Yup, that's her!

A day or so ago Ava and I were watching Television, when a commercial for Swiffer sweeper products came on the television. The Ad showed a middle aged African-American woman busily using the swiffer on her floors. Out of nowhere, Ava pipes up "It's Grandma Sue!"

After a couple of hysterical laughs, I told her, "Yes, that's Grandma Sue!"

The Victorian Festival

Hey, it only took me 4 years, but I finally made it down to Northville's Victorian Festival. The purpose of celebrating Victoriana is somewhat lost on me, but if the town feels like putting on a show, I'm all for it.

My Mom came over, and She, Ava and I set out on foot for the festival. I didn't know really what to expect - stiff-backed self righteousness? Anti-macassars? Fussy decorating? In any case, it was part art-fair, part local fund-raiser and part carnival, so it was pretty fun. Ava had a great time riding the kiddy-sized ferris wheel and getting her face painted. (Thanks Grandma Joan!)

New Photos

Thanks to Grandma Sue, we have new photos, comemmorating Ava at 2 and 1/2 years. It's impossible to believe that she's that old already, but regardless.... We have a bunch, as she thoughtfully ordered photos for all the grandparents.

Hysterical

Here are a couple of websites friends have turned me on to...very funny.


Here's a fine example of why people shouldn't believe or act upon things they read on the internet. Basically, it provides advice on how to be completely crass and greeedy at your wedding:
http://www.i-do.com.au/network/ShowArticle.asp?article=790&topic=186&host=9

This one is one of the funniest I've seen in a long time - complete roast of our current government's attitudes toward their role in our personal lives.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nopV5PKkU_0
You'll need speakers and a resonably fast connection to enjoy it.

Crappy Camera

Ok, just a word of warning - avoid Casio cameras. After our beloved Cannon digital Elph died during Alicia's wedding, we decided we'd upgrade rather than repair. (We are Americans, you know.)

After much research, including the usually-spot-on Consumer Reports, I picked up a Casio Exlim 1000, a brand-new, 10 megapixel sub-compact camera that did everything we wanted and a lot more. The sales guy also reassured me that I could use the three week return period to allay my fears, as I hadn't really heard that much about Casios, one way or the other.

Well, I'm here to tell you - 10 mexapixels doesn't do you a darn bit of good if the camera won't take a clear picture, and distorts the heck out of the colors. (I think the techincal terms are "noise" and something that sounds like an anthropological term, but I can't remember it now) What use is it to blow up a blurry photo? (Also, huge file size, very slow to upload!)

So, I went to return said camera, and was seconds away from going nuclear with the returns desk, who had informed me I would receive store credit instead of a refund, when the manager actually stepped in and said he'd be happy to refund the money, based on what the clerk had told me. I was impressed. Good customer service is ridiculously rare these days.

In any case, we wound up going with another Cannon digital elph, and would recommend it to anyone. Thus ends today's public service announcement.

The Boys!

Ok, I've tried to make this posting for a couple of weeks now, but with little success...I think I keep overloading it with photos.

Ava, Casey and I were very happy to have Jen, Mark, Nick and Max over about two weekends ago (I told you I've been trying this for a while). Great time as had by all - Jen brought the food (because I pale in comparison as a cook) and I learned how to make green beans delicious (lemon zest, lemon juice and garlic...yum! Thanks Jen). That's not to say the kids ate any, of course.

All the kids seems to have a great time with the kitty condo - it's tall, dirty, fuzzy and wobbly - what's not to like.

Observing the boys playing with Ava's Mardi Gras style beads also was pretty funny. Although you know it's not wrong, it provides an excellent guage of your own personal inner homophobia, or at least your own dogged adherence to what girls and boys "ought" to do and like, as far as society is concerned. Nevermind that all 2-3 year olds are thinking is "Oooo! shiny!" They should make guns covered in sequins, just to confuse the heck out of everyone.

Granpa Steve is such a Mark!

Ok I realize that all grandparents like to spoil their grandchildren, but take a look at this:

Yep, that's a full-sized bounce house. After the excitement of O'Connor Family Christmas in July, Grandpa Steve apparently decided he had to get one to keep. Ok, in all reality, Steve isn't completely mad - he's already started renting it out. Sounds like a resonably profitable business, so long as you don't mind driving around on the weekends!

Ava continues to grow way too fast, and is very verbal - every day those sentances become more clear. Pretty soon I'll hear "I hate you mom" and I know she'll be all grown up.

