Ava's Blog

AVA'S BLOG

May 28, 2008 - A Daddy-Daughter Dinner

As you probably know (if you've been keeping up with my blogs), I take ballet classes. But I have to admit, I've been getting bored lately & even thinking of quitting.

Well ... I have definitely changed my mind about that!
Mommy took me to see the show of Swan Lake & it was AMAZING! The company is called ABT & they are the best. I was so lucky because Mommy knows some of the dancers so we got to go backstage. Nicole, one of the ballerinas, gave me a pair of her pointe shoes!!! And she asked some of her friends (they're ballerinas, too) to sign their names on them. I feel so lucky.

Also, I met the man who plays the evil Rothbart with horns on his head & you know what?! He's actually very nice. He's only pretending to be mean in the show. His real name is Roman.

After the show I did my own interpretive dance outside the theater & ended with a big curtsy.

Well, it's been a really long time since I posted a blog ... I apologize to all my loyal readers! Please don't give up on me -- after all, I'm only 3 1/2, and it's hard sometimes to find the time to write my diary.

Life sure has been busy these days. I have lots to fill you in on, but one of the big highlights has been going to the Daddy Daughter Dance with my Daddy (who else?!)
My Mommy got me the most gorgeous dress in light blue with a flower on the sash, and Daddy took me to this very fancy club where we had a table for the 2 of us.

Mommy wanted to come to take pictures, but guess what?! There were NO MOMMIES ALLOWED AT THE PARTY!! Can you believe it?

Anyway, I tried to be very well-behaved and grown-up so I can make sure we'll be invited back again next year!

I had a very, very scary thing happen the other day & I want to tell you about it. I was dancing with my Daddy (we were being Snow White & Prince Charming) & when Daddy twirled me, my arm followed Daddy & my body went the other way. All of a sudden, I was screaming from the worst boo-boo I've ever had.

Mommy took me to the doctor, but they couldn't tell if my arm was broken or not, so then I had to have x-rays, which is like a giant camera that takes pictures of your bones. Don't ask me how a camera can see under your skin, but first they x-rayed my Mousie to show me how it worked.

Turns out, it wasn't broken - only dislocated (which still REALLY hurts, Just so you know) & when Dr. Cara popped it back in (which is NOT FUN), I felt great again. Now I'm fine, but it was very scary & I don't ever want that to happen again.

Today we had a holiday party at my school.

The kids all sang songs and afterwards the mommies & daddies brought lots of yummy food for everyone.

My mommy made gingerbread girls & boys with funny outfits on them.

Some of them were wearing bikinis because winter is sunny here in Malibu!

It was fun to have a party with all my friends ... I'm going to miss them a lot now that school is going to be out.

Today there were the most beautiful Monarch Butterflies at my school. They are on their way to their Winter homes, and they stopped by to say "hello" to us -- isn't that nice?! I wished them a safe trip down South & asked them to stop by on their way back next Spring!

November 1, 2007 - "There's no place like home"

I was quite a good Dorothy, I think, and the rest of the cast -- I mean, my family -- did pretty well, too.

We had a really nice Halloween party at my school today! One of my teachers, Miss Sarah, was dressed up like a beautiful peacock, and she painted pretty things on everyone. I got a fairy princess on my arm and my friend Jacqueline got a butterfly.

Mommy made some healthy Halloween snacks for everyone, like cute organic spider cookies made with crackers, peanut butter, pretzels for legs & raisins for eyes.

Also, she made jack-o-lanterns out of tangerines with funny pumpkin faces. It was fun!

I went to my very first night-time party last night & boy was it fun! My cousin Katie had her Bat Mitzvah & I got a new dress and danced a lot with my Daddy. There was a really cool photographer who took a picture of me & Mommy and made this beautiful picture of us. Mommy says it looks like a "Warhol," whatever that is.

While we were in New York, mommy decided to take me to get my hair cut at Cozy Cuts, where ALL the kids go in NYC! It was my very first professional haircut, and it was very glamorous.

Kids get to sit in cars (mine was yellow) and watch movies while their hair gets done ... how cool is that?!

I got a very pretty style and now I feel like a real princess.

