July and August

Since I'm determined to get caught up on this blog, I'm combining two months in one post. Best/worst idea ever.

But there are actual fun things going on/coming up that I need to get these posts out of the way :)

For most of the summer, Jeff's been working long hours out at his internship/clinic- which means Ava and him make the most out of their time together since more often then not Ava's asleep by the time he gets home.

Jeff's also been gone a few weekends playing in volleyball tournaments around Texas. 

This pic above is what teething (molars) + 4am + Jeff being gone looks like.

Ava's first ponytail! It was hard work. And I didn't attempt another one for at least a month. But she sure looked cute!

It's rare we can get her to hold our hands- so when it happens we get really excited

Ava is and has been obsessed with grown-up forks for a while now. She won't even consider kid forks. It's a little funny since at this age I've never cared either way if she uses utensils or just wants to use her hands to eat- but she insists on using the biggest fork she can. And she actually does a really good job using it.

Ava and our park friends

the sass-master herself

We got caught in a summer storm. 

Ava loved it and looked adorable.

 I looked like a drowned rat. 

 Ahhhh my walks! I go on so many walks. At least two a day every day.  I have a pretty specific route (about 3 mi)  I take and I have it timed to four different playlists- that might be a little weird, but without a car I go crazy stuck in our apartment so I have to get out! I'm going to miss these walks.

My brother in San Antonio came up to visit for a weekend!

I wish San Antonio was closer

Ava loved Chris. Ava can be a little shy around new people, so it makes me happy that she seems to love my brothers so much :)

I was getting ready one morning and Ava kept getting mad every time I would put on a necklace if I didn't hand her one too.

Sometimes when she wakes up in the morning and she's not fully awake, I think she looks like Jeff

She's a serious hallway baby

All ready for our walk! She's the best little companion :) 

Our last summer in Texas was long and hot and now it's over.

On to Fall....

Boise Part IV

We ended our time in Boise spending every day running around the backyard and every evening swimming in our neighbor's pool. 

It was so summery- and perfect for my crazy toddler. 

Ava wasn't loving her floaty, so she was lucky Grandpa was so willing to carry her around everywhere

The last weekend I was in town we went up to our friend's cabin up by Garden Valley

Matty came up with us :) and we went over to some hot springs

The mountain air was so nice! There were a lot of fires off in the distance, but the air was pretty clear for us for the most part. On our last day though, the air was thick with smoke as we drove back to Boise.

My sweet Grandma from California. Her and my Grandpa came for the second week of my stay in Boise. I was so happy they came so we could get a chance to spend time with them!

Ava was in heaven with this thing. That little pool and hose entertained her for days! 

I think she also appreciated that I let her go naked ;)

And that's all of Boise! It's taken me long enough to blog about it, now that I'm finally done I feel like it's time to go back!

Boise Part II

Alright, maybe I'll be done blogging about July by Hallowen! 

One of the best parts of being in Boise was seeing Ava with my brothers.

Cameron is an amazing piano player, and every time he'd sit down to play, Ava would come running to play too.

At church in Boise, they let Ava go to nursery. She loved it! I thought it was hilarious. My home ward has one nursery that has kids 18 months- 3 years. Ava was only 15 months here, but she ran right in and stayed in her chair and everything. I kept creeping in the window of the door to see how'd she do. It killed me how cute she looks sitting there.

That Sunday, we went down for a walk by the river.

Even though the water was really cold, Ava loved it. I also loved being by the river again! The water is clean and clear.

Uncle Matt 

Ava was heartbroken we made her stop playing in the water to take a pic. Matty looks good though :)

Matt pulled a Dad and ran in

The next day we took Ava to the Zoo! I hadn't been to the zoo in years. The Boise Zoo was great! They've put in a ton of new stuff.

Not sure who's channeling who here- but Ava and the Lion are on the same wavelength 

We are dorks