Tag-o-rama

I have been tagged from a few directions recently. I have a hard time keeping up so I am going to devote an entire post to them. I even remembered one I forgot from months ago, so here it goes.

5th Folder Tag
My friend Karen, tagged me for this one to post the 5th photo from my 5th photo folder, because she likes my camera and pictures. I am sad to disappoint her because this is from my very first digital camera and is a not a very well composed picture of my child. I don't think I take pictures of much else. So here is my 5th folder photo:

May 23, 2005 Ava's Birthday. 5 tiny pounds and 6 ounces of love.

Speaking of Ava, she got tagged by my friend, Claudia.
Ava
Name and meaning: Ava- means like a bird , Elise-means consecrated to God
Age:nearly 3 1/2


Nicknames: "Betty", Ava girl, Love Baby, Pie

Favorite Activities: Pretending to be a princess, dancing, singing, playing outside, preschool

Favorite Foods: macaroni and cheese, pizza, peas, broccoli, candy, "meat sandwiches", cold water with "fibeice" (five ice) in it.



Least Favorite foods: She discriminates food by texture. She does not like eggs, "salad" (lettuce), things that are too squishy, or ice cream with "stuff" in it.

Favorite toys: princess dresses, baby dolls, blankets.



What makes her happy: her daddy, Luke, sometimes me, getting surprises, playing with "nice" friends, animals (except Sophie who is "mean")

What makes her sad: being closed in a room (hates the door closed, unless she does and wants it that way), anyone being "mean or ugly" to her.


Additional things I love about Ava: I love that Ava is so sensitive. And she is sensitive in every sense of the word. Her feelings are always on her sleeve and she can sense how others are feeling very easily, she is aware of when the mood in a room changes, and she is empathetic beyond her years. She can explode with fear, anger, sadness, frustration at the drop of a hat, but in return can give love, appreciation, concern, excitement, and joy at that same capacity. You can't change her mind. She is hard to categorize, sometimes difficult to manage, but usually easy to love.

Crazy 8
I can't help but think about the Young Women I work with now and if we will keep in touch as they get older. This tag came from a special lady who knew and cared about me when I was 12 and 13 years old. Bless her heart. I still keep in touch with "Sister Cooper". Love you, lady!

8 favorite TV shows:
1. Project Runway
2. Amazing Race
3. House Hunters
4. The Office
5. Jon and Kate plus 8
6.So You Think You Can Dance
7.American Idol
8. Ace of Cakes


8 favorite restaurants:
1. Perry's
2. Pei Wei
3. We don't
4.get out
5. much.
6.oh yeah,
7.Bajio
8. and Cafe Rio


8 things that happened yesterday:
1. woke up
2. didn't clean
3.picked up the van from the repair shop
4. had lunch with Val and company
5. worked on Dorothy dress for Ava's Halloween costume
6. went to a pumpkin patch for FHE
7. ate Subway for dinner
8. fell asleep watching TV

8 things to look forward to:
1. Halloween
2. Thanksgiving
3. the weekend
4. our next cruise
5. Luke going to nursery
6. Christmas
7. "baking day"
8. sleeping in


8 things I love about Fall:
1. chill in the air
2. I really
3. really
4. miss the
5. leaves changing
6. colors
7. jackets
8. cider


8 things on my wishlist:
1. serger
2. sewing table
3. new clothes
4. crockpot
5. new lens
6. to be skinny
7. and still eat whatever I want
8. my family to all live in the same place


8 people I tag:
1. You
2.You
3.You
4.You
5.You
6.You
7.You, too
8.Anyone who wants to


My friend Tara tagged me for this one ages ago. It was when I was realizing how many I had let pile up, that this one came popping into my head. And since Dan teased me today that our blog should be called Big EAL, I think it is very appropriate to do this one about him, even though it's about both of us.

My Sweety...


1. What's his name? Daniel

2.How long have you been married? 7 years this December

3. How long did you date? 1 year

4. Who eats more sweets? me

5.Who said I love you first? Dan inadvertently did on our first Valentine's Day. He gave me a stuffed animal and a card that both said "I love you" (though he didn't notice apparently). Later that night I said, "I love you" and he said it back to avoid a scene on V-day. The next night I said, "I love you" and he said nothing. I was embarrassed and decided to never say it again unless he said it first. Finally, a few months later he said it and meant it.

