Aven, Age Three

Our precious little Aven has turned three, and she got a clean bill of health from her doctor. For a look at Aven at two years of age, click here. Aven is 36.4 inches and 28.5 pounds (both between the 25% and 50% percentile; the same measurements as Rory at the same age). Aven loves to sing, ride her red scooter, watch Dora the Explorer, be read to by Mommy, has the sweetest sweet tooth imagineable, is fascinated by bugs (especially ants that she discovers in the backyard), and has the strongest will of anyone in our family.

Aven's Third Birthday

Aven officially  became our "big girl" when she turned three years old.

To say that Aven was excited would be an under- statement.

And who could blame her? She had all her friends around her for a Cinco De Mayo-themed celebration! (Okay, that was the adult theme ...

... while the kid theme was Dora, Princesses, and Trampolines!) The kids got a lot of use out of the new trampoline.

The princess pinata was a hit (literally).

But the Dora birthday cake is was Aven kept asking about.

Aven takes her birthday cake very seriously.

And it was quite yummy.

Rory enjoyed the cake too.

As an end note to the festivities: We happened to order a little more from Baja Fresh that we actually needed. In addition to serving quesadillas to the kids every night for at least a week, we made two Mexican casseroles, concocted a creamy bean dip, and are drizzling salsa on just about everything we eat. But the best re-purposing of the party food was Daddy's huevos ranchos. Yummy.

Opening Day, 2012

Rory's sixth consecutive Opening Day ball game for the Nationals (2011, no pics from 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007) had arrived, and this year she was in charge of the camera.

Rory likes to snap close-up pics.

It's interesting to see the world from Rory's height.

It was a beautiful day at the ballpark!

And we had phenomenal seats! (Thanks Uncle Allen.)

Rory was quite excited to have her own cup of Sprite!

Aven joined her big sister this year, and Rory school her in the fine art of the ballpark frank.

Rory and Aven had many Aunts and Uncles on hand.

Rory takes her baseball and hot dogs quite seriously.

The gang assembled after the game. A win!