Viva Valdez: July 2010

Deja Vu.....

We love having Uncle Eric stashed close to us this month in Norfolk. He came over for lunch today and hung out much to our delight. However, due to my emotional weepy self, sometimes it is very hard for me to have him around the girls. It is like Greg's ghost has come to visit. Eric and Greg have so many of the same mannerisms and they even play with the girls similarly. Jen saw Eric today from the street and even did a double take. Here are some side by side comparisons- what do you think?

Uncle Eric today. Ava was ecstatic to find out that his name tag had the same last name that she did.

Greg with Ava in March of 2008. You can tell she is ecstatic in both pictures.

The Bright spots of the weekend....

This past weekend was difficult because we drove home to Northern Virginia for the Memorial Service of my Bdad for his friends at Greensprings (his retirement home). It took us 5 hours to get home (usually 3) with lots of toddler turbulence on the way. I realized how important it is to have copilot on longer car trips and really missed Greg's car trip organization. It was hard saying goodbye to the Greensprings staff and the fellow residents that we had become close to in the past 8 years. The service was beautiful and fitting for such an honorable man. I had a speaking part which I had to bring Ellie up for (she is having major separation anxiety) and she even grabbed the microphone and put in her two cents. It was also difficult coming back to Mom's house with all of B-Dad's things spread out through out the house. However, the girls really livened up the weekend. There is no way to not laugh at Ava's comments. Ellie's giant 7 tooth smile and pooh bear giggle lights up the room. Aunt Jeannie, another baby whisperer, was also on hand to spoil us rotten. We will try to live by B-Dad's example by putting family first, being present when you are with family, and keep an upbeat attitude.

Ava and GiGi spent about 30 minutes bird watching

This was especially touching for me because this was what I used to do with my Bdad when I was Ava's age on this exact porch.

Ava telling me she was waiting for "THIS BIRD" to show up in the yard.

Ellie playing patty cake with Aunt Jeannie

Ava joining me on the deck reading the paper

The tea pots are their favorite toys of the moment. I caught a giggle!

I couldn't resist this bathing suit!

Ava the twelve year old

Ellie Bean you are so sturdy!

Mojito Pool Fridays

I'm not kidding when I say, my friend Shannon has the BEST backyard in Virginia Beach. She also is a killer Southern hostess who can sell snow to an eskimo. She has started a Friday Mojito Pool tradition where we all gather to celebrate the end of the week. A happy hour for Mom's if you may (Don't worry we all only have one mojito - do you see all those kids!). We ended the day by meeting our friends Kimberly and Elizabeth at the YMCA pool. You all now realize that I am not exaggerating or embellishing the fact that my kids are in the pool everyday!