catching up

i know. it's been forever. so much has happened the past few months. ava started kindergarten {tear}, our lives were turned upside down and we all had to adjust to this new schedule, i am back on a "get myself healthy" kick. i mean really, hollis is three...i need to get myself together here. thank goodness to this new schedule, i think it can actually happen. life just seems more organized, more manageable. i actually enjoy getting up at the crack of dawn. schedules and routines are oh so good :) had to share ava's first piece of art from school. her school has this awesome program called artsonia, where the art teacher takes photos of all the artwork and uploads it to the site. you can view their art and even order key chains, t shirts, mugs with your child's art on it. i mean really...we all wish we would have thought of this! anyway, her first masterpiece: line drawing and color mixing.

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flipper

bo backflipped into the pool yesterday {why didn't i get that on video?! stud!}. so then ava had to try a front flip. the girl is pretty fearless! i love it!

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fallen

we have not fallen off the face of the earth...promise! we have been having a wonderful summer, enjoying lots of time in the sun at the pool or the lake! the kids keep us busy and even though it's hella hot here, we have to get outside part of the day to keep their wiggles out! i had an awesome girls weekend in kansas with jen {yes, i'm lazy and am linking to her post so you can see her pics!}, it was much needed and the time went too quickly! of course, it is always sweet coming home to my awesome babies and bo! yes, i know how lucky i am...
ava turned 5 june 30th! we had a great birthday party for her at the water park again this year...i should probably blog that big event! i think i am in denial again this year...i saw school supplies at target the other day and almost had a panic attack. not ready for her to be gone 5 days a week...probably why i am really taking the time to soak up the kids and especially her before school starts.
i'll try to catch up on here, but no promises...we all know how that goes!
xo,
a

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my girl

i am so thankful for this girl always, but this weekend she has shown me how incredibly special, wonderful, and compassionate she is. Hollis and i have been sick all weekend {yes, strep throat has struck again}, bo has been working and she has been an angel. i know she has wanted to do more than sit around the house and watch movies, play independently, and hang out with us sick ones. but she has. she has and has not complained at all. today, my mom rescued her and took her to the antique mall while she an felix worked on their booths and then went back to the house for a swim! she came home happy and excited to tell me all she had done and show me the beanie baby koala bear grans bought her at the antique mall for being such a good helper. She saw the him on the shelf {the him she named "jeanette"} and said he saw her and said. I'm all alone and you look like the perfect girl for me!" cute. then after telling me about swimming and playing she made sure to tell me how much she missed me. i am blessed.

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hairs cut

mr. 2 and a half got his hairs cut. it was a much needed event as he was starting to resemble one of the muskateers...or beatles....or his grandaddy back in the day {circa 1970's}. anyway, glad to have my clean cut little guy back! he actually sat pretty still for me while i cut his hair. on the front porch. yep, we're hillbilly like that ;)

by the way. he is totally two. i think i may need help with this guy. he is giving me a run for my money. literally. today after going potty like a big boy, he ran out the front door all the way to the neighbors yard...naked as naked can be. of course, i was chasing behind him...but good grief, that boy is quick! long story as to why the front door was open...that won't happen again...

so yes, pray for me.

xo,

a

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a little something

just a little something special i'm working on for raskullz!! so exciting!

thanks jen for helping me with the writing!

xo

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icky sicky

ava and i spent the afternoon at the doctor on monday. both of us are fine. no fever, no strep, no bronchitis. really not sure exactly what it is...just a bug i guess. we are both on antibiotics. she went to school tuesday and i think we over did it as today we are both feeling pewney again.

we did make it to "toy story", as ava calls it {toys "r" us} for a valentine's present for ava and hollis. i had promised them a trip with daddy and i to choose out a special valentine. after walking through the whole store {multiple times} searching for the perfect valentine. we finally found what each little one's heart desired and headed out. of course on the way out we had to ride the rides...and stop at the quarter machines for a piece of junk...

poor ava was ready to go home...she was tired and i think her tiredness and not feeling well is really showing in this pic...even though she is smiling...

we are all just trying to keep up with this little stinker lately! he feels GREAT!

hoping this is our last round of sickness for a while...it's not been fun.

xo,

a

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love, kisses, glitter & hearts...

call me cheesy, but i love valentine's day...especially since i have three super special sweethearts in my life to share this day of love with!

ava made these uber cute melted crayon hearts for her classmates at school. she helped break up the crayons, and put them in the muffin tray! she watched them melt through the window in the oven door. so cute! she was so excited to see how they turned out.

of course we spent the morning at the doctors office today, ava has ear infections..again. we'll see how she feels in the morning...fingers crossed she gets to go to school for the big valentine's day party. we've been talking about it for weeks...she is so excited and will be beyond bummed if she has to miss....

hope you all have a happy valentine's day!

xo

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handsome

a conversation between my mom and ava at the rodeo today....

ava: he is so handsome.

Grans: yes, ava. the cowboy is so handsome.

ava: {with a totally horrified look on her face} not the COWBOY grans....the HORSE!!!

& then i died laughing...

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401

hey ya'll. i know, it's been quiet around here for a while. we had a super busy holiday and i really just wanted to hibernate with the family and enjoy the time together. getting back into the groove of routine, school, everything has been a bit of an adjustment...crazy how two weeks of no routine, sleeping in, staying up too late can get you all out of sorts! i have also been suffering from some pretty extreme migraines...last week i had one day without a headache...ONE DAY! not how i want to live. i'm off to the neurologist on the 25th to get this sorted out. i'm sure it's a messy combination of hormones, stress, & allergies. bo says i'm just crazy...that the longer he knows me the crazier i get...not sure what that says about him! lol! anyway, above is a pic of my cowgirl after a spend the night with her nonna & cousins and then a day at the stock show & midway {rides}! i picked the kids up at 5 after their busy day. they both fell asleep in the car on the way home, sacked out when we got home, slept through the night and in until 8:30ish this morning. i couldn't believe it! they have never been so exhausted! i know they had a blast!

well, i hope to catch up and post a few pics from the holiday soon! lots going on, but want to make sure i get a few photos up from our family holiday!

oh yeah, and this post is titled 401 because it's my 401st post! wowza!

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