We came to New York to visit Mimi & Papa and to go to a big party called a Bat Mitzvah for my cousin, Katie. We are having such a nice time (when it's not raining)! My favoite parts of New York so far are Central Park and Dylan's Candy Shop.

One of my favorite things to do in the park is go on the swings. I used to be scared to go too fast or too high, but now that's what I love most! I ask my Daddy to push me ...

... and make me go higher ...

... and higher ...

... and highest!

My Grandma is the best! My brother & I spend every single Friday with her, and we have the best time ever. She wrote this beautiful story about us and I want to share it with the world!

Wouldn't you like to jump on a trampoline, pick organic vegetables,
frolic on the beach and eat organic hot dogs and salad with two of
the most incredible people in the world? To do that you would have to
trade places with me, the lucky grandma of Ava and Cole.

Seeing Ava and Cole and interacting with the exuberance and energy
that is the hallmark of healthy happy toddlers gives me an exhausting
high that carries me through the days between our visits.

To Ava and Cole: Can I tell you two a secret? I have done a lot of
exciting things in my life but none compare to building a sand castle
with you.

I have shaken a lot of hands during my careers but none felt
as good as when your little hands are in mine. I have listened to
many important people expound on the state of the country, the world,
the universe, but hearing you say "I love you grandma", tops my list of
all-time quotes.

Call me crazy...or , better yet, call me GRANDMA

Check out this beautiful note I got from Poppa:

Dear beautiful, wonderful, sweet, loving. adorable Ava,
i just read your blog and i was thrilled ...
it made me so happy that I almost cried but instead screamed how lucky i am to have you as my great, great niece for many, many reasons other than that you are GREAT!!!!!
Reading the blog made me miss you so much, even more so than always and cannot wait to see you, be with you and spoil you a whole lot ...
Mimi and i are coming soon and we will have fun together ... love you a lot and send bundles of kisses and hugs ... never forget:
POPPA LOVES YOU, LOVES YOU, LOVES YOU!!!!!

Today just happens to be Poppa’s 91^st birthday! Happy birthday, Poppa, and many, many more … I love you!

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about my Aunt & Uncle in New York. They're actually my daddy's great-aunt and great-uncle, but to me they're just Mimi and Poppa.
I love them sooooooo much, and lately Mimi has not been feeling well. Thank goodness she is alright now! I really can't wait until they come here to visit me so I can give them both big hugs and kisses. I really, really miss them.

I finally got to go over to my friend Fifi's house to see where she lives. She's been inviting me for a long time, and I could never go because my Mommy is very allergic to cats, and Fifi has a kitty called Tiger. At last I got to go!

Tiger is a really handsome boy cat. He is 1 1/2 years old and Fifi dresses him up, pushes him around in a stroller and he even sleeps in an adorable little bed. He is the cutest cat in the world!

I had a really good time playing with Tiger, and I can't wait to go back again. I am so happy that I am not allergic to cats!

My friend Jackie came over yesterday to cook with me. This is not the first time we cooked together -- in fact, she calls me her "sous chef." I am very helpful. For example, I am excellent at cracking eggs. I also do a great job mixing things.

Jackie brought me some cookbooks, as well as a bright red chef outfit. I have an apron, an oven mitt that is perfect for my small hands, and a very cool hat. I look very professional now.

We made crab cakes together, which turned out very well -- at least, that's what Jackie says. Personally, I think that if something has the word "cake" in its name, it should be a lot yummier and have icing on it.

I can’t believe that I have been going to school for a whole year! Now my school is going to be closing down, so I’ll have to go to a new school next year. I really hope that some of my friends will also go to my new school because my friends are the best thing about my school.

Another great thing about my school is that we have a loft in our classroom, where we keep all the costumes. There are only 4 people allowed up in the loft at one time, so sometimes I have to wait my turn. When Miss Diana says it’s okay to go up, I usually put on a silly hat first.

On the big day, we got there early and Owen's Mommy had arranged for us to meet some of the Ringling Bros. clowns and see some of the animals up-close. I couldn't believe how big everything was, and how much was going on, all at once!

