Happy Halloween 2008

Well, we managed to make it through another successful Halloween and we also seem to be coming down from our sugar/excitement high as well. Ava decided to be Belle for Thursday's festivities and Ariel on Friday. Sophia was Minnie Mouse for both complete with her mouse ears from Disney World. The girls went to a Fall Festival at Ava's Preschool on Thursday as an "appetizer" to Trick or Treat and had a blast. They got to go around to different game stations and earn candy. However, Sophia would walk right past the line for the game and head straight to the adult handing out the candy. After she received her candy, she would open her bag for anyone that would look and show them how much candy she had accumulated. She was very proud of herself. All of Ava's experience playing cornhole paid off and she did very well at any bean bag toss games. The girls also had their faces painted which was a first for Sophia. I couldn't believe that she sat still for that long, but she did! She was very proud of the cupcake on her cheek.

The next morning was a Fall Party at preschool. Sophie was the only sibling in attendance but made herself right at home. She loves hanging out with the big kids. The girls helped me make cupcakes as our contribution. It was torture for them to make a sweet treat, but they made it through!

Friday night was the big event. The girls had fun trick or treating with their friend, Nathan. Sophia decided one bag wasn't enough, so she carried two. Ava had a goal of obtaining 100 candies. After each house, she would ask me if she had reached 100 candies. Sophia had several pieces, but when I finally started cutting off her supply, she moved to asking daddy. Yes, she's started the "asking the other parent to get the answer wanted" trick already! When daddy told her no, she said, "I ask MaMa and TaTa!!"

I really think that the girls enjoyed passing out candy more than getting it, which was nice to see. They were very excited when they saw someone dressed like Wall-E and thought the banana costume was HILARIOUS! Sophie woke up the next morning saying "trick or treat" in her crib.

Fall Fun

Here are a few highlights from the past month. Ava finished soccer and earned her first trophy......very exciting! Sophia went potty for almost a week, I went and bought panties (Chihuahua panties because they loved the Beverly Hills Chihuahua movie) and now she just says, "No thank you potty, I don't like it, I'll watch you go potty" ugh!

Sophia is talking so much, it's unbelievable. She recognizes several letters of the alphabet, all of her colors, shapes, etc. She is in love with the Wonder Pets right now and she will tell you, "I like Linny best." (Linny is the hamster). Sophia is infatuated with the Halloween section at Target (just like her big sister was). The other day Sophia said, "Oh my gosh, we have to go to Target to the see the spooky stuff." Her other favorite thing to say now is "for the love of pete" (thank you maw maw) and "socka bocka" which none of know what it means, but she thinks it is hilarious!

Ava has been very busy in preschool. She had a great report at Parent/Teacher conferences. She is very outgoing and seems to often gravitate towards the boys in her class. More than one parent of a boy in her class has said that their son told them, "I don't like girls, only Ava."

Ava told me last week that if we have a fire, we need to call 911 and she now recites the Pledge of Allegiance which made her Ta Ta very happy.

She also voted for the first time with daddy the other day. A few days later she said, "Mommy, I like Obama, but why is Obama not a girl?" Girl power!

Sophia is doing really well at Little Gym, she galloped for the first time last week. Ava is really enjoying dance class and can't wait to wear her Ariel costume to class tomorrow.

I have attached a few pics from the pumpkin patch (sophie wanted to ride the hay ride all day), making apple pies with Aunt Bev (which Ava had her plastic jaguar toy help her make), playing in the leaf pile and meeting Barbie at the Toys R Us grand opening this past weekend. The girls LOVED meeting Barbie since they sing every song from Barbie and the Diamond Castle together. They also met Spiderman. Ava was excited to tell her "boy" friends at preschool that she met Spiderman, however Sophia was petrified of him. That night before bed I could hear her on the baby monitor saying, "I no like a spiderman, only barbie the best."

I will update the blog next week after Trick or Treat!

Birthday Girls

Okay, I've been too busy to blog and then the power went out for 4 days, so it's been a long time coming, but here are pics from the girl's pony party! As of August 26, Ava is 4 (and in the 75th percentile for height and 50th for weight) and as of September 12, Sophia is terrible 2, I mean 2 (and in the 25th percentile for weight and 50th for height). Basically, the doctor said Ava is very tall and thin for her age and Sophia is tiny! Ava is speaking more and more like an adult every day and Sophia is speaking more and more period every day!

Everyone had a great time and we had great weather! Thanks to everyone for their gifts and birthday wishes! Here are a few highlights to make you feel as though you were there (if you weren't) :) I also attached a few soccer pics and pics from Sophia's actual birthday. She just had to have a Backyardigans cake!

August Fun

Here's the girls enjoying one of our many picnics this summer...

Here's Ava pretending to be Tigress from Kung Fu Panda and defeating Tai Lung...

It has been so long since I've updated the blog that people are yelling at me! Sorry! We have been VERY busy! Where do I even start? Well, Ava enjoyed her time at Zoo kids this year. She came home the first day and told us that snakes and salamanders were cold blooded and horses were warm blooded. I would say that she was paying attention!

Then, Ava had a fun week at VBS. The theme was Power Lab (mad scientist) and the girl that played "Cowgirl Jessie" last year (that Ava was completely infatuated with) was "Professor Buns" this year and had an assistant named "Beaker" The girls played these two characters the whole week!

Then, Ava spent a week at Drama Camp at the Otterbein Ampitheatre with Miss Candace. She spent the first two days just waving to mom and dad in the audience, but eventually decided to be a more active participant. I got plenty of video footage in case she's a big Oscar winner some day!

Then, Ava started soccer practice on her birthday (Aug. 26). She did really well and even named her team the Red Tigers. She choose to be #12 but is very clear that her number is 1-2 not 12! Sophie is very good at cheering, "Go, Sissy!" Sadly, Ava had to miss her first game (last night) because she came home from her first day of preschool with a little fever. However, we will be ready for action for Saturday's game!

First day of preschool this past Wednesday

Also, Ava started taking dance at North Pointe Dance Academy on Tuesday. She was very excited that her preschool friend, Leah, is in her dance class. Ava was a good friend and helped Leah when she was afraid to do something. Ava jumped up and did it with her!

And...........I can't forget........Sophia has started peeing on the potty a few times a day! She comes up to me and says, "I stinky pants" and then we go to the potty.

LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST.............AVA IS NOW 4 YEARS OLD!!! Here's a pic of her and her Barbie & the Diamond Castle cake (one of the three cakes she had this past week). She also had a giant cupcake cake for her party and a Wall-E cake made by yours truly for her actual b-day.

We had a WONDERFUL Birthday/Pony Party for the girls this past Sunday and it was so much fun! The girls had a great time playing with all of their friends and family and of course, riding the mini pony, Blue, in the backyard! I'm waiting for our friend/photographer to send me the pics and I will get them on the blog ASAP!

Also, coming soon.............Sophia will be 2 on Sept. 12! Hard to believe!

***CHECK OUT THE GIRLS 2YR/4YR PICS ON http://www.flashportraits.com/!!***

click on "my portraits", then name Decastro and password is the same, Decastro. Very Cute!