Its Poppy Dip

I have seen this blog  Its Poppy Dip before bringing Ava home, and I thought that Sallee made the cutest dresses and twirls for girls.  I waited for a while before I actually went and bid on a couple of her dresses.  I received them in the mail and I had Ava Grace wear one yesterday.  Since I live where it is freezing out I paired the dress with a turtleneck and leggings.  I got so many compliments on her dress.  Sallee and her family are going to adopt another angel Samson Jude and she is making theses dresses to help with the cost.  I think she might be gone right now, but when she returns you should definately pick one up.  I am so glad that I can help out another little angel to find a forever family!

I told you she looks cute in her hats!

She loves Trevors Shutter Shades!

To Cut or Not To Cut, that is the question

OK, well never having a girl before, I am a little confused as to Ava Graces hair.  It is VERY fine, did I say VERY, it is!  She has this long strand that is growing in the back but it is not very nice.  So do I cut that off, and make it even, or keep it and wait for the hair underneath to grow?

And as you can also see, she has no hair in the front either.  Poor Girl! At least she looks really cute in her hats!

Whats up?

Last week Tom had a birthday, he is now closer to 50 than 40, so he is feeling old.  He dosen't really like celebrating his birthday, but we did have his mom over and she made one of his favorite cakes (Pineapple upside down), which the boys don't like, so he gets to eat it all by himself.  Ava did like it and helped him eat his piece.  She also blew out his candels.

Our dog Cooper, loves to be in the middle of everything.  He sleeps in some pretty bad spots.  I was working in the kitchen the other day and practically broke my arm when I tripped over him.  He didn't even move out of the way just laid there hoping I wouldn't yell at him.

Andrew is working on his Science Fair project.  He is doing an experiment to see how friction affects speed.  He got his racetrack set up and Ava wanted to help him.  It was really cute to see her so interested in what Andrew is doing.

Ava and Cooper are becoming best buds.  Cooper knows that Ava will feed him when in her high chair and she will keep Cooper company when everyone else is busy.  This is Avas favorite seat in the house...

The other day, we were all supposed to be cleaning the house, well we couldn't find Trevor (typical), well I went to put something away in Avas room, and I found Trevor reading a book to Ava.  It was sooo cute.  Now don't get me wrong, the boys love to read to Ava and she will read to them also, but this was just so cute how the 2 of them were.

On Sunday, our church told our youth to dress up for the Bears game.  Well Ava has a cute cheerleading outfit, so I had her wear hers to church.  After church Ava decided to show us a few of her cheerleading moves she has been working on.  Here she is showing us "table", she showed us flamingo, and she does a really great somersault.  I only got her table as a picture I took a video of the others.

too bad the Bears lost, she would of looked cute at the Superbowl party in her outfit.

Now that Ava has been home with us for 8 months there are some things I am wondering about....

Will Ava be left handed or right handed?  With the boys, I just naturally gave everything to them in the right hand and now they are all right handed.  With Ava, she definately does things with both hands, soooo should I let her decided which hand to use, or do I try and lean her to one hand or the other?  I guess I really don't have a preference here, just wondering.

finally, we played with Play dough.  She did great with not eating it, but she wasn't to sure what to do with it all.  She liked putting it in the container and taking it out and puting the lid on the best.  I guess that is why we call her our type A personality child.  She loves to clean and be clean.  So like Tom, totally not like me!



slow week

To tell you the truth, it is kinda nice to be able to relax and not do a whole lot.   My calendar is color coded for each child and then Tom and I are in black.  It gets crazy with all the sports and activities that the kids are in.  Tyler is pretty much on his own now that he has his own car and drives himself everywhere.  There are many times tho that we need him to drive one of his brothers somewhere because we phyically can't be in 3 places at one time.  It always seems to work out somehow.  Have you ever felt like the saying...it takes a village to raise a child is true?  There are many times I think this.  I think of the ladies who watch over the kids as they walk/ride bikes to school.  Making sure that they are using the stop light, waiting for the crossing signal.  Stoping at stop signs to not get hit by cars.  Helping to carpool when your available, because you know for sure you won't be able to do it someother time.  I find it refreshing to have these wonderful people in my life.

I just sat today for a while and reflected on what God has given me.  I don't want to become lazy, or selfish.  I don't want my kids to think of only themselves first.  What can I do to make my children have a giving heart.  A Man of God, this is what I pray for my sons.  I want them to be strong Godly men who give of themselves and see good in others and help along the way.

For Ava, I pray that she has insight.  Insight to see what others can't, to see the good in others even when they can't see it in themselves.  She is such a light, I pray that she continues to be and that she can be the light to others around her.

My thoughts are all over the place tonight, but really wanted everyone to know that we are good here.  Nothing has changed much.

Trevors Basketball Team

Trevors 3vs3 team 



I only have these because someone else took them.  I have been really bad bringing my camera to other sporting events.  Poor Andrew, I haven't been able to get him at soccer or basketball.

Austin is starting LaCrosse, so hopefully I will be able to get a picture of him in his uniform.

Look Out...

its the Ava asauraus

When a Son can beat his Dad

During the Christmas break, we really didn't go anywhere.  To keep the kids entertained and off of the Playstation, Tom decided to challenge the boys in Ping Pong, Air Hockey and Pool.  We have all 3 in our basement so the contest was on!  Tom can easily take down Tyler, Austin and Andrew, but....when it comes to Trevor there is a different story.  Tom prides himself as being "good" at all 3 of the games, well if Tom is "good" then what is Trevor when he can beat his Dad in 2 out of the 3 games.  The only one that Trevor is still a little behind in is pool.  Trevor can outplay his Dad in Ping Pong and Air Hockey.  Oh how the tides have changed in our house now.

Austin relaxing after a "loss" with Samson

Ava decided she wanted the bean bag chair

Ava loves to use just about anything as a phone.

enough of all the yelling from downstairs she says. 



Brother vs. Brother

What happens when one brother has to face his other brother in indoor soccer?  Someone has to lose and someone has to win...right?  Well it can only result in the fact that Austin is a really, really, really good sport!

Austin is playing on a Fresh/Soph team for his school for indoor soccer.  Trevors travel 8th grade soccer team is good enough to play up...so therefore they have to play against eachother.

Trevors 8th grade team ended up winning 3-1, but I have to say Austin was a great sport.  His team went into this thinking they were going to kill the little 8th graders, Austin did stick up for his little brother and told his teammates, no way, we are gonna get "schooled".  and "schooled" they did.  The kicker is that Trevor scored a header right over his brother!

Well good game and good attitude by both of the boys.  Something good did come out of it...both boys respected eachother!

Not a great shot, but Trevor made sure when Austin was in playing

that he was the one to cover him!

after the game.

Look how Austin is trying to be very mature about his loss 

Good game boys!

New Years Eve Fondu

Well another year gone, and we did the traditional Fondu at David and Kellys house.  It was beautiful and the food was outstanding.  I wrote about it here last year.  I took pictures this year to show you how Kelly decorates and we enjoy every moment with friends we hold so dear.  These same friends prayed with us and rejoiced with us on our journey of adopting Ava Grace.

Ava Grace also got a few more presents.  She really isn't spoiled or anything!

this is a present I got for Kelly

It is like the hand carved Santa,

but it is a beautiful Angel

It is 1:00 pm here, and the boys are still at Kellys and I am still in my P.J.s.  Oh how wonderful!