Smile for the camera

Lately, Ava and I have been working on her smile for pictures in an effort to avoid those scary forced grins that you often see on children in photos. I think that she has finally have gotten it down pat. Isn't she just precious!

Beating the heat...

It has been hot lately, I mean really, really HOT! We set a heat record yesterday with temperatures reaching 105 and that is not with the heat index. So far, this year we have had 17 days with the temperature in the double digits. It makes it hard to enjoy time outside. If we're outside for any length of time, there is usually some sort of water involved. It could be running through the neighbors sprinklers, a trip to the water park or a swim in the baby pool.

Here are some pictures from swimming and playing in the sprinklers at Emma's last week.

She already knows what to do...

Mia's first word was Ava, pronounced "A-ya". Her second word was "hi." She says it in such a perfectly sweet way that makes my heart warm every time she says it. She has now made the connection between the telephone and saying hi. So, every time she sees a telephone (pretend or real) she says hi. We finally have caught this little bit of cuteness on video for all to enjoy.

The Pipper & The Pew...

This post is dedicated to all of Peter's siblings. He decided to teach this "song" to Ava last fall when her Aunt Lara was visiting for Thanksgiving. I still do not fully understand it, but apparently the song caused many arguments among the Sabatini siblings. I am sure that this is something that I have to look forward to in the future.
This is sweet Ava's rendition for all of her Sabatini Aunts & Uncles:

My how they've grown...

We joined the MYC playgroup (through our church) when Ava was 5 months old. We have made wonderful friends through the playgroup, but as the time has past, it has become more and more difficult for us to all get together. Some have moved away, others had school on playgroup days and others just had to get used to hauling two kids around. This past Friday we were all able to get together and had a reunion with Ava's orginial MYC playgroup. It was so much fun to see how much all of the little three year olds have grown up and to meet all of their new siblings. Here are a few pictures from the fun!

Ava and Ethan

Ava, Cate & Hailey

Shane, Rachel (Shane's big sister), Ava & Hailey

The whole gang: Owen, Signe, Ethan, Lauren, Mia, Cate, Cara, Siobahn, Shane, Linda, Ava, Christie, Michael, Hailey & Rachel

Happy Birthday!

Today is Peter's 34th birthday. Happy Birthday!
We love you very much,
Lauren, Ava, Mia & Jake

Zed's Birthday...

A couple of weeks ago Ava decided that Zed (her zebra from the Fisher-Price Alphabet Learning Zoo) was going to have a birthday party. She spent all day Saturday talking about who was going to be invited to the party and what kind of plates they were going to use. Somehow this party turned from imaginary to a real party with a real birthday cake. So, we indulged her fantasy and baked a Pilsbury Boxed cake for Zed's Birthday and sang the zebra "Happy Birthday." It was fun to have a party for no real reason, but I just hope that this doesn't become a frequent request!

Desensitizing

Last week I decided to start introducing Ava to the idea that we will be moving next year....I know what you are thinking, she must be crazy! I just thought that I would mention it in passing and see what kind of response I would get. Well...lets just say it wasn't a good one! She doesn't want a new house, a new room, she likes things just the way they are.

Thankfully, she hasn't realized that we won't be living down the street from her best friend any more. And we thought that this first move was going to be easy because she would be young enough. Oh boy, what she doesn't know is this will be the first of at least three moves.

Emma & Ava on one of our nightly outings

Patriotic

It was a very quite July 4th at the Sabatini household. Peter only had to work until noon and the rest of the day was spent together as a family relaxing and enjoying our extra time together.

Peter and Ava ventured out to view the local fireworks while Mia and I stayed behind. In true Ava fashion, she made two best friends within the first minute of arriving at the fireworks display. This of course meant many tears when it came time to go home.

Hope that all of you had a very happy Independance Day!

Little swinger...

Miss Mia has really taken to the swing that hangs from the sturdy Oak tree in our front yard. She seems to especially enjoy the thrill of swinging really high. Everytime we push the swing hard she gets an enormous grin on her face and starts to giggle. Here are a few of the photos of Mia in the swing.

And the field has been narrowed...

We received an email this week stating that the following state-side bases would likely have openings in the summer of 2009. So, it looks like the list has been narrowed to six. The excitement begins....

Colorado

California

Maryland

Mississippi

Nevada

Alaska

More Michigan Photos...

Here are a few more of my favorite photos from our Michigan trip.

Nana & Pap on the boat.
Ava showing everyone the picture of the fish she caught

Mia playing kitchen

Ava and Grammy

Mommy & Mia at Grammy's

Aunt Rosie and Ava

Nana and Ava

Swimming in the Schoen's pool with Daddy

Ava and Jennifer with the "reindeer"

Cousins

We are 10.5 hours by car from our closest family. So, we are a bit deprived of time with our extended family. When we visited Michigan, the girls were introduced to the concept of cousins (neither Peter's siblings nor mine have any children yet). Needless to say... Ava was in HEAVEN. She got so attached to all of her cousins and fit right in with the bunch. Mia on the other hand, was a little overwhelmed by all of the attention. She enjoyed everyone very much as long as Mommy was holding her. Mia did loosen up a bit toward the end of the trip letting a couple of her cousins hold her as long as Mommy was near by.

We had such a wonderful time. We only wish that we lived much closer so that we could visit more often!

Ava with cousin, Jennifer

Ava with cousins Marcus, Marcello, their mom, Janie and Great Aunt Sue

Cousins, Sarah, Anna, Jennifer and Erin with Ava

Erin with Mia (one of two who got to hold Mia)

Dakota, Jennifer and Ava playing on the swings

Parallels...

I am just now getting back on track from our recent vacation to Michigan. We went up north to visit Peter's grandparents, aunts & uncles and cousins. It had been two years since we were able to visit last which meant that the last time we were there, Ava was the same age that Mia is now. It was kind of neat to look at the photos we took this trip compared to the photos from last trip. Here are a couple photos of the girls that seemed too parallel one another ...

Ava teething on Daddy's hat

Mia trying to teeth on Daddy's hat

Ava playing with Anna

Mia playing with Anna

Oh the possibilities...

As many of you know, Peter is enlisted in the Air Force and will be working as an Otolaryngologist at one of the Air Force Bases starting this time next year. We have just recieved a list of the bases that employ Otolaryngologists, but have not been told which of the bases have openings. It is nice to be able to get some sort of idea where we may be in one year. There is still so much up in the air! We'll keep you posted as we find out more.

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