Charlotte and Ava on Friday

Here's a picture of Ava with her cousin Aaron. He came for a visit with his parents last weekend. What a blast!

Here's a quick little video that shows you a part of our day.

We ran short one swing at the park this morning...so Ava shared hers with Lizzie!

Strangers in Tennessee

I am mad at strangers in Tennessee. This post has nothing to do with my wonderful children. Instead, I want to express my anger and frustration at some strangers in Tennessee on behalf of my heartbroken friend, Ann. She has been so sick and so exhausted for so long. But there had remained one bright spot for her (aside from her children and their constant antics and the beginning of football season - Go Sheherazade!). She was getting a dog! There was a family who had decided to give away their precious Snowball, a Bichon Frise (or however you spell silly little puffball of a dog). They had planned for weeks to bring the dog to the Kimmel house for a visit, a precursor to the dog's permanent move to join the Kimmel household. Then yesterday, they chicken out. They decide to keep the dog that they love so much (and the leave in a stinking kennel for all of its pathetic life) and leave Ann hanging. So, strangers in Tennessee...I'd stay out of Norwood if I were you!

I love my darling Ava.

Ava teaches Charlotte about boundaries...

We were taking pictures the other day. Ava had on the most beautiful dress with a pretty bow in her hair. For the first time in her life, she felt 'princess pretty'. She did, however, feel that it was necessary to define a boundary with Charlotte. I can't remember what the jibberish sounded like as she said it, but she definitely meant to communicate, "I love you, little sister, but don't touch the dress."

Every once in a while, Ava sits up in the corner of the couch and allows Charlotte to lay on her for a few minutes. This is the face that Ava makes when she is finished holding Charlotte. You've got to catch it quick...because right after this, Ava tries to eject Charlotte.

On a side note, get a load of that pacifier! Isn't it the most insane thing youve ever seen!!! And Charlotte has long skinny legs..her arms and fingers are the same!

The Block Party

This afternoon we went to the annual block party that a wonderful family on our street hosts. They have been holding this picnic for about 20 years and tons of the families on the street get together to socialize. The mother in the family who hosts the party is wonderful at planning games for the kids - and there are a lot of kids. She plans games for the kids of all ages and they are played in groups broken up by ages. Ava got to play several games and ended up with some super prizes, including a monkey cup and a lion hat.

The highlight of the party (after the egg toss, of course) is the pinata. Each child gets two hits at the pinata, and the smallest child gets to go first. I was informed that Ava was the smallest (after Charlotte), so she got to wield the bat first. It turns out that the ability to 'wack' something with a bat is not a learned thing...it comes naturally. Just like covering your little sister's face with a blanket... So, here's a picture of my girl using a skill that I want her to forget for a couple of years!!!

Then came the drama... While I was chatting with a neighbor, preparing to leave, the mother of Hope, a little 2-year old came up to me and said something about celery. Well, here's the story. My mother was holding Charlotte while Ava played with Hope, a little girl who had tried to play with Ava all afternoon. Hope is the youngest of five children, so she's got 'play' skills that Ava probably won't have until she is much older. She wanted to take turns playing with Ava's toys, she wanted to hold Ava's hand, she knew how to climb all over the swing set. This girl had skills. Near the end of the party, Ava was playing with a soccer ball. Hope picked up the ball and threw it at Ava. Ava got hit with the ball and looked at Hope like she was from another planet. (yes, i know that Ava is being raised by a sissy and is doomed...) Then, from about ten feet away, my mother watches Hope lean down to put her mouth on Ava's hand and suddenly Ava is screaming and crying. Several mothers hurry over to separate the girls. Mom is holding Charlotte, so she makes it to Ava after someone has scooped her up and checked her for blood. No blood...no bite marks on Ava...but half of her celery stick is gone. Yes, I have the only child who is emotionally wounded by someone stealing a bite of her celery. Getting hit with a soccer ball didn't even put a dent in her armor...but please don't touch her celery.

Charlotte and her 2000 body parts

Ava very quickly realized that Charlotte has all of the same parts that she does.

Charlotte Grace Solomon

Well, our little darling is here. We've decided to call her Charlotte Grace, but Ava just calls her 'mine'! Charlotte came quickly very early on 'Labor Day'. She was born at 3:05am. She weighed 8 pounds 12.5 ounces and is 21.75 inches long. We're all home and doing well!