Brislin Family

Swim time

It's spring in Fresno, which means pool time!! Ava has barely seen the sun her whole life...so daily sunscreen and pools are new for her! Even though we took lessons in Portland... It's different being free in the water (and in an outdoor
Pool!). She started out very timid,.. But once she figured out her floaty vest would keep her afloat, she was swimming like a fish for hours. It's the beginning of a nice long stretch of pool time!! Now we just have to get her to lose the floaties!!

Happy- at anything!!

Yup... This pretty much sums Claire up! It had been a long day, no nap, skipped lunch, being drug from one Ava activity to another... Yet she's having the most fun at the tumble America birthday party of Ava's friend! Thank you God for my happy girl :)

Two teeth!!

I realize poor Claire gets no attention on the blog!! I need to get on it more! She's such a big girl now sitting, almost crawling, starting to babble mama, dada, nana...and just popped out her two little bottom teeth!!! I'm not ready for my baby to get big! She's such a sweet and good baby...we are lucky! Ava is her favorite toy, and she literally squeals with excitement and flaps her little arms whenever Ava runs past :) her flapping is hilarious... She pants like a dog and flaps those chubby little arms like she's going to fly away whenever she's happy! That's the best way to sum her up.... Happy! :)

Visit "home"

I had an opportunity to bring Ava with me on my latest work trip to Portland so she could see some buddies...she was so excited and gets to go to her old daycare for 2 days!!! They all had a squealy little embrace when she arrived and it made my heart melt to see how happy she was being back "home" with her peeps... Hopefully we can do it every so often...it's been fun having a little travel buddy this week!

Taking care of herself

I have been so wrapped up with Claire lately that I feel like Ava is all of a sudden a big kid. I kept making her wait for me to make her lunch, then found Her making it herself!! :) it's nice on one hand, but also makes me sad she's growing up so fast!!!

Our Dainty Girl

We all know the brislins make chunky babies...but to put it in perspective, we had a little side by side comparison with cousin Luke...guess which leg is Claire's?? :) she will hate us for this pic someday....

Sister park time

The weather has been in the 70s and I'm loving it! Ava is still adjusting to playing outdoors all the time ( she still prefers indoors!!) and I'm adjusting to remembering hats and sunscreen for my kids in feb! But we have had some great afternoons at the park. Claire loves the swings so it's fun for them to do that together. Ava always wants claire to sit in her lap. Dont know why Claire isn't too happy in this pic ...could be the clovers sprinkled all over her head...or the fact that pesky sister is trying to hold her again :) either way, there sisters do live each other!

A fathers love

On valentines day I was scrambling through the store to find something for Ava when she got home (since I kinda forgot to do anything special that morning). It was enough to just have the valentines all signed for her class party! So Im in the store and come across this huge balloon and see the $10 price and say to myself "who spends $10 on a balloon? People are crazy"...so I pick up my $1 chocolate bear and go home. Well....guess I found out who spends $10 on the balloon!!!!! Tim proudly walked through the door with the obvious best valentines present Ava got that day! Her daddy loves her!

Big cousin

Ava likes being a big helper cousin to Grace (when shes not bossing her around). Today she pushed her around on the tricycle and back at nannas Grace requested Ava read to her, so Ava loved having a captive audience as she read grace a few stories. She even shows the pictures like they do at school! :) I live that they are becoming good friends!!

Evening story for claire

While I fold laundry, Ava is great keeping Claire entertained with books! Claire just sits happily and stares :)