Until then, I'm loving every second of our adorable little princess's attention. Potty training isn't going all that well, alas...I'm completely open to suggestions from everyone. She knows HOW to go potty, at least "#1", but generally won't ever volunteer to go. Rubber pants and "feel and learn" diapers don't phase her. I am going to try bribery next - a sticker or something for each successful run, and something more substantial for a full day of using the facilities. I've heard this works, but we'll see...

Casey and I have been very busy - too busy it seems. My boss here at work left the company in July, and since then I've been the unofficial head (read no promotion or salary increase, but all the work) of HR. I've finally stopped waking up panicked in the middle of the night, so you could say I'm getting used to my new role. Hopefully, if I can keep things on track until the next round of evaluations I can get the title and at least some of the money that should go along. Until then, it's SSDD. (Same S**t, Different Day) Casey's been doing the boss bit himself, and working a ton of hours, most of the Saturdays this summer. Like wives throughout history, while he's working on Saturday, Ava and I go and spend what he's earning. :) Ok, mostly on groceries and diapers (hopefully not for long), but still. Ava is happiest when she's on the move, so when Casey's working, we just keep moving!

We did get to have a nice dinner & Tiger Game adventure last Saturday - Shannon and Jeff drove down from Lansing (bringing the wonderful Emily as a sitter) and we all went to Mexican Village for dinner, then the Tigers v. Indians game. Sadly, I had a bit too much Margarita, and wound up blathering on (and on) to Shannon for most of the game. Sorry Shannon! Guess she'll know better than to talk to me in the future!!

I want to live in Miami

The title of this post goes with this picture....'nuff said.


It's been a crazy busy summer so far.... Ava has been splitting her time between Grandma Sue & Papa's house three days a week, and "school" the other two, and had a whole week sojourn with Grandma while Casey and I snuck off to see Alicia Ward get married in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Casey and I had a great time, although we missed Ava terribly, and kept shooting longing glances at the other kids at our resort. I think we probably put some of the other parents on edge, particularly those of toddler girls. But then again, who can look all that threatening with a pina colada in their hand?

Alicia and Adam (Lind)'s wedding was really lovely, on a private beach and followed by a very sumptuous dinner back in Playa del Carmen.

Ava, meanwhile had a blast with Sue, visiting the zoo, swimming at Linda Hubert's, and generally eating and doing whatever she wanted. We've noticed a strange correllation between time spent at Grandma's house and the incidence of faux-fits. Luckily, a couple of laughs is usually enough to defuse the situation.

On a sadder note, we have another funeral to attend this weekend - our neighbor Bob Ciccero, lost his long battle with leukemia last week.

Memorial Day

Hot hot hot!! We had a lovely little cook-out with Mom and John - very nice, hot weather. Mom and Ava beat the heat by having a little soak.

Ava also kept Mom in stiches by belting out "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" at the top of her lungs - well, about 60% of it, anyway.

Sorry for fulfilling the prophecy of the first entry - it's been a very difficult couple of months, dealing with the death of my brother, and now of Casey's Uncle Art. We desperately hope that the remainder of this year will be as happy as the first has been sad.

Thanks to all of you for your kind words and support - we really appreciate it.

New Photos - an update

We finally got the photos back from the lovely Wal-Mart photo studio. Not too bad, considering that Ava was on to us, and that huge flashing thing trying to blind her....lots of photos of all her teeth, but eyes closed...

Word to the wise - go with pants for your next photo, unless you want to see diaper in most of the proofs...

In any case, things are going well otherwise, she's talking up a storm, and understands more every day. We're the ones having a hard time keeping up!

Not a lot new going on - we are planning a trip to go see relatives in Arkansas, with a brief detour in Memphis. We figure everyone needs to see the cheesy spendour of Graceland at least once in their lives. Might as well be before she can remember it, eh? We ourselves are looking forward to having some good BBQ, and I'll probably go for some catfish while we're down there too. Mmmm ..... fried bottom-dwellers.

Big Birthday Weekend

Ok, I'd hoped to have my act together so I could add photos to this post, but alas, t'was not meant to be. I'll post them later.

Ava's big 2nd birthday was last weekend - actually, the fun started Thursday at daycare, with birthday cupcakes with all the friends. Apparently a good time was had by all, and knowing that you're responsible for about 15 chocolate-smeared, sugar-fueled little hellions is kind of fun.

Friday, her birthday proper, Casey and I took off work, ostensibly to celebrate her birthday, but with a couple of errands (such as taking the car in for new brakes) thrown in. But we did manage to take her to see her first movie in a theater, Curious George. Casey and I were awed at the sheer numbers of kids that were in the theater on a Friday mid-day, but Ava seemed to enjoy it, enjoyed the popcorn and candy, and didn't even squirm until about 2/3 of the way through, so it seemed a big success. Plot was pretty weak, but the animation, particularly of George himself was very cute.

