Your 3rd Birthday

Today we started the day off we Playhouse Disney Live at Ruth Eckerd Hall.

Then some presents

Because we had the tickets to Playhouse Disney for your actual Birthday, we will be celebrating your birthday party next weekend with all of your friends.

Happy 3rd Birthday Ava.

We Love You!!

Mommy and Daddy

First Father Daughter Dance

Tonight you went to your first Father Daughter Dance hosted by Tampa Gym and Dance. Daddy saw the flyer a couple of weeks ago and said that he wanted to take you. I originally thought that he probably wouldn't want to take you because you are so young but to my surprise this was all his idea.

Daddy even wore a suit to compliment your adorable outfit like a good date should. You came home with a huge smile and a gift for Mommy (that you won with your raffle ticket).

Wish I could write more, but since this was strictly a father and daughter event, I can't.

Here are Daddy's comments from tonight's event:

Early on a popular song was being played "Get Low" and you immediately wanted me to put you down so that you could dance like the bigger girls. As I put you down, you left and went running and dancing all over, having a great time. As you came back to me, I asked you if you wanted to dance with Dad, and you told me "No Daddy, I'll dance by myself" and you were off again. You were all over the place with so much energy. You continued on and when you came back the next time, you were yelling to me "Daddy this is so much fun". What was I to do? You danced your heart out tonight while making several friends in the process. All the while, the mirror became your other dance partner. You could not go more than 10 seconds without seeing what you looked like in the mirror. Was very funny. You are such a diva...

As the night progressed, you made more friends and continued to dance. It was very tough to take pictures of you because as I waited for the camera to "click" you were already gone and off to somewhere else. But that is you, high energy and always on the go. The only time you slowed down was to look at yourself dancing in the mirror, using the ballet bars to try and put your leg on, or doing the Hokey Pokey. The Hokey Pokey was a big hit with you tonight, probably because the bigger girls were leading the way. As the Hokey Pokey finished, it was getting late and I asked you if you wanted to leave. You told me, "No Daddy, I am doing the Hokey Pokey" even though the song was over. It was very funny to watch you shake your hips so seriously while saying "Hokey Pokey". As you were doing this the MC/DJ was calling out numbers from the raffle tickets to see who would win the next prize. And sure enough, we were winners... When we went to claim our prize in front of the crowd, we were posed with two options: Do we want a gift certificate or do we want a gift for mommy? I asked you what you wanted, and you screamed "I want a gift for my Mommy!". Good move if I must say so myself. As we got our gift, the MC/DJ said to the crowd, "I don't think your daughter stopped dancing all night. She was everywhere!" You were so excited to get Mommy her gift that you even planned the whole car ride home how you were going to tell Mommy that you got her a surprise.

On our way in and on our way out, I can't even tell you how many of the ladies working there said how beautiful you looked. You know what, they are right, you are beautiful!

I love you, Dad.

Little Everglades Steeplechase 2009

Sign of a GREAT Day.

Ava the Engineer

Today I found you playing the role of structural engineer. You had gotten some ink all of over your hand and decided that you need to build steps in order to reach the sink. How cute...

High Tea

Today we celebrated Julianna's 3rd Birthday at the Milk and Honey Tea Room. It was absolutely adorable watching you and your girlfriends from school have the best time playing dress up and having your tea and scones.

You, Olivia, Livy, Julianna and Miranda playing Ring Around the Rosie.

Funny Sayings...

Your Daddy and I decided to write down all of the funny and memorable little sayings that you have had in the past year because we know that one day we will not be able to remember all of them and they are so cute, I never want to forget any of it. This is what we have to date:

• Emonade (Lemonade)
• What Ever Dude
• Marshyellows (Marshmallows)
• Fink (Think)
• You Got It Man
• Stop It (This is not the saying but how you said it. You would say it so nonchalantly)
• When you were asked what does a dog say you would reply "Awoof" because you would mimic how Bentley barks. (with a deep inhale before barking)
• When you are asked "What time is it?" Your response is always 24-6
• You called me one day while I was out running errands and picking up lunch and said "Mommy I need foods!"
• We pet-sitted the Reynold's hamster, Schnicklefritz, which you just couldn't pronounced and decided his name should be Snicklefresh.

Handy Ava

You never cease to humor me. You were playing this afternoon and dissappeared for a moment and when I called for you, you had gone upstairs to "get some tools". When you came down, you immediately came to the back of the tv....