We hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas season, undoubtedly filled with the hustle and bustle of Christmas, work, family, parties, and all the other regular stuff that fills the days of our lives!
We are in Santa Clara Utah and still love it…although ever so often we do dream of being by the beach! Charles is currently contracted through the Government and works in Cyber Security in Las Vegas 3 to 4 days out of the week. He continues to skydive (of course), and this year even repelled off the RIO Hotel in LV! I guess the next thrill for him is BASE jumping, and that one I am just not quite into, well maybe the Fjords of Norway.
Lucy Beth, 7, is in 2nd grade and attends a Spanish Immersion school, which she loves and had made such great friends. She is 7 going on 16, yikes! She loves dance and gymnastics, jumping on the tramp (and on the couch) and expressing herself through music on my stage at The Warehouse. Hum, she may be a natural born rock star! She is adventurous and daring in every way; she (along with the rest of us) rock climbs and does anything that takes guts. She has the attitude of her mother, the sweetness and guts of her father…Watch out!
Evan, 4, is the man of the house when daddy is gone and does great! Evan loves pre-school and gym, baseball, but if you are wondering who all the children are huddled around, well, it is Evan. Either showing his latest favorite toy (today which is an M4 air soft gun, yesterday it was his pocket knife, the day before a teddy bear he made me MAKE, with clothes mind you!) Yes, Evan is the social one, the life of the party, the entertainer and jokester….thank goodness! We need him and love him. His smile and sweetness can stop hearts, so watch out girls. His intensity level is unmatched, his determination is unstoppable, and his love and caring heart will win anyone over in no time.
Ava Maria, 4, is unlike Lucy and Evan. Although only 2 minutes younger than Evan she has a little special something that many 3rd children bring - peace. She is our tender heart, our peacemaker, the child who cries when you look at her wrong, the old sprit, the one that understands and feels for the underdog, that is our sweet Ava. Ava loves gymnastics and is super good because of her patience and persistence. That same quality makes her good at anything she sets her mind to. Win her over and still, just as when she was a baby, you will feel like the richest person in the world.
Evan and Ava love their pre schools both Miss Dory and Montessori with Miss Janea. It fills their week with fun new projects and “works” that fill our life with love and joy. When they are not at school they are playing together at home, many times I overhear the cutest conversations I have ever heard. Having twins has blessed our lives in every way….how lonely to be a singleton. We are all meant to have someone, aren’t we?
Me, I love so much about what I am doing, I have the sweetest husband that is constantly supporting me in everything I do. Our business, The Warehouse, is the outlet for all my crazy ideas and keeps my focused and happy. My husband and children are my pride and joy and my greatest inspiration and supporters. My kids are so cute when it come to Zumba (which I teach)…they know all about it, they all know how to shake it and they all have given me inspirational moves for my routines that I make up! Thanks kiddos for your originality and creativity! I love them more than anything! Life is good. Of course, the next big thing is always right around the corner….
Our Motto: No Guts, No Glory!
Wishing you lots of Guts this next year!
Love,
Charles, Andrea, Lucy, Evan and Ava
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Sunday, November 8, 2009
The Riggs Family Update - November 2009
What’s Up!
Happy Fall Days to all of our Family and Friends. We hope you had a SPOOKY Halloween and are getting ready for a yummy Thanksgiving FEAST!
Here is what The Riggs have been up to the last 6 months....
We of course love being back in St. George and are loving the wonderful weather. Charles and I have taken a huge leap of faith and are helping my Dad with his Warehouse here in St. George. Charles runs Pickleball (don't knock it til you try it, it is soooo fun)and works hard trying to get the big old Warehouse rented out. He of course stays up on all his IT skills and consults with companies about IT security. He sold his skydiving rig, but is hoping to be able to get another one someday soon, as he dreams about skydiving almost every night. It is in his blood and it is his passion...anyone want to sponsor him or need a guy to run a indoor skydiving tunnel!? :)
I am mostly consumed with my little ones and running Zumba at THE WAREHOUSE. It has been so much fun, and a huge undertaking. I have a new respect for my Father and those who run a business....it is not as easy as it looks! We call it The Warehouse. We have graffiti on the walls, a stage and fun lights that people go nuts over. It has been so fun to be able to work with Charles once again; we work so well together and love to brainstorm about ideas. He has done so much for me, he has made my database, set up all the electronics, made my website (3 different times check it out The Warehouse), my graphic artist the list goes on....a business these days without a Charles is for sure doomed to failure! For me this has been a dream. It is hard but so worth it. I do my best, but ultimately I have to do what is best for the business and not friendships, which can be really hard. I am grateful for the opportunity to go after a dream and change this town! We want to start doing fun dance parties, Ufit, a preschool and a gymnastics. Lisa my sis is starting a fun consignment store, which will be fun. It is fun to at least have 1 sis close!
Lucy has tuned 6! She is attending Vista, a new charter school her in Ivins (5 min up the street). It is technology and creative arts centered and Lucy loves it! She gets to do dance, musical theater, Spanish, computers, violin and her 1st grade teacher is great! She plays soccer and ballet and hip hop, but still has plenty of time to tease and play with Evan and Ava. She is a sweet heart and really cares about other people. She is losing all her teeth...sometimes with a little help, but she has pulled out at least 2, I think I am up to 4! ha! She understands the real value of money and wanted us to just buy Barbies and toys instead of food the other day at the store....then she came around and decided the food would probably have to come first. Evan says about Lucy, "probably I don't like her but I do...ya I think she's cute, I don't wanna kiss her I just think she's cute!" Lu has her moments for sure, but for the most part she is a sweetheart and a helper. She loves to read and still loves art....creativity - oh ya! Oh and Lu is one of my three Zumba stars (They are all so good!) check it out on Youtube
Evan and Ava are 3 going on 6....Ava thinks her teeth should be ready to come out any day now and continues to wiggle them. Evan continues to ask "why does LUCY get too" hummmm. Evan is super duper independent and is...yes a lot like his daddy! He wakes up grumpy (like daddy) he mummifies himself in his star wars blanket (thx nana) every morning (like daddy use to do but mommy had to put a stop to since it ruined the sheets ever night! Well ok I let him mummify his feet) if he does not do something just right the first time he gets SO MAD (like daddy did, mostly when he was little...heehee). I tell him all the time to be patient, WITH HIMSELF! He is a repeater, so listen up or he will just keep saying it! The funnies thing about Evan is that he has to go poo at HOME! It is a big deal! He has to have a toy, shoes socks pants all OFF, the door shut...then a cool story and abt 10 min later a yell, "IM DONE"! Charles and I tried to record it one time but we were laughing too hard and he told us to get out. He is all boy and loves all the cool dude stuff, and his cool older cousins. Don't be deceived though, Evan is still loves to cuddle and loves babies. He caresses them and loves on them. And shhhh he still sucks his thumb! He says he is a big boy but then has a 5 min conversation with himself going back and forth about big boys and braces and all that. He is a treat! The other day he told me, "mom you learned me that"! He was so proud he had figured out how to open the back door to the FJ...its hard! And yes, still a killer smile, and has moves that would that rock!
