Whew! I didn't know my blog had been stuck in the mud since April! (See previous post.) That is some serious neglect, I tell ya! I'm not going to try to catch up and give a travel log of our lives since then, but I have a few things I want to post about.
This is Ava's bedroom! I don't even want to talk about how long I've been slowly putting stuff together for her room...or how painful stenciling that little corner was (right mom!)...but I am happy that it is finally done. It is just right for the little princess of our household!
Also, the boys got a new bed and a paint job in their room so I'll include a few pictures of that as well.
And this is Ava moments before her first haircut. I have recently discovered that there are differing opinions out there about giving babies first haircuts. So if you're terribly offended that we cut her hair you should just scroll on down...but if you can handle it...here are the before and after pictures.
This is what she is doing right now as I type...taking a nap in her cozy little bed. (Why am I not taking a nap right now too, I wonder?)
Now I will proceed to share a few (probably more than a few) of my favorite pictures of Summer. Even though I said it would not be a travel log...I just can't help sharing some of these great memories I found as I looked back through my camera card.
McKay made his dad so happy when he learned to mow the lawn!
Ava meeting Grandpa and Grandma Stuart! (I love this picture!)
Once upon a time there were four little girls who were cousins. They grew up laughing and playing and going to reunions in the Summer...then one Summer, many years later they each had a baby...Brittany had Ezra, Allee had Jackson, Valerie had Ava and Tiffany had Kate. And they all took their babies and went to the Reunion and laughed and played together and enjoyed every second they could soak up of each other's company! I can't get enough of these pictures! And what fun memories of camping with tiny newborns! Never had these woods seen and heard such a thing! Isn't it hilarious how they were eating each other to console themselves!
Four Generation picture. (Excuse the fact that we were camping...not to mention that we clearly weren't looking at this camera right then!!)
This is what I love to see. This is what it's all about!!
And speaking of what I love to see...
He was just a little ecstatic about finding quarters in the sand box!!
Cousins playing. (Remember the story about the 4 cousins right up there...tradition...I love it!)
And speaking of tradition...
Happy Fourth of July in Taylor, Arizona!
And speaking of the Fourth of July...
Now, I would feel terrible if I looked back someday and didn't write about the biggest and best thing that happened to our family this Summer. (Speaking of big...I may look back and be sad I included this picture!:) This picture was taken the morning we went in to the hospital to be induced.
Ava Kay Stuart was born June 22nd, 2013 at 3:23 pm. It was a Saturday. She weighed 7 pounds 10 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long. The labor and delivery was just as smooth and easy as can be. We are so blessed and thankful she arrived safely. And that she is healthy and beautiful. She is our little darling Ava.
Our family went from that up there to this in just a matter of hours! (Ethan had fallen asleep in the car on the way to the hospital and he is impossible to wake up...so this is what we have for a family photo...I need to get working on that. Well and besides Ethan sleeping, I wouldn't mind having a family picture where I'm wearing something other than a hospital gown...jus sayin!)
Ava and her "pinkie" as Ethan calls it. (I think he'd call it that even if it was blue, so good thing it really is pink...it works!)
Sunday morning Grandma brought them by after Church and this is what he thought when he finally got to see her for the first time...we'll call this photo "Ethan becomes a big brother".
I just had to include these...someone got a hold of the camera. (Love that face!)
Our f.o.u.r. kids ready to head home...whew! Do we really have four kids? Doesn't seem possible. But it's true! (Believe me, I do their laundry!)
Okay, and the last reason I wanted to post was to talk about this sweet boy!! McKay will be turning eight years old tomorrow! He is such a handsome and amazing kid. I don't know what I'd do without him! I'm very proud of him for his desire to be baptized...and for his readiness to do so! He is growing into a young man before my eyes...and I am in awe of that process.
Eight things I love about McKay:
1. He is a hard worker.
2. He never complains about being the big brother and having to help.
3. He makes us look good! We get compliments about him all the time and all I can ever say is, "he came that way!" Because it is true!
4. He is curious!
5. He wants to be the president of his school when he is in 5th Grade! (He is ambitious and courageous about setting goals!)
6. He is truthful.
7. He listens and is observant.
8. He does things without being asked.
I hope he has a great birthday and that these two boys (Dallin and McKay) have a great school year! I'm kind of a sentimental schmuck about new school years...and I am not ready for this Summer to end. But my hopes and dreams for these kids--that they will learn and thrive and become all they can become--are very much alive. And in order for them to do that, change has to happen and time has to pass and they have to grow bigger and older and taller...I hope I'm enjoying the journey as much as I should. We are sure blessed and life is sure good!
And so ends this #notatravellog post...
(Thanks for being a trooper and reading all the way to the end! Whew! Now I'll go take a nap! Nevermind, Ava is awake...oh well!)
September 29th
Happy Halloween October 31st
November 8th
Merry Christmas December 25th
January 11th
January 29th
February 1st
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