onto his first day as a law student. I can honestly say that the three of us have never been closer or happier than we've been this past year. I can't wait to see where we'll be at this time next year.

Ava kissing HLS the night before school started. We officially christened him Hunky Law Student. He was such a trooper to wear the owl-feather mask and hero cape.


The supporters of HLS.
Yes, we will be busting out these shirts again tonight. Check back next week for all kinds of 2L beginning of year excitement.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

A Doctor in the Family

Ava found a box of holiday decorations. I was packing our bags for a weekend in Texas, so she decided to entertain me with a puppet show.


The end of a sleigh bed makes a perfect puppet stage, only this puppeteer couldn't quite grasp the concept of hiding from the audience.


Daddy is teaching Ava how to play air hockey. The most common phrase drifting downstairs during a game is, "Ava, move your fingers."


Darling smile, having fun - but see the fingers?


This weekend we headed to Dallas to celebrate Uncle Brandon's graduation from Chiropractic school. Traffic was horrific on our way south. We decided to take a little break from the brakes and stopped to buy fried pies at Arbuckle Mountain Fried Pies. We always see tons of cars in the parking lot, so we were sure they would be delicious. The pies were divine, particularly the pineapple. The crust is unlike anything I've ever eaten, and stays crispy even when reheated in the microwave.


After three years of sacrifice and tireless work, Brandon and Sarah (and baby Nolan, of course) were elated that graduation day had finally come.

Pops and Baba, so proud of Brandon.

Waiting patiently for the ceremony


Uncle Nate had fun playing with Ava before graduation started.


Dr. Brandon Crawford


Ava could not contain her excitement.


We're so proud of you Uncle B!


After Aunt Jaryn's graduation in December, the next family graduation we attend will be Josh's in May 2012. I think we can, I think we can...