Little Lins!

Happy!

New!

Year!

Love,
Ava and Mila

Ava loves watching videos of herself.

Ava loves tumbling.

Here you go Ava!

Hi. Our silly reindeer is now 152 weeks old!!

So Ava’s week started off bright and early at daycare. We even had to set our alarms. Poor us . When we asked her the week before if she wanted to go to school, we were expecting her to give us the normal answer. But not this time. This time she said she wants to go to the big girl classroom with her buddy Ava R and teacher Miss Katie. So Dan dropped her off in the morning and she sat herself at the breakfast table and waved good-bye. Like she didn’t take a 3 month break from that place! And she was in a brand new room with a brand new teacher. Wow! Good job, Ava!! At pick up, all the kids were asking why Ava didn’t have to sleep. And the teacher was repeating that Ava was going home now. Here is our paparazzi shot of her at pick-up.

And the best part of daycare is when Ava sees us and runs full speed into our arms. I sure missed those types of hugs. While chatting on the way home we found out that she forgot to tell her friends about her upcoming birthday party, that she made a snowman during art time, and that her best buddy Ava R didn’t want to listen to her and she ran away. And the teacher told us that she had an ‘accident’ because boys were playing in bathroom and she couldn’t hold it anymore. Poor kid.

Over the weekend, Ava got to celebrate Grace’s 4th birthday at the ‘swimming class place‘ (a.k.a. the YMCA). She was a little hesitant of the play structure and got freaked out a bit…

… so she spent most of her time on the basketball court with the boys.

So excited for pizza!

And now it’s time for Scooby snacks.

And we followed the party to their home to watch present opening. Ava actually picked out all of Grace’s presents herself. I had to give her a speech during our shopping spree that these gifts she was picking are not for her, but for her friend. After a while, it sunk in and she told me that Grace was going to share with her. Ava picked out a princess bracelet making kit, Tinkerbell’s house and a Little Mermaid bath toy.

Let’s see. What else. Well, we took out all of our ornaments and found Rudy’s old reindeer antlers. Ava was a little more excited to wear them compared to Rudy back then.

Oh how Ava loved decorating the tree this year. She loved it last year too but this year she kept asking ‘can I do it?‘ over and over again.

And here is her new handpicked ornament on the tree. The mermaid. Not my Rudy and Nanook picture ornament.

Ava and Dada had some art time this week. I finally pulled out some Martha Stewart crafts that I have been saving since who knows when.

Good job guys! When I told Ava that she was part Dalmatian (Dalmatia is the coastal region of Croatia), she kept telling me ‘nooooo‘. Hehehe.

Look what my lazy butt finally did! Updated the pictures on my wall. All are new except for the round face Ava as E.T. picture. That one still cracks me up.

At the park, Ava is still loving the balls. (Stop laughing. You are not in third grade.)

Check out these moves. Dada is loving it. First she loves basketball. And then she told me the other week that she wants to marry a girl. Dada’s dream of keeping the boys far away is coming true.

Ava’s been insisting that I not cut up certain foods for her. Like broccoli. So when I handed her a whole piece, she had some concerns. And I think her first concern was if it was too early for her to send me off to the crazy house.

We had a second day at daycare this week too. This one didn’t end so smoothly. I found her in the other teacher’s arms. Crying and repeating ‘I want my mommy‘.

But this time she didn’t forget her snowman… which ended up part of an early Christmas present for us.

Check out her Rudolph masterpiece. And that picture is from her first day back at school. Big smile!

And what did I do while Ava was at school? Well, I had plans to blog and clean and Christmas shop and watch TV. And did I do all or any of that? Nope. I slept until it was time to pick her up. Mila too. We took 3 hour naps while Ava was away. And it felt good! Zzzzzzzzzz. And when Ava was back at the house, she was full of energy and ready to play catch and tag.

Ava is still asking to hold Mila.

But now likes to rub her chin on Mila’s head.

And she has stop saying ‘gotovo‘ (all done) and just pushes Mila away now when the fun is over.

Oh no.

Sorry Mila!

Ava picked out a new hairbrush this week. So excited.

And likes to use the baby brush on Mila.

And this week we’ve decided to throw Ava a real ‘kids party’. At this clubhouse. She is more than excited about it.

Alright. See you next time. Bye!

Hi there. Our little reindeer is now 15 weeks old!

So this week, Mila became super strong. So strong that she is busting out of my swaddles. Time to break out the duct tape!!

And she started to smile at me, and herself sometimes, in mirror.

Ava and I put up Mila’s first Christmas tree. We only got to enjoy it a few days out of the month but it was well worth it.

Here are Ava’s and Mila’s first ornaments. Next to each other. Okay. All at once… Ahhhh!

Mila spent most of the week just lounging around the house.

Getting unexpected kisses.

And heard ‘I love you sooooooo much‘ a million times or so.

And who couldn’t love our little reindeer.

This week we noticed Mila getting a little better in the car. No more screaming from the second we put her in the car to the second we get her out. Much to Ava’s delight.

That’s right!

We did sneak in a quick park visit. Look! She’s actually awake in the carrier. It’s a miracle. And gnawing on her hand.

I gave Mila some not so good news this week.

I told her that she is not allowed to stare at her new favorite thing in the house.

What Yoda? No problemo.

No. Not Yoda.

Maybe you should prepare yourself a little more.

Here’s a penguin. And what is she not allowed to stare at anymore?

The TV. Noooooooooooooooo!

Here she is trying to peek at the TV the very next morning.

Ava tries to distract her with her favorite friend, prairie doggy.

You hear that? I can still listen to the TV!

Take that! Bye!!

Hi. I’m Ava and today we are at the park.

Here I am showing Cole the art of pulling leaves off of plants.

And how to pick seeds like a pro.

Yes. We know that there’s a huge playground behind us.

But bushes are fun too.

This is tough work.

But someone’s got to do it.

Oh man. So thirsty. Can’t reach.

AHHHH!

Hey Santa? Next time look to your right!!!!!

Merry Christmas!!!