We did stuff this summer: Idaho Cabin

Every year it is tradition to go with all my brothers and sisters and parents (and a family thats thats only related to my older sister but we claim them nonetheless) to our cabin in the beautiful Sawtooth mountains in Idaho. This year was no exception and Ava was thrilled everyday to be surrounded by her cousins. It has also become tradition for Rob to go on a man-trip with some old law school buddies during the first few days of the cabin. This year they went to Vancouver and then he flew to Boise to enjoy the rest of the cabin. The final tradition that we took part in was Ava leaving the beach with her face looking like a dirt clod sneezed on her. I don't have a picture because those are on my sisters camera and she hasn't uploaded her pictures to our Picasa site yet. Yeah, it's October and yes the cabin was in July. Tara, get on it already! But then again maybe if I had remembered my own camera at the beach I wouldn't have this problem. Sheesh! Anyway, this year the girls and I were there a couple days early so we were able to see my grandparents. They usually come to the cabin for a day but weren't able to this year because my gramps had just had a really bad fall. The girls were thrilled to get to see them.



Ava plays Barbies with Alexis



Ava plays Barbies with GG

Charlotte plays with Grandpa GG



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Classic GG pose although usually its her hand hiding her face!

I used to always get these donuts from Arts in the park so my mom bought them from AITP the weekend before I came and froze them for me. How cute is that?

Ava playing peek-a-boo with her cousins

Playing ghostez (ghosts)

More ghostez

There were only 3 kids books at the cabin, my sister found them in her camper and Ava had everyone read them to her several times.  Here's poppy taking his turn.

Daren looking for a place to hike

Charlie being Charlie

My funny nephew Jackson

My cute sister Breea who told us while we were there that she's expecting! Yay!

Something in the boat needed sewed.  It was too heavy to come in the cabin. So the sewing machine went to it.

Peek - a - boo

More peek-a-boo

Ava being so annoyed at Uncle Brian for sitting in Charlottes pool

Charlie enjoying the beach with Aunt Tara

Da beach

One of the many breathtaking views up there

Mellonee, Jace and "Aunt" Tammy

Ava chillin on the tube with kyle and jackson

Brad with his funky mustache

My cute sisters and my cute niece

Jace trying to avoid the camera

Ava on the tube with Aunt Tara and aunt Tammy

Rob

Ava loves the sand

More playing in the sand

"Mom what's with all the pictures?"

Throwing sand in the water

My Dad is a counterfeiter! Everyone got poppy bucks at the beginning of the cabin to spend later in the week at an auction.  You could earn poppy bucks for doing good things and pay them to people who did stuff for you.

Moon Sand.  Ava paid 37 poppy bucks for it!

Daddy and C hangin on the couch

Daddy's turn to read the books



Charlie hangin out with Grandma Kathee



Get a room!

Charlie playing with Daddy

Blakers trying to hide from me

We did stuff this summer: Ava turns 3!

Ava opening her presents birthday morning

So since it's been about 5 years since the last time I posted I realize that many of you probably think that we have done nothing worthy of posting.  Oh not true my friends, we have done plenty.  In fact, I could claim that we've been so busy doing so much blog-worthy stuff that I haven't had time to post.  But that would be a lie.  The real reason is that I'm too lazy, or I start and then blogger does something stupid to make me really mad and I slam the computer shut, or both.  Anyway, so I'm starting a series of posts to let you know that yes, we did indeed do stuff this summer.  Part one is Ava's birthday. It happened. We celebrated.  The celebration included Dora.  I may or may not have spent an obscene amount of time planning and getting ready for a party that was over in 30 minutes and I may or may not have sworn off all future celebrations of birth (except my own of course. I'm writing up a wish list as we speak.)  Anyway, back to the Dora party.  It was a hit; the girls and Ava loved it and that's what matters.

Ava opening her dress-up box. She loved and continues to love it.



The Dora backpacks I made for all the girls complete with map.

The map. Candy Cave, Bubble Forest, Rainbow Bridge, Fishing Pond and that's where you'll find Swiper with the cake.

Ava helping me paint the planks for the rainbow bridge

Ava very excited to get her backpack and head to the Candy Cave.

The other girls equally as excited

Entering Candy Cave

A look inside the cave.  Use your flashlight to find the candy.

Off to the bubble forest. Pop a bubble to find a prize inside. (white balloons=bubbles too)



Found out the troll was hiding under the bridge and would only let us across if we put the bridge back together.

Ava finishing the bridge

Ava crossing the bridge

Ava gets her special wand for crossing the bridge

Ava's cute friend Emma being cute



The Fishing Pond.  Is this the best game ever when you're a kid? Yes!



Ava sporting a prize from the fishing pond

Her cute friend sporting equally cool shades

The Cake: Ava got to choose the saying so it said "Ava's special Day"

Make a wish!

Cutie patooties!

Somebody likes frosting

 



What keeps me up at night

THIS:



AND THIS:


I fell in love with this table the last time I was at World Market and I seriously can't get over it. The picture doesn't do it justice. It is beautiful! And it comes with a bench which gives me nostalgia for the table of my childhood. If only I could get it out of my dreams and into my house. One day...............

The Holy Ghost has a sense of humor

I am not sure who taught the nursery lesson yesterday but I just have to say job well done. Ava could not stop talking about the Holy Ghost yesterday and even today. We had to sing the "Holy Ghost song" several times throughout the day. And then she says "mom if you're really quiet, then you listen and the Holy Ghost will tell you something." Then randomly throughout the day she would stop me and say "Shhhh mom I'm trying to hear the Holy Ghost. We have to turn the lights down." Last night I was sitting on the floor and she passed by me carrying a chair and accidentally hit me with it. I asked her to please be careful because she hit me and it hurt and she says "hold on mom, the Holy Ghost is telling me something. Oh okay. Mom the Holy Ghost says I shouldn't hit you. I'm sorry." She also told me the Holy Ghost told her she should be nice to her sister. (Maybe she'll listen to him because I tell her that everyday.) Then this morning we were in the garage and she kept making this sound with her mouth like "huh-ee huh-ee huh-ee" and then she'd laugh. When I looked over at her she said "Mom, when I make that noise, the Holy Ghost thinks its funny and laughs." She has been cracking me up and also making me smile at the same time with her sweet innocence. Her, the Holy Ghost, Heavenly Father and Jesus are buddies. She even told me tonight that she was so glad Heavenly Father put that special stool in her bathroom so kids could get up and see. And its not unusual for her to tell me when we're out and about "Mom I'm gonna tell Jesus to make the sun go away because I'm so hot." And with the faith of a child, it would probably happen.