A Comment from Ava

I know we post a lot of sweet or funny moments we have with the girls. I assure you they aren't always angelic and we have plenty of fussing, tattling, and deliberate disobedience. Cate has become quite a sass, often with hands on her hips, eye rolling, and outright, "NO! I'm not going to do that." Ava can be a whiner and tattler. The other day she came running up to me in the kitchen, "Molly's not share-wing!" That would be Molly ---the Cat. But it's the sweet times we don't want to forget.

Tax season is not our favorite time of year. The girls and I don't see a lot of Joe. Don't get me wrong, we're all glad he's busy, we just miss him being at home. Cate is a Daddy's Girl. She has been since she was just a little over a year old. Without fail, she asks me every evening, "Is Daddy going to be home late tonight?" and "Is Easter almost here?" (because she's looking forward to the Easter Bunny and she knows tax season is over soon after). Ava is a total and complete Mama's Girl though. There are days she doesn't want Joe to so much as look in her general direction. So, Joe and I both were surprised tonight when we were eating supper and out of the blue Ava looked over at Joe and said, "I'm pwwoud your home today Daddy."

It was good to all spend time together today.

Puffins

Ava's current favorite breakfast food is a plate of "puffins." The more common name - Applesauce Muffins. Mama Sue makes them. Hers come with a layer of powdered sugar. Ava likes regular muffins alright, but they are nothing compared to puffins.

This week, I was charged with getting Ava up. Cate was downstairs eating and watching TV. I went up to Ava's room and opened the door. She was already awake.

"Good morning," I said.

"Daddy, I need some breakfast. I want a wopple (waffle)."

I went over to her bed and picked her up.

"Ava, guess what I've got you for breakfast?"

She looked at me.

"Puffins!"

She didn't say a word for a minute, then squealed, then gave me a full body hug.

"Puffins are my pavorites."

It Is Almost Impossible...

Right now it is almost impossible to get Ava to cooperate for a picture. I don't know what I really expect from a two year old exhibiting the oh so typical trying and terrible twos at times.



Cate got tickled and had a mini falling out as well.

Ava decided to try to hide in her room.




At last I got one of both girls looking at the camera. Finally, a picture of them ready for preschool.

Sweet Cate

I figured I had better document this because it will long be forgotten when Cate and Ava start fighting over clothes, who gets to drive and whatever else they'll be at each other about in 15 years. For that matter, when they are trying to kill one another over baby dolls, books, and the spot in front of the TV now. Joe was tucking Cate in for bed tonight and out of the blue she told him,

"Daddy, Ava's in my heart. And I love her. And I'm going to take care of her."

Of course I teared up.

--Lauren

Dress Up and Magic Wands

Cate loves to dress up. Until recently, Ava only dressed up when Cate was gone to preschool and she always wanted to wear a shirt Cate painted that Cate won't let her wear when she's here. Tonight I was making supper and Cate came flitting through in her fairy costume. Awhile later Ava walked up and said, "I need mine too." It took me a minute to figure out what she was talking about. She wanted a costume like Cate's. She was pleased with herself once I got her dressed. She even had to have a wand just like sister's. They chased witches and tigers and monsters all over the house tonight.

Cate was trying to get Ava to look through her magic wand.


Close...
Even closer, but she never quite got it.

Mardi Gras Beads

When my sister and I were little, our aunt and uncle lived in Baton Rouge and would mail us Mardi Gras beads. We had more fun with those piles of beads. Now Aunt Kathryn mails them to Cate and Ava. Cate's eyes got big when we opened the box, "There's a million of them." After a few days of them all over the house, I feel the same way.

Dear Grandmama, Thank You For the Butterfly Nets.