Nice "shot"

Nice "shot" #1: Uh-oh! Zoe figured out how to get her diaper off!

Nice "shot" #2: At dance last Wednesday, we had pictures taken. They take posed pictures in costume, individual and group, so they don't have all the chaos on the day of the recital. Ava was trilled to finally wear her costume and enjoyed putting it to the test while we waited for the other classes having their pictures taken. Then, when it came time to get her pictures taken...MELTDOWN!!! Not a few tears, we're talking under the table (both of us) bawling about not wanting to go in to get her picture taken. I didn't know where it was coming from. She's never reacted this extremely about posing for pictures. Finally, one girl's grandma bribed her with a sucker to get her picture taken. I've been trying to get away from the whole bribery for pictures deal, but she did oblige. By the time they did her group photo, she was laughing and saying "pickle face" like nothing had ever happened! When we got out to the car, I asked her why she was so scared to get her picture taken. "That lady said she was gonna do a shot." I had to explain to her that when someone with a camera says "shot" it means "take a picture." I would have been scared too, if I thought this whole getting-to-wear-my-beloved-dance-costume was a ploy to give me a "shot" too. Sorry, no photos of the costume yet, Ava wants it to be a surprise. She really is adamant about it. She was rather upset that Auntie Heather already saw it, but I reassured her that I'm positive that Heather already forgot about it...right Heather? ;) She likes surprises. Every morning at daycare, she tells Kelly, "Don't look at my shirt! Don't look yet!" while she takes her coat off. Yeah, Kelly knows the drill...No eye contact with Ava until she gets up the stairs, and Ava announces the unveiling of her magnificent outfit!

Montana: From Jamie

Jamie e-mailed some pictures from Montana.

One of the trout is a rainbow, the other one is a cutthroat.

Ryan Dam: its over 100' high!!

Yeah, some "work" he's been doing out there, huh?! ;)

Now THIS is Minnesota Nice

These days of temperatures in the 60s, 70s and even 80s are AWESOME!!! Gotta love the weather! We are taking full advantage of it! Welcome Spring! This is the true meaning of "Minnesota Nice" Jamie is in a Montana-not-so-nice BLIZZARD!!! Yes, 8+ inches of snow!!!

Zoe, the girl who fought putting her coat on every time all winter long, now brings me her coat saying, "coat, coat, coat" with her arm ready to slide in. Brings me her shoes, "dues, dues, dues" and doesn't ever want to come in the house...not even for a bath (which she loves)!

We have been going for walks after dinner. We are visiting the park again. We are playing on the swing set. We cleaned off the deck and patio table. We eat dinner outside. We blow bubbles and catch them. We draw on the cement with chalk. We get an up-close look at ants crawling out of their anthills (Zoe in particular--crouches right down with her face just about in the dirt!). We are wearing sandals and capris. We play ring-around-the-rosie barefoot in the grass. We love the sun and the warm days. Keep 'em comin'!

Ava loves to climb trees...Look Daddy, she can do it all by herself!

Zoe tried too. I think she might need to re-think her selection...

We bought a lilac bush on Earth Day and planted it in the backyard wanna-be-garden. Ava really put some muscle into helping dig the hole. She was most interested in the worms that we found in the dirt. Zoe didn't care so much and was more interested in swinging.

Zoe remembered her swing, and took off! "Eeee!" (Whee!)

By the time we finally got it planted, she was so tired out,

I couldn't even squeeze a smile out of her for the picture. :(

29...New or Old?

On Tuesday night, Ava and I painted our toes, getting them ready for sandal weather (Yay! Finally!) Ava chose a beautiful buttery-yellow, fabulous on her stubby little toes. I chose my color (a mauve-like shade) and commented that mine was an old-lady color. "Are you an old lady, Mom?" she asked. "Do you think I'm an old lady?" I questioned. Her response: "No, I think you are still new." :)

The next morning as we were getting ready for the day, she talked about the sparkles on her hair clip. I said that my shirt was kind of sparkly too (the pattern had a little shimmer). "Yeah, you can wear that because you're still new."

A little background...We were recently in a shoe store and Ava thought I should try on some tennis shoes that had sequins and glitter on them. Not really my style and I'm a little past the glitter stage of my life, I said, "I think I'm a little too old for something that sparkly." Apparently she stored that little bit of info away in her memory file! LOL!

Can you say "candy"?

Last Saturday, we went to Grama Carla's for brunch and to dye eggs. Ava and Zoe had fun with their "practice" egg hunt. On Sunday morning, the girls were excited to see that our basket of eggs had been filled and hidden around the living room. Zoe caught on quickly! She has added a new word to her vocabulary..."Candy!"(Another cute one, totally unrelated, but cute: "kiwi"...she says it when burps and toots!)

Skittles...the breakfast of champions!

Ava is learning to trace her name.

After we played with the new goodies and ate candy for breakfast, we went over to Grama Jan and Grampa Joe's for brunch. Then we went over to Sue and Gary's for Easter with the Thells. Ava of course, did not nap. She never has been able to nap well at other people's houses, especially with a lot of commotion. With her getting older, I was so hopeful, just wanting to believe that she could make it one day without a nap so we wouldn't have to leave after just an hour. She was fine over there, but let me tell you, I paid for it when we got home. We had the tantrum of all tantrums roaring full-blast at our house. This used to be a very common occurrance (remember her hoarse voice?). I have not seen this child in over a year! It was so extreme that I even called my mom and dad to see if they were still in town to help out. They weren't. An hour later, we finally calmed somewhat. Jamie called me right after I finally got her to sleep. I felt much better talking to someone who knows what it is like to deal with. I also told him and I am stating here for the record that I will NOT be attending any gatherings (family, friends, or otherwise) that take place between the hours of 1-4pm. Jamie agrees. I'm sorry. Please don't take offense if I don't come or if I leave after an hour. Ava just is not a child who can go without a nap and I decided that I am going to be mom first and and take care of my girl. She NEEDS it. (And so do I!)

