And from Oma's camera...

Leopard and Lace. That's my girl. :) (thanks Aunt Jane for the cool outfit!)

Oma was HILARIOUS with that ducky puppet.

Ok I think this picture is so sweet. She stared out the window the whole time Mark and Dad were outside. I love her little profile looking longingly at them. (see the secret message mark left us in the snow :))

Oma & Opa!!

Oma and Opa came for a visit last weekend. We had so much fun having them at our house!

Daddy's rocking chair from when he was little...

Cuddling with both of them was so much fun!

We Don't Leave the House Much

Snowsuit!

Trying on Dad's boots...

Reading with Aunt Jane-so Mom could clean :(

Aunt Lindy taking a turn feeding Ava!

Catch up...

I'm way behind! The computer is in the basement and it's freezing. :) The following are pictures from cousin Jeff's hockey fundraiser where I saw Ava for maybe 10 minutes. Being by family is GREAT!

Cuddling with Jeff...

Aunt Barb showing Ava around-

Great Grandma and Great Grandpa with Ava

Cousin Brian holding Ava as she dons her own Calvin hockey jersey.

Hello, Michigan!

Ava checking out the new white view....

You can see where Mark shoveled half the deck, brrr!

One thing we love about Michigan is getting to see our family. Uncle Jim and Aunt Greta came over to love on Ava, and do some less interesting things. (like demolition and cleaning bathrooms, thank you!) We didn't have our camera around for the other visitors, but promise to make up for it. :)

Mark and my nephews already have created a sledding track from the side of our house all the way down to the river. I'm praying nobody dies at my house. (In fact, we are supposed to be unpacking right now but Mark is out playing in the snow. This could be a problem!)

Goodbye Houston Part II...

Fun with Jeremy while Rose peppers a napkin..

Mark and Thomas

Ignore me and look at that pretty girl...

Hugging Olivia, the best entertainer a Mom could ever ask for!

Goodbye, Houston...

Packing up the closet with daddy...

Outdoor shopping with Alicia and Melissa..probably won't feel 80 again for quite awhile!

Eating Mexican as much as possible with the best neighbors ever.

Um, not really sure what to say about this picture except that I hope it's not foreshadowing!

Fall 2008

Will be a busy one for us. Ava's reaction was about like ours when we told her we were having a new baby. Actually, it will be more than the fall that will be busy! Sorry for the long time-no post. I'm not one to write much, but a quick summary of the last week of my life is akin to a sad novel. My Mom was in the hospital, and then I flooded our downstairs 4 days before we were su pposed to close on our house. No, not the washer, not an act of God, just me. So-thankfully I believe in God, because without him I'm not sure I would have made it through the last week! If anyone is experiencing any type of crisis, I would highly recommend the song "In Better Hands Now" by Natalie Grant. It became my mantra. He moved many mountains over the last 7 days, including our buyers to be gracious and not back out on us! Anyway, here are a few shots of Ava in her big sister shirt. (It's a 2 T...for some reason they don't make "big sister" shirts in 9 month size?!)

And one minor glimpse at the wreckage...