My little Ava Maria is getting bigger! She has grown 1 inch in the past 6 months, so all of her warm clothes are too short on her cute legs and arms...she is still my mini though. Ava is still particular, sweet and sassy! My ultra peacemaker and incredibly sensitive and mature. Charles and I say, for sure she has the oldest and wisest spirit of us all. Ava continues to adore her baby and plethora of silkies. I must interject at this point that we GOT A DOG! He is darling, a French bulldog...and Ava is its master. She dominates the dog in every way and it is a good thing he goes with the flow and lets her be the master. All the kids love the dog (even Evan who constantly says, "ya lets give him back!") Ava adores him. One night while I was at Zumba and Charles was putting Ava to bed, he heard this on the monitor, "Oh doggie please hear me, I neeeed you in my cribby." Needless to say, Charles let Ava have the puppy (BUBS) that night. She for sure is the youngest, getting the compassion and sweetness that Charles and I just love giving her. She and Evan started Pre School with Miss Debbie! They love her. All along we thought Ava would have a harder time, NOPE. She was good to go the first day, hug and a kiss and she was off...even though she said the day before she didn't like Miss Debbie, it did not take long for her to love her! Evan on the other hand went pretty well the first day then the next had to hold onto my pinky and thumb for about 5 min...then 5 kisses and he was good to go. Now everyday they ask, "is it church day or school day?" They love both and are so fun! Ava also knows how to SHAKE it!
I am still amazed at Evan and Ava, they are such a joy to have in our family and we feel so blessed to have all of our children.
Well our kids must be excited for Christmas because they are all singing "Jingle Bells"
HAPPY FALL and GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
The Riggs
Happy Fall Days to all of our Family and Friends. We hope you had a SPOOKY Halloween and are getting ready for a yummy Thanksgiving FEAST!
Here is what The Riggs have been up to the last 6 months....
We of course love being back in St. George and are loving the wonderful weather. Charles and I have taken a huge leap of faith and are helping my Dad with his Warehouse here in St. George. Charles runs Pickleball (don't knock it til you try it, it is soooo fun)and works hard trying to get the big old Warehouse rented out. He of course stays up on all his IT skills and consults with companies about IT security. He sold his skydiving rig, but is hoping to be able to get another one someday soon, as he dreams about skydiving almost every night. It is in his blood and it is his passion...anyone want to sponsor him or need a guy to run a indoor skydiving tunnel!? :)
I am mostly consumed with my little ones and running Zumba at THE WAREHOUSE. It has been so much fun, and a huge undertaking. I have a new respect for my Father and those who run a business....it is not as easy as it looks! We call it The Warehouse. We have graffiti on the walls, a stage and fun lights that people go nuts over. It has been so fun to be able to work with Charles once again; we work so well together and love to brainstorm about ideas. He has done so much for me, he has made my database, set up all the electronics, made my website (3 different times check it out The Warehouse), my graphic artist the list goes on....a business these days without a Charles is for sure doomed to failure! For me this has been a dream. It is hard but so worth it. I do my best, but ultimately I have to do what is best for the business and not friendships, which can be really hard. I am grateful for the opportunity to go after a dream and change this town! We want to start doing fun dance parties, Ufit, a preschool and a gymnastics. Lisa my sis is starting a fun consignment store, which will be fun. It is fun to at least have 1 sis close!
Lucy has tuned 6! She is attending Vista, a new charter school her in Ivins (5 min up the street). It is technology and creative arts centered and Lucy loves it! She gets to do dance, musical theater, Spanish, computers, violin and her 1st grade teacher is great! She plays soccer and ballet and hip hop, but still has plenty of time to tease and play with Evan and Ava. She is a sweet heart and really cares about other people. She is losing all her teeth...sometimes with a little help, but she has pulled out at least 2, I think I am up to 4! ha! She understands the real value of money and wanted us to just buy Barbies and toys instead of food the other day at the store....then she came around and decided the food would probably have to come first. Evan says about Lucy, "probably I don't like her but I do...ya I think she's cute, I don't wanna kiss her I just think she's cute!" Lu has her moments for sure, but for the most part she is a sweetheart and a helper. She loves to read and still loves art....creativity - oh ya! Oh and Lu is one of my three Zumba stars (They are all so good!) check it out on Youtube
Evan and Ava are 3 going on 6....Ava thinks her teeth should be ready to come out any day now and continues to wiggle them. Evan continues to ask "why does LUCY get too" hummmm. Evan is super duper independent and is...yes a lot like his daddy! He wakes up grumpy (like daddy) he mummifies himself in his star wars blanket (thx nana) every morning (like daddy use to do but mommy had to put a stop to since it ruined the sheets ever night! Well ok I let him mummify his feet) if he does not do something just right the first time he gets SO MAD (like daddy did, mostly when he was little...heehee). I tell him all the time to be patient, WITH HIMSELF! He is a repeater, so listen up or he will just keep saying it! The funnies thing about Evan is that he has to go poo at HOME! It is a big deal! He has to have a toy, shoes socks pants all OFF, the door shut...then a cool story and abt 10 min later a yell, "IM DONE"! Charles and I tried to record it one time but we were laughing too hard and he told us to get out. He is all boy and loves all the cool dude stuff, and his cool older cousins. Don't be deceived though, Evan is still loves to cuddle and loves babies. He caresses them and loves on them. And shhhh he still sucks his thumb! He says he is a big boy but then has a 5 min conversation with himself going back and forth about big boys and braces and all that. He is a treat! The other day he told me, "mom you learned me that"! He was so proud he had figured out how to open the back door to the FJ...its hard! And yes, still a killer smile, and has moves that would that rock!
My little Ava Maria is getting bigger! She has grown 1 inch in the past 6 months, so all of her warm clothes are too short on her cute legs and arms...she is still my mini though. Ava is still particular, sweet and sassy! My ultra peacemaker and incredibly sensitive and mature. Charles and I say, for sure she has the oldest and wisest spirit of us all. Ava continues to adore her baby and plethora of silkies. I must interject at this point that we GOT A DOG! He is darling, a French bulldog...and Ava is its master. She dominates the dog in every way and it is a good thing he goes with the flow and lets her be the master. All the kids love the dog (even Evan who constantly says, "ya lets give him back!") Ava adores him. One night while I was at Zumba and Charles was putting Ava to bed, he heard this on the monitor, "Oh doggie please hear me, I neeeed you in my cribby." Needless to say, Charles let Ava have the puppy (BUBS) that night. She for sure is the youngest, getting the compassion and sweetness that Charles and I just love giving her. She and Evan started Pre School with Miss Debbie! They love her. All along we thought Ava would have a harder time, NOPE. She was good to go the first day, hug and a kiss and she was off...even though she said the day before she didn't like Miss Debbie, it did not take long for her to love her! Evan on the other hand went pretty well the first day then the next had to hold onto my pinky and thumb for about 5 min...then 5 kisses and he was good to go. Now everyday they ask, "is it church day or school day?" They love both and are so fun! Ava also knows how to SHAKE it!
