Our Visit Home

Whew!  It has been a busy two weeks of traveling for Ava and I.  We made the 7 hour drive to Kentucky with ease.  First stop Bowling Green to see my sister and the Loves.  The next morning we headed to my parents to spend a week there before I headed to Napa Valley California for my girls trip( pics to follow soon).  Ava felt right at home as soon as we got there.  First order of business for my dad Ava's Papaw or as she calls him Apaw was to let her go to the store and pick out anything she wanted.  She picked out a Dora guitar and a tricycle.  She would have lived in the tree house if we would have let her but it was way too hot.  The only time it was bearable was first thing in the morning.  My dad was ready to get a window A/C unit for it by the end of the visit.  We also enjoyed swimming in the pool.  with the 90 degree days and high humidity the pool was the best place to be.  Ava at first was unsure about it but after the first day she was all about it.  The following week I left to go to Napa Valley with my friends Regan, Erin, and Lisa while my family took turns watching Ava.  I was so excited to see Ava when I returned after my 4 day trip and she was too.  That is the longest I have been away from her.  She kept telling me how much she missed me.  It was so sweet to hear her little voice say the sweet words.  We made it back to our house in Alabama last night.  It was so nice to see Mark and have a quite evening at home cuddling on the couch as a family.  Now it is time to play catch up!

I guess I take too many pics because Ava in this pic above is saying no pictures.

Papaw showing Ava how to hold the dora guitar.

Storing her Crocs in the trunk

Derek's turn on the guitar

So glad I got to have lunch with Angie and Shawunta

At Great Grandma's aka G-ma

C'mon Apaw.  She loved the tree house.  My dad was in the process of giving the outside a fresh coat of paint.

Mall walking and play with Mamaw or Momo as Ava calls her

This is what happens when Ava gets a hold of the camera

What a great night with my girls of 95!!!

Packed and Ready!!

Ava and I have our bags packed and ready!  It's amazing how much stuff you pack for two people for 12 days.  I just loaded up two suitcases, pack and play, stroller, two duffle bags, back pack, hanging bag and another bag.  I can never pack lightly especially when part of my trip is visiting family and friends back home and the other part will be going to Napa California with friends.  I can't wait to see everyone!!!!!  Needless to say I will not be blogging until I return.  I can't wait to share about my travels!  Ava and I will be heading out in the early morning to reach our first destination by mid afternoon. Fingers crossed that Ava is good and we have no issues!!!

Race in Jackson

Like many other areas the heat has gotten pretty intense down here in the South.  We have had temperatures in the upper 90's and with the humidity it feels over 100 degrees even before lunch time.  This past weekend we traveled to Jackson GA for Mark's Mountain Bike race.  We made a weekend of it and arrived Friday so he could practice the trail for his race on Sunday.  Our hotel was right next door to an Outlet which got me very excited!  After our yard sale Mark got rid of alot of his clothes so he needed to find some to replace them.  Banana Republic always does the trick!  Of course I couldn't leave there empty handed myself he he he!!!  Also with Ava growing like a weed and standing at 3ft tall now she is out growing her 2T clothes.  I stocked up on some 3T stuff for her.  Sunday we woke up bright and early to check out to our hotel and head to the race.  At 7am it was already HOT!  The heat index that day was to reach 108 degrees.  Poor Ava was so sweaty but it didn't seem to bother her.  I was so worried for Mark while he raced.  With it being so hot and the fact that he had been really sick all week I was concerned he might pass out.  Finally I saw him round the corner YAY!  He came in 16th overall and did 10 miles in under and hour.  He didn't finish like wanted to or normal would but with the conditions and the fact that he has been fighting off being sick he did great.  Ava and I are so proud of him!!!!!  Needless to say we were all beat from the heat but still had to make the 4 hour track back home.  We slept good last night!

At the Outlet.  She was wanted to ride and then got afraid of the cat.

