It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Just the word Christmas makes me smile. The celebration of Christ's birth, the beauty and magic in the air and the excitement in my little girl's voice when she hears a familiar Christmas tune. I'm blessed to celebrate the JOY of Christmas this year!

We've already seen quite a bit of snow in our travels to the foothills and the sierras. Such a treat.

Speaking of Christmas, I'm excited to create our Christmas cards this year on Shutterfly. They have such beautiful designs --- the Pretty Poinsetta Print, the Family Wall Red, the Cranberry Swirl and the With Love Chartreuse are all so elegant and fun with a touch of sweetness. I'll probably pick one of the designs with a collage opportunity given we do not have a "hero" shot of our little family. . . this way we can add a number of photos for a touch of whimsy and Fortik flair!

I've also always wanted to create annual photo books of Ava Lu's memories and journey for each year. Shutterfly have some lovely options so I think this is the year I'll do that as well! The finished product is quite lovely from others' that I've seen.

So in the spirit of a Christmas wish and a smile, I hope when you receive our Christmas card with our smiling faces, you'll feel the warmth of our love for the season and for this life we've been blessed to live.

Michelle

Fall fun

I can't believe it's already mid-November. This has been a busy fall season. Ava Lu started school, played soccer, enjoyed our annual pumpkin-hunting trip, dressed up as Ariel for Halloween and lived life with full ambition.

She's beautiful on the inside and out - and growing in ALL ways each day. It's amazing to see.

Michelle

Kindergarten

It's official - Ava Lu is a kindergartener! She is loving life in Mrs. Delsol's class and all the learning. In fact, my mom's neighbor asked her yesterday if she had a good day at school and if she learned anything. Ava's response was, "of course, I learn something EVERY DAY!"

Here are a few of her first day of kindergarten pictures. Isn't she the cutest? So, confident, yet small and sweet! This last one was after the first day of school on the porch swing. Doesn't she look tuckered out?

Let elementary school begin,

Michelle

Summer snapshot

We have had a great summer. I took three weeks off - one in each month: June, July and August. I loved it. . . time filled with precious memories.

The first week off featured a girls road trip with my mom and Ava Lu. We went down to see my other favorite girls in the world - my cousins in Salinas which included a trip to Monterey and an overnight get-a-way in Santa Cruz. We ended the week with a three-day celebration of the 4th of July.

The second week off was filled with Tahoe fun: Jim, Ava Lu and I love our time on Moon Dunes beach and all our other annual trip traditions!

The third week was this last week: my birthday week and the week before Ava Lu started Kindergarten. I was so thankful for the quality time with my girlie. And, of course, all the treats, gifts, lunches out and pool time with my darling hubby, mom and friends.
Summer time is my favorite time - cherries to eat, BBQ's to share, tomatoes in the garden AND all the holiday weekends, lazy long days, summer mornings. . . filled with fun, love and frolicking. Michelle

Meeting Kindergarden teacher, Mrs. Delsol

Today was a big day in our house. . . . we met Ava Lu's kindergarden teacher, Mrs. Delsol. It was very nice, they held an orientation for all the children so they'd know their seat, place in line, cubby/art box and all the other fun things in the kindergarden room.

Ava Lu was so excited to meet "Mrs. Delsol." She'd been working on saying her name for the last few days so she was ready for the introduction and orientation day! One of the coolest things is that when she saw Ava Lu for the first time, she looked Ava Lu in the eyes and said, "Ava Lu. . . I was wanting to see the little girl who had this special name." I was so blessed by the level of engagement at their first meeting.

I have mixed emotions about kindergarden - my baby girl is growing up but it's always so amazing to see Ava Lu enter into a new journey/moment. She has such a love for life. We're just so blessed to live life along side her as her parents.

While I have so many summer photos to post to get caught up, I had to post something today about this fun and milestone day!

Michelle

Spring, Birthday and Summer!

I can't believe all the time that has passed since my last post. It's been a busy few months with Spring, two bouts of the flu in the house, Ava Lu's birthday extravaganza, swim meets, a dance recital and the beginnings of summer.

Here a few photos of what's been going on with us via the life of Ava Lu!

Ava Lu's 5th birthday party. We had a wonderful princess who came to the party and created such beautiful face painting designs on all the children. The birthday girl went first and had a beautiful butterfly face. It was a wonderful party and such fun celebrating our precious girl.

Ava Lu's swim meets. Here a few snapshots of her very first meet. Can you say "natural star." She did amazing!


And, end of the year preschool celebrations. Spring sing, waving at mommy, daddy and Nana!

Park play day.

I'm reminded daily and with each passing fun moment that I am so blessed to be this precious girl's mommy. What a joy to experience life at her side!

Michelle

Kate Landers party prize!

Kate Landers has the most beautiful, creative party ideas. She's hosting a give-a-way on her blog.
I'd love to win this party package for Ava Lu's upcoming 5 year-old birthday! http://katelandersevents.blogspot.com/

There's no limit to the sweetness and cuteness this would add to our precious daughter's celebration.

Ava Lu's makes front page news

While we were up in Tahoe for a few days, a San Fran Chronicle photographer captured Ava Lu for his front page story on the water levels and spring snow in CA!

How fun was it for her daddy to go to the store to purchase a paper and see his precious girl right on the frontpage. Full color, above the fold. When Ava Lu makes a debut into news, she goes right to the top :).

www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/c/a/2010/04/02/BA6C1CO45A.DTL&o=1

We love our precious daughter so much. What a blessing that her delightful face brought smiles to so many! I know my dad would have gotten the biggest smile when he picked up that paper at the store.

A proud mommy,
Michelle

Travel group get together - 3rd anniversary!

We celebrated Ava Lu day last week and our third anniversary. Here's just a sneak preview from part of the celebrations. These are from our travel group get together for Dim Sum in the Bay Area. It was so much fun to see the girls and parents.

The girls are all such beauties - inside and out!

Ava Lu enjoyed being the "big girl." She's a year older than these girls. Above she's in a sandwich hug with Malia and Ileana.

Posing with Malia. Aren't they so cute?

Now others are joining in and cameras are starting!

I'll post more later in the week.

We love our precious daughter more than ever. We can't believe it's been 3 years since our day of promise came to pass. It's always a good day when we celebrate Ava Lu day!

Michelle

2010

I'm behind on 2010 posts so I thought I'd go back to New Year's Eve when we spend time celebrating with our dear friends, Dan, Melinda, Eliza and Maggie, Liam and Sam.

Ava Lu loves Maggie, Liam and Sam so much. Here they are in their jammies at the party! They are a little tired but still having fun.


As I began 2010, I was reminded of how this will be the first calendar year without my precious dad. I was struck with the thought of "how will I make it without you, daddy." I am thankful for my heavenly Father who I will trust in to carry me through all the firsts without my precious daddy-of-the heart to be here with me. I know that each day will be a step of faith. I will strive to remember the faithfulness of God in giving me a loving, dad like him.

Michelle

3 years ago today - we laid eyes on her for the first time!

The first time I saw your face. . . . .

We received our referral packet with photos three years ago today. We got to see Ava Lu's face for the first time. There was instant love for the face of our precious girl! It's a day that we will never forget.

Three years later the fulfillment of promise and our relationship of love with Ava Lu grows each day. Ava Lu brightens up a room. She is a gifted little girl with such a gift of touching the hearts of people. She is an amazing blessing and daughter.

On that day three years ago we knew our lives would never be the same. I love you, Ava Lu Lu!