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!

Papa

This fall and winter have been such tough ones, losing my precious daddy and Ava Lu's adoring Papa on Oct. 31. I've gone silent in my blogging as our hearts have focused on how we will now pick up the pieces and live on each day without our favorite, favorite man in the whole world.

I thought it would be fitting to post a few pictures of Papa before resuming our normal chronicling of Ava Lu's life! He was her love as they played "Cinderella and the glass slipper" almost every day together. We miss Papa and continue to honor his role and place in our lives.

Apple Hill 2009

We went on our annual Apple Hill trip a few weeks back. It's always such fun. Ava Lu makes it funner and funner every year.

We did the little petting "zoo" of llamas and goats at Denver Dan's, pumpkin picking at O'Halloran's, lunch at Bodhaine's, pony rides and hay maze at Apple Ridge Farms AND, last, but not least, dessert/pie at Grandpa's Cellar. Yum yum.

I need to post the rest of our pictures from the other camera. We captured lots of moments of Ava Lu enjoying the day.

It's always so nice to have an Apple Hill day of fun!

Michelle

Seasons

It is clearly fall (some winter weather this week too here in Sac). I'm working on transitioning summer clothes from closets and drawers to make room for fall and winter clothes. Clearly Ava Lu has grown these past few months so going through the clothes takes a bit more time.

Here's Ava Lu in one of my favorite little fall outfits - her Halloween/Fall pillow smock. We took this on our trip to Apple Hill a few weeks back. You can see she was even up for some fun face painting to properly accessorize her fall look

Speaking of clothes, Kim is holding a giveaway for darling clothes. Check out the giveaway here: http://celebratingeverydaylife.blogspot.com/2009/10/its-giveaway-time.html.

Here's to pumpkins, fall candles and cozy time with ones we love!

Michelle

Nana's 70th B-day

We had a wonderful time in July celebrating my mom's (Ava Lu's Nana) 70th birthday with dear family. She was so blessed by all those who came from out of town to mark this wonderful milestone. Here are a few shots to show the flavor of the weekend!The girl cousins by the pool.

Ava Lu and "baby Noah" as she affectionately calls her little cousin.

More cousins. . . .

My mom and my dear, dear cousin Laura. We had a wonderful night out with the "girls" at American Idol! They share the same birthday. These are two of Ava Lu's favorite women.

Ava Lu & Noah again. No need to hold onto him to stay close to her. She has a bowl of chips!

Ava Lu took swimming lessons late in June at the Club. Here she is with Miss Maddie.

4th of July in River Park after mommy's 5 mile Independence Day race. She still had energy!

We are so blessed by the many memories we've made in the summer of 09!

Tahoe 2009

We continued our Tahoe summer tradition again this year and had a wonderful time.

Ava Lu swam in the lake, thanks to her swim lessons earlier this summer! But truly her favorite beach pastime remains digging in the sand which she did daily.

It was a great week away. We went to concerts on the beach and golf course, enjoyed slow relaxing dinners and even snuck in a nap or two. The icing on the cake was when Ava Lu looked up at me on the lawn swing one night as the moon was shining and said, "mama, I'm having a wonderful time on vacation with you and daddy."

In our hearts, that's what it's all about.
Michelle

Vacation Bible School

Ava Lu went to her first "day camp" a few weeks ago - Vacation Bible School at a local church. I think I was more nervous about leaving her than she was about staying. She did very well and attended all five days!

Two of her buddies from school - Emma & Katelyn - were there and they had a good time. She's now singing "Father Abraham" and "Let my people go!" I'm thrilled to have God's word planted in her heart even in little steps.

It's fun to hear her now talk about her "Bible School."

Reminded of God's blessings,
Michelle

Canoe Trip

These pictures are from Father's Day. Jim's choice for Father's Day was to go on a canoe trip for at Lake Natoma in Folsom. Here is Ava Lu during our break on the shore. She truly loves the water and playing on the shore.

It was such a nice day to be on the lake/river. We even fed a family of ducks while we were on the water. Ava Lu squealed with excitement at all the new discoveries!

Here's to more fun in the sun -
Michelle