I am still amazed at Evan and Ava, they are such a joy to have in our family and we feel so blessed to have all of our children.
Well our kids must be excited for Christmas because they are all singing "Jingle Bells"
HAPPY FALL and GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
The Riggs
Sunday, April 19, 2009
April 19, 2009
Hello and Greetings to all of our dear friends. We hope that through this economic challenge all of you are being well blessed and discovering greater opportunities. It is time for my 6 month update that I do for our family, well mostly for me and my records, so I don’t forget all that is going on in our lives. So, here is what we have been up to the past 6 months….
Well, we tried out up North, and it just did not take! We have become St. Georgians once again, we just love it here! We are back in our home, with our wonderful neighbors, ward, pool and all the things and people we love. We enjoyed being in Bountiful with family and friends and preventing flooding at my parents, mail theft and mysterious falling mirrors, but alas, we felt an incredible pull back to our home. Charles worked for Verizon Wireless, a great company, but has been getting more into internet marketing with Nutranomics as well as selling Health Insurance. We are grateful for the opportunities which have helped us get back to where we love. Charles continues to fly in the sky, he loves skydiving and high adventure trips, so it is fitting that he has been called to be the high adventure Young Men’s Leader for the Priests. However, the Bishop is NOT okaying skydiving…..yet!
I am just happy to be home and am finally over the bizarre reality that I have turned 30! Hum, maybe that is why I am doing the NuSkin Galvanic Spa, it is awesome and takes away my wrinkles!!! Let me know if you need any help in that area. Charles and I are now in our 8th year of marriage, it is great, however, I am glad the 7th is behind us. The past year has been filled with so many challenges and decisions, a lot of great, and a lot of total bummers. All in all, we have learned a lot, grown a lot and in the end are just really grateful we have each other and our 3 wonderful children. I still have my loan officer license, but am not active right now, so I have gone back to my dancing roots and have been teaching Zumba. Definitely not for the money, but it is a blast. I am trying to be really organized and clean, it is much easier that it was when Evan and Ava were 2, but man, still a work in progress…. We took care of my nieces for about 2 weeks, a 2.5 yr old and a 7 week old, and wow, I don’t think I left the house. 5 kids 5 and under about did me in. We will stick with 3! Which brings me to my little jems…
Lucy is 5.75! She will be 6 June 21st and continues to be my #1 helper, my sweetheart, my shoulder to cry on. She has lost 3 teeth (see pics). The first 2 teeth were the bottom 2, on the same day. (With a little help from mom….I guess I should admit that anytime my teeth were somewhat loose I would sit in front of the mirror until it was OUT!) Luckily, no tears were shed, until the 3rd. It was a doozy! She really wanted it out and it was quick. We are still working on the 4th (the front lt) so she wont have just 1 weird space on top. Ok enough about teeth! She continues to love Kindergarten and hasn’t minded that this is the 3rd teacher she has had! She has learned to adapt very well to change and I am so proud of her. She loves to read, color, spell, do beads, barbies, dance, ballet, play with friends, TEASE Evan and Ava to tears, jump and SWIM. Oh did I mention she loves to SWIM! We are soooooo glad we can swim at our pool! She is a maniac at the pool, I am wondering if she will be living at home, or in the water….TBD.
Evan is 3! OOOOOh girls, watch out, he is getting even more handsome. He just has this killer smile, hum, now if only we can get him to stop sucking his thumb! Don’t worry, it is still only in bed when he has his “silky”. That’s about the only tender sweet thing he does, other than kisses to me and Ava, oh and he does love to cuddle in the mornings with dad. BUT everything else is very manly. For instance, instead of a story and song at bedtime, it is a story about Ben 10, or Star Wars or Bumblebee, or his latest thing is….MONEY! He has Ava’s Tinkerbelle tin container on loan so he can put ALL his “monies” in it. He is really into it; it goes with us practically everywhere. Dad had to teach Evan the “correct” way to hold his money (which has a beaded handle) because he was hooking it around his elbow (like a woman holds a purse). Now he holds the girl tin very manly, don’t worry. Evan is intense but super sweet, especially to his little sis. He and Ava love to be silly! He will throw a royal fit and yell to high heaven, but that is not too often. I so enjoy watching these 2 little ones play. They play so well with each other, sometimes together, sometimes just paralleling, but almost always as sweet as can be. “Here you go Avers….you can have this one.” “Come on Ava, let’s go in my room and play.” He is a protector of Ava and I oh so cherish the relationship these 2 little spirits have. I feel blessed just to have them! Ev is excited to start Pre School in the fall and gymnastics with Ava. He is actually really strong….he and Ava started to swim yesterday with OUT floaties!!!!
Ava is 3! She is my dear sweet precious little one. I identify mostly with Ava, and it is a good thing, because she has her moments of utter determination, and at those times I have learned to breath deep, very deep and just be patient with her way of doing things. I have always said about Ava that she is sweet and sassy, still true. I have always said that she is determined, patient, persistent….still true. Ava is the silly one and the sweetheart, she is a little angel 95% of the time, and hellion 5%. She still LOVES her silkies and takes her baby or a princess tiny doll (or the toy of the day just like Ev) everywhere we go. Often we have to go on a “hunt” to find the baby or toy she MUST have in order to go to bed. Let me tell you, do not fight the battle, you will lose….determined. She loves tiny things, her and Ev love the Russian wooden doll my parents got that fit inside each other. Evan calls the heads, helmets! Ava finds the itty bitty baby (we call it) and carriers her around in her silky, or the dime size flounder, the smaller and more annoying to find, the better! But oh she is sweet, the other day I smashed my finger in a cupboard really hard and I was crying and it was bleeding, she cried with me and said, “should I go get Dusty.” (She is our cute neighbor friend.) She feels your emotion, she is sensitive and loves to help, she is a true peacemaker, just as daddy said she would be from the time she was 1 month old. She loves playing with Evan, toys-trains, princesses, dress-up, dancing, digging in the sand, playing with the bunnies, and she is for sure part fish too! She swims! She has always been brave but yesterday she was jumping off the edge (in the deep) she would come up and then swim to the side. One time I didn’t even help her! They are just 3! I guess I did put floaties on them when they were 4 months old….second nature I suppose.
I love where we are at. I feel like we have gotten to a great point in our lives with our kids, we can actually go to Disneyland (we did that for Christmas) and it was great, we didn’t have to take portacribs and all that jazz. Evan and Ava and Lucy are so fun, loving, teachable and they love going on adventures….which is good because Charles and I have always been ready for the next one. Here is to adventure. We pray 2009 is a wonderful adventure for each of you.
All our love and support, Charles, Andrea, Lucy Beth, Evan & Ava Maria
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Riggs Sept 08 update
Well in case anyone is wondering if it is still hot in St. George, it is! Really hot! Unfortunately the market is not doing quite so hot! With the downturn in the market, economy and lending, you can imagine that St. George is not doing so great, and that we have been able to make it a year since the lending industry has been tightening guidelines to the point that not many borrowers can even get a loan, has not come to an end. And actually, it has been really good. Charles and I have never been afraid of change, so this update may seem like a good bye to St. George, because we are leaving this wonderful place to venture out into the future!
