All in one day!

What a great Saturday! Ava slept from 9 last night until 6 this morning - Hallelujah! She was up for about an hour, to eat and 'play', and then she and I took a cat nap for about an hour or so while Ryan took a run. He and my dad hit the golf course for a round and Ava and I met Gretchen and Sophia for a long walk. We don't get out for walks in Florida much - it's too hot in the summer! - so it was awesome to get a few miles in with a great friend to talk with. :)

Ava had a quick bath in the bathroom sink and then another nap while the guys were still out golfing. We took a trip into Syracuse for the Jazz fest and spent a couple of hours chilling and listening to great music. A night with my dad, Marylou, and reubens awaits! YUM-O!

Two snuggle bugs in a rug.

Sophia was geared up for our walk, but Ava was oblivious.

Listening to some jazz in Syracuse with Daddy.

Future LPGA pro with Grandpa.

Whew! All the music and festivities really wore her out. :)

The Dudleys, Deebs, and Thomas'

On our last day at camp, we had a fun visit from Glen, Jean, and Nadia (almost 3!) Dudley. Although the weather wasn't great (big surprise), Glen and Nadia got in the water and they almost couldn't get her out! She had a great time playing with the paddle boat, the tramp, and all of our old standby toys.

Nadia was excited to get in!

Ava was chilling on the dock while the big girl had all the fun.

Glen and Nadia. She thought it was so funny when he blew bubbles through the tube. Too cute!



We traveled to my dad and Marylou's on Thursday, arriving in time for a great Hungarian dinner at the clubhouse. De-lish! After a relaxing Friday morning, Ryan and I took Miss A over to Gretchen and Kyle's house. Erin, Greg, and Evy also made the trip and so the girls had a triple play date! Such fun! We had a great time talking about parenting, reminiscing about growing up, and making plans to spend time together in the future. We shared a great meal and tons of laughs! :)


Ava meeting Kyle.

Three men, three babies, and three beers. (Thanks for the home-brew, Greg!)

(Greg and Evy-8mo., Kyle and Sophia -6mo., Ryan and Ava-3 mo.)

Let the party begin! Ava was chilling out on the play mat, while Sophia and Evy played with the 'real' toys.

Gretchen and Ava.

The trio with our new trio. I love those girls!

Ava's first 'swim' in the lake.

This morning we said goodbye to Grandma and Pop-Pop Bogert (although we're going to see them again in less than a week!). But we first made a trip (sans Ava) to Singing Waters. We loved having the Bogert grandparents at camp with just us! They got tons of one-on-one Ava time, which is just what they needed.

The afternoon turned out to be really nice so we (FINALLY) took Ava 'swimming.' The water is a tad chilly, so we made it short and sweet. She didn't fuss at all, even when the cold water hit her belly button. :)

Tonight we'll start packing up for the beginning of our road trip home. The next few days we'll be in B'ville w/ my dad and then the next week we'll be back in PA w/ Ryan's family. We hope to be back home in Florida at the beginning of August.

Grandma and Pop-Pop Bogert at Singing Waters. Ava misses them already!

Preparing for her big swim in the lake!

"It's chilly, Mommy, but I love it!"

WE LOVE THE LAKE!

Out of her swim 'suit' and into Daddy's arms with a bare bum. :)

Enjoying time with the grandparents.

Denny and Judy's stay hasn't treated them with the best camp weather, but they've had time with Ava, time on the dock, and time for projects (Denny and Ryan finished the ends of the kneewalls in the loft). We made a special trip to Steak n' Brew for dinner. We love the tableside caesar, steak au poivre, and bananas foster! Paul Virkler: What a host! It's one of the only restaurants where I know ahead of time that I am, for sure, going to eat absolutely everything...including dessert! (Peanut butter pie, Lou!)

Taking a nap on Pop-Pop.

Denny and Judy finding time in the sun on the trampoline.

Ava in her hand-me-down sunhat.

Dinner at Steak n' Brew w/ Daddy.

Pop-Pop getting his own "appetizer" before dinner.

Osterhaudts and blueberries...a great combo!

