The End and the Beginning

There are only 6 school days remaining in the school year and my patience is quickly wearing thin. With that in mind I have decided that I should focus on the positive in order to make it through without totally losing it:

My supply order for next year arrived early, so I am already organized and well-stocked for next year- pretty sweet.

Politically speaking, this was a rough year for public education. Personally speaking, my classes were full of super-fun, creative students who I am so lucky to have had the chance to teach.

On June 3rd I will look back as I walk out of my classroom and feel relieved to have 2 1/2 months to focus on more important things, like pleasing the boss at my new full-time job:

(I hear she can be a real taskmaster).

First Party

Over the weekend we threw Aven her first birthday party. We invited our parents and a few friends for pizza, cake and ice cream. It was a great way to celebrate this big milestone in Aven's life.

I demonstrated the rudimentary piping skills I picked up while working at Albertson's bakery over 13 years ago on Aven's homemade birthday cake. I thought it turned out okay.

Aven enjoyed eating her party hat more than wearing it.

I made Aven a rainbow birthday cake, an idea I stole from a friends cooking blog. The inside of the cake definitely wowed the crowd- I had so much fun making this cake that I will definitely be making it again. Aven enjoyed daintily eating her cake, especially the frosting.

My friend's son, Payton, tried to steal a kiss. At 18 months old, I think he's just a little too old for Aven.

Overall it was a great party and Aven has been having a blast playing with all her cool new toys.

Year One

Aven is officially one year old today. I can't believe it. The year has flown by and has been full of joy, fear, love, stress, wonder, frustration, sleepless nights, and a pure unadulterated happiness that couldn't be replaced by anything. I'm constantly amazed with how much fun and amusement such a young human being can provide.

Aven is starting to walk, has two teeth, and is in the process of moving into the toddler room at daycare. Every day with this little girl presents a new and interesting challenge and I love it. Following is a selection of photographs from Aven's first year on Planet Earth:

1 day old

1 week

6 weeks

3 months

5 months

6 months (first food)

7 months

11 months

Happy Birthday sweet girl!

Aven, Star of Stage

Aven's daycare held their annual Spring Fling program on May 5th. The baby portion of the show consisted of the babies wearing farm animal costumes while "Old McDonald Had a Farm" played. It only lasted a couple minutes but was very cute. Following is a photographic illustration of how the show went down for Aven:

Aven was fine for about the first 30 seconds on stage- she was preoccupied with the baby next to her.

She looked away from the baby next to her and noticed the 100 plus people in the audience and didn't care too much for that. She started screaming and the audience did a collective "ahhhh".

As soon as she was with Ian and I everything was fine again. Cute little piglet.