Activity Day Recognition Night

I am so, so fortunate to work with Activity Days in Primary!

This year,

our recognition night

was a father and daughter affair

featuring pizza,

a quilting service project,

and cake decorating!

The girls had a BLAST! 

And it was wonderful to see them

spending some one-on-one time

with their dads. 

The sugar-buzzed evening ended

with a raging game of something or other in the gym!

All I know is,

they kept running back and forth

screaming!

Congrats girls!

You have accomplished so much!



Big Doin's: Surprise Room Makeover

With Samuel starting school in just a few days

I felt the nesting crunch,

{yes, you still nest after the babies are done a'comin'!} 

and dragged him to the girls room for an

impromtu room makeover.

While the kiddos were busy watching a movie

we hauled everything around,

dismantled their bunk beds,

moved toys to the boys room,

and re-hung all the artwork and...

Voila!

Sheer, utter, pandemonium!

They LOVED it!

Not to be outdone,

Owen wanted a picture of his

new-to-him toy bin!

Awesome, Owen!

Sweet dreams, everyone...

Ava's Baptism Day

Ava's baptism was...amazing.

We love this girl, so, so much!

Ava Grace Lopez Ramos Elmer

Sisters

Brothers

 

Great-grandma Irene Lopez

Grandpa Jose + Grandma Rose Ramos +

Aunt Julia

Grandpa Gary + Grandma Clista Elmer

Ava + Jacob

Uncle Joseph + Jacob with Ava + Samuel

Thank you to the many friends and family who came

to support us on this special day!

We love you!

Ava + Jacob: Preparing for a very special day...

Way back when,

oh, about eight years ago,

Jessica, my sister-in-law, and I

were waddling around with swollen bellies.

She was due, lucky duck, two weeks prior to me, in July. 

I was due in August.

Rats.

As luck would have it...

our babies flip-flopped on us!

Ava came on July 23rd-two whole weeks early,

while Jacob lingered until August 4th!

Jessica got the short-end on that deal,

but if you're priveledged to know Jacob,

he was certainly worth the wait!

And we,

of course,

were super-blessed to get our Ava a bit early!

Fast-forward eight years...

Jessica and I aren't quite so swollen,

our babies, are not quite babies anymore,

and they've grown up together and become great friends.

One of the great blessings of sharing a birthday

so close to one another,

and of living so close together,

is the opportunity for Ava and Jacob

to be baptized together.

We couldn't be happier in planning

this special day!

Save the date...

New Territory...

Trying on uniform pants for the upcoming school year...

Lookin' good, Ava!

{She looks great in everything though...}

Eight is Great!

 

Ava,

We can hardly believe you're eight already!

You have always been stunning,

but somehow you've transformed

from alittle rascal who hated puffed sleeves

and any color other than blue,

into a beautiful young girl

whose open to pretty much anything!

You're trademark

easy-going way,

tender-heart,

and melt-the-heart brown eyes

still take our breath away!

Your father and I love you

so, so much!

Continue in this way,

work hard as ever,

and know that you are so, so special.

Happy 8th Birthday!

Love always,

Mom + Dad

Peanut Butter Jelly Time, The Hand Jive, & The Purple People Eater

It's Dance Fever!

For weeks,

all three girls have been practicing for the

Starstruck Dance Performance at their elementary school.

On the big night,

we were fortunate to have grandparents in attendance...

Along with the usual suspects!

Ava was our PB & J girl!

Bella our Hand-Jive girl!

And Iris made for the sweetest Purple-People Eater!

The school staff ended the show with a super-funny dance

to "You Be Illin'",

with the Principal smack in the middle of it all

hip-hoppin' it out!

Later we caught some pictures with the girls teachers who

were still dressed up from the performance!

...

It was a great night of fun,

and yes,

to this day we are still all singing and dancing to the songs!

Way to go, girls!



Ava Grace is 7!

There's is something about this girl.

She's about the closest thing there is to being like me-

which probably isn't a good thing!

Samuel says we both have huge brown eyes,

are EXTREMELY emotional,

"Stubborn" is actually our middle name,

and we

love, love, love

to play!

We were blessed to celebrate Ava's birthday with family,

and here's a glimpse of the celebrating...

Ava (7) & Abby (9)

on Birthday Sunday
at Grandma Clista's house.

Alien cupcakes!

The "Eye".

May your wishes come true, you two!

At home,

Ava tried to get away with being ten!

Come clean, girl!

Ava's grown so much,

so she was in desperate need of some new...

Wheels!

We love you, Ava!  

Ava and Samuel flashing number 7 again
at her party with the

Ramos, Lopez, & King families!

7 still going strong!

Ava & her sweetheart of a cousin, Taylor Marie.

The goods.

Happy Birthday, darlin'!

You are a joy to this family,

and life would not be the same without you!

Keep up the good work with your math facts,

remember,

your hair IS growing,

and,

very, very soon,

you'll be eight!

But don't forget to 

enjoy every single second of being seven!

We love you, girl.

Love,

Mom & Dad