25 Days of Christmas - Day 4 - 2010

Christmas Activity #4 = Decorate Tree

25 Days of Christmas - Day 3 - 2010

Slumber Party and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer

Almost every night you ask to sleep in our room and the answer is almost always "You have to start out in your room, but if you wake up in the middle of the night... you do what you have to do". That way I am not saying "yes" but I am not saying "no" either. My thought process is that once you fall asleep you may or may not wake in the middle of the night. If you can go back to bed in your room then great if not, then I wake up with you cuddled next to me in the morning,

Anyhow, todays activity was a slumber party and watch Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. Began the night with movie and popcorn and even more exciting for you was that you started in our room in the beginning of the night.

25 Days of Christmas - Day 2 - 2010

Christmas Activity #2 - Pick Out 2010 Ornaments

Your still have an interest in Princesses and Barbie's so this year we purchased Arial, a Barbie and the newest Princess... Rapunzel.

25 Days of Christmas - Day 1 - 2010

Christmas Activity #1 = Created Santa's Workshop.

They came out SUPER cute and hopefully we can create a cute village to collect over the years.

Stuttering

Recently, you started to stutter. Originally, it was during moments of pause for thought collection. Then I noticed that it became worse. To the point of stuttering at the beginning of every word of a sentence. Even though, all the research that I did and Drs. that I spoke to tried to reassure me that it wasn't me that did this to you, my heart told me differently. My heart said, "I caused this to happen". I felt that I caused unnecessary stress and anxiety to you which had an effect on your verbalization skills.

After having you tested with the speech pathologist at school and reviewing her diagnosis of "blocking" and suggested therapy, I opted to delay treatment temporarily to see if my hypothesis was correct. Sure enough, after only 3 weeks of creating a calmer environment, less stress and making the decision in my head that nothing else was more important that you (meaning that work, chores, errands, and friends were going to take a backseat) the stuttering cleared up almost immediately.

Goes to show you, that some times you have to listen to your heart. Only you know your child the most. Not to say that I do not follow Dr. Yee's advice (with this exception, I have always followed his advice) but some times it's ok to listen to your instincts and test it.

Now for my own self growth, I have to learn to be a calmer person and learn to roll with the punches and say "it's ok if such and such doesn't get done" because it clearly has an effect on you.

Closet Full of Towels

This afternoon, I was putting some of the beach towels away in the closet. I began to mumble to myself, "We have too many towels, they don't fit." Sure enough, without hesitation, you said "Mom... you need space savers". Naturally, Daddy and I just giggled because of the power of marketing and commercials. Wow... maybe it's time that we back away from the TV. LOL

Video of ISR Fresher

I finally received the underwater video from Michele, your ISR swim instructor. This video was taken during your refresher lesson just before we left for Thailand.

Quick Little Girl You Are

Man, its getting harder and harder to communicate with you because you are so sharp. I really have to think about every thing I say and what the possible answers you will have before I speak. For example:

This afternoon you were playing with Vaughan and of course I was watching from afar. Vaughan knocked over the tent that you had made out of a blanket and you calmly walked around to him and wrapped both you arms around his neck and squeezed tightly. As soon I said, "Ava" you turned around and said "What Mom, I was just giving him a hug." Of course you and I both know that you weren't giving him a hug, so you were sent to time out and when I asked why you lied to me, you immediately said, "I'm sorry Mom."

Then later this evening, you and Vaughan were riding around the house with your mini quads and you stopped in the middle of the doorway. When I asked you to move so that Vaughan could get through, instinctively you replied "I can't, I'm at a red light". What can I say to that? You are way too smart for being only 4.

Reward for Learning Sight Words

We made a deal at the beginning of the summer. We decided that for every list of sight words you learned you would do something fun as a reward. Since you learned the first group of the Dolch List you earned a day at Busch Gardens.

PS... Vaughan says thank you for learning your words since he benefits from your success as well.

Prince Charming

While driving today we had a conversation that went just like this:



Ava: "I'm going to miss you"

Me: "Where are you going that your going to miss me?"

Ava: "When I grow up and have my own babies."

Me: "Am I not going to be around when you have your own babies?"

Ava: "Weeeellll, I will have my own house but I will make sure that it is near you."

Me: "OK, sounds like a deal. After you meet your prince charming, have your babies and your own house."

