Let the celebration begin!

We don't just celebrate birthdays, anniversary or special events on the exact date. We take several days to celebrate so it lasts longer. So, in true Lena and Kevin fashion, we started celebrating our EIGHTH wedding anniversary Saturday night. Our anniversary is on Sept. 1st, Tuesday, but it is worth celebrating early. We all went to dinner at Macaroni Grill because that is where we went the night we got married. At the time, we didn't have one in Mobile. Ava kept saying "Happy An-a-verse-awee!" We like to celebrate with the girls because without our wedding day...we wouldn't have them. Today, I made a cake to look like the top of our groom's cake. It turned out great, even with me being a little sloppy with it.

I'm going to save everyone from the sappy talk about my wonderful husband. If anyone knows Kevin, you know how blessed I am. It's been an amazing 8 years!

Week in Review

So I'm way behind on posting this....better late than never! After church, we skipped lunch at Nana & Papa's and went to Fairhope for the afternoon. I was dropping off consignment so we decided to make the day of it. We ate at Old Bay Steamer, using a gift certificate from www.restaurant.com. Nora has just decided that she wants to grab our glasses. She is changing so much!



Ava loves loves loves to put her feet in the fountain and make wishes with whatever change I can find. Normally, that is hard to do! Then she has to walk around or skip around the entire fountain. We walked down the pier and watched people fishing. Most of the time, nothing beats free entertainment and quality family time.






We were feeling crafty and found this idea in High Five magazine (which Ava LOVES getting). It turned out so cute and she did more than I thought she would be able to. She drew a picture. I cut out a frame out of thin cardboard and then cut tons of pieces from scraps of scrapbook paper. She used a glue stick to put them all around. I filled in the open areas, trimmed around the inside and outside and then she put stickers on it. Stickers go on everything! Then you just make a little stand out of the cardboard. It turned out adorable and she is very proud of it. We actually did it when Kevin was in TX so it was his surprise when he came home.



And this one....well, it just makes me happy because my Mom says that I used to sleep like this. Rear in air. :)

Spending the night with Nana

So last night was rough. Nora and Ava were teaming up against me. Let me be a complainer for a second. I'm tired, I'm lonely without my husband (aka best friend, helpmate, etc...) and I have a horrible hacking cough that refuses to go away. So, on top of that, last night went something like this. Cough for 2 hours. Go to sleep. Wake up 20 min. later, passy back in mouth and roll her over, back to bed, ava crying, back to bed, nora rolled on back again, back to bed, Nora hungry, Ava crying, finally just sat on the couch. Still coughing. That is why I was a tad happy when Ava decided she didn't want to leave Nana's tonight and wanted to spend the night. I came home, got her stuff, came back home and got Nora in bed. Next thing I know...Ava's calling saying, "I just miss my mommy and Nora. I want to come home." The slumber party didn't even last 2 hours. She has stayed with them when we were in NYC and when I was in the hospital but never when I was at home. I think that on top of the fact that she is having a hard time being without her Daddy, made her not want to stay. On one hand, it feels good to be loved that much and missed. On the other hand, she better not wake up tonight. I need sleep.

One more thing before I call it a night. I took Ava to register for dance class this evening. When she walked in and saw the wall mirrors, she immediately put one hand on her hip and started to prance to the table as if she was practicing her moves. My girl can swing her hips!

Here is just another of Ava's funny grown up comments...

I was filming her talking to Nora and making her laugh..."Mommy, I just don't want a camera in my face right now."

Ava doesn't realize how much Nora is in awe of her but it is wonderful to watch. No one can make Nora laugh like Ava can. If she is anywhere near, Nora is going to be staring and following her every move. It makes me happy.

We had a wonderful weekend. Nora started blowing bubbles Friday so I've been covered in spit! She smiles so big when she does it as if she is telling me, "Look at me mommy!" I went to a Tupperware party (they still have those!) Saturday and I can't wait to get my pantry all organized. :) Then we spent the afternoon all hanging out in a blow up pool. Ava was very demanding that we play "as a fam-a-ly." So, that is just what we did. Nora too! This morning, Pastor Ed delivered yet another amazing message. I'll admit, I have a hard time listening for so long and sitting in one spot but this morning, I was hanging on every word. We had a great family lunch at Nana & Papa's (we get together every Sunday). All of the kids were trading stories of their first week of school. They had brought surprises for all of the girls from Birmingham. One of Ava's surprises was a Snoopy Hallmark Christmas ornament but when we opened it, Snoopy's head was broken off. She cried! Lanie Grace and Kenley were baptized tonight! I'm so proud of them for the decision they made to follow Jesus. I hate hate hate that I wasn't there to see it but Kevin left tonight for business. It will be a long week without my best friend and the best Daddy in the world but I will enjoy the time with my girls.