So, 6 months ago Charles was working in SLC, however, that did not last long because we could not live apart and I was able to work a little more. So, Charles has been able to work with my father (who has purchased a warehouse here in St. George to convert it into a Independent Living Facility just below Green Valley). Basically an posh place where old people can live and not worry about anything (tell your grannies and grand pappies cause it will be ready in about 2 years!) Anyway, Charles has been able to help him with getting through the city, dealing with potential clients, and learning a new soft ware and designing the renovation. While that has worked well these past 6 months, it is now time for a change. Charles is in San Diego getting his CISSP (an IT security cert.). He will be home for one day and then will be starting a contracting job with Verizon Wireless on Sept. 9th. He will also be completing his degree at the Western Governor University, majoring in IT securities. We are excited and really feel like a path has been made for us……now if we can just figure out what to do with our house.
Lucy, Evan, and Ava and I will stay in St. George until I find a renter or a family who would like to have a vacation home here (like a rental but no ownership…anyone interested??) I have to say, it has been such an experience living in St. George. It really is a different mentality and way of life. More low key. We have been able to do so much here and feel so blessed to have been able to live here and raise our beautiful children here the past 3.5 yrs. It has not been easy raising twins and we truly feel like we have been blessed while doing so, by having careers that have been so flexible. We have learned so much, had great times and hard times, and all in all, we feel like it is time to move on. So, it is with much appreciation to this great city, that we say, “see ya later” not goodbye, because we have such a great love for St. George that we may be back someday! I will continue to keep my license and do loans, don’t worry someday (who knows when) the lending industry will get better and actually WANT to loan money again.
Now for just a little update on the kiddies, cause that is WAY more fun!
Lucy loves kindergarten. After making the comment 3 or 4 times that, “mom I want to go to afternoon kindergarten” I finally understood and asked, “Lu, do you mean that you wish you could stay at kindergarten until the afternoon…..all day?” the answer was yes! This girl is ready for more! She loves it. So, after school we have a little school of our own. We do work books, reading (which she is so good at, and is loving “Green Eggs and Ham”) math and numbers, spelling and other “fun” activities. Then she is out the door riding her bike to Kenya’s (our little neighbor). Lucy, Evan and Ava, Kenya and Kamree are the new and improved neighborhood bike and trik and wiggle car posse. Watch out they usually start at 7:30 am and continue throughout various times of the day. We have loved this neighborhood! Lucy said the other day about moving, “Mom we need to MOVE! I have lived in St. George my whole life!” She must think she will get to play with cousins ALL the time! Lucy gets dressed, cleans her room, and makes her bed all before she comes up to go ride her bike in the am….I have been so proud of her. Isn’t 5 a great age! She continues to be my #1 helper and I just love that little girl so much!
The past 6 months it has been amazing to watch Evan and Ava. They have changed from babies to little people. (They have to keep reminding me, "mama I'm NOT a baby.") Especially since they are both potty trained! I started about 26 months and didn’t push, just encouraged and talked a LOT about big boys and big girls and Annie and June ( from little Einstein’s) and Luke Skywalker and Gav and Jake and Zac and Josh (cousins and Star Wars) a lot. It was great, and not bad at all…..just intense, but now it is great! They have also increased in language and understanding. The way they understand and interpret and recall from memory is so fun to watch and see. Ava has especially started to talk and expain a lot more in long sentence and is always so mindful to add “please and thank you.” Bright little minds.
Luke Skywalker, no I mean Darth Vader, no I mean Samurai Ninja, no Indian Jones, no no no I mean Evan is loving life! Evan loves his guys…and teasing his sisters, but I think he loves cool guys a little more. He is still totally into his apparel and loves cool t-shirts. Evan is usually playing and holding a guy while jumping off something and saying “so cool!” He like to play kill mama and wake her with a kisssss… I added the kissing part cause I love it! We even get Ava to play. And I have to admit, it is ok to die by the sword or the gun or even the imaginary weapon, just as long as I get that sweet kiss. Evan has been a little more of a mama’s boy, which is ok by me, except when he is literally hanging onto my leg. It is a little hard to move. He loves to draw pics with a pen, jump off the the slide onto the lovesac, eat anything in a baggie, watch movies and eat junk food! He is a treat to have around is so dang cute….even with his mohawk that daddy finally buzzed off! Fav bed time song: mmmahh went the little green frog one day….done by daddy of course!
Little Ava is still little but taller! She continues to be my sweet sensitive screamer…..we are working on it. It is just hard when you have a big sis and a twin always taking away your “things”. Ava wakes in the am so happy and loves to be outside with Lu bright and early. They are my morning risers. She loves the compartment behind the trik so she can put her baby and baby silky in it and take it for a ride….or anything that is near and dear to her on that given day. She loved eggs! She loves oatmeal and fruit and of course treats! She can be bribed by fake crying (in order to get kisses…Daddy does that at least 5x a day!) She is the only one that can get Daddy to do just about anything she wants. He is a sucker for her! One night he was instructed to get her to bed while I was with Ev and Lu and I come back to find Ava making him fake food! Charles had such a guilty expression saying,” she is making me food.” ( eyeball sandwiches are his fav’s). My particular little Ava has to have 4 songs before bed. I am a Child of God, Temple, Twinkle Twinkle and Rainbow. At least we know what to expect. She is busy and loves to color, loves loves loves playdough, being outside looking at bugs, and the tickling of her neck!. She is sweetness to have around.
We have fun. Thank you for all of your who help and inspire us! We feel so blessed and really feel like as long as we have eachother, we can do anything....God Bless!
So, 6 months ago Charles was working in SLC, however, that did not last long because we could not live apart and I was able to work a little more. So, Charles has been able to work with my father (who has purchased a warehouse here in St. George to convert it into a Independent Living Facility just below Green Valley). Basically an posh place where old people can live and not worry about anything (tell your grannies and grand pappies cause it will be ready in about 2 years!) Anyway, Charles has been able to help him with getting through the city, dealing with potential clients, and learning a new soft ware and designing the renovation. While that has worked well these past 6 months, it is now time for a change. Charles is in San Diego getting his CISSP (an IT security cert.). He will be home for one day and then will be starting a contracting job with Verizon Wireless on Sept. 9th. He will also be completing his degree at the Western Governor University, majoring in IT securities. We are excited and really feel like a path has been made for us……now if we can just figure out what to do with our house.