The Osterhaudts ended their week stay at Brantingham with a game-night appearance by Mike and Marty (who whooped us all at Farkle, by the way!) , and a family visit this morning. The a.m. hours were cold and blustery, causing us to hunker down in camp. Denny and Ryan found projects to do, while the girls relaxed and napped. Ava beat her previous napping record with an outstanding 3 hrs. and 15 minutes! After she woke and ate, the grandmas joined us on a small hike to Shingle Mills Falls and Blueberry Trail. The weather had improved and we really enjoyed ourselves. Ava tried out two different carries in the Moby. The forward-facing Lotus was used on our hike to the Falls, and the Hug was used when she got tired and needed yet another nap. We love the Moby! (Thanks again, Gretch!)

Mike O with Ava, after singing the "Slippery Baby" song.

Margaret, Marty and Matthew visiting in the a.m. before heading home.

The grandmas led the way to Shingle Mills Falls. This is the view from Ava's perch in the Moby.

Blueberries!

Ava got so tuckered out hiking and picking berries that she had to take a nap!

Thanks for doing the picking for us, Grandma and Grandma!

And the weekend begins...

Denny and Judy arrived last night and it took them no time at all to smother Ava with hugs and kisses. The weather was so-so...with the sun breaking through in the afternoon to allow Ryan and I to play with Mike and Marty's huge new toy. Such fun!

Ava seems to like the new Moby hold: The Lotus w/ legs out. It's comfy for me too.

The dock is finished! Sort of...another coat of stain to come and stones lining the back and the new walkway.

Grandma Judy with Ava after her bath.

Our snuggle bunny...is that a wink I see?

The zoo and a brew!

We made a trip to Utica yesterday to meet up with Erin, Greg, and Evy. We hit the Utica Zoo for a stroll and lunch, and then went to the Saranac Brewery for a tour and a taste test. On the way home we stopped in Boonville and took Grandma Ace (Ava's 94 yr. old great grandmother) out for dinner at the Alpine. It totally made her day and possibly her week! Denny and Judy (Ryan's parents) made the drive up from PA yesterday and are staying for a few days. YAY!

Ava's first trip to the zoo! Checking out the barn owls.

Erin and Evy (8 months).

Obviously engrossed in her surroundings.

This was Ava's first official play date! And Evy loved meeting her too.

Erin, Evy, and Greg in the tavern after the brewery tour.

SARANAC! YUM!

SO CUTE!

Is it Thursday already?!?

What a great day! (Sorry again, Gretch.) Ava and I went to our first book club meeting this morning with Grandma. Ironically, I was the one that actually read the book! A house full of wonderful women that thought Ava was a beauty and so nicely behaved. (Which, of course, I know already!) On our return, she had a great nap and then we spent another afternoon on the dock.

Ryan attached the new steps onto the dock. It is now ready for next year's summer full of kids.

Mike and Marty stopped by to take Ryan and me out on their new toy. Charlie O was driving behind someone towing a boat, when it flew out onto the road. After a gallant attempt to chase the owner down, it became an Osterhaudt toy by default. And we love it! As Marty says, "It's all the fun of tubing, without the fear!" :) It can hold 650 lbs! Yesterday, they took 5 of the Osterhaudt kids at the same time! :)

Relaxing (FINALLY) after finishing the dock, steps, and walkway.

Grandma got lots of time with Ava today, while Ryan and I were playing.

Who's cool? AVA IS!

What a wonderful Wednesday!

We finally had a 'dock day' today! WAHOO! It was sunny and gorgeous (Sorry, Gretch.) and we spent the afternoon enjoying the sun by the water. While Ava napped, I even had some tanning/reading time to myself on the floating raft...ah, the life. We took a family cruise in the late afternoon to visit the Osterhaudts and ended up staying for dinner. 8 lbs of pork tenderloin was definitely enough to feed their entire clan, plus the 3 of us. :) Thanks O's!

Good skiing conditions...too bad I'm a wuss and the water is below 70!

Ava after last night's tubby.

Her Coolibar outfit for UV protection...super cute and only used once this vacation.

YEA! A DOCK DAY!

Super cute and lovable!