Fancy Ava Birthday - Oooh la la!

We had a Fancy Nancy birthday party for Ava this weekend.  I worked really hard to put this party together, and I was really excited that all of the little girls had so much fun.  I spent a lot of time looking at other people's ideas ; I am not very original, but I am a great copycat! 

Fancy girls - Ava and Haven

Ava and Jennifer

Even Elle got fancy

When the girls arrived, they decorated fancy tiaras

Snack time - we made ham and cheese and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in fancy shapes, fruit kabobs, and pretzels coated in chocolate and sprinkles.

After snacks the girls got to dress up in boas, tutus, glasses, and jewelry.  They LOVED this part and they were sooo cute!  I seriously lost sleep over the fact that I did not get a group picture :(

 

Even Sam got in on the action :)

After dressing up the girls got to have their makeup done and fingernails painted.  Thanks so much to my mom, Jennifer, and Erica for helping me out!

James had just put on some music, and I walked in the room and all of the girls were dancing.  This was not part of my plan, but they were adorable. 

Cake and ice cream - the girls got to eat their ice cream in fancy glasses and made parfaits with sprinkles, m&m's chocolate chips and marshmallows

This party was everything that Ava loved, and I loved planning it for her!!  I owe a big thank you to Ann, Momma, Erica, Andrea, and Jennifer.  I seriously put them all to work as soon as they came over, and they were so willing to help.  I could never have pulled it off with out all of them.

Happy Birthday Ava

Happy Birthday to our Ava!

We love you so much!  You have made our lives better in every way.  I thank God every day that he trusted me to take care of such a special girl. 

4 years ago - right before we left for the hospital

And after a very long night...

Ava Margaret Piraino

5 pounds 1 ounce

Born at 4:49 am

(Love at first sight)

Love,

Mommy, Daddy, and Sam

Merry New Year

At least that is how they say it in Turks and Caicos.  James and I spent five days on the island of Providenciales the week after Christmas.  Words cannot even describe how much I loved that place and how much fun we had.   

I need to mention first that somehow my camera did not make it into my bag for the trip.  I was devastated!!  We bought a disposable camera when we got there though.  And I have to say that was actually pretty fun.  It took me back about 15 years.  It was fun to take a picture that you had no idea how it was going to turn out.  And I had even more fun picking up my pictures from Wal-Mart!

The view from our room

I will stop anyone, anywhere and ask them to take our picture.  James hates that :)

We went to this store for souvenirs, and the next thing I know the salesmen had convinced James to buy some cigars.  Funny!!

The food on this island is amazing (and expensive)!!  And another thing that I loved about this place was very little humidity.  I was able to wear my hair straight at the beach, and for a frizzy hair girl like me, that is a BIG deal!

Our ill-fated fishing trip!  The only thing that James really wanted to do was go fishing!  So we found someone to take us for $650.00.  I thought that was outrageous, but he really wanted to go.  So we headed out that morning with complete strangers to go fishing.  And then about 20 minutes after we started, the boat started sinking.  If you notice James' shorts are wet because he had to get out and help push the boat to shore.  It turned out to be a really funny trip with no fish to show for it!

As much as I miss the kids when James and I go on one of these trips, I am always thankful for the memories that just the two of us get to share!

Christmas

Well, I have so many things to write about, but I thought I would start with Christmas.  This Christmas was wonderful for us.  We are so grateful for all of our blessings.  We managed to see almost everyone from both sides of the family.  I know Ava and Sam enjoyed seeing everyone, and I hope we made some good memories :)  Here are some of our favorite pictures from a few of our Christmas celebrations.  I will share more later!

Ava posing in her Christmas outfit

 Pretty girls!!!

Erica and Nick

My dad makes a Lebanese feast every year for our Christmas celebration - it is one of my favorite traditions!! 

Sam has perfected the art of the bottom lip :)

We tried getting a picture of all of the grand kids - of the 25 that I took this is the best one!

After the grand kids, we had a photo session in front of the fireplace!!

At home on Christmas Eve - this is the one shot I got of us making cookies.  I let Ava roll out the dough and then Sam got in on the action with the icing and the sprinkles.  It got a little wild!!

Ava couldn't take her eyes off of the cookies.  Loving Sam's smile!!! 

Christmas morning - Ava's favorite gift is her Rapunzel "salon."

Sam's new train table!  If we even mentioned Santa, Sam said, "choo choo."  I think he liked it!!

Barbies everywhere!!!

 Roar!!!

Barbie Dream House

We celebrated Christmas with my mom, and then went to Texas the next day and spent some time with James' parents.  And then James and I went on an AMAZING vacation, so there are definitely more posts coming soon!!

Christmas at Our House

We have had such a fun time getting ready for Christmas this year. I think Ava and Sam are both at such fun ages, and we have been able to begin some new traditions. I just wanted to give a glimpse of what Christmas looks like at our house this year.

Our tree

Can I just say that I think the most beautiful trees are the ones full of homemade ornaments.  I will never have a fancy tree - I can't wait until mine is just covered with ornaments from the kids!

Ava and I had a blast making the gingerbread house - Sam had a blast eating half of it :)

It would not have been the same here without our Elf on the Shelf - Sprinkles.  Sam seriously can't stand it every morning until he finds him. And I have to say James has had probably just as much fun finding spots for him!  And to make it even more fun Sprinkles occasionally leaves little gifts for the kids - this morning he left Christmas pajamas!!

I love everything about Christmas cards - making them, sending them, getting them!!  I always keep them and will have fun looking at them again next Christmas!!

Ava REALLY wanted to be Santa Claus in the bathtub - Sam did not!!

 Our new Christmas pj's from Sprinkles!!

I hope everyone else has had as much fun getting ready for the holidays!! 

Thanksgiving 2010

We had a busy (and really fun) Thanksgiving holiday.  First, we celebrated on Wednesday night with my Daddy, Andrea, Erica's crew, Jordan, and Conner. We missed you Jacob :(  We had a very non-traditional meal -  spaghetti and meatballs.  We also celebrated Tyler's (my oldest nephew) birthday.  He is 14 years old which I absolutely cannot believe.  In two years he will be driving!!!!!

Conner and Sam are hiding from monsters under the table

The birthday boy

Jordan with the girls

The girls had such a fun time playing dress up with Jordan- what a good uncle!!

and a good Papa too :)

On Thursday we went to my mom's and had Thanksgiving lunch with Matthew and Erica's family.  It was a delicious lunch, and all of the kids had so much fun playing

Mama with all the kids

and then with just the girls

We took this picture first and Sam wasn't in the mood - obviously!! 

I hope everyone else had a great Thanksgiving.  I can't believe it is already time for Christmas!!!