this is for "someday"

Someday when Ava is a teenager and with frustration tells her mother, "You don't ever let me do anything fun!" . . .her mother will tell her a little story.

One time, when she was around 3 1/2, she hated going to swimming lessons. So every week, if she had a good attitude while there, we would take her to the store to pick out a small reward.

Well, one time, she walked in the store and saw the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen: pink hair that reminded her of Rapunzel.

She excitedly declared that this was her desired prize.

Mommy sweetly pointed out another neat prize and reluctantly she put it back.

That next week, as she headed to swimming lessons, Ava emphatically declared she wanted "Rapunzel" hair today as her prize.

Her mommy cringed but after thinking about it decided she had no valid reason to tell her no. And so Ava excitedly planned all lesson to go earn her Rapunzel hair.

And she did.

The next morning?

Ava wanted to wear her Rapunzel hair to school.

And she did.

And so someday, her mommy will pull out these pictures and say, "See? ONE time, I let you have fun."

The end.

GO PACK GO!

We were super excited to get to cheer for the Packers in the Super Bowl this year. Daddy waited a long time for this. : )

Daddy and Olivia all ready to root for their favorite team

Ava and Annika spent most of the night coloring together. Too cute.

Kate and Olivia did their usual: a little of everything

Daddy and his Packer girls

friends : )

These guys were excited to have some bragging rights - Superbowl Champs!

Congrats Packers!

first basketball game

A while back Ryan and I had talked about how it'd be fun to take Ava to an ISU event. We've heard from several friends and faculty how great women's basketball games are for kids and so we thought we'd try it. Ava was super excited to wear a pink ISU shirt and couldn't wait to go.

Mommy and Ava all ready to go

And that's where the pictures pretty much end.

Ava excitedly walked in.

Excitedly walked to her seat.

Excitedly watch the women warm up.

Excitedly pointed out Reggie the Redbird.

And the buzzer started.

and kept buzzing.

and KEPT buzzing.

You don't realize how often they use that buzzer in basketball until you're with a noise conscious 3 1/2 year old.

2 minutes in Ava said she wanted to leave.

I told her she had to wait.

4 minutes in Ava said she wanted to leave as she was curled up in my lap with her fingers in her ears.

I told her she had to wait.

As the girls would play for "extended" periods of time without a time out, foul, or substitution, she'd relax a little and enjoy but anxiously ask if the horn was going to go again?

At 10 minutes she begged to leave . . .and I agreed.

As we walked out she told me, "Maybe when I get bigger mommy."

Sounds good. : )

don't you wish you could come work at our house?

Ava is always available to keep you company.

For HOURS.

maybe I'd have better luck

If I tried nap time like this?

Nahhh, I didn't think so either.

just hanging out

so if my girls are all princesses . . .

Does that make grandma the queen?

Happy Valentine's Day!

We had a simpler valentine's this year but still with lots of snuggles. When Valentine's falls in the middle of Daddy's busiest week at work, you find other ways to make the day special.

We had a Valentine's "party" over lunch (I wonder how long I can make the idea of a "party" go over with only special plates, napkins and a bit of candy?!)

The girls getting their valentine's presents

So I've been feeling really guilty that I never bake with the twins like I do with Ava. So I figured we'd start small and make some simple mix cookies to decorate. The girls were so excited and all scooted up to the counter.

Olivia taking her turn to mix

Kate takes a try

And then everyone got some dough to pat into cookies.

And that's where the fun quickly ended. Olivia thought the fun part of cookies was smashing the ones that Ava was diligently working on. Kate thought the fun part of cookies was smashing any and all dough in sight and then throwing it all on the floor. Ava just got completely aggravated. Mommy wasn't very fun behind . . . : )

And so we quickly put the cookies in the oven, put the twins down for a nap and Ava thoroughly enjoyed decorating all the cookies herself. : )

I've decided I will no longer feel guilty. We'll try again in a while. : )

Ava was so excited to go pick out some roses for Grandma-Great . . .and she ended up being able to keep them herself. She was quite happy to have them.

We did get to eat a quick dinner with Daddy before he headed back into work.

And we set in for a girl's night.

Jammies, sleeping bags and Tinkerbell to watch.

Kate and Ava snuggle close

They make some pretty cute valentine's dates - wouldn't you say!