Teeter Totter & Tire Swing

It's the last week of August and the weather is beautiful! Oh how I wish summer could last forever (except on the icky humid days - on those days I'd almost rather have snow and below zero temps:). But today, we're enjoying this wonderful summer weather - YEA!!!

Papa sent Ava "to the moon" on the teeter totter - She thought that was pretty fun!

It isn't summer without a trip to the DQ

Ava's lovin' the icecream cone! And keepin' it cool with the shades on :)

Ava, Daddy, Mommy and Tivoli (Ava's friend) went to enjoy an icecream treat at Dairy Queen - Ahhhh summer days!!!

This pic was at the beginning of our outting - notice napkin pile is relatively small and unused...by the end we had pretty much killed an entire tree - sorry trees!

Gotta check out those delicious cakes!

YUM!!!!!

What's Ava Cookin' Up Now?!

Hopefully not more trouble, right?! :)

She's busy in her kitchen!

Love that face, Ava!

Ava and Tivoli having quite a feast

Some for you and some for me :)

Ava and her friend Tivoli having a tea party (quite the spread, huh?!)

Now which one is 1/2 cup again?!

What a cute cook!

Ava and cousin Tay playing with the kitchen and the shopping cart...Ava helped load Tay up with lots of goodies :)

Great Grandma Mary

Mommy & Ava, Ski & Taylor and Nana Iverson went to visit Great Grandma Mary, Bruce and Joe. Ava and Tay had lots of fun playing with toys and being entertained by Uncle Joe as Mommy and Great Grandma made her famous potato salad - YUM! Someday Ava and Tay will make it too - It's a family tradition :)

Great Grandma Mary (82 years), Ava (2years 3 months), Taylor (9 months)

Uncle Joe always finds fun toys for Ava to play with :)

The Queen on her throne :)

We were sitting on the deck as a family and Ava insisted that she bring her purple chair outside - It was her idea to put it on top of the patio chair and she did it herself - She is SO independent these days!!!

Quite the little princess

(including the attitude of one at times:)

A true best friend...Emma Jean

Emma is such a sweetheart! We couldn't ask for a better dog. She tolerates Ava so well...probably because of all the scraps and treats Ava feeds her :)
Ava making Emma look beautiful :)

Say "Cheese!"

Ava LOVES Lollipops

But not the camera :)

Ava 2 years and 3 months old

August 2010 - Trip to Sioux Falls

Grandma Nolte has a special jewelry box just for Ava. They have so much fun getting dressed up and playing together - A girl after Grandma Nolte's heart - She loves to accessorize :)

Nana bought Ava a fun new playhouse/market - Super CUTE!

Fun in the sun at Nana and Papa Nolte's house in Sioux Falls

Daddy squirting Ava with a water toy :)

Testing it out to make sure the water is just the right temperature...It's perfect - Let's have some fun!!!

My how time flies!!!

Sorry I have not updated in a long time - Life is busy with a two year old!!! Can't believe Ava is 2 already! Wow - how time flies!

We have some exciting news to share....We're going to be having another baby in March!!! So I better get caught up on my blogging now - Life is going to get even busier!!! :)

Hope everyone has been enjoying the summer!
Love,
Erica, Ryan, Ava and Emma (the dog:)

Happy 4th of July

To celebrate the 4th of July we had a backyard BBQ with some family and friends...

Nana & Papa Iverson, Ski, Howie & Tay, Amy, Corey & Julia, Ashley & Jay.

Ava chillin' in the pool with Daddy :)

and playin' in the sand

Summer is so much fun!!!

Happy 4th of July 2010!!!

Ava, the Princesses, and PaPa

Ava absolutely loves her Disney princess castle that Grandma & Grandpa Nolte got her for Christmas! She loves to play tea party and bring things in and out - Her matching purple chair from NaNa (Grandma Iverson) is the perfect throne for our little princess :)

Ava knocking on the door of the castle (from the inside:).

Enjoying some "tea" while sitting on her throne

Such a happy girl!

Emma - how did that racoon get on your head?!!......

Emma will give you 1 guess.....

YEP! You guessed it! AVA MARIE!

Emma is such a good dog for putting up with the things Ava does to her!

Giving PaPa kisses

PaPa (Grandpa Iverson) tries to come and spend time with Ava at least once a week. They often have lunch together, color, read books, watch movies, and play tea party in the princess castle!

The first time PaPa played tea party with Ava he didn't know it was suppose to be pretend, so he filled her little tea cups with water (which spilled on the floor) and gave her real cookies - Needless to say, Mommy wasn't around at the time, but when she got home Ava told on PaPa by pointing at the floor of the castle and repeating "uh oh, uh oh, uh oh" :) She doesn't keep secrets very well!

PaPa and his little princess Ava Marie :)