Aren't you too little to be doing this?

 The last one to learn!  

  Since Ava got a new bike for her birthday, it was time to move Juliet up and for daddy to jog up and down the street hundreds of times.

   She caught on immediately but does get easily frustrated and tears are usually shed.

With a few bumps and bruises along the way.  This is her "poor lip" as she keep referring to it.

Ava turns 6

My spunky, sassy, silly sweetheart turned six a couple of weeks ago.

It was Ava's turn to go on an overnight hike and camping trip with daddy, so they hiked to the mountains behind our house the night before her birthday.

 You can see the mountains in the picture.

 Starting their hike!

 Admiring the strip from a rock at their campsite.

Getting ready to make their dehydrated dinner and get ready for bed.  Jonathan had actually only been home a few hours and had gotten hardly any sleep the night prior due to a long night at work.  They were asleep by 7:30pm!  

That night I took the other two girls out for dinner and shopping and we were able to flash our car lights up at them on the mountain and Ava shined the head lamp light down toward us.

The next morning, they made their way back and Ava opened her gifts fron her sisters.  They both got her new dressy outfits.

But first, Kylie had a special treat for her....  

 Happy Birthday on the piano!

Could they by any cuter?

 Reading her card from her sisters.

I love having all girls!

We headed to church (I transformed Ava from dirty camper into birthday fab in only 15 minutes!) and afterward, we told her she could pick anywhere she wanted to go for lunch.  Where did she pick?  Mind you we live in Vegas and she could have had anything she wanted....she chose In N Out!

We got home and it was time for mommy and daddys present to her.

 Kylie helping with the surprise factor.

A new bike!  Finally, NOT a hand me down bike for her since she and Kylie ride the same size bike.

We rode bikes to the park to play for a bit.

Daddy gives into the swing a lot more than I do.

I know this is Ava's birthday post, but I like this pic of Juliet.

I made Ava THIS macaroni and cheese recipe and salad for dinner-her request, then we had lemon bars for dessert.  She at first wanted lemon meringue pie but when she realized Grandpa wouldn't be there for her birthday, she changed her mind to just lemon bars.  She wanted to have the pie because Grandpa loves it.

 The yellow clip in her hair is actually a blonde hair extension for her Rapunzel doll.

 Ava-I love you so much!  Your smile is gorgeous and your giggle can brighten any room.  Outgoing is an understatement, and someone told me recently "she's never met a stranger", which is not how you were as a baby or toddler-you've come a long way socially and I like seeing you be fearless in just about any situation.  You are always asking new kids to be your friend and you are a fun girl.  You are so smart, a very animated story teller and a people pleaser.  We are so blessed to have your happy self as part of our family.  Happy 6th Birthday!

Soccer Season

Another year of soccer has begun and this fall for various reasons, only Ava is playing. 

We are almost done with the season and Ava has scored 3 goals!  She's been playing since we left Florida almost 2 years ago and had yet to score, but I think her late fall birthday and the cut off date for sports is working in her favor.  She is the oldest kid on the team and she doesn't necessarily run the game, but she's very strong and fast and really enjoys the game.  We've really seen her grow in her speed, strength and skills this season.

Here is daddy giving her a pep talk during a water break.  Ava is a mini-Jonathan in many ways, but she is especially as a soccer player!  

Ava and Jonathan have a special relationship.  She absolutely HATES it when Jonathan is out of town for work or can't be home for dinner and/or bedtime.  In the morning when she gets up, if he is home she chooses to sit with him before me.  When daddy holds her, she's got her arms and legs wrapped tightly around him.  At these games, she constantly looks to him for approval and with the "did you see me daddy" look on her face.  She smiles and waves at him constantly when she's on the field, and I know that if it were only him watching her play, she'd be happy.

 Here is Ava making her way through the crowd towards the goal.  She's great at getting the ball out of the beehive and is aggressive and likes to run to the head of the pack.

And here it is!  I was able to snag a shot of her scoring a goal last week!

Bend it like Beckham, baby!