Rainy Days

Another rainy day in Santa Cruz. Stomping in puddles and eating watermelon- two of Ava's favorite things!

Pumpkin Patch 2008

Another New Trick for Ava

I honestly think Ava is going to be a swimmer! Not only does she LOVE anything that has to do with water, she has now taken bathtime to a whole new level! Not only will Ava lay on her stomach and try to swim (moving her legs back and forth), she LOVES putting her face in the water!

Monterey County Fair

Ava's 1st close encounter with livestock. She didn't even mind the smell and boy was it stinky!!

Potty Talk

Today we started potty training Ava. Being only 14 months maybe it's too soon but I figure why not try?! We have added the "potty routine" to the 1st thing Ava does when she wakes up and the last thing she does when she goes to sleep. Although we have had no success yet, Ava LOVES her new potty (as you can tell from the pictures below). Ava has learned to sign many words so we figure the next word she learns will be bathroom.



Ava loving her new potty.

Getting up from the potty after signing "all done".

Oakland Zoo

One of our many adventures this summer was to the Oakland Zoo with my best friend Kelie (aka Aunt Kelie). What a blast we had! Ava loved looking at all the animals and espically enjoyed brushing the goats.

Ava looking at the Giraffes.

Brushing the goats although she tried brushing her own hair first as Kelie and I yelled "Nooo...." and freaked Ava out.

Enjoying the "Sky Ride" as the whole time I had my arms tightly wrapped around her and praying she wouldn't have one of her tantrums in which she turns into a 25 pound Al Dente noodle. The joys of parenting!!

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.

Ava enjoyed many outings to the Monterey Bay Aquarium this summer. She loves looking at the fish in the large tanks! She would often point and yell in delight as her friend Hayes would keep saying "take out, take out Momma!"

Ava and Hayes enjoying lunch.

Jessica trying to figure out how to be 8.5 months pregnant, walk her son with a monkey backpack and push a stroller all at the same time... I'm glad to report Jessica gave birth to a beautiful healthy baby girl on Aug. 3rd!

Ava and Hayes enjoying the water table.

Ava and Grandma Kathy

Ava enjoying the walk up the driveway with Grandma Kathy at the Wharf-2-Wharf.

Disneyland! Part 2...

Disneyland! Part 1...

Our 1st week long family vacation was to Los Angeles this summer to attend my cousin's wedding and to go to Disneyland! We always knew Ava was a great kid but who knew she could tolerate the Pirates of the Carribean without crying, withstand a 30 minute line to go on Dumbo, and ride a Merry-go-Round for the 1st time all in one day!



Pirates of the Carribean... So interested in what was going on...

The next Hannah Montana... We Hope not!

Riding a Merry-go-Round...

Of course... another pair of sunglasses to add to her collection!

Wharf-2-Wharf 2008

O.K.... so I didn't meet my goal of running in this years race... but there is always next year?! What a great time we had watching the people run by...

It's a bird, It's a plane, It's a really fast guy!

Go Giants (or not)!

Uncle B was home for a quick weekend and took us to another Giants game. It was great to spend time with the family but not to watch the Giants lose again...
Having drinks at the famous Mo-Mo's bar....
Family picture at the stadium...
Brian showing off the great wrist bands I bought for him...

Riding with Daddy

Ava loves bike riding!! Here she is getting ready to go for a cruise with daddy.

Ava's New Bike

Since Jacobe loves moutain biking it seemed perfect to buy Ava a new helmet (a.k.a brain bucket) and bike for her birthday.

Here's Ava showing off her tu-tu, matching bib (that Grandma Kathy made) and helmet while practicing her walking with the bird walker she got for her birthday.


Only in Santa Cruz can one ride their bike in a tu-tu. Here is Ava showing off her new look while cruising down E. Cliff Drive.




So Ava has a few more inches to grow until her feet reach the pedals but boy does she LOVE her bike. Everytime she sees it, Ava points and says "bi" for bike. If I don't watch her closely, she will try to climb into the seat!

Ava turns 1!

We can't believe how quickly this year has flown! Ava is already 1 and it just seems like yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital. Some highlights from her little get together....

Ava playing on her a,b,c mat...

Not too sure about her cupcake...


Enjoying her new chair!

Ava's Fo-hawk

Spending an afternoon on Santana Row in San Jose. Ava enjoyed rubbing food in her hair which made for an "all natural" hold for her fo-hawk. She is such a ham! We have so much fun with her no matter where we go!

Ava and Flowers

Ava loves flowers. Everytime the slider is open on the deck she darts out to pick flowers. She definately takes after daddy (and great grandpa) with her love of plants!