6. Who is taller? Dan

7. Who can sing better? me

8. Who is smarter? depends who you ask. I think we're pretty close.

9.Who does the laundry? me

10. Who pays the bills? Dan

11. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Dan



12. Who cooks dinner? me

13. Who drives? me

14. Who is more stubborn? me

15. Who kissed who first? it was a mutual thing

16.Who asked out who first? Dan finally asked me. After emailing everyday over Christmas break and saying flirty things, when I returned to school Dan ignored me for a week before finally getting the nerve to ask me out.

17. Who proposed? me, about 3 times, literally. Finally he consented.

18. Who wears the pants? We each get a leg.

And if you've made it this far, you now know more about us than you'd probably like. And I now hereby tag anyone and everyone who read this and wants to do it.

Luke needs a Time Out

So we made it! Luke is in bed. It's Sunday. No major ailments or injuries to report!

You see there's been 2 ear infections, 2 cut eyes, 1 run-in with fire ants, equaling 6 trips to the urgent care/ER, all taking place on Sunday.

I was starting to get paranoid when the Sabbath rolled around, but today was uneventful. Though I did make my own medical diagnosis for Luke today.

My boy is allergic to church.


I walk the halls with him, and if we even approach the chapel, or today even the foyer, he is beside himself, going wild, or just flopping around crying. It really is a sight.

I finally gave up and shut ourselves (me, Ava, and Luke) into a classroom and piped in the sound while Dan sat on the stand with his Primary class, as today was the Primary Program.

I wish Claritin or an epi-pen would work in this case but I'm not hopeful.

I got back home late last night after a little Time Out in San Antonio . I went to a women's conference called Time Out for Women .

Val and I left the kiddies with the husbands and skipped town for a couple of days! And I must confess that the best part of the weekend was hanging out with the girls like a middle school slumber party and not the actual conference.

Val's sister from Austin came and met us at the hotel. We had dinner with their niece and nephew, and then stayed up too late talking and eating. Oh it was fun!

Val and Cara

The next day (Saturday) we spent at the conference but all quietly agreed that next year we might spend our money at a spa instead. Not that the conference wasn't good. Just not Bam-a-lam spectacular. Eating ice cream for lunch on the Riverwalk, though, that is spectacular!

Val brought her little porcelain doll with her.

Clara

Okay, she is a real baby but you'd never know it because she never cries and is as perfectly proportioned as a piece of art.

If I get pregnant again, it's going to be all her fault!

Thank you Val, for the ride, the laughs, the company, the food, the music, the friendship, everything! You're the bomb!

And Dan, thank you too, for everything.

Pumpkin Patch Blues

Before we left Dallas, we wanted to stop at the Pumpkin Patch, where Ava had so much fun last year.


But for some strange reason, neither of our kids were too excited about it. The Redd's kids, on the other hand, had a blast!


But Luke didn't even want to get down, which is really unusual. Anytime we'd try to get him in a picture with the pumpkins, he would cry.


After her first failed attempt at the inflatable obstacle course ended in hysterical crying, Ava summoned the courage to try again,



this time with a happy ending, though generally speaking she was just in a bad mood.

I had been looking forward to getting some good fall pictures with the kids in the pumpkins, but it was not meant to be.

My camera battery died on the first photo I attempted in the actual "patch". And then I was in a bad mood. So we threw in the towel and left.

Since we've been home, Luke has not yet returned to his easy going ways. He seems fussy and irritable, not sleeping or eating well. I broke down and took him to the doctor even though he didn't have many acute symptoms.

She didn't have much insight, thinking that perhaps he is still getting over the allergy attack, but did discover that the ant-bite-turned-huge-blisters on his hands are actually infected and prescribed antibiotics as well as a couple of epi-pens. She thinks that because of the severity of his reaction this time, it would only take a couple of bites to induce the same type of reaction next time. And she also referred us to an allergist so we can look into what else out there might be a hazard for him.


Hopefully with time, his body will fully recover from this allergic reaction so he can get back to his sweet self. I miss him.

State Fair 2008

Our day at the fair started off with a bang, when the Ava and Corbin wanted to drive these little cars. Ava can barely steer a tricycle so I knew this was going to be interesting. If only I had video instead of pictures.

