Zoo

Last Monday our family went to the Phoenix Zoo. Ava didn't have school (President's day), Brian was in town, and it was a beautiful day!
As part of my Mom's Christmas present to us, she had given us some money to do something together as a family - this is what we used it for - thanks Mom!
We had a really great time. It is especially fun to see how excited Dillon & Ava were to see all the different animals.

It was a real treat for the kids to be able to spend such a fun day with their Daddy.

Here are some of our favorite animals...

This is how excited Dillon got every single time we saw a new animal. This made the whole zoo trip worth it!

Dillon was a lot happier than he looks in this picture...

I thought this was appropriate...

Cute Ava...

Bri & Dilly...

Me & Dilly... (he really was happy that day...)

Brian took Ava & Dillon to Stingray Bay and they got to put their hands in the water and feel the Stingrays. Ava loved this - she thought it was so cool to be able to touch the stingrays - she hasn't stopped talking about it!

Ava & Dilly...

Ms. Ava

The other day, Ava set up every single one of her stuffed animals on her round pink rug in her room and read a book to them. She told me it was like her kindergarten class sitting on their carpet and having her teacher, Ms. Jacobson read to them. She also told me that I could call her Ms. Ava.
So Ms. Ava it is.
She spends so long setting her toys up in detailed ways like this all the time, her imagination is so great.
(Mom - this reminds me of how you tell us that Tash, Meg and I used to set up all our dolls and play school).

Maddie

Today is my niece Maddie's 13th Birthday! I remember the first time I met Maddie when she was only a day or two old - she was so tiny, asleep on her Mom's chest, wearing bright pink thermal jammies. I just remember thinking that she had the cutest little tiny button nose! (Her nose is still cute!)

One of the many things that I love about Maddie is that she can totally hold her own! She has two older brothers and she has always totally kept up with them. She says what she thinks and isn't afraid to do her own thing.

Maddie has always had loads of personality - even from the time she was a tiny little girl. She would always say the funniest - & most honest - things! (like, at 3 or 4 years old, "dance class gives me a headache." Or at 5 yrs old "Uncle Brian, why are your teeth so yellow?" Or at 2 years old "it is so tinky in here!" Or at 3 or 4 years old, eating Lucky Charms "I will only eat the lucky charms (marshmallows) and I won't eat the yucky charms (the cereal)." I could go on & on...)

I will always think of Maddie when I hear the song 'I Wanna Talk About Me' by Toby Keith - we used to always sing it together when she was about 5 and she knew every word - it was so cute!! I will also always remember when she was 5, the time that little tiny Maddie somehow managed to put some of her tiny pajama's onto her big dog, Gracie! To this day - I don't think I have laughed as hard at something as we laughed at that!

Maddie has become a social butterfly!!! She loves to be with her friends, calling her friends, texting her friends, planning what to do next with her friends, etc.! She is always on the go. She has the best sense of style - she is always dressed sooo well and has the cutest hair. Ava is always wearing some great hand-me-down of Maddies and we are always trying to get Ava's hair styled just like Maddies!

My kids love Maddie. Ava is always wanting to be in Maddie's room with her, or with Maddie and all her friends, and Maddie is always so sweet and patient to include her. Maddie loves to show Dillon to all her friends and to have him say all his new little words & sounds for them.

Maddie is so tenderhearted, she is so kind to people and genuinely cares about people's feelings. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Maddie!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADDIE - WE LOVE YOU!!!

Chicago

As of today, Brian is officially based back in Chicago, Illinois at O'Hare International Airport. That is pretty much all I can manage to say about that....

February so far...

Dillon has learned how to give hugs and he especially loves to give them to Ava...

This is Dillon rockin' out on Ava's guitar...Lately, Dillon will get a book from his shelf and carry it to Ava and say "book, book." She is always more than happy to 'read' to him. I love to see them read together!

Utah Trip ~ Part Two

Once Brian flew into town, we headed to Spanish Fork to visit his family. During the time we spent there, it was so cold! One day it was 1 degree!!! The air in the valley was really bad too, so we spent most of our time indoors just hanging out with everyone, and we loved it!

