The Best Valentines Day!

I have to say this past Valentines Day ranks up there with one of the best!  Out of the 10 years of our marriage this is the 3rd Valentines Day where he made it home just in time to Celebrate.  In 2002 he got home from Korea Valentines Day and surprised me with flowers (I thought he was coming home the next day), which was the best surprise ever.  In 2003 he got home a week before Valentines Day from his first deployment in Iraq.  This year he was gone 3 weeks of training with no communication with us.  I have to say it was pretty hard to not be able to at least talk to him.  He finished his training the day before Valentines day.  Having him home was the best gift.  We spent the day together enjoying a quite lunch while Ava was at school.  Mark spoiled me by cooking dinner that night and treated Ava and I to jewelry.  I thought it was so sweet how he got Ava and I both a bracelet.  It is so great to have him home!!!!

Erin and Claire's visit continued

I AM 3!!!!!

Well almost.
Here are some of the photo's captured on Erin's camera from their visit last week.  

Erin wasn't sure wheather to pack up to go home with Claire being sick or stick it out here.  Luckily they decided to stay because the next day she was running around and playing.  By them staying we were able to do the "I'm 3" photo shoot we had planned.  Here we are making tu tu's and shirts for the photo's.

Erin used a headband and cut strips of tool in light and hot pink to make the tu tu's

I used my embroidery machine to make the girls shirts.  I also sell these for my business "Ava Tate Creations".

The finished product

After I night preparing for the photo shoot this is what my kitchen counter looked like the rest of the week.  Lots of cold and flu meds.  I ended up with a sinus infection too but we survived.

Erin was able to capture some really fun moments with the girls.  It's amazing how many great pictures she got in such a short amount of time.  You can see some of her other work at shutterglowphoto.com

So sassy!

Friends

 There is nothing better than a visit from friends!  Last week the hubby was gone for work so my friend Erin came down with her daughter Claire for a visit.  Our first full day together we spent the day shopping for some fun things to make for the girls for their photo shoot.  Erin has a photography business so she brought her stuff to do an "Im turning 3" photo shoot for the girls.  Ava turns 3 in March and Claire turns 3 in May.  I made them each an applique shirt with the number 3 on it while Erin made them tu tu's.  They were just too cute for words.  As soon as Erin gets me the photo's I will share but for now here are a few snapshots of their visit here.  I would have gotten more but as they were here Claire got sick and went to the ER for the flu and I was under the weather with a sinus infection.  Things got a little crazy after that but we did manage to have fun despite the illnesses.

Dancing around in their matching dresses we bought them. 

 Poor Claire wasn't feeling well.

 Ava modeling the tutu Erin made and the shirt I made for their photo shoot

 The girls had fun using Erin as their jungle gym!

 Friends!!!