Crabby Thursday

And not the kind we found at the beach the other day! Poor Ava has been feeling under the weather for the past few days. Symptoms are a runny nose and chest cough, but no fever. She keeps saying "What you said?" because she is also having difficulty hearing from what my guess is fluid filled ears. I have been giving her gum to help drain them and although I am not sure if it is doing the trick, she is certainly enjoying it. Her favorite part is swallowing it- probably because I told her not to. I started to tell her that the gum will stay in her stomach for seven years, but then stopped. I can't believe we actually believed that as kids!
No pictures today. Instead, you can imagine her having a temper tantrum in Trader Joes. She threw herself on the floor and started crying so that everyone outside the store could hear her too. She then took her shoes off and threw them at the man standing in front of us. Let's just say that she didn't get to go home with a balloon today.
By the way, Grandma and Grandpa, I bought carrots at Trader Joes and had a few on the way home. Ava saw me eating them out of the bag and she asked me why I didn't wash them first. She remembered that night at your house when you made her rinse them in the sink. All 30 of them!!

Playtime Tuesday

Today was filled with lots of playing. The day started off with some imaginative play at home. She rearranged the couch cushions into a slide first for herself and then for her magic markers. She moved and arranged the cushions all by herself. What a strong little thing. Later, she did a flip on her trampoline which I was able to catch on camera.
Next we headed to the park where she played with two of her little friends, Alex and Anjalia. Alex and Ava ran all over holding hands. I haven't told her Dad yet!
We came home after our picnic lunch and a short while later headed to a playdate at her other friend's house. They went in the kiddie pool in their underwear and had a blast.
Before bedtime, she had some quality time with Daddy.

Great America Amusement Park

Today we headed to Ava's favorite amusement park which is just a ten minute drive from the house. We spent most of the time in the KidzPark area which has several different rides that she can go on by herself. She was able to reach the pedal on the bumper cars for the first time today. I guess that extra 1/4 inch really matters! Before heading home we caught a live performance of "Dora."

Strawberry Picking and Half Moon Bay

On Sunday we went strawberry and olallieberry picking (basically a cross between a blackberry and a raspberry/dewberry.) Seeing that it was toward the end of the season, pickings were slim but still tasty. Ava had a great time looking for the ripe berries and was so proud of carrying around her little berry filled basket.

Afterwards, we headed to a nearby beach. Despite the 60 degree, cloudy, windy weather, Ava had a great time. She had fun burying her Wonder Pets (Linny, Tuck and Ming-Ming) and even built a slide for them. We found a small dead crab and she played with his pincher.

Lastly, we went to Half Moon Bay which is a fishing/surfing spot. While walking on the pier, we saw a seal catch a fish and gobble it down. We also watched people buying freshly caught fish from a fishing boat- black cod and red snapper. It was pretty neat, but I wondered if these people were going to cook a whole fish or scale and de-bone it themselves. Actually, I don't really want to know!

A few pictures of Ava

#1 Ava with helicopter from Garlic Festival
#2 San Francisco
#3 Grandma and Grandpa in NH
#4 Visit with Auntie Tara

Gilroy Garlic Festival

I am finally starting a blog so that Ava's grandparents have a chance to know her weekly whereabouts. Hope you enjoy.

Today we headed to the Gilroy Garlic Festival about 30 miles away. It is a huge event, bringing in tens of thousands each day. Here's a description of the event:
"Here, it's chic to reek. Two thousand pounds of garlic were delivered to the event, its 31st annual gathering, as well as 20,000 pounds of beef, 6,000 pounds of calamari, 4,000 pounds of pasta and 30 pallets of charcoal."
We spent most of the time in the children's area. They had rides, a stage with live music and a Home Depot workshop. Ava and Dad assembled a wooden helicopter. We watched a marionette show that I enjoyed as much as she did. It was lots of fun, but HOT. Oh, and we even tried garlic ice cream which Ava gobbled down. Here is a picture of the helicopter she made and painted and also a fairy wand that we bought there. She PROMISES she won't break this one! I am doubtful, but it was only $1.50!