Our faaaaaab-ulous weekend

Well, we decided that this weekend was a great time to take our little pumpkin to a pumpkin patch. Of course, being the sentimental woman that I am, I had flashbacks of last year when we took our brand new, fresh out of the patch pumpkin to her very first pumkin patch. My, what a difference a year makes, right? Ava wouldn't even sit still for a picture (if we wanted one with her we had to work fast!) But it was a lot of fun and more precious family memories. I don't know if you watch "Jon and Kate Plus Eight" on TLC (I am obsessed with that show! Love-it!) but Kate always talks about how she doesn't give her children things but she gives them experiences. Keith and I do keep that in mind with Ava. That's why we find any chance to bring her somewhere where she can learn something and experience something new (such as driving an hour away so she could feed camels through a fence...yes, we did do that...) We just love to see her reactions. I want her to have wonderful memories (I know she is a little young still) from her childhood like I have. So this last weekend, we took her to a really big pumpkin patch and she also enjoyed her very first helping of McDonald's chicken McNuggets. I know...HUGE! Then on Saturday, we went out and got her a new pair of walking shoes because she is now such a big girl. Of all places, we found her shoes at Bass Shoes. Now, when I think of Bass I think of leather and loafers. But we did find her a pair of really cute shoes suitable for walking (and complete with three pink rinestones on the strap...very Ava...and Mommy). This weekend Ava also started a new love...dress-up. I put a hat on her thinking it would come off in 5 seconds as hats always do. She kept it on! For a long time! Then I threw on a couple of scarves...she loved that, too! Our little Coco Chanel was prancing around with her latest work looking at Keith just waiting for him to take a picture. *sigh* This weekend was filled with just so much laughter and family time. I highly recommend it.

Sometimes you gotta just open the windows

I just love our church! Keith and I have been going to Irving Bible Church (http://www.irvingbible.org/) since before we got married. Throughout these last5 or 6 years we have lived all around town and have always driven a little bit of distance to get there (from our house now it takes us about 45 minutes) So it MUST be a good church, right?! Well, since I had Ava, I became a Mommy (....), and because I became a Mommy, I was able to join a MOPS group at my church. Now, MOPS stands for Mothers Of Pre-Schoolers. I know, I know, Ava is one...she is not in pre-school yet, but you should see this little child and her energy. She is going to give those pre-school teachers a run for their money (and me). But, I was able to join anyway. I tell you something...you have no idea how much I look forward to those Wednesdays that I go. Ava gets to play with her friends in the nursery, and I get to play with my friends in my meeting. It's just plain awesome. Not only do I get to put on make-up for the first time in a week, but I get to listen to fantastic speakers (i.e. we had a doc come in who specializes in discipline...ooooo I ate that up!) and I get to hang out with some wonderful moms. Last night, my table had a girls night out. I had almost forgotten what that meant! I have no guilt confessing that it was a lot of fun. I have no guilt confessing that I cranked the volume of Leona Lewis' voice AND the bass in my car....with the sunroof open...and all of the other windows...(I had been listening to Baby Einstein's day at the farm DVD...) and I have no guilt confessing that I ate a part of that mouth watering, gooey, luscious, delectable, what-ever-it-was chocolate brownie fudge cake (go ahead, picture it and drool...) But all that to say, my Tutti Frutti Snowcone moms are great! I think our waiter got a little mad at us because we were there for three hours talking until almost 10:30. They close at 10. Oops. But, I enjoyed my night out, and I know Keith enjoyed his night in. It's good for him, too. He gets to spend time with Lil' Miss Priss and then catch up on all of his DVRs. So it was good for the both of us, I know. And, even though I ended up on the recliner at 5:30am with a sad, stuffy, sniffly baby...I feel remarkably refreshed for this Friday and the weekend (can I just add in there that I am SO excited to get my brand new state of the art old file cabinet painted this weekend...I LOVE to organize!!!!) Anyway, life is good and has so much promise right now. A few things I am SO thankful for: a husband who makes a daily effort to love me and understand the complicated creature that I am, my precious baby girl who melted my heart at 5:30 this morning as she breathed like a little piggy, my car for taking me to Sonic everyday, and this beautiful weather. I can't help but be in a good mood when I have all of the windows open in the house.

Be All That You Can Be

Everyday, this little spirited child of mine inspires me to "be all that I can be." It simply amazes me how much energy she has. I often tell Keith that we are in so much trouble because she just turned one and has the energy of a 2 or 3 year old. This lil' outfit has an unexpected story. A story that leaves the very simple message that when you least expect it, your questions about life will be answered. Years ago, Keith and I went to a Halloween party dressed in full Army gear (courtesy of the Waco Goodwill Store). These "costumes" have been collecting dust in the closet since then. The other night around 3am, I woke up as I sometimes do and had trouble going back to sleep. My mind was jumping from one random subject to another. I managed to find me way to a thought regarding Halloween. What would we be? We have a child now! She has to be something, too! We have those Army uniforms...but, of course we have to have a theme, isn't that the law of parenting through Halloween?! Once I stopped sweating and my heart stopped having palpitations, I did fall asleep. And for days I kept this very serious and stressful decision to myself. Afterall, I didn't want to raise Keith's blood pressure, too. A few days later, Keith's parents came for a visit. I was handed a shopping bag filled with new clothes for Ava (Granna's a great shopper). On the very bottom was this sweatsuit. Granddaddy and Daddy had picked this out all by themselves weeks ago. As she smiled with embarrassment, Granna told me I could return it if I wanted to. It's not going anywhere. So, although we don't plan on attending a big Halloween bash this year, nor do we plan on loading up on candy that Ava can't have (and Mommy doesn't want)...my huge, life altering dilemma had been solved...when I least expected it. He's working up there on bigger things. I just know it.

Ready to Share

I am glad that I have an incredbile memory. I have always had the ability to store things away into my mind's file cabinet where it stays nice and organized. I remember the smallest things...where my spot was on the floor during story time in Kindergarden, what I wore to my first dance in Jr. High, my deepest but most calm breath I ever took as I walked down the aisle on my wedding day, stroking my sweet baby girl's warm velvet-like back as she rested in the NICU....I remember it all. But I often wish that I could let others in, too. Sure, I treasure some things and keep them selfishly stored with lock and key in these file cabinets of mine. But this life of ours, although it can be challenging at times (aren't they all?), has been given to us by the grace of our God. I hope that by keeping this blog, even though I feel I should have started it years ago, I will remember to thank God daily as I am reminded of these little (and big) things that happen in my family's life. And, at the same time open the file cabinets so to speak, letting others learn what life is like in the Woods. Enjoy...