Lions, Tigers and Bears...

Oh my! I wish I could have captured the look on Ava's face as the aerial silk dancers glided through the rafters of the circus tent. Her eyes sparkled with excitement watching the dancing elephants, and acrobatic dogs. It was pure magic to a little girls heart.

This being her first circus experience, we spared no expense. There was mile high cotton candy, all the pizza you could eat, ballon animals and even an elephant ride...which lasted a whole 2 minutes.

Attention Fellow Parents: If you're planning a trip to the circus with your children, take my advice and bring your own elephant. It's cheaper than paying for the rides there.

Rachel wasn't able to come with us this time. It was really special for Ava to have Mum all to herself and enjoy the circus for the first time with her friends and Patty. 

Baby Love

     The newborn smell is gone from her hair, the baby clothes packed away, and though I'm grateful for the added hours sleep I can't help but miss those early days.

Rachel 2 weeks old

     In an effort to keep up with her older sister Rachel is learning, maturing and growing at a hurried rate. She has developed quite the little personality with her own likes and dislikes and doesn't mind letting you know just what they are. She doesn't sit still for too long and you'll often find her climbing up on something, anything! Though she's just 14months old, there are no limits to what she thinks she can do. She never stops, never slows down!

     My only consolation to this fast paced evolution from infant to toddler is in the quiet moments that make time seem to fade. I'll often rock her slow and long even after she's asleep. Holding her, I wonder where the time has gone. How has she gotten so big? What will she surprise me with learning tomorrow?

     

     There is never a dull moment with Rachel around. She definitely keeps me on my toes! Though I wouldn't have it any other way. So I'll treasure the time I have with her now, cause I know these moments are not here to stay. 

A Happy Heart

     Ava is ALL GIRL! If you were to stop into my house on any given day I could guarantee you'd find her in a tutu (that she slept in the night before) dancing around the house in sparkly shoes. Like most little girls she enjoys painting her nails, having her hair done and putting on mommy's makeup.

     



     For those of you who may not know (ya right!) Ava is also a perfectionist, big time! Her ideas of perfection become increasingly narrow when she's tired. Perfectionists are always hardest on themselves and I see this so often with Ava.

     On those days when I can't get her hair right, she can't find the dress she wants or she's brutally forced to wear pants because we've just had a record snowstorm, we've occasionally heard her say "No, I'm not beautiful!" through fits of tears.
     I was shocked to learn that my four year old had created such a concrete sense of what she believed to be beautiful. Determined to reshape her blurred concept of beauty we sat down to have one of our famous little talks. This is where the line "A happy heart makes you beautiful" comes in. 1 Samuel 16:7 says

     "But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

     Now, whenever Ava gets overly concerned about her appearance, we kindly remind her to keep a happy heart because that is what makes you truly beautiful. She seems to have grasped the concept and often reminds me from time to time that even mommys need to choose a happy heart.

     Last week Ava surprised me with a heart necklace she found at the dollar store. She asked Patty to buy it for her so she could give it to me. She told me it was a happy heart ❤️ Though the necklace is not my style, it is now the most precious one I own.