Ava picked the hot pink Escalade. Hopefully not a sign of what her taste will be like in the future.


The funniest part about the selection process was that Corbin wanted the pink Escalade more!

Tiffany stuck him in the race car and he was visibly disappointed. He wouldn't give me a smile.



After a few minutes of disjointed driving, crashing and re-crashing into the bank of tires forming the track, they joined forces and Corbin decided to ride with Ava.


And if you want to know if your Grandma loves you, see if she will chase your Powerwheel around a track trying to steer you out of danger for 5 minutes. It was quite a workout! But because of her generosity I could take the pictures. Thanks, Mom.

We saw some cool acrobats,


We all thought they were pretty cool.


My favorite part this year were the animals. The petting zoo was quite elaborate this year, with zebras, giraffes,


giant tortoises,




and of course the usual suspects-goats, sheep, llamas, pigs, etc.

Oh the baby goats! I wanted to snatch them up and snuggle them.




Look at this momma. It must be twins at least. I honestly thought she would go into labor any second.


My back ached for her. Poor thing.




And these pigs! These baby pigs were going to town! And I loved their little pink tails.




At first, Ava was all about the animals and petting them. There were small cups of animal food available to buy (which we didn't) but Ava got a hold of one that had been left on the ground. And from then on she was obsessed with filling the cup with shavings over and over again and paid no attention to the animals.



She always surprises me.

We ate some funnel cake,




watched a dog show, rode a couple of rides,



and it was a good day.

One of the highlights was when this random lady walked up to us, asked us if we were going to be there (at the fair) for a while. When we said yes, she said, "then take these!" and handed us about $20 worth of coupons. Rides and food can only be purchased with coupons so that was very kind.




We ended with a stop at the huge sandbox,


but before we did, in an attempt to use our last 4 tickets (which is not enough for food or a ride) I went into this old school tent to see "2 headed snakes" and "2 headed turtles" I actually thought it was going to be a joke, but I did indeed, see a 2 headed snake and turtle! I was taking pictures until I looked up and saw this huge sign that said "no photos".

They came out poorly because there was not enough light and they were behind glass. But if you enlarge this picture and look closely, you, too can see a 2 headed turtle!




Ava and Corbin have been buddies since they were a couple months old. Ava has grown into a princess pretender and Corbin is a exuberant "tackler". Despite their growing differences, they always manage to get along together.

Ava could not put down her sandwich even for a photo.





And know what melts my heart? These two, together.


Two of the most special ladies in my life. Two of the stubbornest, strongest, deepest people I know. They're both mine and I love 'em!


And, Tiffany and Corbin, thanks for coming with us!


I love the fair!

Part I - Spud Harvest

First of all, Luke is recovering well, though he looks like a little leper and has entered the "itchy phase". Here he is the day after.

The bites on his legs seemed to scab over quickly, but the ones on his hands turned into huge blisters that lingered for days.

We just returned from our nearly week-long trip to Dallas. I went up with the kids early last week, because my sister Chandra and her 7 kids drove down from Idaho, to make the most of their 2 week school vacation. All I can say is bless "spud harvest". I love my sister and seeing her growing brood was great. What's so neat is that the oldest two (Hi, Brayden and Kieran!)stayed up with us after the little ones went to bed, and we played games together. It's fun to remember them as cute little babies and now be able to play and interact with them more like adults. They are fun stuff.

Ava hasn't stopped saying, "I just miss my friend, Marin".


They are two princesses in a pod.



I played photographer and had a little photo shoot with each of the kids. I said things like, "Work it!" and they thought I was crazy. But I have always wanted to be the crazy aunt, so that's okay.

Dallin

Princess Marin

Roan


Eavan

Torin

Kieran

Brayden

They are some beautiful children. It must be in the genes. I'm not biased either.


And then Dan came up on Thursday with our friends Tiffany and Andrew especially to see the BYU football game. Boo Hoo for BYU! Dan finally got to go to a game and of course, it figures that they'd have to go and lose! He's held it together pretty well, all things considered.

The game was a bust but the rest of the weekend was not! Stay tuned for The State Fair 2008 and a visit to the pumpkin patch.

We were glad to get a visit with family and friends and now we are glad to be home. Traveling with kids can really wear you out! Now it's on to Halloween and I must get going on costumes!