Nana Weekend!!

The last few days have FLOWN by!! Our fun weekend started on Thursday with a pool party with our FCC friends. I'll have more on that later...I don't have the pictures uploaded yet! :)

On Friday afternoon, Mama and Daddy took off to Harrison, MI to camp with some friends for the weekend. This is actually the first time we have left her for this long. I missed my little girl so much. But...I read a book and a half, took naps, slept in, and listened to music in the car instead of Elmo!! It was bittersweet. While I enjoyed these things, I would have rathered had my little girl playing with my hair, pinching my nose, yelling "mama" 100 times in 5 minutes. ANYDAY.

But she had a great time with Nana!! Aunt Emily, Aunt Tammy, and Nana took her to Rolling Hills Park in Michigan to a waterpark. They stayed in a hotel and swam all day! Here are some pics I stole from Nana's facebook.

We came home early yesterday because we couldn't wait to see her!! She smiled when she saw us, but still wanted to stay with Nana. I can't say I blame her...they had ice cream for lunch!! We had a birthday party yesterday at Hero's. More on that later, too. We were all so tired last night, we were bed while it was still light out!

But we have to gear up this week! It's the big birthday week! My girl turns 3 on Thursday!! We have lots planned including a BIG Elmo party and a vistit from Uncle Nate!! Stay tuned!!

Love,
S.

Today we found out that Gracie, my mom's dog, has liver cancer. The tumor is so big that it is pushing on her other organs and causing her quite a bit of pain. It's very sad and very emotional in our homes tonight. She is only 5 years old. This is quite a shock for our family. Please pray for my mom tomorrow morning as she has to put Gracie down. Here are some pictures of Gracie. I hope you enjoy them as much as we did.

RIP, sweet Schnauzer! We'll always love you and miss you!!

Love,

Sara

Tonight we got to meet Jada! She is the daughter of a couple we met recently. I actually got an email from them while we were China and they were still waiting. Well, they finally got her! We met at a restaurant so that Ava and Jada could meet. She is precious!! A big congratulations to her mommy and daddy!

Hope you're staying cool!!

Love,
S.

The Original Squeaky Shoes

Have you been to Guangzhou?
Did you buy your son or daughter squeaky shoes?
We did, too!!

But here's the kicker...

Remember the dolls that I posted awhile back? The ones that my uncle brought me back from China when I was little?

Well...here's what my mom found the other day...my squeaky shoes that he brought me home back when I was just about Ava's age. And they fit her perfectly!! She loves them! And has been wearing them around since Nana brought them over!!

Thanks, Uncle Carl!! Little did you know almost 32 years later, these shoes would still be getting use. I love that I had a China connection even back then!

Hope you had a great weekend! Stay tuned...we did!!

Love,
S.

Three Year Pictures

Last night we did Ava's 3 year pictures...Here's a teaser shot:

Can't wait to see the rest!!

S.

Happy 4th of July!!

AMAZING....

The only way to describe it. We have had the best weekend!! Ava had the best weekend. So much so, that she was sound asleep by 7pm tonight.

I love sharing these holidays with her. I still can't believe that we get to share this with her. I just love to look at her. And take in all the excitement she is experiencing!!

My weekend started on Friday at 12pm. I went and got Ava from school and we went out for milkshakes. I went to Put In Bay with some friends and I wanted to spend some time with her before we went. Although, she had a great time with daddy!! He took her swimming, out for ice cream, and then to Nana's. And she even got to go skinny dipping at Nana's!!

Here are some pictures from Put In Bay:

Saturday, all 3 of us floated in the pool all day. It was so relaxing!! I love have nothing to do. We decided to get dressed on Saturday evening and go up to the Woodville carnival. We had corn dogs, fried cheese, and french fries. Ava was in her glory! Haha!! After we had eaten, we took Ava on some rides. She wasn't into them as much as I though she would. She was good as long as one of us was with her. She rode the train with daddy, and the merry go round with mama, and the train again by herself. I was hesitant to let her go by herself, but she did soooo good! Just sat there like a good little girl and holding on. So proud!

Pictures from the carnival:

Sunday...oh, yea. We floated in the pool ALL DAY again...Ahhh....

Sunday night we went to a party at my friend Courtney's house. It was so fun! She lives out in Sylvania, so we watched the fireworks at Centennial Terrace from her front yard. Courtney went all out for the kids! She is going to make one amazing mama someday!! Ava adored her and her dog. Oh, Courtney has 2 dogs. A small black dog and a white boxer. Guess which one Ava loved? Yep, the big boxer!! His name was Tyson and and that's she talked about. Calling him, petting him, and loving on him!! She was scared to death of the little black dog! Some things I'll never understand.

Ava and Tyson...bad picture of Tyson...

Ava and Courtney

They played baseball

Enjoyed popsicles

Caught lightning bugs

Played with glow sticks

And enjoyed fireworks with daddy!!

And after the fireworks, mama had a slight panic attack. My fearless daughter and husband decided to play with sparklers. She did great, but I was a nervous wreck!! She loved it, too!

Hope you all had a great holiday weekend!!

Love,

S.

Dancing Girl!!!

Last Saturday, we went to Lodi/Medina for a surprise party of one of John's friends. We went shopping earlier in the day and then headed over to the party. To say that Ava has a blast would be a complete understatement. She did so good and danced her little booty off!!

Hope you are having a great holiday weekend!!

Talk to you soon!

S.