It's Spring, Baby!

This is the first time in a LOOONG time, we were able to go outside with no coats and wear flip flops. And it was AWESOME! It was a much needed!! Even though rumor has it snow on Tuesday. Ugh.

Friday night I headed to bunco with Nana and Jojo. We had such a good time! I am only a sub, but I do enjoy it when I get to go!

Man, we have awesome friends. And that was the theme of the weekend. Saturday morning we got up early picked up Sarah and Emmett and headed to Chick Fil A. We caught up with Ella, Roz, Junie, Thomas, and Kinley. Katie coordinated this little play date and Chick Fil A hooked it up!! We definitely received special treatment and amazing food!! A few pictures from our fun time!

And something that's even cooler??? The Mama's made the Chick Fil A Facebook page!!!

After the playdate, we had to stop at Meijer and remember we had Sarah and Emmett with us. Have you ever shopped with Ava and Emmett together?

Enough said...

Saturday night we shipped Ava off to the other Heather's house to play with Jada and Mya. My mom picked her up from there and kept her overnight. John and I hosted an Owens Corning get together. We planned this back in February and we were able to keep the date and everyone was still able to come!! I had a blast! I have not laughed that hard in such a long time! Thanks so all my sweet friends for coming over!!

Sunday was a errand/catch up day. Well for John and I anyhow. Ava got another day of play. Pat and Jenni invited her over to play and go bowling. Therefore, pictures are courtesy of Jenni.

It's a busy week for the Houghtaling's! But lots of fun stuff going on! Stay tuned....

The Stick

So I contemplated adding this to the blog. But them I thought I am using this to document everything I want to remember so I decided to add it.

Thursday night we went to visit my mom. Ava begged me to take a shower over there. I was pretty beat so I talked Aunt Emily into giving her a bath. Ava gets out of the shower wrapped in a towel and is picking at her um, backside. And then pulls this out.

Yes, this was wedged into her little crack. I'm pretty sure she almost passed out from laughing so hard. As we all did. Only my little Ava. The even funnier thing was earlier in the evening at basketball, she kept picking at her butt. I just thought her panties were small and she had a wedgie. There was so much more. Oh, and note to self: When Emily gives Ava a bath, she probably isn't putting to much effort into washing her backside.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Addy Grace!!

My sweet, little Addy,

April 7th marked your third birthday. And you spent it in China. We tried, honey, to get there before but we missed. While we didn't spend the day with you, we thought of you and celebrated you. ALL DAY. That I promise you. We kicked off the celebration at Build A Bear. We let your big sister choose everything. She picked out a lamb. Because, Mom, she might like girl stuff. While the lamb was being stuffed, the sweet lady at B-A-B asked why we were there. So we told her and she asked us to write the celebration on their board. So Ava gladly wrote it out. I can't lie. I had tears in my eyes. The way she writes your name is simply adorable!

We took along the picture we have of you so we still had you close to us. So we posed you and Ava with the blingy, decked out little lamb!!

After we left Build A Bear, we went to see Miss Kelly. She works at a makeup store in the mall so we had to visit! She took the opportunity to put makeup on your sister! Let's just say, she isn't a girly girl. I wonder if you will be my tutu wearin', hair bow love, makeup sportin' little girl! Ha!!

After we left the mall, we met Nana and Jojo for dinner at Red Robin. Again we told them what we celebrating! You, my little, Addy. We put your picture up (after posing for a picture) and guess what???

They brought you a little ice cream sundae (Ava ate it, sorry!) and sang Happy Birthday to you!!! I hope your birthday was special! I can't wait to celebrate all of your future birthdays! We'll see you soon, sweet girl!!

Love,
Your Mama

Ava and Daddy's Big Adventure - Part 371

Have I ever mentioned how incredibly awesome Ava's Daddy is??? Every day he is off work, he wants to keep her home and they always get to do fun stuff! Monday was no different. They stuck close to home because Daddy had some projects to do but they still got to visit Aunt Kay and Uncle Mark. Which included a ride on the golf cart around their property.

And some intense computer lessons from Uncle Mark...

After they got home, John was working in the garage. He said he checked on Ava and she was flying her kite. She got it up all by herself! I, myself, have never done that. While she got it up, she had no desire to reel it back in. She conned her Daddy into that. 

Another fun day in the books!

Shoe Tying and Cupcakes!

We had another wonderful weekend! The weather was awful on Friday. In my opinion, there is nothing worse than 30, rain, and wind. Even after this winter, I would rather have snow. **GASP**! I said it!!! Therefore, we did nothing. We came home from work/school and laid on the couch under a blanket all night.

Saturday came early and we headed out for basketball. Since we were up so early, we stopped at Tim Hortons for breakfast. Someone was SUPER HAPPY about that!

Ava did fantastic at basketball and scored two baskets! Woohoo! She was so proud! Ava went home with Nana from her game and spent the afternoon with her. I kept getting pictures throughout the day since Jordyn also was over. Nana took them both to the park and it looks like they had a great time.

John was working and I did nothing. A Criminal Minds marathon. So, I was looking over my shoulder the rest of the day. Saturday night, Ava decided she wanted to learn to tie her shoes. It started ok.

And it ended with her literally sobbing on my shoulder, yelling "I'm never going to learn this!" after about 3 minutes. Needless to say, we called it a night. :)

This morning we got up and decided to make cupcakes. When I say we, I mean I made them and Ava licked everything that had batter on it. Proof below.

We spent the day cleaning, laundry, and making an awesome dinner for Daddy! While John and I were  cleaning the kitchen, Ava came in and showed this off!

She learned to tie her shoes. The name of the weekend?? Determination!

Besties

Best Friend: noun - The one who is closest to you

How lucky am I that I have more than one best friend?? We have known each other for more than 25 years. We have been in each others weddings, been there for the birth and adoptions of all of our children, numerous nights spent at each others houses, ungodly amount of conversations on the telephone, broken curfews, sharing clothes and makeup, vacations all over the US! We've done it all. Together. These are my girls, my BFF's, my peeps!

Last night was a way long overdue dinner out. Just us. No husbands, no kids. And in the matter of three hours we smashed on pizza, talked about husbands, kids, sleeping issues, medications, underwear, and bladder control issues. And it was AWESOME! I love you girls!!! And to answer the many questions and comments regarding this picture on FB:

1. Two of them are sisters, twins in fact!
2. Three of the four of us go to the same hairdresser.
3. Yes, I part my hair differently. I've always been "The Rebel".

The Park and Funnies!

When I got into my car Monday after work, the temperature gauge read 62 degrees!! What, what???  Take that Polar Vortex! There was no way I was going to pick up my child and take her home. We went to the park to take advantage of that little heat wave! She played and played for a good hour. And then I had to bribe her with Taco Bell (you know, mom, the meat, cheese, and salad on the doritios??) to get her to leave! We had a great time!! Thene we headed home and worked on two week of homework since we played too much last week.

This picture is now in my top five favorite pictures of Ava -- LOVE! 

And a couple of funny stories to share.

A text from her teacher:

Last night we were Facetiming with John and someone paged him "Truck 3". Of course Ava proceeded with a bajillion questions about it. And then asked what other names there were. John says someone is Truck 1, someone is truck 2, and he is truck 3. And Ava responds "Good job, Daddy! You are winning!!" *Smile*

Hope you are having a great week!!!