Belmont Talent Show Year 3

Last weekend, we had our 3rd Annual Belmont Ave Talent Show. It's hard to believe we have been in this house two years already! The girls look forward to the show every year! So much fun!!

Ava played the recorder and did a hula hoop. Molly did gymnastics and the batton. Rachel is dying to participate next year!!

Cornerstone Park

Last week my parents and I came upon a gem of a place. I have lived here for 14 years and have never been to Belleview Park. What a great place! Wow! We spent the morning going to the petting zoo, riding the train, having a picnic, and playing in the river! We will be going back here soon!!

All about Ava

So we celebrated Ava's birthday on Tuesday. She got to choose what we did. So, off to the American Girl store we went. Both of her girl dolls got a royal treatment and a new outfit. Then Mike and I took her out for lunch. It was really fun celebrating with her by ourselves. She is becoming quite the big girl!!

Later that evening, we had a little party at home for her. She picked Mike's ribs, baked beans, rolls and an dairy queen ice cream cake.

We hope her birthday was as special as she is!

7 Years!!

Seven years ago today my life changed forever! Thanks Ava for making me a Mom!!

Happy 7th Birthday to my Sweet Girl!  I can't believe how much you have grown!  You are a wonderful daughter and sister!  I hope you have the best birthday ever!!

Birthday Candles

I am not all that into my birthdays anymore.  I try to forget how old I am and just keep telling myself..it's another day!  This year was a different story!  I had a very memorable birthday "WEEK" thanks to my wonderful hubby!  I got the entire week off from cooking.  That in and off itself is enough!  But Mike went above and beyond that!  I had 2 nights off last week.  He took the girls out for a walk/bike ride or shopping! And I had a quiet house all to myself!   He completely surprised me with the best gift every!  My very own iPad!  I am beyond thrilled with this new toy!  WOW!  So much fun! And from my parents I got a coffee toddy to make my own iced coffee!   It makes yummy coffee!  I will be saving so much money not having to go to Starbucks! 
We celebrated on my birthday night by going out for dinner with my family!  I picked a kid friendly bar so we could sit outside and the kids could run around!  It was great!! Here are some pictures taken with my new toy!

Now back to reality!  So hard... birthdays like this can come around a couple times a year! 

9 Years and counting...

On Tuesday, Mike and I celebrated our anniversary!  I can't believe it's been 9 years!    Where has the time gone? We celebrated with my two favorite things... eating and shopping!  And the girls had a sleepover!  An absolutely perfect anniversary!!

I am amazed at all the wonderful things that have happened in the past 9 years!  And most importantly, I can't wait for what's to come!

4th of July Parade

Were is the summer going?  I can't believe that the 4th is over!  I always feel like summer is on it's way out after celebrating Independence Day.  It seems to fly by after that!  We are setting up some fun family traditions.  We have to do our neighborhood bike parade every year.  Unfortuantley, we had a very sick 4 year old this year.  Molly had to miss out on the parade.  She was so sick she didn't even mind.  We did get to sit on the sidewalk and watch though.

After the parade Mike took Rachel and Ava to the pool for the 4th celebration.  It was a huge party!  The filled the pool with pop and money and the kids got to dive for them.  Ava came home with  $.47 and a couple of pops.  Molly and I can't wait to join them next year!!

Happy Fourth

Swimming Lessons Week 1

We spent the entire week at the pool.  Ava and Molly had swimming lesson everyday and we just stayed after.  The girls made tremendous progress this year. They both passed their class and are moving up to the next level. Both of them are like little fishes.  Ava is now doing dives off the board and beginning to do the backstroke and crawl stroke.  Molly is floating on her stomach and back and beginning to do glides from the side.  So proud of my girls!  Can't wait for Rachel to take lessons next year!