Potty Chair

Owen at 19 months trying the potty for the first time!

Ava at 19 months trying out the potty chair!

People always say that Owen and Ava look exactly the same. So here is the true test. Same age doing the same thing. What do you think? I personally don't think they look a like. Yes you can tell their siblings but I don't think I could enter them in a look a like contest.

Exciting Things

I have several exciting things to share first off is Ava went poopy and potty on the potty chair today after lunch. She was really messy from eating spaghetti so I decided it would just be easiest to throw her in the tub. While I was getting the water ready I had her sit on the toilet to wait. Sure enough she went! In the last week she has been telling me when she is poopy and has also went into the bathroom and stood by the toilet saying poop. When she goes in the bathroom I let her try to go but this is the first time she went. It is exciting that she is starting to understand what this bathroom thing is all about at 19 months.

Also exciting is that this morning for breakfast and at lunch Ava drank out of a big girl cup. I am starting to wean her off of sippy cups. She likes to drink out of cups without covers so I thought I might as well go with it and be done with the sippy cups!

Oh and the last thing I am going share is really exciting and I have been waiting to share it for the last month and a half. She gave me permission today to share while we were chatting on the phone. So here it goes.....My Aunt Jennifer is pregnant with their third child too! For those of you who don't know Jen is 4 years older than me and we spent lots and lots of time together growing up. She was also my Matron of Honor in our wedding. I am so excited that we will have babies that will be just a few months a part in age.

Mini Golf/Park

The golfing lesson----------------The first swing--------

this way works too--------------the preferred method!

showing me his ball-------------Daddy taking a turn----

Mommy getting ready------------------------Ava watching and relaxing

After eating an early dinner on Monday night we went to play a round of mini golf. The last time we went Owen was the one strapped in the stroller and I was pregnant with Ava! For being 3 1/2 I think Owen did a really good job. He of course didn't play by the rules but he hit the ball and understood the concept of what to do. He liked being the "Flag Guy" as he called himself. He would hold the pole while Luke and I took our turns. Owen also decided that golfing with his head was efficient too! Ava didn't complain about having to be strapped in the stroller while we played. I also have to report that for the first time ever I beat Luke at mini golf! It was only by one point our scores were 51 and 52. Par was 39 so it is not like either one of us did extremely well. But, I do have to say that it was my best game ever I usually have an average of 4 strokes per hole.

After we were done we went and got some root beer floats and headed to a new park that we haven't gone to before. The kids had a lot of fun. Owen thought the giant spider wed was pretty cool and Ava enjoyed the big slide. She went down it at least 15 times while we were there. We had a really fun night together!

coming down---------------------three on a swing---------

---climbing the web!---

Steam Engine

Here are some pictures of the old steam engine that came through our town a few weeks back. I had mentioned in an earlier post that Owen and his Papa John went to go watch it slowly go through town. I finally have some pictures to show you what they saw!

Park

We went to the park today for a picnic, hike, and to play on the playground. It was very enjoyable both of the kids did really well. We went for about a mile Ava speed hike. Owen and Ava walked the whole time. I guess I could of left the stroller in the van! The only bummer is that the mosquitoes ate us up really bad on the hiking trails. We will have to remember bug spray next time. Owen enjoyed collecting acorns, and Ava enjoyed the freedom of not being in the stroller!

A Thank You Prayer

Last night after updating my Blog for all of you I checked a few Blogs that I follow and caught up on their daily doings. Sadly one of the families that I follow have a very very sick baby boy. The little boy is 8 months old and is in the hospital fighting for his life. It was after reading their update that I immediately shut off my computer and began praying to God. I prayed for at least an hour. I thanked him for giving me two beautiful healthy children and then went into depth on both Owen and Ava and thanked God for everything I was thankful for. I also prayed about their futures and asked God to give me Patience and wisdom as Luke and I raise them. Because I know that our children are not perfect I also prayed for the struggles that Luke and I are dealing with for each child. Things like Owen's listening and obeying and Ava's stubbornness and teething. Of course I also prayed for our baby boy that is due in November. I prayed that he is also a beautiful healthy little boy with a long and healthy life. I pray for our family and friends everyday but it has been a long time since I prayed and thanked God in the way I did last night.

Wet kids!

Friday afternoon Owen and Ava went swimming in their pool. Here are some silly pictures of them taking a short break before they headed back into the pool for more fun! Ava decided to take a dip in the pool before I had a chance to put her suit on. She loves the water and can be very quick and sneaky when she wants to. Note: when she wants to - of course when I am in a hurry she likes to take her sweet old time and don't even try to rush her!

Friday

Friday morning we spent about an hour painting. Owen and Ava love to paint and they both create the most beautiful pictures for Luke and I. Ava is my messy painter she gets a bit carried away while creating her master piece. On the other hand Owen is my cautious artist. He likes to have a neat and clean work atmosphere.

The Owies

While trying to climb down our steps outside on Thursday afternoon Ava lost her balance and took a face plant into the sidewalk. Other than the scrapes on her nose, side of the forehead and the big bruise in the center of her forehead she is back to her old independent self. As a result of the injuries I had to cancel the picture appointment that I had scheduled for her on Friday late afternoon.

We also made a run for the beach on Thursday after we ate a quick early dinner. We all had a great time playing in the water. Luke and Owen enjoyed trying to catch some medium sized sunnies with Owen's toy net. They actually caught 2 of them. Owen thought it would be a great idea to bring them home and put them in our pool. Luke thought that was a great idea too, but mean old mom said a huge NO! I just knew that I would be the one dealing with dead fish the next day.

After we ate dinner tonight we went for a walk with our neighbors. We walked to the grocery store because Luke needed some coffee filters. We also bought ice cream treats to eat on the way home. Ava needed to take a bath as soon as we got home because she really enjoyed her chocolate ice cream treat.

Vacation

We enjoyed a family vacation this past week. We had a couple of really nice days and then a rainy day followed by some cold days. We didn't let the weather stop us from having a great time though. During the week we enjoyed swimming, tubing, ice cream, fishing, visiting, eating, playing games, camp fires, walks, reading, feeding the ducks, playing outside, and boat rides. We discovered a new fun game called Farkle. I started and finished a great book called Take Two by Karen Kingsbury my favorite author. Owen was excited to help Jordan drive around collecting the garbage from the cabins each night and helping Dillon and Lucas clean up the fish guts from the building that everyone cleans their catch of the day in. On Friday Luke and Owen were going to go on a airplane ride, but it was canceled due to the wind. So we plan on going back to do that some other Friday.