Daily Post

We celebrated Amy’s 32nd birthday in Madison. We went to the Children’s Museum, dinner, brunch and hung out at the house. I think Hoober has the most fun!

Another frigid day in Chicago means more indoor fun! Our Wed. date with Francine was at Lincoln Park Zoo to watch Mr. Singer. Ava danced, tried stealing snacks from others and had an all around nice afternoon.

Hoober got some serious love tonight from his girls.  Hoober and Ava continue to grow closer and momma continues to tolerate him a little more each day.

Ava loves people and live music. Every Wed. and Thurs. Whole Foods offers a 30 minute live concert for kids. I don’t know if she loved the music or the kids more!
She went up to a few kids and tried to kiss them. So cute! She is very loving and sweet!

Ava and I enjoyed the day at the museum with auntie Francine. We try to get together every Wed. for an outing. The city offers free days to every museum each month and are taking full advantage!

Dave surprised me and Ava today at the Sod Room. We decided to venture out to a new indoor playroom. These frigid winter days are getting old!

Ava has always loved listening to Dada beat box and now that she is a little older she has started dancing and moving each and every time Dada starts.

While Christine and Ava were in SLC for Christmas Holiday, the spent some time with Grandma at church practicing a routine for Christmas Day. Ava was around for most of the practice and she picked up on the routine and fell in love with the song. Whenever we play the song, she immediately goes nuts and we love how she throws her hands over her head like she saw everyone doing during practice.

Another day in cold, wet Chicago. We chased away the winter blues by making an indoor fort and played with kinetic sand.

Today was the coldest day in 20 years in Chicago and Ava and Momma were pretty much trapped at home. We all made the best of it with plenty of indoor fun.

It has been below zero here in Chicago and we are making the most of the time spent indoors. Grandpa in Salt Lake taught Ava to kick and we wanted to make sure she didn’t forget.

Ava has spent more time with this box than any other toy. She nestles herself perfectly in it and likes to be pushed and pulled all over the house.

Good thing Grandpa attached a string to the box. Our backs were killing us!

The family keeps growing! We were missing Amy and Bryce in the photo. Perhaps we can all be together next year!

The whiskey and drinks were flowing all evening!

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Ava is in love with the cat, dogs and the mountains. She hasn’t showed real interest in the snow, but that could change when we go sledding or cross country skiing. We are here for almost three weeks and this kid is having a ball!

After spending an afternoon at church, we came home and had a delicious holiday meal. My parents, Dave, Ava, Dan, Rhonda, Seanna, Elysa, Sherry and Nick ate a home cooked meal and then went sledding at Sugar House.

We spent our Christmas with my brother and his family and my cousin. Ava’s cousins, Seanna (7 years) and Elysa (5 years), we perfect little angels. They played, entertained and loved Ava. The girls called her baby Ava. All
of the cousins shared their new toys with each other. The biggest hit? A kids’ karaoke machine called Rock Star. They sang their hearts out all day and night.

Ava is in LOVE with Frito. As soon as she wakes up, she searches for the cat. All she wants is this cat. The two dogs, Sydney and Athena, have taken a back seat to this feline. I wonder if she dreams about this Siamese?

Ava has developed a strong relationship with Hoober. She plays with him every day, shares her food and just plain old loves him. He allows Ava to do anything to him and she takes advantage of it.

My angel has said the word I have been most wanting to hear. She says a few versions: mom, momma, and mommy. Her voice is so cute!

We enjoyed a beautiful afternoon at the Botanical Gardens. We visited the Wonderland Express, which was stunning! They had snow falling from the sky, trains and winter scenes from all around Chicago.
We ended the afternoon with a Hanukkah concert. Ava really enjoyed the live music.