Summer Fun With Family

The past couple of weekends we have been out of town doing some fun summer things. The first weekend we spent with my sister and her family enjoying their neighborhood pool. This was Ava's first time in a pool, and we thought she'd enjoy it since she like the bath so much. She just laid back in our arms and seemed to relax and would kick her feet to splash. She didn't even cry when the water got in her eyes--typical Ava. We went to the pool after 4 so it was still really hot, but the sun wasn't so bright. She was so adorable in her bathing suit and hat even though she kept trying to pull it off, her hat that is. I had sunglasses for her too but forgot them at the house. I think the kids had fun with her too. They love their cousin and she enjoys watching them play. Jack is never still and she gets a kick out of that. He IS fun to watch although it's tiring. I wish I had a drop of his energy! Anyway, I got some fun pictures:



















This past weekend, we went up to New York for a visit with Brian's family. They live in Oswego and the weather there was like Fall here! I loved it! It was a little tease though and now I'm so ready for the summer to be over. I'm ready for the fall weather and decorations. But I digress....so we decided sort of last minute to take a trip to visit. Brian's sisters still hadn't seen Ava and we knew Jen's kids were anxious to see her too. So we took the opportunity and flew up Friday. You would think after a 35 hour trip home with her from Vietnam that 2 hours would be easy, but I was still anxious about it. She gets fussy when she's sleepy and can't get comfortable, and we happened to land a flight that took off at her nap time. So I knew it would be touchy. Fortunately, she fell asleep in my lap for a few minutes in the airport. So when we got on the plane she woke up but was happy for the flight.

We had such a fun visit with everyone there. We were so tired when we got there but the excitement of the day rejuvenated us for the evening. She had a slightly difficult night but Grandma was the big hero that night and came to comfort her since mom and dad didn't hear her crying. I felt like a terrible mother! But she quickly calmed down after a bottle and went back to sleep. The next day we just hung out and everyone watched Ava crawl and clap and do all her little tricks. We took a walk outside with the kids and she had her first feel of grass under her bare feet (we don't do that at home b/c of the fire ants here that we can't seem to get rid of-ouch!). It was a gorgeous day. Brian was excited about seeing Grissom again, and I was too. He's such a fun dog and he has found himself a perfect family I tell ya. He's one lucky dog that one. Those kids love him and treat him well. They wear him out from playing every day from what I here. Every time Ava was on the ground he wanted to lick her feet and hands and if possible, her face. And if ever he got to her before anyone could intercept him, she was lovin' it!!! She got such a kick out of that dog.

We left Sunday around 2 and once again we were hitting the flight around her nap time. Brian got us seats in the back of the plane so I was able to get up with her and stand in the back and I got her to sleep. She slept the ENTIRE way home. What a blessing that was! It really couldn't have gone any more smoothly than it did.

So we're home now and she's getting back to her normal schedule. I think she wonders where her adoring fans went. There's no crowd around clapping for her every time she sits up or does something cute! Bummer.