Creative Hour...

Both kids were engaged in some art activities tonight while i was busy cooking dinner. Aiden is painting this pot, and then we will plant a flower in it together, while Ava was busy fingerpainting with chocolate pudding...Checkout the video as well...

Pinecrest Camping Trip 2009

We enjoyed our annual camping trip to Pinecrest Lake this last weekend. Ava had her first experience camping- and she had a great time too. We were all pretty much covered in dirt by the end of the trip. The water was pretty warm- compared to usual--since it has been so hot here --it was perfect to swim in.We even did a little hiking along the trail with the kids in the stroller- well Ava was--Aiden was hiking with his dad and throwing rocks into the water.

Ava gets a checkup...

Little Ava had her 9 month checkup yesterday, even though she will be 9 months tomorrow. She weighed in at 18 lbs 2 oz and is now 29 inches long. The doctor said all is well and no concerns for her. He also predicts that she will be walking very soon. He thought she was there for her 1 year checkup when he saw her moving about.. he said she is curling her little toes when she stands which is a sign that they will walk soon... Here are a few pics of her after her bath last night trying on my hat. Grandma Devers got her this adorable 12 months outfit that fits her perfect! Thanks Grandma!!She likes to sit on this push-along--and Aiden pushes her around sometimes too, and she cracks up when she goes for a ride.

Move over Pacifiers.. Here comes Archie the Hamster!!

Today was monumental in that Aiden and i bagged up all the pacifiers in the house- including Ava's -and took them to the pet store to give the cashier for his very own Hamster. We originally set out for a hermit crab. After finding out that they are not the best pet to be able to hold- we decided on a cute teddy bear hamster. Aiden and i named him Archie...He is a cute little thing. Aiden wants to constantly hold him.. funny he did not have the same reaction when we brought little Ava home. haha. Guess he figured it must be worth it if he willingly handed over his most precious belongings for it. He survived his first day without his pacifier though--and is sleeping even without his monkey. Wow is he grown up. Little Ava does not miss hers at all--she was not so attached to it as he ...Hurray for Aiden being Mom and Dad's big boy!!

Ava up and trying to walk....

Ava will be 9 months the 16th of this month. She has just taken off crawling the last few weeks, and now is pulling up on everything and trying to walk behind it. She even stands for a few seconds by herself. She has really surprised Scott and i since she didn't seem too interested in moving for so long. Look out, she is chasing after Aiden and into all his toys. I even catch her standing at his tool bench hammering with his hammer on occasion.. haha. She'll be a handy little girl with all these tools we have around here, and the time she spends in the garage with the guys when mommy is at work.. haha.

Celebrating July 4th with fireworks......

We decided to have a little fireworks show of our own in front of our house this year for the 4th of July. As did many of our other neighbors too. We also brought out the little charcoal grill and Scott BBQ some chicken. Aiden got to hold his first sparkler , which he was all excited about. Ava went to bed midway through the show. We also saw some of the big ones from our driveway too. Aiden has been talking about fireworks ever since and saying how they go "Boom Boom!"