Memorial Day Weekend

Our plans fell through for Memorial Day Weekend so we ended up having an ultra relaxing time. It was the first time for as long as we could remember that we had absolutely NO PLANS and no visitors on a weekend when Greg was home. Greg was off from Thursday- Monday so it was the most amount of time we were able to spend with him at once since Christmas.  We went to the Zoo, the YMCA pool several times, the beach, a Tides Baseball game with the John and Nicole Morris, and the Strawberry Festival with the Rubados. We also got hooked on the HBO series True Blood and watched it each night. It was a wonderful "Staycation". 

Ava was so excited to see a goat and pet it. She has no fear with animals.

Checking out the cows with Dada

Signing to me that the reptiles were sleeping

Our favorite exhibit were the monkeys. They know how to put on a show!

The peacocks just roam the Zoo

This is the little prairie dog tunnel. They had a great time in there.

The Prairie Dogs are obviously acclimated to humans popping up in the viewing bubbles 

Giraffes!

Off to the pool. Daddy brings out Ava's daredevil side. 

She does NOT like going through the rings but Daddy makes her try everything

These waterfalls are her favorite part of the pool 

Tides Game! We were dodging foul balls all game so it was an intense game! The pitcher did such a great job though that the next day he was called up to play for the Orioles.

Strawberry Festival with the Rubados. They had this neat old fashioned rootbeer that they took advantage of. 

I was ALL about the chocolate covered strawberries which I was forced into sharing with my fellow redhead. 

Yumo!

Daddy stroll with matching strollers

We got rained on! Ava loved the umbrella though. 

The Rubados. Can you believe Michael is already 4 months old! 

Rain Rain go away

We had an impromptu picnic

Sooooo cute

Turkey Leg!

Eric and I were all about the Strawberry Shortcake

Beach Day!

playing catch with the ball outside

annoyed that I wanted her to turn around for a picture

Time to venture into the ocean

trying to reason with her...

Wanting nothing to do with it. 

Bubbles. She is obsessed. 

We went out for dinner and Ava LOVED playing with the clam shells

They were starting a little band

She is giving the shells kisses here.

Grandparent Visit

Grandma and Grandpa came to stay with us two weeks ago.  They played with Miss Ava while we went to a squadron party and went to the play Wicked. Unfortunately it rained the majority of the weekend but they ended up having a blast at the Children's Museum.  As usual, we had a wonderful time with Grandpa and Grandma and Ava was so sad to see them leave. Thanks again Grandma and Grandpa for coming to stay with us!

Ava is currently OBSESSED with bubbles so this is one of her favorite exhibits at the museum.

puzzle time with Grandpa

Ava's hero, Elmo.

Slide!

All aboard!

Ava's "Cheese" face

Grandma decided to give Ava a bath in the sink since we were cleaning the tub. Ava LOVES the mirror so she was delighted. 

The Daredevil Duo

Our little artist

Graduated to Capri Suns

Lunch Date with Grandpa

loving on her Grandpa

Ready for the pool!

Ava the Trainer

In the past two weeks Ava has exploded with new words. She is on average learning a new word each day. Some of the new ones she loves to say are Elmo, Happy, Pee, Poo Poo, Boo Boo, Pool, Ice Cream, and calling all four legged animals Dogs. She also has started showing interest in potty training (yikes!). GiGi gave us a book of "potty songs" that Ava adores. It seems during all our waking hours we are singing about the potty, going in to investigate the potty, and talking all things potty. She has gotten to the point that she notifies me of when she is going potty by sign language but I am not sure if she is ready to tell me ahead of time. I'm taking this all very slowly because we are about to transition to a twin big girl bed. I am not interested in two battles at once. We just finished up swim lessons and Ava now loves the water and is a great kicker.  She doesn't quite understand how to use her arms yet but she has made huge improvements.  Daddy started dunking her in the water (I'm a chicken) so she has learned to hold her breath under water.  She really is becoming a little person not my baby anymore...

Doing push ups with Daddy

motivating Daddy

Adding extra weigh to Daddy's push ups.

This is the outfit that Greg wore to go to a squadron Golf tournament.  It was actually one of the more tame outfits (Ex: Jeff wore cut off shorts, a "buttweiser" cut off tank, and a mullet).

I had to come claim him at the end of the tournament and he refused to take off this outfit all day. 

This was Greg's second at home haircut. It didn't go so well and we ended up having to shave his head :(.  Flashbacks to Plebe year Greg

Ava the trainer!

Strawberry Picking

I took Ava to the strawberry patch for picking in the Pungo

She loved picking the strawberries off the vine

Farmer Babe

She will only eat strawberries in the patch. She is not interested in them at home. 

We got 6 lbs of strawberries!

Her "I picked Strawberries" sticker

Homemade Strawberry shortcake the first night

Then strawberry shortcake cupcakes. Yum