Ava and the Handsome Target Stranger

My older sister Desirie told me this story this past summer. She was pushing Ava in a shopping cart while she was browsing the shoe aisle of Target when she heard very loud squeaky footsteps along side of her. When she turned to look, she saw a very terrifying man. She described him as a look-a-like to the homeless criminal in the 1990's Dennis the Menace Movie. If you can imagine the stringy hair,dirty oily face and hands, filthy clothes and of course heavy black boots. When Desirie saw this man she immediately panicked that Ava would see him and say something. So she grabbed a shoe off the shelve to distracted Ava. It worked! However, several minutes later while both her and Ava were sitting down trying on shoes, the homeless man walked past them again. Ava looked up as he passed and miraculously said nothing. Desirie was very relieved.
Shortly after, they got in line, paid for their purchases and were just passing the food court on the way out when all of a sudden Desirie heard Ava's voice "Hi, my name is Ava!" Desirie turned in horror to see the scary homeless man smiling at Ava. He said hello back and Desirie quickly left the store. As Desirie buckled Ava in her seat she lectured Ava on not being over friendly with strangers, "Don't speak to strangers Ava! And Never tell them your name!" Ava looked at Desirie and smiled "But Mama, he was SO SO handsome!"

Thanksgiving 2009

We all had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner. That is, until Ava wandered into my bedroom and found the wrapped Christmas gifts in my closet. She came and got me, and she wanted to know all about each and every one of the presents. I didn't want to scold her for being nosey, because it was the holiday after all. Big mistake! When she saw the present that was for her, she insisted on opening it right then and there. I told her that it would be more fun to guess about what was inside and then find out if her guess was correct on Christmas Eve. She was having none of it. She told me that we are supposed to get gifts on Thanksgiving. I told her that if I give her her gift now, she won't have anything to open up on Christmas. She told me she was fine with that. I finally had to say no. Thank God Evan came to get her to tell her they were leaving. I guess I'll have to find a new hiding place for the gifts.

Modeling her Winter Wear

She's a cute chubby lady with plenty of attitude!

"You Not Laugh At Me"

A rare moment of the Labor Day BBQ, sitting on the lap of Ashley, the woman whose life she had earlier threatened.

I sat around the outdoor table with my family this past labor day chatting with Ashley. We both looked out at the backyard to see Ava chasing around Evan. She was very angry and screamed "AHHHHHH". Ashley and I did what came naturally and laughed to each other about it. But Ava is always aware of the people whose attention she has captured and when she saw us laughing, this made her very very angry! So much that she ran over to the table and screamed at Ashley "You Not Laugh at me!" Ashley was very frightened and shocked, she looked to me and we laughed again, we just couldn't help it. All of a sudden Ava's little chubby arms grabbed a large plastic outdoor chair and raised it above her head "SHUT UP! Or I'll throw this at you!!!" This ws no longer a laughing matter, Ashley looked stunned and I was very upset. My mother witnessed this as well and grabbed the chair from her as I demanded an apology. She was still very angry, "NO I'm Not sorry!" she repeated over and over. Until finally she caved and went over to hug Ashley. I saw the fear in Ashley's eyes as Ava's arms wrapped around the back of her neck. She smiled nervously and Ava said "I sorry".

Doubling up the Tights for Saturday Ballet

Ava getting all dressed for her Saturday Ballet class.

Desirie: "We have double up and put 2 pairs of tights on Ava"
Aunt Jayne: "WHY?"
Desirie: "Because they rip!"



Aunt Jayne: "Ava lose the gum!"

Desirie: "Suck in Ava! Suck in!!"

The split second that Ava held still. "Wait one more it's blurred!"

Ava thinks Luke is coming to see her.

Ava was being difficult as usual, so Luke decided to take matters into his own hands.

Luke stole the show! He shoved Ava right out of the shot.






It ends with a 'Plie'.

Ava's Scary Bonfire Story

One can never just sit around the bonfire without Ava insisting on everyone telling scary stories. So, when it came to her turn to spin her scary tale, here is how it went;

"Once upon a time." " There was a little boy and a little girl walking in the woods." "They heard footsteps behind them." " It was the Prince, but he was a bad and evil Prince!" "He ran at the children! " "The children screamed and ran away!" "Amen."

We all had a really good laugh at the word she chose to end her story. Oh Ava, never stop being you.

Days when they could share the same clothes

Important to note: Ava's thigh is double the size of one of Lily's Arms