Ava's scapegoat...

Last night, as I was straightening up Ava's room before bedtime I noticed some crayon drawings on the wall. 

Me: Ava, how did that writing get on the wall?

Ava: Oh! A chipmunk must have crashed through the window and colored it.

Riiiiight!

Miss Priss is turning four next Wednesday, February 4th! I can not believe my baby is growing so fast! 

She is into her ballet class and music. She told me her favorite thing to do is paint. 

Both Ava and Mila are in loooove with Grandmother Frances, my Dad's mom who lives on Pinetree in Decatur. We go over to her house for coffee, treats, and playing the keyboard, which comes with lots of cool soundeffects. We love you Frances!!!!

Mila's Mayhem

If you visit, or have come by in the last week or so, you may notice some interesting installations. I like to call them 'Diverted (averted?) Disasters.'  A collection of "height helpers" in the forms of stools, chairs, small tables, etc. are scattered throughout our home,  placed on other tables. 

 Mila is fed up, and I can empathize. Being diminutive must be tough. Her skewed perspective of looking at the underbelly of tables, counters, and everything else must get old and boring.  She loves to gain better perspective through any booster she can find. It makes perfect sense. How much fun to push a stool around and look for something never seen, to explore! Lipstick is her favorite discovery as it has great texture. It's viscosity is perfect for murals. (read: sad trombone riff, wah, wah, wah, wahhhh.)

Her favorite word now is "back" as in, "Put it back." 

Poor thing! 

Backtracking....and catching up!

Oh the Holidays! This year was especially exciting because our family was all together this year. My brother came in with his family, including new baby, Luke Henry. We had a gathering every night the week leading up to and after Christmas....busy and fun.

Santa called Ava on Christmas Eve, just as we set out a big carrot for Rudolph and blueberry muffins for Santa. "You must go to bed. I am already in Tennessee! Ho Ho Hooo!" She squealed and hurried to brush her teeth. Mila stomped around in mini circles as she knew to be excited about something. 

Christmas morning was great. I made sure Santa had arrived and built a fire and made coffee, well coffee was first. I let the kids out of the gate and Ava knew what to do. Mila observed and picked up one toy at a time. Ava screamed, toys held over her head high...."a Princess thing!!!!!" "A trumpet!" Mila just yelled "yaaaaaay!

On the way to school before the Winter break, Ava and I were chatting. "Ava, do you know that some little children do not get anything for the Holidays? Some children may not be able to have a big celebration or even one toy. They could need clothes or a warm meal. Would you like to help a family who needs help?" "Oh, yes Mommy!" she quickly replied. Happy she was eager to help I added, "Great! We will look for a family that we can help this Christmas, okay?" We continue to school and about 5 minutes later she says "MOMMY, I am still looking for one." 

ha! so cute!

I found a library board book that I have had since Ava was a baby. So, we headed to the car wash ( a fun event for us--colored foam!) and then off to the library to "buy" our book and hang there for a little bit. Obviously it has been ages since I have been there. The building was under mass reconstruction with bulldozers and dirt piles around the framing of a new addition. "Sorry guys, we will have to wait for the construction to finish before we can go to this library."

Ava says "okay, we can just wait in our car until it's done....what time will they be done?" She was so confused as I explained some basic concepts of time as we went on our way.

In hopes of a care-free Santa visit with the girls, I did some prep work. Mila and I went to see Santa from afar one day at the mall. I pointed out his face on billboards, TV, books...."look it is Santa, Ho Ho HO!!!!" Mila  began to get into the recognition of him as well...she would proudly point and say her version of Ho Ho Ho many times a day. Side note: Her impression of Santa is the same as a monkey. Both being Whoo whoo, hee hee.  Go figure. It seemed as though she really liked this Santa dude that Mommy is always bringing up.  So anyway, we go to see the big guy at Northlake Mall. There is a train there and penguins, tall decorated trees, lots to look at. With no line, Ava walks right up, sits on Santa's lap and goes off...."I want a reindeer, I have been really good, yadda yadda yadda..." I pick up Mila and her back goes stiff, knees stiff. I place her on S's lap and "Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa" "mommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy" Hands up, face red, photo snaps, policemen behind me making funny faces, " Don't Cry Baby!" A scene, but a normal scene nevertheless. My prep work didn't work, but next year should be a little different. Why WOULD she like Santa anyway...he's a little freaky ;]

so, I will write more...I want to post some photos now.

holiday cheer

The tree is decorated, well, the top two-thirds of it. Mila has undressed our fat tree from about 2 feet high and below. Presents have lost their mystique as little hands are fast and furious, pulling the paper, because ripping is soo much fun. Santa, reindeer, Baby Jesus in the manger, lights on rooftops, all are spotted from miles away....oh the joy!