I can do a trick...

Zoe learned a new trick. She discovered that her finger is just the right size to fit inside her nostril. She likes to put her finger in and just leave it there. She doesn't pick her nose, her pointer just likes to "hang out" there.

Ava has had this trick for quite a while. I think she discovered she could make this funny laugh sound sometime last fall. She was going to show Grama Donna and Grampa Jeff when we visited a couple weeks ago, but wanted to "wait until later." Then, we forgot. She was sad when we got home and she realized she didn't get to show them, so we made a video. No one else can do it...just Ava.

Ava added "camera" to her birthday list. Yes, I realize her birthday is not until August, but "adding it to the list" is the only way to get her to stop the "I wants" (Sorry Jer, the Barbie camera only lasted for that one roll of film...the door got bent backward and now light shines in to the film area...it now serves the roll of "pretend camera"...but the pictures she took did surprisingly turn out well! And she enjoys "pretending" to take pictures)

Here is a nice picture she took of Zoe and me (with my camera). :)

Here is a "not-so-nice" picture she took of Zoe and me.

Yes this really did hurt that bad! :(

She really captures the "true emotion" doesn't she?

I have 2 blankets?!?!

When we got home from Sioux Falls, I was changing Zoe's diaper on Ava's bed and she was holding her blanket (sucking her thumb, of course) and as she glanced over, she discovered saw that her blanket was also in her crib. I could see the little wheels turning. She took her thumb out of her mouth and looked at the blanket that she was holding. She looked again at the blanket in her crib. Blanket in her hand. Blanket in her crib. Hmmm. I handed her the blanket that was in her crib and she kicked her legs as fast as she could and gleamed with excitement! For those of you who don't know...Zoe LOVES her blanket. Ava was never quite attached to her blanket as Zoe is. Zoe NEEDS her blanket just like Ava NEEDED her Nuk. With both girls, I bought 2 identical blankets from the get go, so when one was in the wash, the other was ready to be snuggled. I didn't realize how smart this plan was until Zoe got sick all over her blanket and it was out of order, and let me tell you, when she's sick she really NEEDS her "Beh-dee" (she recently started saying blanket, and that's how she says it).

Aaahhh...the world is good.

Look Ma...I got 2!

I am lovin' this!

In Ava's dance class, they recently started using their tap shoes. She usually wears them around the house daily and since she's started tapping in dance class, they've stayed in her backpack, so it's been a little quieter around the house. She has her recital on May 31, so they are practicing their dance routine. Below is a video of the routine. They normally do not hold hands, but this was at the very end of the 45-minute class, so for 2-3 year-olds, any participation at this point is welcomed. They are usually great for about the first 30-35 minutes and then they get a little silly or slack. :)

So you think you can hide, Eh?

Mr. Rundall, you think you're so wise...skipping state on April Fool's Day! Hah! There's no hiding from me...I'll be waiting for you when you return and I'll get you when you least expect it!

A little background on the kitchen sprayer...for the last four years, I've gotten Jamie every April Fool's Day with a little scotch tape around the kitchen sprayer. Yes, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. So now he wised up and figured he can't even be in the same state as the wife on the day of all days. Well, the kitchen sprayer, my scotch tape, and I will still be here when he comes home! The funniest time was in 2006; Ava was a baby and I asked Jamie to make her a bottle before I left to get my haircut. He said, "sure" and a minute later I heard a few choice words coming out of the kitchen...score! I laughed, he changed shirts. After reaming me out for getting him two years in a row and complaining about not being able to get the tape off of the sprayer, he made some comment about getting the bottle made before Ava got crabby. I told him to just go fill it in the bathroom. "Why?" he asked as he turned the kitchen faucet on again. {insert more choice words} Yes, he sprayed himself again, only five minutes after the first time. I thought it was hilarious! (Maybe he has burnt pizza syndrome too?) Ava got Daddy this evening. When we called, she told him "It's 70 degrees here...April Fools!!!" Daddy didn't understand when she said "April Fools," so when I got on the phone with him, he said, "What? It's 70 degrees there?!" She got him good! (we all wish it was 70 degress...ENOUGH with the snow already!!!)

We all had big grins when we picked up Daddy at the airport. A snowstorm in Denver (where his flights connected) ended in a flight cancellation and we had to wait one more day before we got to see him, but we tried not to let it get us down. Ava was excited that she got to see Grampa Jeff and Grama Donna this weekend and told me, "Why don't you and Daddy go so I can be with Grama and Grampa?"

Zoe loves to give Daddy (and everyone else!) big kisses!

Ava and Daddy played legos...not sure

who had more fun...Daddy or Ava?

Daddy was quick to assume the responsibility of nap-inducer.

Both he and Zoe were snoring.

Ava and Zoe loved taking a bath with cousin Gavin. Grama Donna

thought it was funny when she told Zoe to get naked and she

immediately tried pulling her diaper off. Yes, she LOVES baths!

Before heading back to Montana, Daddy and Grampa Jeff

brought the girls for a ride on the Ranger.