Ava's 3rd Birthday Bash!

Life has been a bit of a whirlwind since arriving in Washington, but we are certainly enjoying it. We spent the first week getting things set up in our new apartment. The second week, I (Tony) did a lot of studying for an Algebra final exam. (got an A in the class though. yee-haw.) And then this past week, I have been getting ready for summer semester and putting together a photography website, in hopes of doing more of that while going through college.

But on June 4th, Ava turned 3! It was a great day with friends and family.

She got to start the morning with Birthday Breakfast! Always a fun tradition. We made her two favorite breakfast foods at the moment - blueberry pancakes and bacon! Madelyn and Ava even wore their spectacular birthday hats.

Teressa is putting the final touches on Ava's birthday cake. And as good as it looks, it tasted even better. Let me know if you want a piece and I'll see if I can mail you some.

Madelyn's posture. Like a teenager. Whats a parent to do...

Birthday Birthday Birthday!
3 seems to be the first year that she REALLY knows exactly what is going on.
The next day she wanted to know where everyone was and what happened to the party?

Madelyn with her Aunt Megan

Granddad sent Ava a baseball mitt and ball. She was SO excited and we have been playing with it this week. She can't seem to grasp the fact that you throw with your hand and catch with the glove. She wants to do everything with the glove... catch, throw, wipe her nose, swat the bug, etc...

Can't believe my little girl is 3. Wow.

Cheese.

Papa Jim with Baby Isabelle

Everyone went about a mile or two down the road to what has become one of our favorite locations in Washington. It's called the Cider Mill and Ava and Madelyn love it. They serve hot apple cider, fresh warm apple fritters and have lots of animals that you can feed.

The kids enjoyed feeding the goats. They have an area where you can put feed in the bucket and then pull the string which takes it to the top of the platform. The goats hear it and run up the bridge to eat out of the bucket. But if you happen to be standing directly underneath of them as they ravenously devour the feed... let's just say that you might get a free bath. I won't mention who may or may not have gotten one, out of love for my spouse.

Those baseball skills are coming in handy already with feeding chickens.

Madelyn had a good seat for each animal.

This is Teressa's sister Megan and her husband John. They are rocking one of those apple fritters that I was telling you about. Seriously. I can't stress this enough. They are quite amazing.

Grandma (a.k.a. Manga) showing Madelyn the goats. It was funny to watch her. She was quite alarmed.

Ava's cousin Daniel. He was feeding the goats grass and laughing at them.
Notice the shirt. Stompasaurus. I like it.

Ava had the "ready" stance for this goat. He was a little zaney and she was ready to dart at any moment.

It was so cute to watch Ava as we sang Happy Birthday to her.
The cake, by the way, was made to order. Teressa asked Ava a little while back what color cake she wanted, what kind of frosting, what flavors, etc... and then she made it. Ava also has a wooden cake that she plays with in her toy kitchen everyday and Teressa wanted to make it look like that. Fun times.

I always forget that kids will follow the patterns of their parents.
I guess I should eat neater from now on.