The Big Day is Finally Here!

The celebration started on Christmas Eve. With Ava in a Christmas dress, pretty hair bow and lots of beads, she and Mommy delivered boxes of truffles to our neighbors and friends.

After Mass, we hung the stockings and set cookies and milk by the fireplace with a note for Santa. The countdown began! After scattering reindeer food on the lawn we tracked Santa on the web. Seeing him in South America gave us incentive to get to bed so we'd be fast asleep when he arrived.

Sometime between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., Santa and his reindeer arrived! When we woke up this morning the tree was lit and surrounded by presents and a HUGE dollhouse filled with furniture.

Santa was so good to us all. Ava received books, puzzles, games, a box of play dress-up clothes, a nice pair of shoes and her dollhouse. Mommy is set to relax with pj's, socks and undies, a book by John Maxell and an Obama shirt and pin. Daddy got a new Titans hat, a book about wrasslin' and an old school video system with Galaga, Donkey Kong, Pac-Man and more.

We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and do our best to remember the REASON for the celebration. We are so thankful for the friends, family and all the blessings that continue to grace our lives. May your New Year be filled with peace, hope, love and prosperity.

Happy Holidays!

Santa Visits Knoxville

On Sunday, Santa took a break from his duties at the North Pole to visit the children at Knoxville's West Town Mall giving them an opportunity to tell him what they'd like for Christmas.

Ava took the star treatment prior to her visit - hot bath, hair blown dry, and a dab of makeup on a little pimple (?) on her cheek. She dressed in her holiday best and stood in line anxiously awaiting the chance to sit with Santa.

As we approached his chair, she looked at the ground and twirled a bow on her dress. But when he asked her name, she looked up and loudly proclaimed, "AVA!" I knew we'd get a smile from her for the photo.

Her picture was taken and Santa asked what she'd like. She told him, "A present!" and then told him that we had lots of presents under our tree and that the presents were for him....he smiled, gave Ava a gingerbread man cookie and we wished him a Merry Christmas.

We wish YOU a Merry Christmas as well!

All Aboard - Ava meets Santa on the Polar Express!

On Saturday afternoon we took a road trip to Bryson City, NC to board a train headed for the North Pole!


It was all Ava could talk about for days - and boy did it deliver! The quaint city housed the railroad station, shops, bakeries and a train museum. Once the locomotive was moving, Ava's gold ticket was punched by the conductor and we settled in for our ride to the North Pole.


Waiters dressed as chefs sang and danced before serving Hot Chocolate and Russell Stover candies. With bellies full, we listened to the story of 'The Polar Express' before reaching the North Pole.

As we approached Santa's hometown, the car lights were dimmed so we could better enjoy the lights on Santa's house and that of the elves. Santa was aboard his sleigh, waving as we approached, and came aboard our car to greet us and gave each child a bell from his sleigh.


Ava told Santa she'd like a present and he told her that he had one picked out for her. She clapped and smiled! When he left we began singing carols and sang until we arrived back at the station.

What a trip! Ava's bell is hung on the tree and she is anxious to see if Christmas morning delivers the same joy of the trip on the train. I imagine she won't be disappointed.

Halloween

Although it's been a couple of weeks since one of THE best holidays of the year, I've managed to get pictures uploaded! With a crown, glittering dress and 'glass' slippers, our little princess went door to door for nearly two blocks filling up on candy. She insisted on wearing her fancy shoes the whole way and managed to do so without falling. At three, she is already putting fashion before comfort...

'Secret City' Train Excursion

The air is crisp, the leaves are changing and Tennessee's football game is not televised, so it was a perfect day for a trip to the 'Secret City' (Oak Ridge) for a ride on the train.


Ava enjoyed the train's whistle as long as she was far enough away to not have to cover her ears.


Jason enjoyed the bumper crop of trailers nestled in the mountains with aluminum foil covering the windows.


And me, well, I just enjoyed the company. I'm still really worn out from my recent bout of bronchitis and have wanted to be in bed when I am not at work or cooking or baking.


So feeling the sun on my skin, watching the countryside as we rumbled slowly by, eating popcorn with Ava; it was the perfect way to spend a beautiful fall afternoon.

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Three is the Magic Number

The celebration began on Tuesday morning with Jason and I belting out a hearty rendition of "Happy Birthday to YOU!" and Ava opening three presents: two books and a big canister of Play-Doh with accessories.


At 2:00, I took a cake, cupcakes and cookies to Ava's school. She was proud of her Abby Cadabby cake but embarrassed by all of the attention. She hid behind my leg most of the time...