We came home for cake, but being full of candy and popcorn, there wasn't a lot of interest on anyone's part. We opened one present - from Uncle Parvin, Aunt Angie & Crawford, which went over very well. Ava definitely had the opening portion down well, and really enjoyed the puzzle and shirt within.

Saturday, Grandma Sue, Grandpa Steve, Grandpa Parvin, Monio, Aunt Shannon and Uncle Jeff, cousins and the Joneses all came over, and Ava was completely in her element as hostess. Actually, she seemed more excited about all the people than in the enormous amount of booty she received. Thanks to everyone for all the cool gifts - she's been having a ball with the toys, and wearing a bunch of the clothes already.

Sunday we hosted Grandpa Mike and Grandma Patty, and Ava shared with them one of her favorite movies, Finding Nemo. She loved her tinkerbell, motion light and talking parrot toys.

Monday, going back to the normal grind was a bit tougher - Ava seemed to miss the company. Plus, as an added bonus, Casey was informed that Ava's been a bit less than gentle with her classmates - apparently sitting on the heads of others has become a favorite entertainment. Suddenly, the chanting under her breath of "no hitting, no biting" was horribly clear. We've been giving her little lectures ever since about being nice to the other kids, adding "no pushing, and no kicking" to her little mantra.

I'm not sure what it says about us, but Casey and I confessed to each other that there was a tiny little part of us that was happy that she was a bit of a bruiser. Regardless of our shameful pride in our little bully, we've dutifully been trying to squash the behavior. Hopefully, it's just a phase, and she'll stop doing it. We'll keep you updated!

Bad Bunny!

Bunny did a bad bad thing..... After being unable to control her trajectory upon being tossed by Ava, Bunny landed on the portable DVD player. Ava, knowing that this was not to be touched, promptly went over to Bunny and informed her, finger wagging "no touching, Bunny. Naughty!" She then took Bunny over to the Naughty chair, and set her upon it. Bunny, fortunately has learned her lesson, and has kept herself to herself since this episode of deviant behaviour.

I remember either Sara or Katie asking me whether I knew what ever happened to Trippy the WonderHorse..... Well, behold the answer in the pictures (for some reason I can't upload a picture direct into this blog today)

My mother, packrat extraordinare, found Trippy, and presented him to Ava during our last visit over there.... needless to say, Ava loves Trippy almost as much as Sara and Katie did, but without irony :) Ava does realize that Trippy does not technically belong to her, and will relinquish him if his real owners want him back!

Is it too late to go to Sundance?

I got an email today, thought I'd share - there's a useful (although depressing) website for parents :

http://www.familywatchdog.us/

It's the national sex offenders registry - including the ability to map out offenders near your address, and even pull up pictures of the offenders, including what their offenses. Maybe I'd have been happier not knowing that there were child molesters within a few miles of us, but I guess I'd rather have the tools to be aware of the threat.

On a MUCH happier note, we are prepping for Ava's second birthday - who can believe it? We're thinking cake and presents, but so far no ideas other than that. I did warn you of my lack of creativity...see previous post. I can't belive it's been that long, and I really look forward to watching her hone her skills....she's already a master at fit throwing, but I'm sure there are techniques and nuances she has yet to pick up. Plus, sheer lung power continues to grow.... We can't wait.

Fumbling toward the modern age...

Ok, I'm a total follower, but at least I have complete obliviousness to blame! (I'm sounding pretty smart here, eh?) I was trying to type a comment to another friend's blog, and wound up creating a blog of my own.

To defend myself, I did realize somewhere during the process what was going on, and decided to go with the flow. Eventually, my mother will be home long enough for me to teach her how to turn on the new computer my Brother & Sister-in-Law sent her, and after those 4 hours are over, I'll want to be able to direct her to somewhere she can get pictures of Ava, as well as Crawford, since Angie was way ahead of the curve on this one.

Besides, in what other written format could the total rambling strangeness of my mind be poured out in horrible, unedited detail? You've all been warned, I now abandon any pretense of sense or even responsibility in what I write here. It IS the internet - can't believe everything you read.... Ok, I will TRY not to lie too much. Embellish, yes, but lie no.

I will try to remember to add some stuff from time to time - you know, the sane, rational stuff from our daily lives :)

In any case, I hope you'll all enjoy it, and that I can figure out how to get back in here to add stuff !!