Ava turns 5!

 Dear Ava,

Your 5! and you are so excited about it, beside getting to chew bubble gum and move your room upstairs you tell me daily all sort of things you can do now that you are 5. "5 year olds brush their own hair all the time, "5 year olds don't need help getting dressed." Which is still so classic because every other day that changes if you want to do it all by yourself or you want some help.

We celebrated with a theme from one of your favorite things from this year. We had a Neverland Peter Pan party and you were so excited to host your first friends party.  Besides a few family friends, you invited some church friends and had a special friend from your preschool too. I think my favorite part was the half hour before the party started you were so joyful with anticipation and excited to show all your friends the fun we had planned for them.

Your party day dress was gifted to you by your Uncle Matt and Aunt Lori and I think you wore it three days in a row you loved it so much. Even on our stay at home days you can usually be found these days in a dress or your gymnastics leotard "practicing" while you watch your current fav American Girl movie about a gymnast. 

The Pixie dust necklaces were a big hit!

Even Super Man made it to celebrate with you!

Your favorite gift was your first roller skates.

On your actual birthday me and you and went on a lunch date to our favorite tea room that has become a little birthday tradition for us. It was fun to be out just the two of us. Right about this time 5 years ago was when I held you in my arms for the first time, its been such a joy to watch you grow each year into such a beautiful girl both inside and out, I couldn't be more proud to get be your mom. I love reliving and revisiting that day in my mind and heart each year on this day. I asked you in the evening if you wanted us all to go out  for dinner or it just to be you and your dad and of course the idea of a special date night with just him was what you preferred. I love watching how much you two love and adore each other. You share a love for Ribs so a trip to Texas Road House was where you went for your special birthday dinner. 

Later during your birthday week we went on a special outing to the arts festival downtown. You were absolutely enamored by the dancers and music at the children's stage. We pretty much just stayed there the rest of the time while you danced your heart out and brother ran in circles. You and Rhett have had a lot of fun this year, while sometimes he annoys you by getting into your things for the most part you have become great play mates and you are so nurturing and loving with him. 

Oh to dance like no one's watching - one of the many super powers of childhood

So Happy Birthday sweet girl, we had fun celebrating this milestone with you and are loving year 5 with you already,

Love,

Mom

Easter 2015

Ava and Rhett had 4 egg hunts they got to participate in between school, church, friends and home. Some of my favorite moments this year was at almost every one we went too if Ava thought a friend or little brother didn't find enough eggs she would put some of hers in their basket. While we have plenty of typical 4 year old struggles at times with ownership and sharing, she also has these times that her generous and kind spirit pours out so naturally and abundantly it just warms my heart. 

Easter morning surprises

Egg Dying fun waiting on Sunday lunch to finish cooking, strategically planned during brother's nap time.

egg hunting in the backyard

Rhett figured out pretty quickly it was fun to smash the real eggs together and I figured out pretty quickly I didn't boil them long enough...

Happy Easter!

Spring Break 2015

We traveled down to Houston for spring break again this year. The kids and I hitched a ride with mom and dad and had a good time visiting our family there. 

Sunday we worshiped with Jen and her crew at their congregation. Rhett was pretty onery that morning so we got to attend only part of the service as he and I spent a lot of time in the lobby.

In the afternoon while Aunt Jen kept Rhett for a much needed nap, I took Ava and Allie to see Cinderella. It was fun to go to a movie we all enjoyed - 4, 12 and 34 years. I thought it was well done, The overall message was about being kind and having courage so while I have some mixed feelings of some the princess themed movies, I liked that this movie focused on a lot individual character and strength for Cinderella and wasn't all just about falling in love and being "Rescued". 

Monday we hit the Houston Zoo. I really like their zoo and have enjoyed each time we went, parking was a bit of a nightmare because half the city was on their spring break but once we got inside it was fun and easy to get around. 

She gets ideas in her head and had a whole thing she developed about bringing a notebook and drawing pictures of the animals at the zoo. Luckily Aunt Lori hooked her up with her specific supplies requested. 

Our monkeys at the zoo. I love Adley's face in this picture,
she was cracking us up the whole time we were there. 

