First tooth for Ava

Ava lost her first tooth on November 28! So funny how dramatic a little girls reaction can be compared to a boys! 

Tooth #2 is almost gone as well! 

3 more rainbows spotted today!

God's Grace... 

The Eve before our Ava's 6th Bday!

She has been counting the days till her birthday and it is finally here!  All of her special and thoughtful gifts from family are wrapped and ready for her.  Last year I set out a new dress and boots for her hanging from her closet door and she loved it!  This year it is an American girl dress she has been wanting since we saw it in the store at the end of summer.  

And she has no idea the biggest surprise is yet to come, after tomorrow :)

Caught on camera

Sydney and Wyatt kissing caught on camera by Pea and Ava.  I think I am happy that the picture is not focused!  Sydney has been studying the art of the kiss in her princess books and movies!  Just look at her form! 

God's promise to me!

Two days after thanksgiving, my Nana Betty had a massive stoke on the right side of her brain caused by a clot.  I had called her that morning and no answer.  It wasn't until later that day that Grammy and Pop pop found her.  Clots run in the family but I always hoped she would go peacefully in her sleep than have to suffer what she did.  And I wished I would of called her thanksgiving :( so I could of had one last conversation,  I miss her already.  She was Jen and I's 2nd Mom growing up as she lived with us when we moved out to St.Louis.  She was one if the strongest people I know as she put up with many ailments late in her life,  I thought she would live forever knowing she wouldn't of course i have never been able to imagine life without her spirit. 

A day and a half before she passed into peace, I saw the most the most beautiful rainbow circling around the moon and I knew that was God's promise to me of peace.  I wept and asked everyone come and look at it.

It's hard to photograph the moon but you can see it.  It was way more brilliant that night of the 6th. 6 months previously, Ava, Syd and I had witnessed a rainbow circled around the sun on the day that my Uncle Bob passed.  Two weeks and 1 day later we saw another rainbow around the sun and that was the last day I saw our beloved  cat PJ, that Steve and I adopted as a kitten in 1999.  We miss you PJ.  He was so warm and loving that day, a disposition I had not seen from him in years.  I knew he was saying goodbye. 

Thank you God for your signs that help give me peace and know your presence more than ever in our physical lives. I know my grandma always wanted to come out to Seattle but never felt comfortable enough to make that big trip.  I do know that she will be be so happy to be joining us for Ava's big shindig on Saturday in spirit.  I told Ava that and I knew she understood,  the look on her sweet face said it all.  

I will miss you my sweet, nurturing, warm, independent, strong, methodical, patient, poised, and eternally beautiful Nana Betty! I am so fortunate to have had you in my life for so long and that my children knew you in person and not just from my stories.

January 2,1919- December 8, 2014

Ava's first recipe

Ava made her own recipe today.  Here it is in her words.  We are bringing it to Pea's house to share with our friends. We are not quite sure how it tastes. 

The 1st day of Christmas

The kids and I are celebrating Christmas every day of the month with our advent calendars.  They have lego calendars but I am also using a special book I bought that tells 24 stories that lead up to Christmas tying in the celebrations and icons we celebrate to Jesus.  

Dec 1st celebrates the star.  The shooting star is bright light of Jesus we are supposed to follow.  On top of our tree, it points up to heaven to remind us of god. 

The kids found a star cookie cutter in their 3rd advent calendar and we made bright star powdered sugar cookies.