Lucy, Evan, and Ava and I will stay in St. George until I find a renter or a family who would like to have a vacation home here (like a rental but no ownership…anyone interested??) I have to say, it has been such an experience living in St. George. It really is a different mentality and way of life. More low key. We have been able to do so much here and feel so blessed to have been able to live here and raise our beautiful children here the past 3.5 yrs. It has not been easy raising twins and we truly feel like we have been blessed while doing so, by having careers that have been so flexible. We have learned so much, had great times and hard times, and all in all, we feel like it is time to move on. So, it is with much appreciation to this great city, that we say, “see ya later” not goodbye, because we have such a great love for St. George that we may be back someday! I will continue to keep my license and do loans, don’t worry someday (who knows when) the lending industry will get better and actually WANT to loan money again.
Now for just a little update on the kiddies, cause that is WAY more fun!
Lucy loves kindergarten. After making the comment 3 or 4 times that, “mom I want to go to afternoon kindergarten” I finally understood and asked, “Lu, do you mean that you wish you could stay at kindergarten until the afternoon…..all day?” the answer was yes! This girl is ready for more! She loves it. So, after school we have a little school of our own. We do work books, reading (which she is so good at, and is loving “Green Eggs and Ham”) math and numbers, spelling and other “fun” activities. Then she is out the door riding her bike to Kenya’s (our little neighbor). Lucy, Evan and Ava, Kenya and Kamree are the new and improved neighborhood bike and trik and wiggle car posse. Watch out they usually start at 7:30 am and continue throughout various times of the day. We have loved this neighborhood! Lucy said the other day about moving, “Mom we need to MOVE! I have lived in St. George my whole life!” She must think she will get to play with cousins ALL the time! Lucy gets dressed, cleans her room, and makes her bed all before she comes up to go ride her bike in the am….I have been so proud of her. Isn’t 5 a great age! She continues to be my #1 helper and I just love that little girl so much!
The past 6 months it has been amazing to watch Evan and Ava. They have changed from babies to little people. (They have to keep reminding me, "mama I'm NOT a baby.") Especially since they are both potty trained! I started about 26 months and didn’t push, just encouraged and talked a LOT about big boys and big girls and Annie and June ( from little Einstein’s) and Luke Skywalker and Gav and Jake and Zac and Josh (cousins and Star Wars) a lot. It was great, and not bad at all…..just intense, but now it is great! They have also increased in language and understanding. The way they understand and interpret and recall from memory is so fun to watch and see. Ava has especially started to talk and expain a lot more in long sentence and is always so mindful to add “please and thank you.” Bright little minds.
Luke Skywalker, no I mean Darth Vader, no I mean Samurai Ninja, no Indian Jones, no no no I mean Evan is loving life! Evan loves his guys…and teasing his sisters, but I think he loves cool guys a little more. He is still totally into his apparel and loves cool t-shirts. Evan is usually playing and holding a guy while jumping off something and saying “so cool!” He like to play kill mama and wake her with a kisssss… I added the kissing part cause I love it! We even get Ava to play. And I have to admit, it is ok to die by the sword or the gun or even the imaginary weapon, just as long as I get that sweet kiss. Evan has been a little more of a mama’s boy, which is ok by me, except when he is literally hanging onto my leg. It is a little hard to move. He loves to draw pics with a pen, jump off the the slide onto the lovesac, eat anything in a baggie, watch movies and eat junk food! He is a treat to have around is so dang cute….even with his mohawk that daddy finally buzzed off! Fav bed time song: mmmahh went the little green frog one day….done by daddy of course!
Little Ava is still little but taller! She continues to be my sweet sensitive screamer…..we are working on it. It is just hard when you have a big sis and a twin always taking away your “things”. Ava wakes in the am so happy and loves to be outside with Lu bright and early. They are my morning risers. She loves the compartment behind the trik so she can put her baby and baby silky in it and take it for a ride….or anything that is near and dear to her on that given day. She loved eggs! She loves oatmeal and fruit and of course treats! She can be bribed by fake crying (in order to get kisses…Daddy does that at least 5x a day!) She is the only one that can get Daddy to do just about anything she wants. He is a sucker for her! One night he was instructed to get her to bed while I was with Ev and Lu and I come back to find Ava making him fake food! Charles had such a guilty expression saying,” she is making me food.” ( eyeball sandwiches are his fav’s). My particular little Ava has to have 4 songs before bed. I am a Child of God, Temple, Twinkle Twinkle and Rainbow. At least we know what to expect. She is busy and loves to color, loves loves loves playdough, being outside looking at bugs, and the tickling of her neck!. She is sweetness to have around.
We have fun. Thank you for all of your who help and inspire us! We feel so blessed and really feel like as long as we have eachother, we can do anything....God Bless!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
July 2008 Fam Pic in Bountiful
Here is our little fam at the Swaney's (my sis Ang finally had a little boy! Cash, after 3 cute girls) here we are after his little blessing. The kids love their backyard, they have a ton of grass and a river, they are all over the place...this was quite a feet to get them to sit for a minute.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Blogging
Ok so I am getting with the program and am actually going back in time, in order to get updated and get all the info on my blog that I have wanted. So, here is my attempt at doing my 6 mo updates on my blog!
Yay!
Yay!
Riggs Fam Update Twins 2 Lu 5
March 8, 3007
Evan & Ava 2-Lucy 5
Happy Spring Time!
Greetings to all family and friends! I like to give an update on our little family every 6 months or so, more for me than anything else, so we are a little late, but better late than never.
I am having a quite moment because my children are all in bed (usually by 8 pm) and Charles, is in Paris CA on a weekend Skydiving Get-A-Way.
So, Lucy is 4 going on 5 in June and is becoming such a sweetheart. She has always been so, however, as of late I see her do little things "automatically" rather than having to tell her. For instance, the other day Ava had a melt down, most likely because Evan had whacked her in the face with one of his "guys" or maybe her baby and the babies silky was lost, who knows…the point is that Lucy went over to her knelt down and just held her. It was so precious and more and more I see Lucy becoming such a helpful daughter, a sweet (not all the time) sister, and a fun and outgoing friend. This little change all came about, or was most apparent to me when Charles had started a job in SLC. We were all still here in St. George and I was home with the kids, going to the gym everyday for my get a way, and attempting to work, as much as possible from home. Daddy would come and visit on weekends. While he was gone I told Lucy multiple times, "I can do 2 babies, but not 3. I need your help, can you pleaseeeee help me." (Some of those times I would be in tears, so she actually really listened.) From then on she, for the most part, was my #1 helper! I love watching the changes in my children as they grow up.
Lucy is VERY excited for Kindergarten….the day we registered she cried as we left because she wanted to stay and GO to kindergarten. It was a sad realization for her. The Easter Bunny brought the kids a bunny and it has brought out all the motherly qualities in Lucy. She dotes over the bunny and holds it just like a baby. Last week we moved Lu down stairs with the babies, thinking it would be darker and she would hopefully not get up before 7….well she got a new purples room, but still wakes up at the same time. Which is ok, its almost summer and the weather here in St. George has been gorgeous. Anyway, Lu gets up and looks for Floppsy, who is usually under our bed. It takes her about 5 minutes of sternly saying the bunnies name and hunched on the ground trying to grab the bunny, so of course we are awake. She loves the bunny, and it gives her a great sense of responsibility.
