Breakfast with Santa

It has been such a treat to get ready for the holiday's with Ava. She knew she needed to tell Santa what she wanted him to bring her for Christmas, but there was no way she was going to sit on his lap and pose for a photo. Smart girl! She got candy, too, so it was well worth the dread of having to face the guy ;-) Later, I asked her what she asked him to bring her and she told me it was a secret. Thank goodness we talked about it the night before! Santa needs helpers, you know!

Haloween 2011

We were so excited to be in our new home just in time for Halloween. I have always loved this holiday for some reason although I have rarely dressed up for it as an adult. When Chris and I did not have Ava I loved to pass candy to all the children who came to our door - in a scary mask of course...making some of them jump into their mothers arms, back up, run away. I always got a good laugh out of it. Chris was worried about the liability...a child falling of the porch, etc. Hmmmmmmm....does he have to think of everything ;-)

Now, that we have Ava...I love to be creative with her costumes. The last two years I made them (stole the ideas off of Etsy...but make them myself!) and it is such a treat for me. This year, she was a Peacock. I couldn't wait to make her costume and let her wear it. She wore it three times...once in the Grace Garden Halloween Parade, SailPoint Spooktacular and to trick-or-treat in the neighborhood.

Although she didn't really want to be a Peacock, she was a graceful and gorgeous Peacock. Finally, at age 3 she realized that she can be almost anything...and as she continually noticed all of the costume options she didn't stop asking if she could be certain things. Yes, yes, yes...she can be any of them...as long as I can make it.

I'm 3 and I'll do what I want!

Ava has never been one for the camera. We just went hiking on Sunday morning and when she saw me pull the camera out she said, "no pictures, mommy!" Really? You're only 3! But, like I said, she's never been one for the camera. As a matter of fact, I took her Christmas photo last year and took almost 400 photos to get the "perfect" shot. This year, we had a photographer come to the house and our sweet little Ava refused to cooperate. Does it look Christmas card worthy? I think not. Smile little girl!

3 years old!

Our angel is three years old already. This year was different than any other year in that she really understood what Birthday's are all about. She knew she would be the one celebrated and she was excited about it beyond belief. Also, because we just moved into our new house on her Birthday weekend, she was celebrated multiple times. Way to go, Ava! We had a #3 pinata in our front yard for the neighbor children Labor Day weekend, Ava had cupcakes at grace Garden with her classmates, then...we had a pizza party with her cousins and Brentwood neighborhood friends the following weekend...followed yet by another pinata at the house. Whew...it was a week long celebration and tons of fun!

Adventures in Dallas

Chris and Ava recently traveled to Dallas alone - their first road trip without me. They had a fantastic time and stayed for three nights and four days! Ava played with her Hajdu cousins, celebrated Mimi's birthday, swam day and night and helped Bopa grill dinner for everyone. She got lots of alone time with Mimi and Bopa - always a special treat. Among their adventures they took a day trip to the zoo. Yikes...look at Ava's new friend.

We're going to like it here!

Our new neighborhood hosted their 39th annual July 4th parade. I was amazed at the huge crowd that turned out. It was a sight to see! And, we had so much fun participating. We walked some of the route as parade participants and then pulled over to the sidewalk to watch the rest of the parade with the Roach family. The parade ended at Doss Elementary with face painting, watermelon, magic, balloon art, lemonade...just a spectacular morning for all of the neighborhood. We'll definitely be back next year and we know we're going to like it here!

It Flies

Ava is potty trained...with the exception of the occasional accident - she's potty trained. Let me put it this way...I haven't changed a poopie diaper in 12 days! It is just neat to watch her grow and learn all about life. She'll tell us as we're putting her down for bed, "it's so good to meet you". Yep, she soaks it all in just like a sponge. When she and Chris flew her kite the other day she said, "it flies". Ahhhh, she appreciates the simple things about life which is fun to enjoy. The littlest things excite her as well as annoy her. She is 2 - 1/2 and sometimes the drama is just beyond belief. But, we're starting to be able to reason with her and explain cause and effect. She understands consequence - most of the time. It's just a pleasure to be a mommy and to have somebody keep us accountable for things that we sometimes do and aren't even aware. Like...when we sing a verse of a song incorrectly she'll call us on it, "no, not like that". So good to have a third person in our lives to keep the Hajdu Household honest and on our toes!

Daddy Adventures at the Movies

Chris took Ava to see her first movie, Tangled, in a theater. He was pleasantly surprised at how attentive she was. She sat through the entire show and watched it although for more than half of the movie she watched from his lap! He treated the two of them to popcorn and sprite and because she was so good he also treated her to ice-cream afterwards. Dang...what a day for our little two year old.