Chit-Chattin' with my little Lady

For those of you that have been around Ava you are well aware of her ever-expanding vocabulary. She is a talker! (I have NO idea where she gets it...Bryan I assume) Anyway, recently she's had a few really funny comments to me I thought I would share. It amazes me EVERYDAY the things that come out of this child's mouth and how witty she is at barely 2 yrs. She has me laughing constantly and definitely keeps me in check and on my toes. My parent's remind me often that they sit and laugh after being with Ava because so much is like reliving raising me at that age. They said she is so similar to me in her mannerisms and speech. *What a lucky gal! :o) hee hee! Enjoy:

At dinner tonight I said "Ava do you want to say the Amen prayer?" (She usually loves to say it) she thought and said "No. TV on!" I said "Let's thank God for our dinner" and I proceeded to say the prayer. Then she said "Ok, Ava say Amen" so I close my eyes & she sort-of closed hers, put her hands in the praying position and said "Thank you God. Turn TV back on! Amen."

I need to catch her on film saying a real prayer, it is the most precious thing you will ever hear. She talks really softly and "closes" her eyes but if you peek at her they're fluttering because she's looking around to see what everyone else at the table is doing . Then she thanks God and says "Love you to Carter, Cole, Mama, Daddy, Unc Andy, Lili etc...." EVERYONE including her nanny & her son, Lisa's dog Chelsea, Bammy's dog Cheyenne, their horse etc... then she always (every time) asks God for cookies and crackers, her to fav snacks. So sweet!

Later toward the end of dinner I said "Ava, do you want more chicken?" "Hmmmm, uhmmm Nope." I said, "Well, why not?" She looks and thinks "Well...because." What do you say to that!? I said "Because, why?" She said "Just because mama." Nice. She's two. It already begins.

We're sort-of potty training and the other day before her bath she was sitting on the potty and I said "Ok Ava, let's tee tee" she grabs her thighs to look at her "area" and says "Oh no mama, no tee tee tonight." I said "Well why?!" She said "Tee tees are sleeping. Shhhhhh" (laughing) I said "Well babe, why don't you try and wake them up and see if they want to come out and play?!" She looks down there again and says LOUDLY "Tee Tees! Tee Tees! Want to play???" Then looks at me and says "Sorry mama, tee tees are sleeping." I take her off the potty (still laughing) and I sit down and GO tee tee, she looks at me and says (clapping) "Oh yeah mama! Your tee tees are awake!!!" :o)

LIFE WITH AVA. WE'RE JUST TRYIN' TO KEEP UP.

Weekend fun with Papa & Grammy

This Thursday Grammy & Papa Kennedy came in town fresh off a week at sea on a cruise to celebrate a belated Father's Day & B-day with Miss Ava. We had a great time that went by way too fast. Here's Fred opening his gift from Miss Ava.Now it's Ava's turn to open her B-day gifts from Grammy & Papa...she was SPOILED rotten!!! Here's her new kitchen set, it's so close to real pots and pans, adorable.
Ava's new lawn mower that blows bubbles when you push it. Thanks Grammy & Papa!

THEN...the big gift! Ava was beyond thrilled to get her very own baby-size umbrella stroller. This child is obsessed with strollers so when she opened this she screeched with excitement, so sweet!

Fun at the park (in the rain) with Grammy & Papa Kennedy

Ava posing for her papa, like such a big girl

All dressed up and no where to go...

If you check the blog on a somewhat regular basis, you'll notice a trend here. Ava LOVES to play dress up. This was the other morning when we were doing "potty training time" and playing in her room. She found anything (and everything) you can put together (and nothin' underneath) and pranced around the house so proud! Just look at that face!
Let's break this outfit down.

• Dora night shirt-CHECK
• Head band mom uses to wash her face-CHECK
• Gold chain link belt (from 1985)-CHECK
• Plastic metallic heart bracelets-CHECK
• Nordstrom's silk scarf around head-CHECK
• Gold tarnished bracelet-CHECK
• Chunky plastic cell phone-CHECK
• Pink AND Purple tutus-CHECK
• Nothin under all of this but a grin...CHECK

Looks like she's ready to roll baby!

In the midst of all this Bryan's in the office (trying) to work. Ava thought he definitely needed to check out her latest fashion combo. Here she is knocking waiting patiently for daddy to answer the door.

Pool & Popsicles...what more do you need?!

Soooo this summer is starting off as a SCORCHER as most of you are well aware of. We've been in the triple digits since Saturday and it's not looking like it will ease up anytime soon. So what do you do in hard times like this?! Grab a plastic pool, a Popsicle and take a dip! Ava and I had a ball playing in her new pool and enjoying Popsicles. *Well, she seemed to get BOTH of them somehow but she's too cute to say no to in that suit and the blue dripping off her face! Enjoy the pics and stay cool!

