Got Milk?

First, I just have to say that tomorrow is August 1st. That may not mean much to most people, but for years for me it was the impending doom of going back to school. I loved teaching, I loved (ok, liked?) being in school enough..but August always signaled the end of summer. I still get a knot in my stomach just thinking about it. Anyway-a big thank you to Mark for working for our family so that August 1st is just another day for me. I can never express how thankful I am to get to work year round in our house. :)

I don't know, it's not a mustache but I think she could be a pretty cute milk ad girl.

Today we played with Abby and Ashlyn and Maguire. Abby and I lived a few doors down from each other our senior year in college. Kinda funny we are having play dates now! These are not the best photographic works-because I am swollen, and kids don't look at the camera. Abby wins the prize for smiling and having make up on today. :)

I set the macaroni on my shelf and let them come get it. :)

Weekend Fun...

Mark hung out with the kiddos (& dogs) so Melinda and I could run around. I love that husband of mine.

We thought going to the grocery store together seemed like fun. It was...mostly-although pushing the cart reminded me of driving an 18 passenger van at Taylor back in the day. I decided she'd better take over pushing or this baby might come and I'm not ready for that yet! Ava is nice and relaxed. :)

After trying to keep Ava away from the sprinkler for too long I just gave in. It was her first sprinkler experience. We had fun. :)

If you build it, they will come...

We finally finished a guest room in the basement so that our visitors don't have to sleep on the couch. (sorry virgil and april) Aunt Ann was our first guest and we had so much fun! Basically our week involved sitting, shopping, eating, project runway, and Diet Coke. Doesn't get much better than that in my book!

Mark babysat so we could go to dinner with my cute sister.

Ann very graciously shared her ice cubes and allowed Ava to stir her tea with a knife.

Cuddling (as much as Ava cuddles) on the deck with Aunt Ann.

We went out to lunch and thankfully Mark finally removed Ava from the iced tea by doing the obvious thing, allowing her to take a fork and pick up leaves in the grass by the restaurant. :) I am sad this dress is so short! I remember thinking when I opened it, dear Lord this will never fit!

whoah mama

Big old belly. 30 weeks, which gives me a knot in my stomach! How can I only have 10 weeks of sleep left? How can I have two kids? Only grown ups have two kids! I passed notes with my friend Karyn in church last Sunday--clearly I am not ready for that responsibility.
Looks like it's too late for that now though.

Leslie's Journey

I feel so shallow sometimes blogging about my life. Please say a few extra prayers for Leslie whose blog is on the right. I am so heartbroken for them.

Lots More Vacation......(like 3 posts worth)

I would like to show this picture to document that one time she did almost smile while in the car. This is because she now says cheese. If that's the best we can do, I'll take it. :)

Nothing like some good mousse, huh Mark?

Before bed photo shoot.

Ok, I have a little bit of an obsession with sunsets. But how cool is it that God does this every day and we usually miss it?! Threw a rainbow one in there, too. Breathtaking to me.

Mark got to sail a bunch....Ava and I supported from the shore.

Playing with the features on our new camera. I have pictures when I was 3 months old with the same stupid sun face.

Watching Daddy hit golf balls. (aren't those clouds cool?!)

STILL watching Daddy... :)

Finally free.

I think we should take this sign and put it on our house...seeing as how that's what we're doing lately.

I only ever had one Grandma, so I think the fact that Ava has 2 plus two GREAT grandmas is so special! This is Great Grandma Betsy.

Look at the little papoose staying warm in cousin Dan's jacket.

VACATION!!!!!!!

Mark works all the time. Thanks to the crackberry, laptop, and his genetic predisposition to being a workaholic, it is VERY rare for us to spend any time where he isn't at least tuned in to work. (I am thankful for this, not complaining...) BUT-so much fun to get to have a week of vacation where except for a few relapses :)--we were able to relax and hang out as a family. Especially since it will go down in the books as our only family vacation with just the 3 of us!

Daddy reading Ava books


Aunt Barb (and Uncle Dave) taking the little water monger out for a ride.

Mark and I got to go on several sunset cruises thanks to the kindness of his family members to listen for our sleeping child.

Paradise!

Baby Keller...

This is really my first day home for about 20 days-and I have 308 vacation pics to choose from (about 300 are of the sunset!) but I wanted to go back a couple weeks to my visit to see sweet Keller Johnson. Not only does he have the coolest name ever, but I prayed for this baby soooo much! He was desperately wanted and truly one of the cutest newborns I've seen. It was so much fun to get to hold him for 20 hours a day. How can I get to do that for a living? It confirmed my extreme case of baby love. We might need a bigger house, or just friends who procreate...a lot. :)

Keller's first trip to the grocery store. :) (How awesome does Beth look???? NO FAIR!)

I can't even stand it.

Ugh..........I miss him! (I know I get one soon but I have to do night duty then :)--this was just pure fun!)

at last...my post has come along.

And it's not even that current. All I have are a few pictures from last weekend-since then I have been to Orlando and now our little family is on vacation at the lake. Can't get the pictures onto the laptop-so I will have to post more when we get home. :)

Our beautiful maternity photo shoot.
Yeah, judge us. She is pretty much doomed to love the evil brown liquid like her parents. (although at 14 months she is just carrying the can--not actually partaking)


Couldn't have asked for a better Dad. Ava is in love! (me too :))