Here is a picture of Nora with her surprise from Nana and Papa. She would giggle when we put it on her head.

"Things my mother taught me."

I'm not a big reader so it takes a lot to get me to actually read a book. We are currently reading a book in our Sunday School class called, The 10 commandments of parenting, by Ed Young. It is wonderful! We have already read another of his books, The 10 commandments of marriage. His style of writing makes it easy to read and it all just makes sense. He doesn't sugar coat things...just tells it like it is. Here is a little exerpt from Chapter 4 that I thought was so funny. This part of the book talks about teaching children obedience.

My mother taught me logic: "Because I said so, that's why."
My mother taught me humor: "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."
My mother taught me about sex: "How do you think you got here?"
My mother taught me about receiving: "You are going to get it when we get home."
My mother taught me about justice: "One day you'll have kids and I hope they turn out just like you. Then you'll see what it's like.
My mother taught me about religion: "You better pray that'll come out of the carpet."

Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did! :)

Big Girl

Lately, Ava tells us a million times a day, "Look! I'm growing!" or "I'm a big kid now!" It is adorable and sad because it is true. I want her to stay little and to always be at home with me. Maybe that is because if she does, then I'm not getting any older.

Because she is a big kid now, she gets to do more big kid things. So, today, we went to get dance outfits, tap shoes and ballet slippers. She can't wait to start dance at Sheffield's in a few weeks. Every time she put a leotard on with a skirt, she would shake her "fluffy fanny" in the mirror. She looks so cute! When we got home, she wanted to put one on and her tap shoes. She was already tapping and making up a song to go with it. Now, she is waiting to try them all on for her Daddy when he gets home.

Nora Ashley has had a big day too! She hasn't stopped jabbering and squealing and she found her feet today! She has been holding on to her feet and playing with them. She changes daily. I sure hope I can remember all of this.

Campmeeting - Greatest place on earth!

Campmeeting was amazing as usual. We went for almost 2 weeks. We like to be there the week before so we can enjoy the peace & quiet and do our Atlanta trips before campmeeting starts. During the cm week, there are so many activities for the kids that we didn't want Ava to miss out on.
The week before, we went to the Aquarium. Nora stayed with Nana so we were able to just let Ava spend as much time as she wanted to. She loved the tunnel of fish and wasn't afraid to touch the sting ray's. We also went to the Mall of Georgia and the outlets on 400. Of course we made trips to Smitty's, an old whole in the wall that has been there forever, for a slaw dog and milkshake. Tradition. Also, we had to go to Dairy Queen (walk up only) for a slaw hamburger and sit on Aunt Virgie's porch to eat it. Another tradition. Everything tastes better in Cleveland. We made 2 trips to Babyland General before cm even began and then another trip during the week. Ava got to pick out her own baby this year. She is so proud and was determined to name her Ava Lena.
During the week of campmeeting, Ava had it rough. She fell out of a swing and hit the root of the tree that was sticking up. She scraped up her chin. The next day, she fell and had two scraped knees. Then she and Nora both had pink eye and Ava ran a fever for 3 days. So, needless to say, she didn't get to have the campmeeting I had hoped for. She had fun but people didn't get to see what she is really like. She was always too tired or cranky. Nora did very well and we had fun showing her off. There was never a lack of people wanting to hold her. She had a big week too! She started sleeping through the night and giggling.
The week was strange. Lots of odd things happened. We had a bear seen between our tent and the car parked behind it, a girl got bit by a copperhead snake during smores night, a random drunk guy came through, tried to go in a tent and got picked up by the cops, and we had a member of the campmeeting family get seriously injured at slippery rock (the name should say it all). Other than all of that, we had a blast staying up till 2am playing cards, huge family dinners, lots of visiting on porches, playing in the Chattahoochee river, gem mining and Ava had an amazing time each morning singing. She is still singing "Pharaoh Pharaoh!" There are way too many pictures so here are just a few favorites. Eventually, I'll put up a slideshow for all of the others.