Race day

Ava took this picture.  Anything I could do to keep her happy while waiting for the race to begin.  This guy on the motor bike rides down to start the race.

The racers

Trying to capture Mark as he road by with no such luck

Luckily there was a little pond with a beach area for Ava to play 

Mark at the finish

I thought it was cute how Ava was sitting like her Daddy

No she did not just get out of the bath.  She was that sweaty!

Bad Blogger

I have been a bad blogger lately!  I have not been taking any pictures and capturing what has been going on lately.  I guess my reason is several things.  One it is summer and we are busy with fun activities in the day and two I am trying to keep up with 3 blogs right now.  I of course I have my family blog, my sewing business blog www.sewprecious.blogspot.com and my FRG blog www.forgethefuture.blogspot.com .  The blog consist of upcoming events for the battalion and on and off post events.  It has been great because one e-mail is sent out each week with the blog address and a list of what was added that way everyone's inbox is not flooded with post information.  Also I have been trying to catch up on all of my sewing orders before heading out on my vacation next week.  I only have a couple orders left and I am caught up whoo hoo!

In the midst of our busy lives Ava keeps us laughing daily with some of the things she is saying and doing.  We are slowly potty training her right now.  She usually goes 3-4 times a day on her own but still wets her diapers.  She hasn't attempted #2 yet he he he!  The other day she walked into my bathroom and said "YAY mommy"!!!  "You went Pee pee all by yourself"!  I guess she thought I needed encouragement too.  She is very in to doing things by herself and insist on doing them  like getting into her car seat, putting on her shoes, and of course going potty.  Another funny thing that she says all of the time is "I'll be right back". When she says it she holds her hand out like she is telling you to stop and looks real serious and says "I'll be right back".  She is very dramatic!  She knows many of her colors and is counting to 14 most of the time but sometimes she likes to skip #3 for some reason.  She is at such a fun age right now!  I can't wait for my family to get to see her in a few weeks!!!!

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day weekend kind of slipped up on us this year therefore we planned nothing.  May was a busy month for us with Mark's work, my volunteer and sewing and social engagements that before we knew the end of May was here.  With the rain coming in and out most of our ideas didn't pan out but none the less we had a good weekend.  Saturday there was a Lake Fest going on at Lake Talacco on post but as we headed there the pouring rain came so a trip to the lake turned into going to Dothan to Shop.  Later that evening I met up with some friends at our favorite Mexican restaurant for dinner and drinks.  We had a good time catching up and eating the yummy foods.

On Sunday we spent the day going through closets and reorganizing.  We are wanting to have a yard sale this weekend so we took advantage of the long weekend to get more junk together.  Yesterday we headed out early for one of our usual day trips to Destin.  We arrived at 9am as usual set up only to stay 15 min because of large dark clouds rolling in.  In typical beach weather fashion in rolled in fast and left fast but by that time we were dressed and loaded.  We headed to the outlets for a quick stop at some of our favorites.  By this time the weather was bright and sunny.  We then grabbed a bite to eat at "The Back Porch" restaurant. I have always heard great things about this place and the location did not disappoint.  It was right on the beach which was great to Keep Ava entertained while we waited.  The food was ok.  I think we are just partial to Harry T's.

On the way back home we stopped off to have a quick walk on the beach.  As we were walking Ava met a little friend named Harley and we let them play together on the beach.  The ocean had made a small pool on the beach, perfect for two 2 year olds to splash and play together.  Harley's mom was there and we all started talking when her husband came over looked at Mark and said "Captain Legaspi".  Talk about a small world...it was one of the guys in Mark's company when he was in Command in 2007 at Fort Campbell.  He is now out of the Army and living in Louisiana.  It was nice to catch up and a perfect way to spend Memorial day with my favorite hero.  Many times this weekend my thoughts and prayers went out to all who are serving and risking thier lives for the life we live and as well to all of the veterans Thank You!