Lucy is reading and usually loves it. She is a matter of fact girl who is increasingly challenging the motherly truths that I simply expect her to take. Either much more explanation or the threat of much more Tabasco is used. I thank my lucky stars to have such an amazing little girl….who at this point still wants to be a Cowgirl when she grows up, and yes, that entails having a farm. Theme song, "Little Liza Jane."
Evan and Ava turned 2 on March 8th! We had a b-day party at Flips gymnastics in Bountiful with some fam and friends and it was so much fun! They absolutely loved it. See they never get to play on any of the equipment when we pick Lucy up for gym here in St G. (except for rare occasions) and so they loved being able to do whatever they wanted. Two, 2 yr olds……when people asked me if 2 babies overwhelmed me, I always said, "no 2 babies doesn't overwhelm me, but two 2 yr old does." And now that we are at that point, I have to say, that YES there are times that are very overwhelming, but even more so, I feel like that is why Lucy has had to be a big helper and of course Evan and Daddy are pretty much connected at the hip, and other "angels" that come around and are just "helpers" to me, make it much for doable and enjoyable. We have fun. I have been so blessed by these 3 little spirits. They are constant teachers to me of happiness, humor, and life lessons.
Evan. Watch out girls, he's gunna getcha, either with his dashing smile and looks, or his kungfoo punch with his guys. This kid has it all. He is all boy. Evan continues to be a social butterfly, a seeker of newness, a lover of new people and places. He is my one child who is not shy at all. He loves his guys. He and daddy play them and yes, Evan can even make those dude sounds that killing, helicopters, crashes etc make. I know even if I tried to a whole day I still could not do it, it must be a talent you're born with. Evan loves wrestling with dad, playing outside with Ava, and boy is he a great jumper on the tramp. He really goes quite high and has a smile the whole time. His theme song is "Big Strong Muscles" hahah he loves it. He loves daddy's burritos, tomatoes, and any snacks….as long as it is in his own baggie.
Now for the real part of Ev that would be greatly sad for him not to know when he is grown….Evan is a very particular child. The "guys" legs have to be just right, if they are not then it could get ugly. Evan is known to have tantrum when "things" don't go his way….on the floor ones. It is really great. Daddy always pretends to call the goblins and it usually stops pretty darn quick. "I happy, no goblins" he says. Evan remembers, don't tell him we can go get a goblin book tomorrow, he will demand to go NOW, or at the very least will remember it the next day. He understands a great deal….But for the real treat, Evan loves new outfits. Yes, he has been going through a phase (hopefully it is a phase) where he is REALLY into what he is wearing. Choices are death. In the beginning I tried to give him a choice, there were days he would choose and then once the shirt was on he would bend over in a horror stricken cry "noooooooooo take it off"…and we would find a new one, only for the same thing to happen. One day I dumped ALL his clothes on the floor and told him to get one he wanted. That was the low point of his relationship with his outfits. We are nearing a peak, as he is getting better and I am getting better at having a "cool" outfit laid out for him in the am, and I let the outfit be HIS discovery. It also helps that daddy always says "NO WAY, dude you get to wear that cool shirt!" Wow, what a trip.
Evan is so cuddly, he will lay by you and glare into your eyes and you feel like you are one….one night we were at my sister's house and I was crouched down as Evan ran to me, he was pretty close to me and I was talking to him. He stared into my eyes and said, "Evan", "Evan" with a big smile and pointing with his finger an inch away from my eye. He could see himself (his reflection) in my eye….we do it all the time now and it is a special little memory. He is such a fun child to have around. He just makes you wanna have fun and smile.
Little Ava Maria….sweet and sassy, that is all there is to it. They don't come any sweeter and they defiantly don't come any sassier. I have often wondered if she was born with the sass or has that come from being a twin and having an older sis that are always in your face. I have determined its both. Ava likes her space and she does what she wants when she wants. She is a little mini with a walk that goes with her attitude. She sways her little hips as her hands fling back and forth behind her. Ava has the gift of long hair…I think God sent her with extra for Lu. It is at least half way down her back and looks so cute in piggies. She has such small precious features and truly can be so sweet and sensitive. She is a helper; she loves to throw things away for me, or anything I ask her to do. Time and time again she is saying, "Here go Buddy". Evan is Buddy and he is her constant. Evan is ok without Ava, Ava is NOT ok with out Buddy. They have a very special relationship, but I see it more distinctly through Ava. The other day they were standing on the threshold of the door looking outside, holding hands. Charles said, "look" to me, and they just stayed like that for a while…I think I started to cry. I do easily these days because so many cute things like that happening all the time.
Ava is ultra particular when it has to do anything with her. Don't touch her or look at her too long. She will decide when SHE is ready to enter your personal space, but don't dream about coming into hers. Unless you have won her over, which is possible, with patience, time, and basically ignoring her until she is ready, or teasing her. Both methods seem to work occasionally. It is a science you see. Which we continue to think this child has a talent for, science that is. She is extremely detail oriented. Ava is the child that has to have her baby and the babies silky (because she has her own, but I won't let that one out of the crib) ALL the time. I never was one for that because of germs and just yuck…..well you see when Ava doesn't get what Ava wants (when she really wants it) it is not like you can distract her, oh no, and the cry, oh the cry is just enough to drive you to drink. All in all, really is it THAT big of a deal to let the child take her baby and the baby silky to the gym, and everywhere else……..no I guarantee you it is not worth the alternative. So, if baby is lost "baby go, baby go" and oh yes it keeps getting repeated until you say, "Ava you left her in the kitchen" or here or there. For instance, the other day Charles was putting Ava down for a nap and she said "other silky go" that is the babies, and Charles looked ALL over the downstairs for the missing article of precious comfort to the child…but to no avail. I immediately called him to respond to the urgent text and told him to get her out of her crib and tell her to go find it. Low and behold she pointed upstairs, daddy put her down, she went into the laundry room and tada, she opened the washer and their was babies silky….nap time could now continue. Well, after she situates baby, lammy, teddy along with each of their silkies, as well as her own. Do NOT try and rush this process by using a firm "Ava lay down" or it will spiral into an uncontrollable cry, and you realize you hurt her feelings and have just ruined the sequence of all that is holy and will now have to calm her down so she can start again. THAT is my Ava.
Ava loves rainbows. She has 2 rainbow shirts and loves them dearly. She has lungs and knows how to use them with a shill "nooooooooooo". She loves eggs, breakfast foods, rice and sour cream….it should be a staple, she eats it with a spoon. She is a mama's girl, she loves to be held still and is so light I don't seem to mind. She must have her lemon drink in the am, you would think she hadn't drank in a year the way she wines for it. Very dramatic at times and at others totally happy and content on her own. She is my child who really will go off on her own, as long as she know what buddy is doing, and do her own thing. Play in the sand, or lay the blanket perfectly out for baby to lie on, or playing with Soppsy for the longest time…she says it so cute. Ava is a great sister, she helps and is kind and sweet to her sis and bro, and others times can pull hair, grab with her nails with her eye brows raised for emphasis, and a new one is spitting! Ava is a precious treasure. Win this one over and it will make your feel like you just won the lottery.
