Ava Jane's First Birthday

So we are way behind on our blogging, but we will try to catch up just a little bit.  One huge event that happened in August was Ava's first birthday.  How grateful we are for such a wonderful addition to our family. We truly are blessed.

Happy Birthday Ava!

Photo taken by my sister Rachelle Butterfield.

Thoughts on another birthday

I turned 36 yesterday and people have asked if I feel older.  The honest answer is no.  I feel like all the birthdays so far in my 30's are pretty much the same.  The numbers don't mean too much.  I think it will start to hit my radar when I reach 40.  I still think I am young and try to convince myself that I just graduated from high school just a few years ago.  Then I attend a function with high school kids present and realize that I am getting older.  I have lots of gray hair which is something I get from my Dad.  If you have seen my older brothers or my Dad, you will see that I will be either 100% gray or 100% white.  Both are fine with me.

I do want to thank my family for a wonderful day.  I was spoiled on Sunday as you can see below.  Linda made one of my favorite dinners.  She made short ribs with mashed potatoes and all the trimmings.  Then they spoiled me with my favorite cake.  I don't know what to call it, but it is good.  As you can see from the picture, they piled Meredith's homemade ice cream on top!  Not a bad way to finish the day!

Just as a side note: the extended family is getting better at singing happy birthday without my assistance.  They still have room for improvement, but they are getting there.  Luckily they only have to do this unassisted once a year.

Happy Birthday Meredith

July 18, 2011

So I am a little behind in my blogging……

Happy Birthday Mere!  We love you!

Just a casual game of ping pong

July 9, 2011

We stopped by Steve and Liz’s house to hang out with family and a “casual” game of ping pong started.  We then turned it into a game that rotated people in as someone made a mistake.  This happens a lot in our family.  We just make up games that try to involve a lot of people.

Well, somewhere between casual and fun, Martin thought we were in the Olympics and treated his opponent like the Gold Medal team from North Korea.  He will say he was relaxed and what not, but there are plenty of photos of him completely flexed.  He was out for blood.  I do have to admit that he is really good.  He stayed in longer than anyone else.  It quickly became everyone’s goal to get him out of the game.  We played for a while and everyone had a great time.  Check Whitney’s blog for better pictures.

 

Martin and Lindsay

Keith and Lauren

Lindsay and Tyler

The self proclaimed “dream team” – Bob and Keith

Ava

Ava reacting to a bubble!

Summer fun with cousins

Thank goodness for cousins!  These kids can play together for hours.  They have such a great relationship with each other.  We are so thankful for family.

Ava Loves Shoes!

All of our kids have loved shoes from an early age.  Especially Lauren and now Ava.  To be clear, they don't get that from me.  They have a Mother who has great taste when it comes to shoes.  

Here Ava is wearing some cute Robeez shoes that you can't see because she is also wearing Lauren's slippers.  Once she put on the slippers she just wanted to walk around everywhere.  She thought it was pretty funny......and it was.

Another thing Ava does that it unique is when she walks she sometimes puts both arms behind her like shown below.  Not sure why, but it is cute.  It's like she is an airplane or something.  Maybe she is imitating Jason "The Jet" Terry from the Dallas Mavericks?  Who knows?