Then we took our seats for the show & we had a fantastic time! I got to eat lots of things that I don't normally have, like cotton candy (yummy but sticky) and french fries. Mommy said that the food was "definitely not organic," whatever that means. All I know is that i had the best time, and I can't wait until the circus comes back to town so Owen & I can go again!

I went to the doctor for my 3-year check up. I got weighed and measure & I found out that I am quite tall for my age! I guess that’s not such a big surprise since my Mommy & my uncle are both really tall, too.

Then the nurse checked my blood pressure, my eyes, ears and my breathing to make sure I am doing well.

I had to get a shot, but I didn’t cry at all. Mommy told me it was only going to hurt for a second & she was right! I wanted to be brave so my little brother wouldn’t be scared of going to the doctor. Then we both got tattoos – I got a butterfly & he got a dragon.

One of my new favorite things to do is ride horses. My friend Jaden's parents have a ranch with lots of cute horses. My favorite is Oreo, a black & white pony who is really gentle & sweet. I love riding him around the ring. Sometimes Jaden holds the leash & walks us around, and sometimes I lead Oreo & Jaden.

This weekend, I visited a very beautiful place where Chumash Indians used to live, a long time ago. We went all the way up into the hills of Malibu & there were amazing rocks there.

My Daddy showed me the caves where the Indians used to live and dig bowls to catch rain water.

Now there is a cattle ranch on the land, and we saw a lot of really cute cows. My favorite was the baby brown cow, who was so sweet. She had big brown eyes, and I really wanted to take her home with me. Mommy & Daddy said we couldn’t take the baby cow home, but we could come back and visit her any time.

Then Mommy & I both stepped in a “cow pie,” which was pretty yucky. Now we have to wash our shoes … oh well!

I just turned 3 & now that I’m a “big girl,” so many things have changed! My Grandma got me a “big girl bed” for my birthday. I also started wearing nightgowns to sleep, instead of PJs. I feel very grown up!

For my birthday, Mommy & Daddy gave me a really fun party. We invited all my friends, as well as “special guests,” Shrek & Princess Fiona. We made the invitations, and when we sent the one to Shrek & Fiona, Mommy told me that I shouldn’t be disappointed if they couldn’t make it … but they came!

Shrek didn’t look like I expected him to, but I guess in the movies they have a lot of make-up and special effects people. He looked a little weird, and my little brother was sooooooooo scared of him, that Mommy asked him to change into a Prince. He made a magic spell, and his Shrek head came off so that Cole wouldn’t be scared.

Fiona was beautiful, and I wore my mini-Fiona dress which Mommy glued jewels onto (I think the real Fiona was jealous of my jewels!).

We played a lot of fun games and made paper crowns to wear. Then we all had the yummiest cupcakes with all the characters from “Shrek” on top!

I was so excited when my friend Paula invited me to go to my first real Tea Party. Paula lives right next door to us, so all my Mommy and I had to do get there was walk through the vegetable garden and over to Paula’s back gate.
When we arrived, Paula’s friends, Minky and Blue, were already waiting at the table. Minky is a soft brown teddy bear who wears a baseball cap. Blue is a beautiful porcelain elephant. Luckily, I brought Mousie and Ariel along, and they all got along perfectly. After we poured tea for all the toys and made sure they each had a snack, it was time for our tea party.

What a feast Paula had for us! We had delicious finger sandwiches (I loved the cucumber and cream cheese ones shaped like airplanes!) and fresh berries with yogurt and honey. I also had a lot of fun pouring tea into my cup and adding milk and sugar. I think I did that at least 10 times!

But my very favorite thing was the sparkling apple juice we drank from Paula’s beautiful glasses. How grown-up!
After our refreshments, we fed the koi fish. Paula showed me how to toss the special food into the water for them.

They live outside in a little pond and they are very hungry fish, so I made sure they got lots of food.

Paula has the most wonderful dog called Capernicus. It took me a little while, but now I can finally pronounce his name. He is black and white and very sweet. (He has a sister called Ruby, but she is an old doggie and she didn’t come out to play with me.)

It was a wonderful day, and I will never forget my first real tea party at Paula’s house.