Ava loves to sit in the chair with her Papa and have him tell her stories. Dillon loved to play with Grandma Susan, especially the game Connect Four!

We loved looking at all the photo albums that Susan recently put together. It is especially interesting to look at the early pictures of Richard and Susan, and Richard's time in Vietnam.

We love to hang out with Jessie - she always introduces us to the funniest shows. This time it was Flight of the Conchords. (Before it was The Office, Arrested Develpoment, Brian Regan-the Comedian)
Brian and Ava asleep in the family room. Dillon found the keyboard and loved it!

Brian found Maddy's guitar and played it the whole time we were there. It was so nice to hear him play again - it has been a long time.

Brian & his Dad spent a long time looking at Richard's aircraft encyclopedias. These two pilots could talk about aircraft forever - they actually kind of are aircraft encyclopedias....
As usual, anywhere we go, Dilly finds a plant (or two, in this case) to hang out behind. A future botanist maybe?

When I was doing laundry, Dillon got his finger slammed in the dryer door. (so sorry Dilly!) He learned the word 'ouch' and he spent about an hour letting everyone kiss his finger better. He also thought it was pretty cool that he had an ouchy finger like his Daddy.

Toby the dog! This is Dillon's total play buddy! We tortured him by putting him in the cutest little clothes, but then Ava rewarded him by giving him lots of doggy treats!

Ava loved to play with Maddy. Ava loves to think that they are twins - the same color hair, the same pretty blue eyes, and the same cute little sprinkle of freckles. (I looove this picture!)
Brian rocked the shiny warm-up pants!!!! (all his clothes were in the wash)
We got to go see Maddy's gymnastics class - she is really good!

While we were at Maddy's gymnastics class, Ava got a hold of my camera. She took a picture of Grandma Susan, one of Papa, and one of her unicorn!
We loved spending time with you Richard, Susan, Jessie & Maddy! And Toby too! Thank you for the good food, the warm house and, most of all, the good company! We love you!

Utah Trip ~ Part One

A few weeks ago we took a quick trip to Utah to see our families & we had a really great time. We never have quite as much time as we would like, and we didn't get to see some of our great Utah friends, but it was still really fun. We also managed to get a whole bunch of pictures....

Our flight there was great! Dillon has not been known to be the easiest boy to travel with but he was awesome! I think it helped that he had his own seat, and that I pulled out a brand new toy every two minutes! Ava is always great on the plane - she was especially happy with her cousin Maddie's DS - thank you Maddie!

My Mom picked us up from the airport and took us to her house, where she had an incredible meal waiting! (Hawaiian Haystacks - Yum!)

Meg, Zach, Chase & Reuben came down from Salt Lake to hang with us!

Chase and Ava played in the snow in the backyard for a while, and then Ava & Zach played with the DS.

Then we played Nerts, in true Wolsey family style! (which means competitive, loud & crazy)! Meg (the reigning Nerts queen) & I were on a team & we were supposed to dominate, but Reub & Mom and Chase & Zach kept us down...

Meg & Zach & Chase

It was freezing cold, but Dillon & Ava still wanted to play outside in the snow. Dillon wasn't totally sure what to think of the snow, it was so deep he could barely walk in it!

Grandma Wolsey & Ava & Dilly

Once Dilly got used to the snow, he explored in my Mom's backyard and found the neighbor's black cat again!

Me & Ava & Dillon Me, Mom & Meg at the movie theater. We took the kids to see 'Hotel for Dogs' and they really liked it. Dillon almost sat through the whole movie! We took lunch (yummy Cafe Rio salads) to my Mom at her school. It is fun to see her in her classroom & with all the students. We love you Mrs. Wolsey!

We were so happy to see you Mom, Reub, Meg, Zach & Chase. Thanks for everything you did for us Mom, and everyone else for making the efforts to come see us! WE LOVE YOU!

*(Part 2 is coming - that is our time with Brian's family!)