Sleep Sweet

Every night before bed we have a routine. It brings Ava comfort, peacefulness and closure to the day. We watch a show (at the moment the favorite is Dora), we read a book, we say prayers, we give hugs and kisses and then it's time for Ava to close her eyes and drift off to dreamland.

Last week the routine changed, Ava added something, something so priceless that I never want to forget it. As I tucked her in and gave her one more hug she said, "Sleep sweet, Mommy, I love you so much."

You sleep sweet too, baby girl. I love you more than you'll ever know.

Ski School

Ava is a dramatic child - she gets that from me. When she is happy - she is ecstatic. When she is sad - it's like the world is going to fall apart. Rarely would I ever classify her as "emotionless," but that is what her Ski School instructor said she was all day.

While on our family vacation in Colorado, we decided to put Ava in ski school for a day. She was excited to do it, after all her two older cousins were doing it too! We arrived early to check her in, get all of her gear on, and get her settled. She was so excited, until the time came for us to leave her there. She cried like she's never cried before. I was certain it would be only a matter of minutes before my cell phone rang to go get her. I was wrong. She stayed all day. We snuck over at lunch time to check on her and see what they were doing and we got to watch her go down the hill for the first time. She held on so tight to that pole as her instructor guided her down, but she got right back in line to go up and try it again.

I was so proud that she was doing it. It was such an independent thing for her to do. I just wish she would have had more fun. She wasn't miserable, because she wasn't crying. But I don't think she loved it, because she never cracked a smile. Her instructor was right, she was for once, emotionless.

*this was the picture we took of her when we picked her up, when she was done for the day.

Tu-Tu’s and Tiaras (Happy Birthday, Ava!)

I remember the doctor’s appointment when I was told, “Go straight to the hospital, you’re having that baby today,” like it was just a few hours ago. It’s so hard to believe that my baby girl is already 3 years old. I seriously need to invent something that helps to stop time! However, waiting until my amazing invention takes place, I found myself in the middle of planning a birthday party full of tu-tu’s and tiaras.

I’m not crazy about hosting parties, but when it comes to taking the time to celebrate my kids it’s time well spent. So – a princess party was requested and a princess party it was.

The plans:

Tiaras for all the girls to wear (the boys got books; I didn’t make them wear tiaras!)
A pink and purple princess bouncer
Ava’s favorite food: Chic-Fil-A nuggets, grapes, bananas, etc.
A princess crown cupcake cake
A castle shaped pinata (this was her first pinata experience)
A pink tu-tu for Ava to wear (she picked it out herself)
And of course, all her closest friends and family (at least the ones in town) to celebrate with

Ava had so much fun – she’s serioulsy been talking about it for days since it took place. She keeps asking, “Mommy, who’s birthday is next? I want to go to their princess party!” The only problem, I think Daniel’s birthday is next – and I seriously doubt he will be having a princess party…at least if Fernando has anything to say about it!

I Do It Like A Boy!

One of our biggest parental accomplishments thus far with Ava is potty training. Any parent of a potty trained child will likely tell you that it’s no easy feat – and once it’s complete it is a glorious thing. However, what they may or may not share are the hilarious moments along the way!


For us, we had one of those “hilarious moments” not to long ago. In Ava’s preschool room the door to the bathroom is a half door, so often times (much to the teacher’s dismay) the kids are in there together. This, I’m guessing is where Ava say a boy pee for the first time, something that I didn’t think a whole lot about. I mean after all, she’s two, it’s not like it’s going to traumatize her, right?!

Well…I quite possibly should have thought about it a little more than I did. We were at home on afternoon, and the dialogue goes like this:

Ava: “Mommy I need to go potty!”
Me: “Go potty! I’ll come help you in a second.” (As I walk down the hallway and around the corner to the bathroom)
Ava: “Look Mommy, I do it like a boy!” (Ava was standing up on her step, pants around her ankles, facing the toilet. Thankfully she hadn’t actually gone yet, but she was sure about to try)
Me: “Girls don’t go like boys, remember, we sit down to use the potty”
Ava: “Ok mommy, I’ll sit down!” (Whew! Just glad I didn’t have to mop the floor – that could have been really messy!)

Hilarious moment. I think so. Also a moment that, I’m sure, will prove to be embarassing moment for her in the future!

Celebrate the Season...

While this season is filled with business, it is also filled with making new memories! For us, one of those memories is Ava's 1st school Christmas play. She and her friends were dressed up as angels, which of course for Ava included a white tu-tu and a flower headband!

The amount of cameras and recording equipment in the room was hilarious, I think every parent had at least one of each type. In addition, many other family members came out to see the kiddos all dressed up! I was so worried that she would be shy and not participate, but much to our surprise, she sang and danced right along.

Check out the videos below for the two songs they sang: Jingle Bells and Go Tell It on the Mountain!

Enjoy.