Happy St. Patrick's Day!

For each petal on the shamrock

This brings a wish your way--

Good health, good luck, & happiness

For today and every day.

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Sunday Afternoon

Here's Ava helping me "sort" my CDs and
DVDs. I think she looks so cute in her knit
hoodie (a hand-me-down from Ciara & Braylee)
and her hair in a pretty.

Ava and I went for a walk during the meltdown
this afternoon. Ava enjoyed stepping on the
dirty snow, watching the water run in the streets,
and picking up soggy pine cones. She wanted
me to taste-test the pine cones; each time she'd
bring it close to my mouth, I'd say, "Ugh. Yucky,"
which she thought was so funny.

Daddy's Little Helper

Ava wanted to help do dishes today. She'd

take out what Daddy put in and drop it on

the floor next to Maggie, who was trying to

get in an afternoon nap.

So Silly!

Ava has been a stitch for the past two weeks,

laughing when someone else does. It's pretty cute,

although, at times, it's got a little Dr. Evil in

it. And Jason's laugh? Well, there just aren't words for

that. Moo-hoo-hoo-hoo. Moo-hoo-hoo-hoo.

So Relaxed

Kay & I joked before we went over to Skylar's pool to swim

that maybe Ava would fall asleep in the water since she was

so relaxed the day before. I was playing with Ava in the pool &

all of a sudden it was like she wanted to lean back. I let her

recline in my arms, and, next thing I knew, she went to sleep.

What a little sweetheart.

In Good Company

Norma lives kitty-corner from Grandma
Vinje and fell in love with little Ava. Norma
brought over a teddy bear for Ava, took pictures
of Ava, & let Ava repeatedly pull off her
pretty red clip-on earrings. I think there's more
than one sweetheart in this photo.


Ava & Uncle Jeff. Uncle Jeff introduced us
to a great new song by Sugarland, "Come On,
Get Higher," which, in my mind, became
the soundtrack for this trip--airplanes flying overhead,
night-swimming & races between brothers, jet engines
and wind going as we stood on the tarmack looking
out at red mountains, eating under the stars,
blue snowflake lights strung up overhead at a
Mexican restaurant. Pura Vida!


Cousin Skylar Flynn, looking adorable in her sun
bonnet.

Ava snuggled right up to Grandma and stayed

like this for a good half hour. I think Grandma

was in her glory.

Sunny AZ

Jeff & Kay at the pool.


The newly paved street at Grandma's.


The daily grind.

Jason, Ava, and I flew to sunny AZ last Saturday
and escaped the blizzard Monday & Tuesday.
Remind us to plan our next vacation just like this
again. Stop throwing things at your computer, folks.
It does no good & will get into the keyboard....

Not to rub it in, but Arizona was glorious. 70-80 degrees
each day, slight wind, "chilly" at upper 40 degrees at night--
perfect golfing and poolside weather. Each morning, we
made our way to Starbuck's & got coffees (except Jason who
starts the morning off with a Rockstar--the drink, Sorgaard),
then rolled up our shirt sleeves & pant legs to start our basking
in the sun. Next, we went to our pool for a little more tanning
while Ava napped; later, we went to Skylar Sorgaard's pool, since
they allow babies. Most evenings wrapped up with good eats
--Cheesecake Factory, Bellagio, etc. All I'm wondering is:
when do we go back?