Fall at the pumpkin patch

We took Ava to the pumpkin patch in East Pierce County to try out her costume and pick out a pumpkin. Definitely the cutest little dragon around.

Fun in Kauai

Bracie, Ava and grandma went on a train tour of a plantation while dad, Lynsey, Allyson and grandpa went on a kayak tour.

Island paradise

It was great to spend time with sisters Lynsey and Allyson.

Ava on the beach

Ava got to play on the beach quite a bit.

Fun in the Kauai sun

We recently got back from a family vacation to the island of Kauai. We stayed at the Outrigger Waipouli Beach Hotel ... it was absolutely breathtaking. It was a really nice break from the dreary weather we left in Washington.

Bang bang

There was another cool display at the fair where kids could bang on a variety of different metal objects. Ava was in hog heaven.

Fun at the fair

We took Ava to the Puyallup Fair for the first time. It's the biggest fair in the state so there is plenty to do. Last year she wasn't old enough to ride the Merry-Go-Round so this year we took her on it twice.

Labor Day at the park

It was a rather low-key Labor Day holiday for us. Bracie and Tyler went to see Tropic Thunder (awesome!), Tyler played hoops, and we took Ava to the park with Buster. Notice in one of the pictures, we also got Ava some new shoes.

All tuckered out

We recently took our friend Ben up to Seattle to do the tourist thing. It wore our little Ava pie out.

15 months old

We recently went to Ava's 15 month checkup. She's doing great. She's in the 75th percentile in height. We might be talking WNBA down the road.

Summer at Safeco

Nothing quite like baseball in the summertime. With our friend Tia visiting from Iowa, we recently went to a Mariners game at Safeco Field. It was Ava's second MLB game of her life. She did pretty well. She crashed in the bottom of the eighth inning. Despite the horrible season the M's are having, they actually came back on this day and knocked off the Detroit Tigers, 3-2.

Hot fun in the summer sun

It's been a great summer here. During a recent heat wave Ava got her first chance to play in the sprinkler.

Have some, mom

Yea ... no thanks baby.

Supper time

We are so thankful that we are done with spoon-fed baby food. As you can see, Ava really enjoys her pasta. She also loves melon.

Cake is good

This time Ava got to enjoy some ice cream cake. She loved it...big surprise.

Baptism party

After the big event we got together back at the grandparents house for some food and conversation. Auntie Angie kept supplying Ava with some good food.

Sandbox with grandma

On a trip down to Northern California for Ava's baptism, we spent some time at a festival in Menlo Park. Ava got to spend some quality time with grandma in the sandbox.

Let them eat cake

Ava got to enjoy her first birthday cupcake.

Ava's first birthday

What a fun day! It was a little windy, but the weather cooperated and we had a great time. It was a small but intimate setting at Wright Park in Tacoma.

Flower power

We're going to celebrate Ava's first birthday at Wright Park in Tacoma. We thought it would be a great place to get some shots for her birthday invitations. The spring flowers were in full bloom.

Spring is in the air

Finally we got some spring weather up here so we also decided to take some shots of Ava in her summer dresses for her birthday invitations. We can't believe she's already a year old.

Into the swing of things

We took Ava to Wright Park in Tacoma for her first ride in a swing. Although she doesn't look excited, she did have a good time on it.

10 months old

Ava turned 10 months old on March 10. She is very, very close to taking her first steps. She can already stand on her own.

Grandpa the babysitter

Grandpa gets some Ava love.

Visit with the grandparents

Grandma and grandpa decided to come up to Tacoma for a weekend visit. Ava got plenty of quality time with Grandma.

Strolling thru downtown

We bundled up tight and walked the downtown. It was lit up with all kinds of holiday lights. Cool stuff.

Chillin' at the hotel

We stayed at this very nice place called the Enzian Inn. The place featured cool Bavarian touches all over...plus a big continental breakfast each morning.

Sleigh ride

We also got to pose with the horses that pulled the sleigh and drink hot cider.

Trip to Leavenworth

For our six year wedding anniversary, we took a trip to central Washington and the town of Leavenworth. It's known around here as "Little Bavaria." Everything in the town looks like it is right out of Germany. We bundled up and took a sleigh ride through the forest. It was quite cold to say the least.

Eight months old

Ava turned eight months old on Jan. 10. She is growing like a weed!

Rip and tear

Mommy and Daddy had to help opening the presents, but Ava did do some of the ripping. She liked the bow best.

Christmas morning

There were a couple of presents for Ava pie to open on her first Christmas morning. Miss Judy (daycare lady) and Mommy and Daddy both got her gifts.