Rhett had so much fun this year at the zoo, he loved seeing the animals.
Our OKC zoo pass got us 50% off admission! Grandkids took turns hitching a ride with punkie.

I was reminded again this trip of father's servant heart, it really is a spiritual gift for him in serving others and he especially enjoys serving his family. He is always quick to buckle, unbuckle the kids for me or offer to carry them. He graciously carries luggage for you and literally and figuratively does anything he can to lighten your load.

Allie got to play hookie from school to spend the day with us on Monday, her and Chloe's spring break was the week before. 

Aunt Lori and sweet Hudson

Tuesday we hit Ikea and had lunch with all the littlest cousins while big cousins were in school.

How are they 2 and 5 next month!!?

These two had so much fun playing together and were very sad to part ways.

(I think their play "dinner" they have here is unknowingly full of fire aunts. Rhett grabbed two hand fulls of fire aunt mound dirt while we are this park, everyone got a few bites before we left, I only had one on my foot but it my entire foot was swollen for a day or two)

I wished we got to see each other more often but its fun when do to get to spend so much concentrated quality time together.

These Days

These Days I haven't been great keeping up with Rhett's monthly milestones on here but thought it might be time to update what life is like right now. 

These Days Rhett is talking a ton and cracking us up. he often wakes in the mornings and says "mommy, daddy where are you?" over and over. His most said phrase is "Hold you?" when he wants to be held. If we say come here Rhett, he says in full Oklahoma accent "Commin!'" He loves to play catch, kick, pass or anything of the sort with you. He loves outside, and in true Oklahoma fashion last week we had an 78 degree day where we spent almost all day outside with a 30 degree day where he was so upset and would throw himself on the ground near the back door pleading to go outside. He loves Curious George. Often when he's upset he runs through a list of his favorite things and foods that might make things better "George! Chicken! Chips! Milk!". He survived his first stomach bug in January. He was such a trooper, few tears, he would wake up vomit and then go right back to sleep. 

These days Ava has her first boy she talks on and on about at home who she already has plans to Marry. She tells me she has two sisters, that are her best buds G and Izzy. I use to say "you sure do love them like sisters" which she corrects my reflection, "no they are real sister's to me" so we just go with it. Anything Peter Pan is still a fav. Ryan finished their hidey play area under the stairs in January and they have named it "neverland". She has started practicing sleeping upstairs and is eager to move upstairs next to Rhett's room but we wanted to do some trial runs before we go through with relocating furniture. The first night she came down in the middle night "I got lonely and scared" but has  made it most nights all the way through. When she started Gymnastics I wondered if she was feeling nervous about the first day - "I'm not nervous mom, I am just unsure about new people". She loves pre-school and is so upset if she's sick and unable to go. Ava hates throwing up with a passion. The drama and tears were big time for getting through that night. She recently learned quite a deep lesson at school about how we all have invisible buckets that we can fill up for each other with kindness and love. She keeps me on my toes and if I am using an inpatient tone she will let me know that is not really filling up her bucket. It's been a good door to talk about mommy and daddy's bucket and how obedience can help fill up our buckets. 

The kids had a round of stomach virus' followed by colds and they were well for a week or two and now we are another round of colds. Very ready for consistent wellness that I hoping spring will bring. 

Glow baths are a fav around here right now. 

We've enjoyed a few barefoot backyard days this month, love there little feet next to each other under the picnic table!
Can't wait till we can do this everyday again! 

School day scenes, packing backpacks and lunches on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

Sweet and ornery this one! 

It's been fun to watch him emerge more into getting lost in play, building, cooking in the play kitchen, or working with his tools on something. 

One of her many performances. A song about herself that she wrote herself. 

Rhett loves to "Jump" off things this month, there is very little actual jumping.
A lot of preparation followed by stepping off whatever it is. 

She has been excited to start Gymnastics in January after Santa brought her the gift of lessons. She can be found cartwheeling and practicing all her moves at home and church. She has been really enjoying it and I notice she is so her mother's child watching intently to follow the instructions from the leaders and loves to get in practice at home to improve her skills. The leaders are so fun and positive and it's been a pretty good experience so far.