Charles continues to have many hobbies and is always doing something new, but his love for now is Skydiving. He continues to try new "things" in the air and loves being able to "fly" every weekend, or at least every other. He amazes me, it is so natural to him, and even though I did it twice, I surely would not have jumped out of the plane had I not been attached to a person! It really is a sport and has much to it. Base jumping not allowed!
Charles took a job in computer servers and firewalls up north and worked there for just over a month from. He came home on weekends and thought that was the direction he wanted to go. What we determined however was much different. The kids and I went up to visit for a week as March 9th was our 7 yr anniversary and March 8th the babies turned 2, we after actually being together and talking and being away from St. George, we determined that St. George is where we want to be. We love it here; we want to raise our children here, and of course either choice would have worked, we felt it was up to us, what did we want and what were we willing to do to have what we wanted. Lesson Learned.
Charles continues to work on various new technologies in the computer world and has been hired by a company here; however, he has chosen to work with my dad in developing a project here in St. George. They will be building an Independent Living Facility, as well as retail space and warehouse. There is a lot of potential and this is actually something Charles and I have always wanted to do, we have been having fun so far. Charles is doing school online and besides that he helps tremendously with the kids. They adore him. The other night at Target he got a big stuffed Superman and peeked it around the isle and started making it talk to Evan….I think Evan really thought it was talking to him-ahahah. We were laughing and a woman came around the corner and said, "What an awesome dad". He really is. He is SO involved, he loves them each so much, is so patient, has the best stories, wrestles the best, and can still even change a poopy diaper without barfing (barely). He is great to us all and is meant for great things.
Well, just to have been able to sit down and write these works has done wonders for me. Our life is so much fun. Yes, hard at times, definitely not perfect, but we try and enjoy all we can. I love being a mom and a wife. I could not ask for a more perfect husband and perfect children for me. They see me at my best and worst and help me to want to not have so many worsts. I have been working out at the gym and have loved getting back into classes; they can be so much fun. I am working 2 days a week, which works out well. I would love to open my own yoga studio over where Charles and my dad are developing and have been looking into that.
Charles and I are dreamers….really we are. I believe that we should follow our hearts and do those things are hearts so desire (have you NOT read the Alchemist?). I am just so grateful for all I have. I am so grateful for awesome opportunities and that things have a way of working out when we think positive.
I hope all is well with you and yours. May God Bless you all.
All my love, ANDREA
Evan & Ava 2-Lucy 5
Happy Spring Time!
Greetings to all family and friends! I like to give an update on our little family every 6 months or so, more for me than anything else, so we are a little late, but better late than never.
I am having a quite moment because my children are all in bed (usually by 8 pm) and Charles, is in Paris CA on a weekend Skydiving Get-A-Way.
So, Lucy is 4 going on 5 in June and is becoming such a sweetheart. She has always been so, however, as of late I see her do little things "automatically" rather than having to tell her. For instance, the other day Ava had a melt down, most likely because Evan had whacked her in the face with one of his "guys" or maybe her baby and the babies silky was lost, who knows…the point is that Lucy went over to her knelt down and just held her. It was so precious and more and more I see Lucy becoming such a helpful daughter, a sweet (not all the time) sister, and a fun and outgoing friend. This little change all came about, or was most apparent to me when Charles had started a job in SLC. We were all still here in St. George and I was home with the kids, going to the gym everyday for my get a way, and attempting to work, as much as possible from home. Daddy would come and visit on weekends. While he was gone I told Lucy multiple times, "I can do 2 babies, but not 3. I need your help, can you pleaseeeee help me." (Some of those times I would be in tears, so she actually really listened.) From then on she, for the most part, was my #1 helper! I love watching the changes in my children as they grow up.
Lucy is VERY excited for Kindergarten….the day we registered she cried as we left because she wanted to stay and GO to kindergarten. It was a sad realization for her. The Easter Bunny brought the kids a bunny and it has brought out all the motherly qualities in Lucy. She dotes over the bunny and holds it just like a baby. Last week we moved Lu down stairs with the babies, thinking it would be darker and she would hopefully not get up before 7….well she got a new purples room, but still wakes up at the same time. Which is ok, its almost summer and the weather here in St. George has been gorgeous. Anyway, Lu gets up and looks for Floppsy, who is usually under our bed. It takes her about 5 minutes of sternly saying the bunnies name and hunched on the ground trying to grab the bunny, so of course we are awake. She loves the bunny, and it gives her a great sense of responsibility.
Lucy is reading and usually loves it. She is a matter of fact girl who is increasingly challenging the motherly truths that I simply expect her to take. Either much more explanation or the threat of much more Tabasco is used. I thank my lucky stars to have such an amazing little girl….who at this point still wants to be a Cowgirl when she grows up, and yes, that entails having a farm. Theme song, "Little Liza Jane."
Evan and Ava turned 2 on March 8th! We had a b-day party at Flips gymnastics in Bountiful with some fam and friends and it was so much fun! They absolutely loved it. See they never get to play on any of the equipment when we pick Lucy up for gym here in St G. (except for rare occasions) and so they loved being able to do whatever they wanted. Two, 2 yr olds……when people asked me if 2 babies overwhelmed me, I always said, "no 2 babies doesn't overwhelm me, but two 2 yr old does." And now that we are at that point, I have to say, that YES there are times that are very overwhelming, but even more so, I feel like that is why Lucy has had to be a big helper and of course Evan and Daddy are pretty much connected at the hip, and other "angels" that come around and are just "helpers" to me, make it much for doable and enjoyable. We have fun. I have been so blessed by these 3 little spirits. They are constant teachers to me of happiness, humor, and life lessons.
Evan. Watch out girls, he's gunna getcha, either with his dashing smile and looks, or his kungfoo punch with his guys. This kid has it all. He is all boy. Evan continues to be a social butterfly, a seeker of newness, a lover of new people and places. He is my one child who is not shy at all. He loves his guys. He and daddy play them and yes, Evan can even make those dude sounds that killing, helicopters, crashes etc make. I know even if I tried to a whole day I still could not do it, it must be a talent you're born with. Evan loves wrestling with dad, playing outside with Ava, and boy is he a great jumper on the tramp. He really goes quite high and has a smile the whole time. His theme song is "Big Strong Muscles" hahah he loves it. He loves daddy's burritos, tomatoes, and any snacks….as long as it is in his own baggie.
