Vacation - Stop 3, GULF SHORES

The main destination for vacation was Gulf Shores, AL. We rented a beach front condo with our friends for half the week. This was the week that the BP oil rig explosion happened off the coast of LA, so the excitment every day was when/if the oil spill would hit land. We were very fortunate that it never did while we were there.

We arrived mid-afternoon and quickly changed for the beach. This was Ava's second time to the beach, but the first trip was when she was 10mo. She had no idea what to expect, but she was determined to be the first one down the boardwalk!

Ahhhh, look at that beautiful white sand and calm blue water!

Ava tried to pick up ALL the shells. She said the beach was messy!

Notice Ava's change of clothes. After a little over an hour she came up to me crying that she wanted to go inside. I needed to get something from the room so we headed up. When we arrived she demanded that she needed to wash her hands and feet right now!! After washing and drying she cried that "the beach makes my fumbs (thumbs) taste yucky!" Never thought about the downside to being a thumb sucker at the ocean! We then had to have wet wipes on the beach so she could clean her thumb when she needed some down time. ;)

Vacation - Stop 2, Daphne, AL

After three days in Leeds we ventured on to see our good friends Matt and Kate in Daphne, AL. They relocated last year and we still hadn't even met their beautiful baby girl Lydia.

This is pretty much where Ava remained the rest of vacation - right next to "Baby Idia!"

They have a beautiful home loaded with southern charm, including the porch swing!We were only in Daphne overnight, however, in that time:

1. We ate a yummy dinner at Manci's Antique Club, which was highlighted on Food Networks Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.

2. Ian lost tooth #2 while eating an orange popcicle after dinner.

Vacation - Stop 1, Leeds, AL

We decided to take our family vacation in April this year. This way we would have no travel issues with the baby's due date, and we could avoid all crowds. First stop was Birmingham, AL to see my family. Unfortunately, I was the absolute worst at picture taking this trip. I just never seemed to have the camera in a convenient location - like with me. Here are a few highlights.

Bass Pro Shop in Leeds, AL. You cannot tell by this picture, but Ian was terrified of this bear. I tried to get him to stand in front of it so that it would look like the bear had his paw on his shoulder. It totally freaked him out!

Ava cannot be left out. She was infatuated with his claws.

The Goat-a-rosa! Several DeShazo relatives all live side by side on DeShazo lane. We joke that it's the family commune, for there are five houses and another being built there. An uncle has a couple acres designated to goats and a horse that thinks it's a goat. The morning highlight was to feed them.

This is a VERY big step for Miss Ava. As I've mentioned before, she is very curious about animals, however, she is always very fearful of them in close proximity.

Ian's First Tooth

Ian finally lost his first tooth!!! I know it's hard to tell isn't it...bottom row center. The reason it is hard to tell is because Ian refused to mess with it, and by the time it fell out his big tooth was already fully in place behind it.

For days it held on and he refused to mess with it. We had an ongoing joke about pulling it out while he slept. We even told him that the tooth fairy gives double payment for teeth lost on weekends, and threatened that the tooth fairy gives only half price for poop tainted teeth and that he'd have to sport the gloves and sift for the evidence when it appeared on the other end. Nothing swayed Ian to touch the tooth. He claimed that he could loosen it with his tongue.

Well, then one morning Ian got up and Daddy asked to see his tooth. Low and behold it was missing!! Ian didn't believe Daddy at first so he ran to ask me. I confirmed that it was missing. Ian then ran down to check his bed. I warned him to be VERY careful and to not shift his sheets around a lot for he'd definitely lose the little sucker. He found it perfectly placed on his pillow. He was so proud!!

Later when asked by a friend what the tooth fairy gave him for it he responded, "Only five bucks!" She said, "Wow, inflation!"

Easter Picture Take 1, 2, 3, forget it

(Ian 7, Ben 4 & Ava 2)

I have very vivid memories of Easter pictures growing up. We had a beautiful pink magnolia tree in our backyard and every year my mother tried to get a family picture in front of it whenever it bloomed. Usually this would happen some Sunday following church while dressed in our Easter best, however, I do remember one year when we specifically had to dress up just to run out and take the picture. It never failed that Illinois would have one last frost to kill all the blooms, so we'd have to do our best to beat Mother Nature.

Well, I tried to find that perfect spot for a picture this year. I really tried. Here is a look at the cooperation I received from Ian, Ava and their cousin Ben. This ordeal finally ended with Mommy losing her patience because Ava was injured by her brother's antics, and Ian sitting in a very long time out. Honestly, if you don't know how to take a picture by the age of seven you deserve to sit in a very long time out.

Ian and Ben helping Ava look at the camera. Nice boys!

Seriously Ian, everyone else was feeling the moment!

It's time to cage Ian again and Ava is ready to eat candy.

Ben you are awesome! Ian obviously had somewhere to be, silly mommy for interfering with his busy schedule.

Easter Egg Hunt

We had the best weather this Easter at Papa and Grandma DeShazo's house.

The kids had a blast during their Easter Egg hunt.

It didn't take Ava long to get the hang of it, and she didn't drop an egg.

I got smart this year and assigned egg colors to each of the kids.

Assigning colors eliminated all cousin squabbles and actually resulted in them helping each other.

Tough one for Ian.

He found it!

35 was the lucky number to find.

Time for chocolate!