Today's my birthday and I am spending most of it on the couch with a fevered and coughing Ava. Not as glamorous as birthday's past but tis' the season and a very real snapshot of life these days. 

2014 reflections

As always it was fun to review our year through my favorite snap shots:

This time last year I was wrapping up my management position and stepped into an even more part time role of doing some consulting and training in order spend more time with these two. Even with the hard and sometimes long days that can come with parenting little ones, the times I lost my patience, had Disney songs stuck on repeat in my head and answered the question "Will you play with me?" for the millionth time... I really have loved this year and this time with them.

In March we traveled for spring break to visit the family and spend time with cousins in Houston.
We visited the zoo and had a good time together. 

We celebrated Ava turning 4!

and Rhett turning 1!

We celebrated them with a joint family party at the house. 

We watched Rhett start walking and talking.  

Another year of Ava enjoying all things princess and girly except for once in a while when she liked to mix up with mowing, playing in the dirt or catching bugs. I love that this picture captures her so well at this age. 

In the summer Ryan surprised me with my first real Camera, I am hoping in 2015 to venture off of manual mode and expand my photography horizons. 

In June we went on a family vacation to Branson with the Askew crew.

Ava surprised with all the rides she would ride at Silver Dollar City now that she has reached the first height limit for the bigger rides.

No good vacation is quite complete without lots of pool time.
Ava took swim lessons again this summer and loved time in the water. 

Road trip fun!

Allie got to come visit us for several days in the summer!
To a 4 year old girl, there's pretty much nothing cooler than your 11 year old girl cousin.

We went to Houston over the 4th of July for the Bell family Bash
and got to get to know our newest cousins, Emilia and Hudson.
They are some of our greatest joys for the year to have both of them arrive safe and healthy! 

Ava told us she wants to be a cowgirl when she grows up
but she's pretty conflicted because she really loves babies and
 she told me she's just not sure if she can ride her horse all day and take care of baby
maybe 2015 will bring more clarity for her on her future endeavors.

No summer trip to Houston is complete with out lots of pool time. 

The kids always loved time with their grandparents this year. 

Rhett loved the fireworks this year and we loved watching his shock and awe face. 

We also traveled down to Duncan for a Day trip to meet up visit with Matt and Lori and made a trip to the kiddie park there.  (Rhett seemed excited to ride the train and wanted to sit on the bench next to me but as soon as it started he crawled up on my lap, such a marker of this stage - Let me do it myself, wait I need you)

Rhett's increased mobility over the year lead to lots of shenanigans and I am sure there will be more to come in 2015. 

In the fall Rhett started MDO two days a week at Ava's school.

and Ava returned to preschool as one the big kids. 

I took the kids down to Orr Family Farms again for some Fall fun. 

Rhett loved his first hayride!

We went with an Alice in Wonderland theme Halloween after Ava watched again and again in the fall. 

We hosted a bon fire night with  some friends in our back yard. 

Over Thanksgiving we updated our Bell family kid pictures. 

There are 5 more members of this crew since the last time we did this group picture a few years ago. 

In December we took Ava ice skating for the first time and enjoyed our usual holiday family time in Broken Arrow.

A tiny frog on the drive way. 

I feel like these last two pictures are my favorite of the year and really capture this year for us. They symbolizes the joy of watching their relationship with one another grow and the wonder and magic of this stage of life we get to share along side them. Not all the days were filled with magic there were plenty of messes to go along side it- moments I lost my patience, or they fought with each other, Rhett broke things, or put another random something in the toilet, having tantrums at the same time or the literal constant mess making and cleaning cycle that is never ending at this stage. but I think when I look back on 2014 with all its mess and magic, the magical moments -the moments of Ryan and I making eye contact when they do something hilarious, or being there for the moment they accomplish something new, hearing MaMa for the first time or spending an hour on the drive way in awe of tiny frog that came to visit, those are the parts I am tucking away for keeps. 2015 will be a big year for our house with someone starting kindergarten, someone potty training, and changes I am sure we don't even know about yet. I hope I'm finding that sweet place of wrapping myself in this moment and not mourning what has passed or anxiously awaiting what is next because I know that is the surest way to miss the magic of right now and right now is pretty great.