The big party was in Gatlinburg this weekend with our families. We rented a chalet with this view of the Smokies...
Jason's parents, my parents, my sister and my brother's son joined us for the celebration. We had a Cookie Monster cake with of course, cookies and tons of good food from both of the moms.





















Along with the good company and food, Ava enjoyed opening too many presents and thanks to help from her cousin, CJ, she was able to get through them all.




















Relaxation was the theme of the weekend and in between time in the hot tub, on the deck, and playing games, we took a few family pictures on the deck as dusk was setting in.

But WHY Mommy?

It's started.

I've been around kids my entire life so WHY would I think, however hopelessly, that MY preschooler would somehow pass over this phase, leaving me and my husband to blissfully talk to her, explaining things at our own pace??

why?

WHY??

It began this morning on our drive to school. In an attempt to divert her attention from my coffee cup (she was insisting I put it in the cup holder rather than hold it in my hand), I tried to turn her attention to some sprinklers watering flowers in a nearby subdivision.

"Look at the water!" I chirped.

"It's wet!", she replied.

"Sure is, baby", said I.

"But WHY Mommy?"

OMG. Did she say what I think she said? I thoughtlessly ignored it, hoping it would go away. ha!

"Why mommy? Why is it wet??"

I attempted to explain that the water feeds the flowers and helps them grow, blah, blah, blah...and she seemed satisfied.

But as all phases go, the pattern returned on our drive home. "Honey, we'll go to the park after we deliver the food to Dr. Rogers. I am going to finish cooking for him, OK?"

"But why?"

"Because Dr. Rogers is hungry, honey."

"But WHY?"

"Well, because he needs to eat to keep his body healthy honey. Just like you and I," I said.

"But mommy, WHY?"

...

A new best friend!

Two weeks before Ava started school, she announced that she had a best friend.

"Mommy," she said to me with those chubby little cheeks. "Trooper is my best friend!"

"Oh honey, that's so sweet!" I said, and part of me believed it. Yet the hyper-critical, paranoid part of my mind thought, good gracious - have I been negligent with my daughter? Should I be getting her out more? Is it natural that her first best friend is our DOG?

A large part of me HATES these sort of thoughts - the conforming - you've got to be a certain way in order to be normal - sort of ideals. But when it's your kid, and for the first time ever she's saying, "I have a best friend!", it was all at once cute and sad that it was a dog.

It didn't last long however. The next day it was me, and by the weekend, Grandad was her new best friend.

But those days, at least for now, are over. For the past two days, she's made reference to a boy at school whom she plays with in the sandbox and on the swings. When we'd probe for his name, she'd say defiantly, "His name is BOY!"

This afternoon the suspense ended. As I buckled her into her seat, she told me about her day painting, singing and playing with Boy.

"Did you ask him his name?", I gently probed.

"Nick-yus! I YUV NICKYUS! He is my best friend! HE YUVS ME VEWY MUCH MOMMY!"

Could this be any sweeter? And, is it natural - for me to already - four weeks later- to miss the stage where our dog held the key to her heart?????

No need to spend time worrying. By the weekend, it may be someone - two or four-legged - new.

Chillin' in the 'Ville

It's been TOOOOOOOOOOOOO long since our last trip to Louisville - 4 months since Derby weekend when our feet last danced in the Kentucky bluegrass.

So on Friday, Ava and I saddled up and drove to see Grammie, Papa, CJ and Aunt Corie for a festive Labor Day weekend.

THE JOY!

Being spoon-fed banana pudding by papa. Days at the park, playing hide-n-seek with Corie and the sweet corn, ham and green beans - 4 servings worth - at Huber's Farm in Starlight, Indiana.

Even with the upset of Louisville losing their opening game to Kentucky on Sunday, we were still sad to go. But really, too tired from all the fun to notice.

On the Mend

Dr. Frazier's team at Northshore Animal Clinic took Kidaca in and cleaned her wound this afternoon. She's on a heavy round of antibiotics for 10 days and has been very cooperative about taking them.

Drat that Cat!

Our home came with an added 'feature' which we didn't learn about until closing...Kidaca.



Don't get me wrong. I love cats. Adore them. And Kidaca is no exception. It's just we weren't expecting her. She just happened upon us.

Mrs. Billy - the kindest, funniest and most generous little old lady ever lived very happily in this home for nearly two decades. And when her children insisted it was time to move, she wasn't happy. Apparently, neither was the cat. Because no matter how often I caught her and carried her to Miss Billy's new home (two blocks away) - she found her way back to our yard.

So I fed her. And I pet her. And the neighbors reveled that Kitty let me even touch her let alone hold her. And I fell in love. It's been 3 years now, and Kidaca waits under our car every morning and evening for her 9-Lives and cuddles, which Ava and I happily give.

