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 :))

Caution: Collage Barrage

Busy week. First we spent a few days with Uncle Greg while Mark was working in Detroit (and Dave and Christina, sorry I didn't get the camera out in time to document!) It was so nice of the dorm to graciously host our whole family.

Ava loved the dog, Bailey, and would reverse to sit comfortably atop him. She also helped Greg with some work. (?)

Then we left for the lake. Ava learned how to get gas in the car, and we learned she still does not sleep in the car. Not like she looks very tired or anything. We had fun at the 4th of July Parade in Glen Arbor, but Ava was worn out in her stroller on the way back and just needed to put her feet up for awhile.

Ava liked the water much more this summer than when she was 8 weeks old last year. She had lots of fun playing on the beach and sitting on life vests and looking cute.

We also had fun walking around the yard, a favorite activity. Kind of nice that this year she doesn't need to be entertained except by sticks and freedom. Mark and I also had a little fun enjoying the sunset and a couple minutes on the beach. It was paradise this weekend! Couldn't have been better weather.