Now for the real part of Ev that would be greatly sad for him not to know when he is grown….Evan is a very particular child. The "guys" legs have to be just right, if they are not then it could get ugly. Evan is known to have tantrum when "things" don't go his way….on the floor ones. It is really great. Daddy always pretends to call the goblins and it usually stops pretty darn quick. "I happy, no goblins" he says. Evan remembers, don't tell him we can go get a goblin book tomorrow, he will demand to go NOW, or at the very least will remember it the next day. He understands a great deal….But for the real treat, Evan loves new outfits. Yes, he has been going through a phase (hopefully it is a phase) where he is REALLY into what he is wearing. Choices are death. In the beginning I tried to give him a choice, there were days he would choose and then once the shirt was on he would bend over in a horror stricken cry "noooooooooo take it off"…and we would find a new one, only for the same thing to happen. One day I dumped ALL his clothes on the floor and told him to get one he wanted. That was the low point of his relationship with his outfits. We are nearing a peak, as he is getting better and I am getting better at having a "cool" outfit laid out for him in the am, and I let the outfit be HIS discovery. It also helps that daddy always says "NO WAY, dude you get to wear that cool shirt!" Wow, what a trip.
Evan is so cuddly, he will lay by you and glare into your eyes and you feel like you are one….one night we were at my sister's house and I was crouched down as Evan ran to me, he was pretty close to me and I was talking to him. He stared into my eyes and said, "Evan", "Evan" with a big smile and pointing with his finger an inch away from my eye. He could see himself (his reflection) in my eye….we do it all the time now and it is a special little memory. He is such a fun child to have around. He just makes you wanna have fun and smile.
Little Ava Maria….sweet and sassy, that is all there is to it. They don't come any sweeter and they defiantly don't come any sassier. I have often wondered if she was born with the sass or has that come from being a twin and having an older sis that are always in your face. I have determined its both. Ava likes her space and she does what she wants when she wants. She is a little mini with a walk that goes with her attitude. She sways her little hips as her hands fling back and forth behind her. Ava has the gift of long hair…I think God sent her with extra for Lu. It is at least half way down her back and looks so cute in piggies. She has such small precious features and truly can be so sweet and sensitive. She is a helper; she loves to throw things away for me, or anything I ask her to do. Time and time again she is saying, "Here go Buddy". Evan is Buddy and he is her constant. Evan is ok without Ava, Ava is NOT ok with out Buddy. They have a very special relationship, but I see it more distinctly through Ava. The other day they were standing on the threshold of the door looking outside, holding hands. Charles said, "look" to me, and they just stayed like that for a while…I think I started to cry. I do easily these days because so many cute things like that happening all the time.
Ava is ultra particular when it has to do anything with her. Don't touch her or look at her too long. She will decide when SHE is ready to enter your personal space, but don't dream about coming into hers. Unless you have won her over, which is possible, with patience, time, and basically ignoring her until she is ready, or teasing her. Both methods seem to work occasionally. It is a science you see. Which we continue to think this child has a talent for, science that is. She is extremely detail oriented. Ava is the child that has to have her baby and the babies silky (because she has her own, but I won't let that one out of the crib) ALL the time. I never was one for that because of germs and just yuck…..well you see when Ava doesn't get what Ava wants (when she really wants it) it is not like you can distract her, oh no, and the cry, oh the cry is just enough to drive you to drink. All in all, really is it THAT big of a deal to let the child take her baby and the baby silky to the gym, and everywhere else……..no I guarantee you it is not worth the alternative. So, if baby is lost "baby go, baby go" and oh yes it keeps getting repeated until you say, "Ava you left her in the kitchen" or here or there. For instance, the other day Charles was putting Ava down for a nap and she said "other silky go" that is the babies, and Charles looked ALL over the downstairs for the missing article of precious comfort to the child…but to no avail. I immediately called him to respond to the urgent text and told him to get her out of her crib and tell her to go find it. Low and behold she pointed upstairs, daddy put her down, she went into the laundry room and tada, she opened the washer and their was babies silky….nap time could now continue. Well, after she situates baby, lammy, teddy along with each of their silkies, as well as her own. Do NOT try and rush this process by using a firm "Ava lay down" or it will spiral into an uncontrollable cry, and you realize you hurt her feelings and have just ruined the sequence of all that is holy and will now have to calm her down so she can start again. THAT is my Ava.
Ava loves rainbows. She has 2 rainbow shirts and loves them dearly. She has lungs and knows how to use them with a shill "nooooooooooo". She loves eggs, breakfast foods, rice and sour cream….it should be a staple, she eats it with a spoon. She is a mama's girl, she loves to be held still and is so light I don't seem to mind. She must have her lemon drink in the am, you would think she hadn't drank in a year the way she wines for it. Very dramatic at times and at others totally happy and content on her own. She is my child who really will go off on her own, as long as she know what buddy is doing, and do her own thing. Play in the sand, or lay the blanket perfectly out for baby to lie on, or playing with Soppsy for the longest time…she says it so cute. Ava is a great sister, she helps and is kind and sweet to her sis and bro, and others times can pull hair, grab with her nails with her eye brows raised for emphasis, and a new one is spitting! Ava is a precious treasure. Win this one over and it will make your feel like you just won the lottery.
Charles continues to have many hobbies and is always doing something new, but his love for now is Skydiving. He continues to try new "things" in the air and loves being able to "fly" every weekend, or at least every other. He amazes me, it is so natural to him, and even though I did it twice, I surely would not have jumped out of the plane had I not been attached to a person! It really is a sport and has much to it. Base jumping not allowed!
Charles took a job in computer servers and firewalls up north and worked there for just over a month from. He came home on weekends and thought that was the direction he wanted to go. What we determined however was much different. The kids and I went up to visit for a week as March 9th was our 7 yr anniversary and March 8th the babies turned 2, we after actually being together and talking and being away from St. George, we determined that St. George is where we want to be. We love it here; we want to raise our children here, and of course either choice would have worked, we felt it was up to us, what did we want and what were we willing to do to have what we wanted. Lesson Learned.
Charles continues to work on various new technologies in the computer world and has been hired by a company here; however, he has chosen to work with my dad in developing a project here in St. George. They will be building an Independent Living Facility, as well as retail space and warehouse. There is a lot of potential and this is actually something Charles and I have always wanted to do, we have been having fun so far. Charles is doing school online and besides that he helps tremendously with the kids. They adore him. The other night at Target he got a big stuffed Superman and peeked it around the isle and started making it talk to Evan….I think Evan really thought it was talking to him-ahahah. We were laughing and a woman came around the corner and said, "What an awesome dad". He really is. He is SO involved, he loves them each so much, is so patient, has the best stories, wrestles the best, and can still even change a poopy diaper without barfing (barely). He is great to us all and is meant for great things.
Well, just to have been able to sit down and write these works has done wonders for me. Our life is so much fun. Yes, hard at times, definitely not perfect, but we try and enjoy all we can. I love being a mom and a wife. I could not ask for a more perfect husband and perfect children for me. They see me at my best and worst and help me to want to not have so many worsts. I have been working out at the gym and have loved getting back into classes; they can be so much fun. I am working 2 days a week, which works out well. I would love to open my own yoga studio over where Charles and my dad are developing and have been looking into that.
Charles and I are dreamers….really we are. I believe that we should follow our hearts and do those things are hearts so desire (have you NOT read the Alchemist?). I am just so grateful for all I have. I am so grateful for awesome opportunities and that things have a way of working out when we think positive.
I hope all is well with you and yours. May God Bless you all.
All my love, ANDREA
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