Ava's Christmas Program

You never can tell what a kid is going to do in front of an audience. Ava decided that it was a good time for personal hygiene. Obviously, I need to clean her ears. It may also help with the tone deaf condition. Ava did hit a pretty shrill and interesting note at one point in the song which prompted the parent behind me to laugh, "That one is yours, isn't it?"

The program was cute. Each class had a costume. Bells, Angels, Animals, Mary and Joseph and the shepherds. Obviously, Ava's class were the candles. I think the costume was a bit of a distraction. Her "flame" kept slipping off of her head.

The highlight of my night: As the processional of children paraded into the auditorium, Ava caught my eye and blew me a big kiss and proudly announced, "That's MY mommy!" I wish I could bottle moments like that up and let them out on those days when she is testing my patience.

Ava is the one with the microphone blocking her face. Sorry for the crappy filming. It's not my forte and it's difficult to watch the program and film at the same time. I get distracted, them I'm like, "Oh yeah, I'm filming. Keep it steady."

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Deck the Halls

On Saturday we began decorating for Christmas. Mike brought most of the Christmas decorations out and the girls and I started sorting through them, trying to decide where they will go in a different house. I must say that the 1980's peach carpeting and dark wood panelling do not provide the same lovely backdrop as the white trim and hardwood flooring from last year. That said, it is cozy and we're making the decor work. This year is especially fun because Ava is taking an active role in the decorating. Emily is even getting in on the action. Ava puts up an ornament and Emily takes it down. Ava puts up another ornament and Emily takes it down. And so on... While moving the furniture to create room for the tree, I heard Emily giggling and lots of rustling noises. She had climbed into one of the boxes and was unrolling ribbon. She looked so proud of herself when I came around the corner.

On Sunday we brought home the tree and started decorating it Sunday night. The decorating took longer than expected, so we ended up finishing the decorations on Monday morning. Now all that's left are the outdoor lights. Man this is a process! We might get all of the decorations up before Christmas...I hope.

Here are some of the pictures from the weekend decorating and a little clip of Ava hanging the stockings.

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Saturday Morning Breakfast

I think I've mentioned before that I love low key Saturday mornings. Here are the girls this morning having breakfast on their picnic table and watching 'toons.

Okay, so she really doesn't have enough hair for a pony tail. However, I am able to fashion the craziness that is my child's hair into a spike on her head that shouts to the world: I AM A GIRL! I long for the day when her hair grows long and lush enough to put it into braids and pigtails. But this will have to do for now. I'm tired of that old guy at Walmart calling my pink-clad baby girl "little fella".

Isn't she cute?

In other news...I finally got a "mamma" from her last week. And now she knows how to use it. Sometimes it's a sweet, like "Ahhh mamma" because she's happy to see me. But she uses it when she's ticked too. Like when I take something away from her or she wants something that I'm holding. Then she's screaming at me, "mamma mamma mamma!" She's repeating lots of other words now too. Nothing consistently, of course. If I want to show off her skills to someone, she won't speak on cue. But I know she can and that's what counts. : )

An Anatomy Lesson followed by Christianity 101

Never a dull moment with a 4 year old in the house. Tuesday night after dance class, Ava was especially energetic. Dare I say, annoyingly so? She was bouncing off of the walls! After dinner, Mike was trying to wipe off her hands and face. She was bopping this way and that and making it near impossible. And she had a bad case of the giggles. She was giddy. I saw the frustration all over my dear husband's face. Then Ava yanked down the top of her leotard and flashed him. "Ava!" he said sternly, "pull that up, I don't want to see your boobies!" And then Ava went silent...long enough for the 'tude to fall over her face. "Daddy!" she said sharply, with her hands on her hips. "They are NOT boobies. These are my breasts." AHHHH. I could've died right there. I had to turn around. I was shaking with laughter. Boy is he in for it. Three women in the house and him. Poor guy.

Yes, never a dull moment.

Tonight as I was tucking her in, she said to me, "Mommy, why did Jesus die on that X." I asked, "You mean, the cross?" "Yeah, that." she answered. This led to a very long conversation. I kept it pretty basic, but she had lots of questions. I need to brush up on my theology. Lots of questions from my pretty girl.

Boy, do they grow up fast!