Ava:" Mommm.... Prince charming doesn't exist in Florida"

Me: "He doesn't? Where does he live then?"

Ava: "There is no such thing as Prince Charming mom, he is only in the movies."





I knew that I had to remember this conversation, because I know that one day we will come back to this statement. You have no idea how wise you are for only being 4 yrs old.

I LOVE YOU!!!

Star Wars at Barnes and Nobles

I happened to find out that some of the characters from Star Wars (your latest obsession) was going to be at the Barnes and Nobles. Daddy decided to surprise you with an afternoon visit to the bookstore to see them.

Darth Vader

Storm Trooper


Anakin

First Day of School 2010 - Mrs. Woods

Your one of the "Big Kids" now at Bowman.

Pre-K4

Here are a few pics from Classroom Visitation/Meet the Teacher.

Look what I found Daddy...

Off to School - First Day of Pre-K

Family Beach Weekend

Your Grandma and Grandpa are so generous. They organize and fund our annual family beach weekend in St. Pete. What could be better than hanging out in our bathing suits all weekend with all of your cousins?

Building sand castles with Vaughan and Kianna

All the Kids

Colin, Xander, Vaughan, You, Kianna, Bryce and Ryan.

Mity Tots Swim

I am really happy that we found this swim program, TAPS Aquatics, for the summer. Coach Duncan has really been great and has taught you how to swim free style, back stroke, how to dive in properly and has even introduced the butterfly and breast stroke as well. He says that you have a natural movement in the water and that you have figured out when to exert energy and when not to. A skill that some teens have not yet been able to master. This is definitely a skill from your Daddy.

Backstroke

Freestyle

Leg work

You Did It!!! You went down the slide by yourself.


Picture of your first Swim Team

July 4, 2010

This year we decided to head over to Aunt Alyson's and Uncle Jeff's for some swimming, eating and fireworks.

At one point, you could barely see the pool because it contained so many rafts.

Hanging out with your buddy Kianna while watching the fireworks that Daddy, Uncle Jeff and his neighbors set off.

TGD 2010 Recital

Just before your recital, all dressed up in your ballet costume.
A picture with Mommy.

Bravo Ava!!!

Dressed in your tap costume.

A picture with Grandma and Grandpa.

And Uncle Jim too!

First Trip to Thailand

You were so well behaved on the all the legs of the flights. You slept for the majority of the distance and for the other you either read, played with your DSi or watched movies. I have to admit that I was completely impressed with how well you traveled.

We began our trip celebrating Daddy's birthday. You and Khun Tha went and picked out a little cake for daddy. Such a sweet little girl who always is thinking about her family.

Royal Thai Palace

Bang San Beach, where Khun Tha and Khun Yai went to college.

Stopped to eat SEVERAL skewers of sate'

Fed the fish at the Wat

Spent 2 days in Hua Hin. How often do you get to ride a horse on a beautiful beach.

Let alone, ride an elephant through a creek and the mountains.

But the main reason we traveled 27 hours was for you and Vaughan to meet your great grandmothers.

and to have a 4 generation family photo.

But when asked, what part you liked most.... you say the live in "massage" therapist.

Then as a finale, we met Tony Bennett in the sky club in JFK Airport.

End of the Year Party

The end of the year has come and to celebrate the homeroom moms collaborated to throw an "End of the Year" party.

Boy was this an adventure. What was suppose to be a pizza party ended up being quesadillas, which at last minute turned into McDonald Happy Meals. The night before the party, we found out that the pizza place did not open until 11am and that was going to be too late seeing that we needed the food to arrive at 10:30am. So we decided to go with Moe's Southwest Grill. However, unfortunately the another homeroom mom made a mistake and ordered the quesadillas at the South Tampa location which was too far for me to drive and pick up on time. Soooo, McDonald's drive through it was. Who doesn't love a cheeseburger and fries anyway?? Like any mom, you have to learn to think on your toes. Regardless of cost, moms have to find a way to save the day.

During the party, we presented the teachers with a scrapbook that I compiled. I requested each family to write a Thank you note to each teacher, include a picture of their little one and have each student draw a picture for each teacher. At the end of the scrapbook we included an American Express Gift Card. This seemed to be hit for the second year in a row.