We drove around Druid Hills, Midtown and down Peachtree Street the other night. It was fun to see how much our city has changed while checking out the Christmas lights.  Passing a house with a huge lit Cypress, I wondered out loud..."How did they get those lights on top of that tall tree?" Ava said, "They probably just used a big stack of people."  

Pazh was razzing me the same night. Apparently I am "geriatric qualified" because I like to listen to Christmas music. 

We are enjoying the season so far. I usually go "Martha Stewart on steroids" and that may come in a week or so. Right now, the fire and the tree are luring us to be calm and relaxed.  Aaaahhh.

Love to all my friends, and fam! I have Pink Pig pics and other recents I need to sort through and post...coming soon.

Holiday Shout-out!

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and I am more than thankful for the undeserved blessings that have showered my family. Mom's spirit and health are strong. My family is clothed, fed, sheltered, healthy, and our hearts are full. God has truly shown us His love and we hope to spread that love to others who are in need of love, care, etc. this season and beyond.

Our family will be up in the mountains for Thanksgiving weekend. We are prepping for some s'mores, big meals, Scrabble, Wii, Wine, Hiking, Sleeping (fingers crossed), time with the children, and more. I am running the Half Marathon in the morning and then we are heading North. Cell phones are iffy up there, so Happy Thanksgiving to all you dear friends and family!!!

A couple notes on the children:

We are not spending a lot this year for gifts, but Pazh did buy our family the Wii game. 

P and I were playing the tennis game with Mila and Ava totally captivated.....especially since we were yelling and goofing like kids ourselves. The announcer declares the score.."DEUCE."  Mila's little legs and arms start to go like a wind-up toy...."Deuce, DEUCE!!" She thought he was saying JUICE!! So funny b/c she says Juice like "Deuce" with a "D," and drinks the stuff all day long!!

 I have gone sooo low as to use Santa as a parenting scapegoat. Ava is reminded quite often, horrible, I know, that Santa is watching everything. Yesterday she added, "God is watching everything also, mama!"...hmmmmm.

We all know Ava is very musical, as most children are.  Her affections for La Musique were confirmed as we strolled Toys R Us and Target for wish list ideas. Looking at the plastic replicas of instuments with raised eyebrows, I asked her what she would like to put on her list. Very straight laced, she said "Mom, I told you already. I want a bass guitar, a tuba, and a trumpet." Certainly, a trip to the toy store would alter her long-standing requests.....Kung Fu Panda! Disney Princesses!? ...nope. Girlfriend wants a tuba.

Little Helper

Ava has become interested in the everyday chores of housekeeping. As she cuts, pastes, paints, draws, I am usually hustling around the kitchen wiping, sweeping, washing dishes, etc. Last night,  I told Ava I was going to vacuum and mop the pool table room. Excited to help, she exclaimed "Can I bring the vacuum to the 'starting line!!!??'"

A few weeks ago, we visited Burt's Pumpkin Farm with the Velez familia. All the children loved the gigantic pumpkins and Mila enjoyed licking the tops where the rain had collected from the previous night---yukk! On the way home, Ava was fervently squirming in her seat. "I have a barn in my pants!" We pulled over to get the 'hay' out. Cute!

time management

As many of you know, my time management skills have never been superior.  I can multi-task with the best intentions to complete each approached task, but am easily derailed with the help of two monkeys. My sweet friend, Amie, a.k.a. super zen mom, has inspired me (unknowingly) to take some uninterrupted time to document, cherish, share, and relay the daily doings of Ava and Mila. Amie has a beautiful page with detailed accounts, photos, etc., of her children. She has inspired me to do the same, as I hope to find focus and time to share our lives with our friends and family. Photos are a plenty and will be posted later. I welcome you to Mila and Ava's site and hope to hear from you soon! 

Love, 

Amanda, la maman des filles Deljou!!!