Look at the blue & red...there's just not a CLEAN way to eat a Popsicle when it's 125 degrees outside :o)

This is her "Brain Freeze" face, right after I took the pic she spit the ice in my hand and said "Brrrrr cold mama!" Then took it out of my hand and ate it again. Love it.

Wonderful Whirlwind Weekend

So this weekend was a BIG weekend in the Kennedy house. Friday, cousin's Cole & Carter along with Aunt Lili and Uncle Andy came in town which was VERY exciting...& Ava got a brand new "cottage" playhouse for the backyard! Then on Saturday it was time to get ready for the big TWO year-old birthday party. We cannot believe we've had this angel for two years already! Time flies when you're having fun and we feel so blessed each and every day she is a part of our lives. We started Saturday morning with LOTS of playtime in the backyard then Lili & Mommy were off to run errands for Ava's party while the guys (Uncle Andy and Daddy) took the kiddos to the park and out to lunch. After that everyone napped (well all but Lili and Mommy) then it was time to have a P-A-R-T-Y!!! Ava was surrounded by so many of her friends and family we are so glad so many people were able to come and celebrate with Miss A. The party was super fun, Ava got some wonderful gifts and had a fantastic time with her cake (and sharing) with everyone (see posts below)... the evening wrapped up with sweet Lili putting Ava's tricycle together for her outside with three kids climbing ALL over her, in the heat and dark!!! The woman has some patience, let me tell you! :o) But Miss Ava sure loves her tricycle! Thanks Lili!

Sunday, (Father's Day and Ava's official Birthday) was another fantastic time! What a gift to Bryan to share Father's Day with his girl! How fun she was born so close to such a special holiday! While Andy & Bryan went golfing Lili, Mommy and they boys shared time with Bammy & Papa then we all met at a local Austin joint called "Freddie's Place" a very laid-back restaurant with a huge patio under the oak trees and places the kids can run around and play...then of course, local Austin musicians playing while you eat. A great way to end a wonderful weekend.

Please enjoy the below pics...I warn you now...there are A LOT but how can you only choose a few on such an important two days!?!?!

Saturday June 14, 2008 day of THE party!!!

Saturday morning...cousin bonding over a Backyardigan's (Ava's FAVORITE cartoon since she was about 4 months old!) on the floor of the bedroom. *Look at Cole's arm around her & her leaning her head on his shoulder! He's the best big cousin ever! How sweet is this?! They LOVE each other so much!

Napkins for the party
Favor buckets for the kiddos

Mommy & Daddy catchin' a quick pic with the BUSY birthday girl before the chaos begins (she was looking at the camera but RIGHT before Lili took the pic then Bammy arrived so we lost her after that!)

The beautiful Birthday Baby in her party dress! Yes...it matched the theme of the day, the invitations, the cake and the napkins...I wonder whose mommy is an event planner?! My bro-in-law kept laughing at all the little "details" he said "Man Bridge, this is an event isn't it?" I said "Of course!!! Would you have expected anything less?" :o) hee hee!

Ava and Bammy waiting for the guests to arrive...

Cousin Kayla, Lili, Bammy, B-day girl, Uncle Abel, Aunt Carol

Ava's own "little" cake

Ava's BIG cake

For some reason ON her birthday Ava decided to "try out" a new smile...we have no clue where this came from but any time we asked her to smile or say cheese she immediately squinted her eyes...you'll note this on several pics throughout this weekend's posting

Sharing with Mommy

And Aunt Carol & Kayla...

And Bammy

Lili steals a kiss from the busy birthday girl

Time to open gifts!!!

Gift from Uncle Andy to Ava...note what the shirt says (and the "squint") shirt reads "Single & Fabulous" Sooo cute! Andy thought it was perfect and I buy my nephews many, many fun t-shirts like this so he decided to return the...uh...favor :o) We love it, thanks Uncle!

Kids having a blast in the backyard

Playing with Cousin Carter by my new cottage (look closely at Carter's mouth...yes a plastic Hot Dog, he was just hanging out with Ava with that in his mouth!)

If you look closely you'll see her hands and face are covered in dirt. She was actually EATING the rocks and dirt in the backyard with Carter during their "hot dog tea party" (pictured earlier) Nice.

Lili pulling the balloon out of the fan that we all knew was only a matter of time before one would find its way wrapped around the pole...

This crown went on her head when we brought out cake. This crown didn't leave her head until after 9PM when we put her in the bath. Love it.The aftermath of the backyard...it was SUPER hot, soooo unbearable but the kids still hung out playing in the heat. The poor parent's had to take turns watching them. Much hotter than last year for sure!

Lili putting together Ava's tricycle in the dark, Ava giving her a sweet hug of THANKS

YEAH! She did it and no kids were hurt in the making of this tricycle :o) We love you Lili!

Takin' her new wheels for a spin

Runnin' from mommy to take a bath (yes, still wearing the ever-present crown!)Time for a "relaxing" bath with Cousin Carter before bedtime...looks like this will really calm them down before heading to bed. What a great way to end a jam-packed day!