The Fam Bam

My sweet family.

These children make me happy!

Jenny, Hu, Amanda, Maggie, Susan, Ellie and Dad

Mommy and her babes.

Going to the Chapel...

My younger sister Maggie is now a wife!!! Ava had her first flower girl gig and I was a bridesmaid for the first time in 10 years (when my older sister got married). Ava was ecstatic leading up to the big day, though I think that she somehow thought she was getting married. To her cousin Sam (who was a ringbearer). Hmmm...

We had a wonderful week visiting with family, enjoying a bridesmaids luncheon, decorating for the reception, eating way too much at the awesome rehearsal dinner cookout and of course the WEDDING and RECEPTION!

All expert flower girls get their hair and nails done.

With mom and my sisters.

Leave it to Ken to plant a photo bomb at his own wedding :)

The pater familias.

Bridesmaid and Flower Power! (and a spray tan)

Circus Acts

I took Ava to her first circus this weekend. Ryan was out of town and I got free tickets at work, so I couldn't pass it up. We went all out--wizard hats, overpriced light-up twirly things, cotton candy, you name it! We had great seats and we really enjoyed the show. Walking back to the car in the rain and sitting in a parking garage for over half an hour are a different story, though...

Ah, Spring...

My sweet family.

First t-ball practice!

At Dancing with the Stars Baton Rouge to cheer on Matt!

At Sam and Honey's wedding in May.

Wacky Wednesday at school!

Our friend Addison moved away in June; this was at her birthday party before the big move.

I LOVE this face.

After Ava's first dance recital!

The Stage Debut of Ava E. Jones

One thing I love about Ava's school is every year they host "The Week of the Young Child". During this week every spring, they have special activities for the kids each day; character visits, parent picnics, special activities and games, and a performance day. On the performance day, each class (Pre-K3, Pre-K4 and Kindergarten) present a show for the audience of parents, students and teachers.

This year, Ava's 3 year old class presented "The Rainbow Fish". Our girl had the star making role of The Purple Starfish.

Agents have been calling non-stop.

Future World Series Contenders

Our daughter is old enough for extracurricular activities. So scary. First it was dance, and now we are signed up for t-ball! Ava is a member of the world renowned 3-4 year old YMCA Micro Division Diamondbacks. The league is pretty cutthroat; everyone bats, everyone advances, a game is two innings and no one keeps score. My kind of baseball.

Julia and Ava celebrating after their first win, er, exhibition match.

Showing off.

Ava "Mark McGuire" Jones

The Dream Team.

Concentration.

Action shot.

Discussing strategy with Coach Daddy.

Happy Easter!

We had a relaxing Easter week with Nana and Gramps, who visited from Iowa. They got to spend tons of time with Ava and we had nice quality time together. We miss them so much!

At the class Easter party at Addison's house. Ava is in the middle of the top row.

Giving Gramps love.

Our handiwork.

Waiting on eggs.

The Easter Bunny left some loot!

Funny bunny.

Before church Easter morning.

Egg hunting in the afternoon, with Katy's assistance.

Reading with Nana and Gramps...

...1000 miles away! We have recently become aquainted with the magic that is Skype. This online video chat system allows us to chat with our parents and siblings hundreds of miles away. While talking to Nana and Gramps on the computer, Ava decided to read from her favorite book...

We have an Idea Emergency!

Ryan and I took Ava to see the Movers in their home city of New Orleans, during their national tour. For those out of the loop (silly you), the Imagination Movers are a group of 4 musicians from New Orleans who have a show on the Disney Channel for preschoolers. Each episode involves the Movers solving an Idea Emergency in their homebase, the Idea Warehouse. Then they teach lessons through kid-friendly rock songs. The live show was a concert; it was hilarious to see a full house of 2 to 6 year olds rockin' out! We all had a ball!

APOLOGY: My husband recorded this video sideways, and I don't know how to rotate it! Boo!