Ava turns 5!!!

On February 3rd (her actual birthday) we had a family party after Ava came home from another girl's birthday party.

She opened all the gifts from us, the grandparents, and cousins... It was super exciting for Ava although her real party came the next day.
It was a Cinderella kind of day...

 Cinderella greeted Ava at the front door...

 And then she came in and had a coronation ceremony for Ava naming her a princess for the day and she placed a crown on her head and gave her a special wand.

 It was came with a certificate of authenticity.

 Afterwards she painted the faces of all the kids...

 That's the look of pure joy. It melts my heart.

 Olivia thought this was the most awesome day ever too.

 Ava blew out her princess cake candles and the kids chowed down. I say this because in reality I have never had a party where the entire cake and all the cupcakes were inhaled. This was a new day.

 Soon Cinderella was reading her story to the kids and singing (sounding just like the real Cinderella I am not even kidding).

 Gavin enjoyed the party too.

 After the party Cinderella had to go back to Disneyland so she gave Ava a big hug and drove away in her pumpkin carriage.

After the party Gavin 6 months and Tyler 1 year were demonstrating their size... Gavin used to get his handmedowns... I think we will be giving the handmedowns now.

Ava- Pre-Birthday

My Ava's turning 5 on Friday so we got a jump start on the celebration by going to B&N and getting her free kid's club cookie and a bunch of choose your own adventure books, Junie B. Jones Books, Magic Tree house books, and others I can't even remember. Now that the girls have fallen in love with chapter books I actually enjoy reading again. I was so burned out of reading picture books over and over. Dave's liking this too. We read a few chapter each night before bed and they are ready the next night asking for more. Liv's teacher said she is reading at a second grade level and Ava reads at a first grade level. I never liked to read as a kid so I am really happy they do. The TV is dying a slow death and reading is prevailing. I like to hear Olivia reading to Ava in their room or when Liv's at school Ava reads to the dogs. Awesome.

HappyBirthday!!!

To my wonderful husband I want to say "Happy Birthday- You are my everything!" and to my little man who just hit the 6 month mark I want to say, "Happy Birthday big boy- we are so proud of how much you have changed our lives for the better."

So to celebrate Dave's birthday the kids and I brought him to the Exploratorium in SF. This was Gavin's first BART ride and adventure in SF so this was kind of a big deal for everyone. Look at my little man sitting up on his own. He was loving the ride.

This was also the first time the girls had been to the Exploratorium and they went nuts. They played with everything, checked out what every single project does whether it was how a tsunami works or how the brain functions. I think they were on education over load but they loved every minute of it. And then there's Dave... this was right up his alley. He is a science junkie so coming here was a huge success. Here's a few pictures of the girls enjoying themselves.

Ava was checking out the skeletons in her closet.

 Gavin's getting his first glimpse into the science of how things work. Ava is helping explain things to him.

 Olivia and Ava are feeling out the cyclone while Dave watches...

 Olivia is mesmerized by the bubbles so she made a big one and then...

Dave trapped her inside of one. It was huge and Olivia told me, "It was awesome Mommy."

 After the Exploratorium we walked over to Fort Mason and then to Ghirardelli for some chocolate.

 And then we headed to the beach to play. Gavin got his first look at the ocean and the waves.

 While standing down there he did not enjoy is warm feet being stuck in cold sand and the bottom lip popped right out. Sad face.

But he did like the sand on his feet once he was off the ground. Oh boy, another one of our kids who enjoys digging in the dirt.

And here we are, the gang, off to another adventure.

My Birthday

Today is my birthday and guess what I got? Dave took today, all next week, and the following Monday off of work. I get 11 whole days of not feeling like a single mom starting my day alone with the kids and doing breakfast, schlepping to and from the schools, birthday parties, playdates, grocery stores with the kids, feeding lunch and cleaning it up, figuring out dinner, getting it ready before karate, doing homework with the girls, settling their disputes, managing our finances and paying the bills while the kids are downstairs bickering, keeping the house clean, doing the laundry and making the beds... you get the idea- without any help from anyone physically or financially until Dave gets home at 7pm. Okay so he does books and bath time. But really if he came home by 8pm, I'd have the kids in bed by 7:30.

So I have 11 glorious days days off starting now.... and I'm loving it. Dave's taking Liv to school, then baking a cake with Ava as well as cleaning up the mess (ahhh relief), we are going to pick Liv up together and go out for a late lunch and then take the kids fishing for the afternoon. They are really enjoying this and it's virtually free so it's all impossible to say no- plus there's the giant sand pit that the kids get to play in while they are there. Saturday we have another birthday party at Black Diamond kids place for their friend Joe from soccer and our every Thursday playdate. Then the next week all the school schlepping, breakfast/lunch making, karate taking, I am free from doing. That Friday we have a morning fieldtrip to the farm to plant a few different plants and play with the night crawlers and after that by 2pm we will be camping in a cabin for 4 days on the river enjoying Memorial Day weekend. This campground has a heated pool, movies under the stars, a playgound, a dog park, marshmallow roasting, or you can do your own thing at your cabin while sitting on your porch swing. The girls are loving the fact that they get to sleep in bunk beds and I am happy that Dave and I get to sit on our swing at night like a couple of old people enjoying each others company.

Happy 4th Birthday Ava!!!

First sightings of the now 4 year old.
Ava's awake and excited to be 4!!
Share day at school was this snake for the letter "S" and her pink strawberry cupcakes.
Olivia loving her sister on her birthday.
Notice Ava is sitting far from "the boy" who's next to her. She doesn't like boys- they're icky.
Ms. Karen made Ava her special "I'm 4" hat. Her hand was traced and everything!

The party rocked and Ava was free from school. Notice how devastated she is- NOT!
The little Avacakeroonies.
Brunch at our favorite restaurant that we've been taking the kids to every year on their birthday.
And this is why- Look at how good that ice cream is...
And then we partied at C.E.C. It was a total all day kid experience. Everything Ava wanted she got to have.


Crazy drivers. If this is any indication of how these two will drive at sixteen we will have to sell our vehicles.
Some of Ava's loot- pre-party.
And then the magic happened. Cake, friends, and presents. If only to be 4 years old again.
Make your wish sweetiepie!!

Of course someone has to be mad that it's not their birthday.
Woohoo!!
Lick the plate clean Ava- your dad would.
Happy 4th Birthday!!! We love you!!!