Balloon Festival

Sooo big!

Sarah and I decided to brave the heat and take the kids to the Hot Air Balloon Fesitval in Dansville last week.  I'm so glad we went.  The kids had so much fun (and so did we). Ava didn't know what to think of the balloons.  She just kept pointing at them.  Mason and Morgan tried to take Ava into one of the bounce houses but she wasn't too sure about it.  The attendant allowed me to go in with her and she had a ball!  Ava wouldn't stop laughing and when our time was up she didn't want to leave. 

 One of the highlights of the festival was an old balloon that was inflated with fans on the ground.  The kids were able to run around and play in it.  They had a blast!


Inside the balloon...just taking it all in.





Cutie!





All done!



This was the best picture we were able to get of the 5 of us.  Try again next year!

First Day of Gymnastics!



So excited for gymnastics!



Today was Ava's first day of gymnastics.  We signed up for a "Mommy and Me" class.  There are a total of 6 kids in her class and Ava is the youngest by 6 weeks.  With the exception of her buddy Brinn, the kids are all 2 already. 

I've been talking to Ava about her gymnastics class ever since we went to sign up.  I wasn't too sure what she would think of it, but this morning when she woke up I mentioned gymnastics and she bolted out of bed!

Ava absolutely loved gymnastics!   The class started with some stretching.  Ava really wasn't into the stretching.  She thought it would be much more fun to run around on the spring floor.  After stretching, we all headed over to the trampolines.  Our little gymnast loved bouncing around on the trampoline but refused to let go of my hands.  Next up was the pit.  The instructor set up two small slides for the group to use to enter the pit.  I thought Ava would be nervous.  She watched Lexi climb the steps and slide into the pit and then she followed right behind her.  She thought it was great!  The last 15 minutes of the class was spent in the preschool area.  The kids were able to go through an obstacle course that included a ladder to climb up to a bridge, a spring board, several mats, and a balance beam.  After one time around the course, Ava knew just what to do.  She did a wonderful job!  To end the class, the instructor had the kids sit on a balance beam and gave each of them a stamp on each hand and a coloring page.  Ava couldn't stop looking and her stamps.  She kept trying to take them off and would giggle each time she looked at them.  We had a lot of fun!

August

Where in the world did August go?!  We had a pretty busy month!  It started out with a visit from Rhonda, Erin and Riley.  It was so nice to see them!  It seems like immediately after they left, Ava and I wound up getting sick.  Hand, foot and mouth disease is not fun for anyone, especially an almost 17 month old.

Once we were feeling better we had a few playdates.  Meghan and Stella introduced us to Black Creek Park.  Ava had a great time on the playground!  It's a wonderful park.  We also got together with Sarah, Morgan and Mason a couple of times.

Then it was time for the birthday marathon!  In August, we celebrate Tim's (the 20th), my Dad's (the 21st) and Tracy's (the 22nd) birthday.  This year we all went out to dinner on Saturday, went to my brother's house Sunday, and wrapped up the birthday celebrations at the Muckdog's (baseball) game on Monday watching my Dad throw out the first pitch.  Maddie, Morgan and Ava went out to the pitchers mound to get a closer look.

This past week we went to Lazy Lakes for an afternoon to visit Casey's parents.  Ava enjoyed the playground and checked out the pool.  A few days later, Lindsay and Ryan came home for a visit so we headed to Lewiston to see everyone.  Ava has asked to color, paint, or use chalk everyday this month.  Lindsay brought her home an easel, new markers, chalk and a huge roll of paper.  Ava loves it!  Thank you, Linds! :)

Ava and I headed to Batavia one afternoon when Casey had to work late.  Ava went on her first tractor ride and then we went to check out a new playground at one of the local elementary schools.

Fun with Finger Paint

 It's been pretty hot out (we're talking Virginia heat) and Ava is not a fan of it.  If she isn't in the pool she has no interest in being outside.  We went to Michael's the other day and stocked up on some craft supplies.  She loves to color and finger paint.  This was Ava's first time finger painting. 

 We started off with Crayola ColorWonder fingerpaint.

Her finished project :)  Pretty good, right?!

Little Monkey

 Ava is climbing everything lately!  The other day I caught her climbing on top of her horse.  Check out her balance!  I found an advertisement for a gymnastics class for 18 month olds.  We'll be signing up very soon!  I think she's going to enjoy it :)

 She climbed up and just stood there for a while.  Crazy kiddo :)

Checking out the view

It's here...finally!

Ava's Grandma and Papa ordered her a chair for her first birthday and it's finally here!  That was some backorder!  My parents brought Ava's chair over last week and she absolutely loves it.  I think her favorite part is that fact that her name is on it.  She points to each letter and waits for you to say the letter name then claps afterward.

She loves that she can get in and out of it all by herself.  Thank you Grandmama and Papa!

Water Baby

Ava has recently decided that bathing suits are for playing and clothes are for swimming in.  Any time she has her bathing suit on she stays as far away from her pool as possible, but the minute we go outside to play in the yard or on the deck she instantly goes to the pool! 

Trying to fill her Daddy's shoes

Ava loves trying on shoes right now.  As soon as she was finished splashing around she went directly to her Daddy's sandals.  I think it will be awhile before she fits into them!