But our own kitty - our planned, expected 'pet' - Miss Cleo - isn't having it. I suspect she is guilty of the bite wounds in Kidaca's tail. They've been ugly for about a week and are now starting to ooze.

This is where the guilt sets in. I KNOW she needs medical attention. But we're on a tight budget, she's not technically OURS (oh - isn't the denial disgusting?) and the vets I've consulted will charge anywhere between $30 - $48 to even LOOK at her. She is fixed and has received her rabies booster, but nothing more.

I've struggled for a week over what to do - all the while dabbing her sore with Q-Tip swabs of Neosporin. But the time for action has come. Do we pay a potentially astronomical amount (anything seems outlandish to Jason to spend on this cat) or take her to the Humane Society and comfort ourselves with the theory that she's had a good run?

THANK GOODNESS for my mom. "Take that cat to the vet NOW", she told me. "The check's in the mail." She may have saved my marriage.

Kitty's now at the vet and we've told them what we are willing/able to spend and they say it can be done. Thank you mom! You are the sweetest, kindest, most generous person I know.

Hi, Elmo? It's me, Ava!

This was the beginning of a call Ava placed to Elmo tonight on her 'cell' phone.

If only we could get her to say half as much when we make calls to Grannie and Grandad and Grammie and Papa. She's often hesitant to hold the real phone, much less say anything to either set of grandparents who anxiously chat on the other line, baiting her for information, hoping to hear as much as a syllable.

When she realized I was listening in, she wrapped up the call.

"My mommy's here Elmo. We're going to read books. Ay-YOT of books! See you yater!"

Party Time!

It isn't really a party until someone pees in a bounce house. And given the 7 huge inflatables, turtle-waxed slides and the joy of seeing Mommy and Daddy bouncing too, it was just too much for a toddler to handle. In her excitement, Ava had an accident in a maze at Braden's birthday party, sending several kids scrambling for dry ground.

One Down...a lifetime to go!

I watched my speed as I drove to pick Ava up from her first day of pre-school. 'Not too early', I reminded myself. I actually imagined that she'd run into my arms when she saw me. "Mommy! Mommy!", shrieking with delight - clutching her artwork in a chubby little hand, anxious to share her day with me.

ha!!

Sitting in a sandbox, talking to her teacher, she greeted me with a cold, "Hello, Mommy" and shouted in protest when I said it was time to go.

She cried all the way to the car and 3/4 of the way home, stopping only when I suggested we watch Sesame Street when we arrived home.

I think this means preschool is a success.

Ava's First Day of Preschool

So serious! We tried to get Ava to smile, but she wasn't having it. I find solace in knowing that my sister Corie would never give a natural smile to anyone trying to take her picture as a kid, yet she's one of the happiest people I know!

OK - so we had a cute pink outfit picked out with shorts and a little polo top that had pink stripes to match the sneakers - a requirement of pre-school so she can run and jump and not be hindered or easily hurt. But she wasn't feeling it. No, she insisted on the purple gingham button up which is so girly and irresistable, I can see why. But the shoes. Oh well. It's part of the beauty of being a toddler, don't you think? Who cares what it looks like. I simply LOVE the little ones wearing cowboy boots with shorts or the superman cape to the dr.'s office. It's the beauty of the age.

More to come. Jason said she ran right in to her new school this a.m. and the director gave him the thumbs up! I can't wait to hear the stories! Keep posted!!

That's What She Said...

I've damaged my toddler. I didn't drop her, expose her to a harmful environment or leave her stranded...no, it wasn't that simple or obvious. Yesterday, when looking at this picture, I realized that I've modeled behavior that seen in a man, would be sexist? OOGling? What is the word I'm looking for????? Piggish?? But for me, as a woman, it's been somewhat childish and ... well, who am I kidding? FUN.

Jason took this picture of Carter Oosterhouse yesterday while filming a commercial with him. I could NEVER do my husband's job because I turn into a bumbling sack of jello in front of attractive men who are in the spotlight. In college this included guys with ponytails in bands. (it was the 90's and ponytails on men was HOT)...

Yesterday I emailed Jason, "Ava would LOVE a picture of Carter...hugs and kisses, blahblah, Ann". He delivered.

Ava was on my lap when I opened the email. We both gasped.
And then she giggled. And put her head into my chest. She looked at him again. And giggled. Was she blushing???? Good grief...the child is three. Hormones don't work yet, do they??

Look, he's waving at you...I told her. "Go back to Carter!" she demanded, meaning, scroll up to his face. I did and she stared longingly at the photo. "Look at his lips mommy". Oh good Lord! THAT'S ENOUGH! I replied, and closed the photo.