HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY!

For the next year, we get to ask Ava how old she is and she can respond by saying, "Twooo!"

Here's another day filled with pancakes and gifts and playing with her gifts in the morning, then a walk with Grandma Doty in the afternoon, a quick nap then Zoo Lights at the Oregon Zoo!

Tomorrow, a party with Ava's friends at a pizza play joint in Hillsboro! Phew! Somewhere in this whirlwind of activity we'll get to packing. ;-)

It's a Choo-Choo! (repeat)

We're gonna miss days like this...

The Lindgren fam has a special guest, Laura's mom (Carol), to share the last numbered days in Oregon/Washington. Today, the day before Thanksgiving, we drove to the coast on a gorgeous Fall day.

We enjoyed the beach at a near 60 degree temp with NO wind or fog! The only downer was that there was oil in the water---ick.

We ran from waves, saved a crab from seagulls, (Ava) built a sandcastle like Curious George, we watched the sunset, bought a caramel apple and taffy, ate a caramel apple and taffy, rode a carousel, ate at Moe's, and came home stuffed and ready for the oven.

Bye bye coast! ... for now.

Dancing, Dancing, Dancing

Laura really wanted to capture this so-called "cute" moment of me and Ava dancing to the end credits of Finding Nemo.

Enjoy!

Welcome Loudon Leonard Fischer aka Little Fisch!

Ava Coloring Montage

If You Want to Talk to Ava...

... ask her about the following: Choo-choos, monkeys, and blocks.

She cannot stop saying these three words. She knows plenty more, and moreandmore each day, but these three are the Top 3. It is almost enough to go nuts listening to it all, but I can't help but break out in laughter. She's practicing talking so much, her rhetoric is shining through. For example, when she wants something, she will go so far as to walk right up to me grab my chin/cheek and have me look her in the eyes, and she will tilt her head slightly askew and ask "Monkey?" Meaning, I want to watch Curious George on the TV.

The best is when she sings. You can ask her to sing a song about something, e.g. a monkey, choo-choo, daddy or mamma, etc. She'll pause for a moment, then start singing "Baa-baa, dooo-doo, Choo-choo, isa choo-chooooooo, baa-baa, isa hiiiiiiii!" After the song is complete, she'll begin to clap while saying, "Yayy!"

Good times.