It's June and It's HOT!

Our very first friends here in Albuquerque are moving and all of us are sad, especially Ava since it means she looses 2 best buddies.  The Cluff family has been really good to us and I hope they love their new home and town. To help Jill pack I had the girls over for a play date, and treats....slurpees are a must since it's so stinking hot here in Albuquerque.

This was the last day we got to play and hang out so we decided to have a celebration tea party lunch.  

Our back yard was a maze of different colored rocks and tiny gravel....perfect for a 1 year old to mess up on a daily basis.  We bought a few square feet of sod and now we are playing happily on soft green grass.  I never knew I could be so happy about such a tiny piece of nature.  

and now that we have grass we have to water it right?
 Sprinkler time!

Ava started swimming lessons.  She has never taken them before because frankly she is a little bit of a scaredy cat but at only $25 who could resist.  After watching her preschool class for few weeks, Im glad I only paid $25, it was ridiculously easy and Ava was the best in her class.  She is more confident now so I guess it was worth it.  Why do kids listen to teachers more then their own parents? I could have taught that class to her for FREE.

 We took the kids to the Zoo one morning and by noon it was so hot we had to come home. Our family is not used to being in 100+ weather, especially not after living in cold, grey, rainy Europe for 7 years!

BBQ's are a favorite treat in summer; although being from Canada, I can BBQ in the rain or snow but summer is defiantly a time to turn on the grill.  Thanks Grandma Robison for sending us these adorable corn cob holders!

Father and Son Priesthood Campout

At the beginning of May my boys went out together on their first father and son camp out.  Dave was really excited to camp with Owen but I was nervous it was too cold.  The temperature got below freezing that night.  Dave didn't bother with a tent they just blew up an air mattress and slept in the back of the van.

Dinner by Dad = Beans and Hot Dogs

 Ladera Ward Camp Site

 Owen was a bit exhausted and didn't take too long to fall asleep

morning breakfast doughnuts

Staying warm

 Once they packed up camp Dave and Owen went on a personal hike, to check out some of the Jemez mountain trails.

They found a hot spring and got in with the tiny guppies...yuck.  

Dave said that didn't last too long

 Good times with my Dad

School is out, Lets Play

We bundled up and slept out under the stars on our balcony. It was a fun, long and slightly chilly night.  I kept pulling Ava's hood over her head.  In the morning she said "It was a super awesome night"

We took a Krispy Kreme Tour with some friends from church.

Dipping and Sprinkling

 I had to try my hand at the extremely hard doughnut decorating process

 Owen enjoyed his doughnut even without the icing and sprinkles

 Ava and I had a mother daughter night.  We went to a book signing of Fancy Nancy, met the illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser and toured the Fancy Nancy RV.

Ava got her first loose tooth, she is growing up too fast.  I had to get my act together and sew her a Tooth Pillow.  It's a pillow where Ava can put her tooth and the Tooth Fairy can leave her surprise.

and when your tooth is loose enough to do this, your Dad just might pull it out!

 The next morning Ava was so excited to see her dollar bill, chocolate coin and Tooth Fairy receipt

Ava lost a tooth and I lost a nose mole!  Thank goodness because it was starting to really get annoying.  It suddenly showed up after Ava was born and has gradually gotten bigger and more in the way. 

 I was really nervous to see all the equipment, but honestly the most painful part was the needle that numbed my nose.  Then a quick swipe of a razor and it was gone.  I'm loving being able to blow my nose, put on makeup and take pictures with no MOLE!