the Smith's

ALL of Scott's family came out here for Thanksgiving this year.

Last minute we took full advantage of the opportunity to have our family pictures taken.

Ava's Birthday Balloons

For Ava's 2nd birthday, we filled her room with floating balloons.

As if we don't already have enough issues with her hair.

 

                                Classic.

Love my sweet little angel girl. Here's to the terrible two's!

Ava Two

"She is delightfully chaotic; a beautiful mess.  Loving her is a splendid adventure."

                                                                    -Steve Maraboli

Happy Birthday my beautiful girl!

In lieu of Ava turning 24 months, here are 24 things that make Ava, Ava.

1. Quick to smile.  This girl can go from a full blown scream to laughing her head off in seconds.

2. More, more, more.  Always uses the sign for more.

3. Busy.  I can't get her to sit still for more than 5 minutes.  

4. Stands.  The girl doesn't sit.  She stands on chairs, grocery carts, strollers, benches, you name it.

5. Stroller?  Speaking of strollers and carts.  She refuses to sit in them.  It makes running errands a complete disaster.

6. "Peeeeze".  Basically she gets whatever she wants whenever she says it.

7. Beauty Queen Wave.  She acts like Miss America as we carry her up to bed.  Throws her head back, laughs, blows kisses and does the infamous wave goodnight.

8. Bottles.  Still on toddler formula.  I know. We're awful.

9.  Eater.  Great at trying most anything and everything.

10. Messy.  That's it.  

11. Fearless.  Will try anything.

12. Rap.  Loves to listen and dance to rap music.

13. Squawks.  Doesn't like it when anyone approaches her things or space. 

14. Won't watch tv.

15. Instigator.  When her and Alec get into mischief, I know 9 times of 10 it was her idea.

16. Pretty.  Loves to get dressed up in her pretty Sunday dresses.

17. "BYE!" Doesn't really say hello to anyone, but will wave and say goodbye to anyone and everyone.

18. "What's that?" We then tell her, to which she always replies, "Oh".

19. Doesn't care.  She couldn't care less what we think, say or do.  She does what she wants.

20. Shower Hog.  When I turn the water on she doesn't care if its warm yet or not.  She will hop right in and hog that water the entire time, letting it hit her smack in the face.

21. Angelic.  No matter what chaos she brings to the family, she always follows it up with something sweet.

22.  "Hold me".  She either adamantly wants to be held or put down.

23. Shoes.  Like any other girl, she is obsessed with shoes.  Shoes of every size, color and kind.

24. Strong.  She is a tough cookie.  I can already tell that she is not going to be swayed by others in life.

Denver Rock 'n Roll

I did it. Again. I did another 1/2 Marathon.  And it was just as lovely as all the other 1/2 Marathons.

Every time I envision these races with these amazing routes, with just me, my friends, great conversation and the open road.  I somehow forget about the other 20,000 runners that you have to dodge the entire time.  I absolutely loved training with these girls, I just might leave the racing to them...that is until the next time someone asks me to run a race.

At that point I'm certain I'll sign up and do it-again!

 All complaining aside, it really was a lot of fun.
I couldn't have asked for better running partners. And it was so different to run smack in the heart of Downtown Denver.
What an awesome city!

Boys Group

I have grown to love all of Alec's loud, rowdy, stinky, funny, sweet and adorable friends!

They've taken over the cul-de-sac!

Great Love

Scott goes to at least one Bronco's game a year.  

This year he was able to get VIP Press passes from Steve Young to walk around as he pleased.

Had I known he was going to get this close to Eric Decker....I may have gone with him!
 

Lunch Date

Who wouldn't want her as their lunch date?

Alec has had quite the social life lately.  Which has enabled us girls to spend lots of quality mother-daughter time.

Halloween

This year we ALL dressed up!  I'm trying to convince Scott to just make this red neck hat his go-to costume every year.

My little Witch and Me.  She played the part oh too well! Don't let this sweet innocent pose fool you. She stoically walked all around town swatting the ground with her broom and shrieking at anyone she deemed a threat.  But then she did usually follow it up with an angelic grin.

Alec was a "sneaky" ninja.

The kids were so fun.  They really "got" it this year, and couldn't get enough of the dressing up, singing and trick-or-treating.

Ava spends most of her time standing on chairs.  I get the "you're an irresponsible parent" look everywhere we go.
But the girl will not sit down!

Scott and I are not crafty at all, so we were actually overly proud of our pumpkins.

I about died over how cute Alec and his friends were at their Halloween Extravaganza put on by his preschool teacher Miss Kim.

Book of Mormon Stories

Entertainment while waiting for Alec's carpool to preschool.

Hint

Just a little clue as to what Ava is going to be for Halloween.