Hour TO Hope

Oh my goodness y'all- you have to listen to my cousin Shelly's husbands (Nick) band...( kind of a confusing sentence huh?)

His band made it to the  final round of battle of the bands in Minneapolis! I think it started out with like 130 bands and they've made it to the top 10 or so. I hear they end up performing for studio execs, so it's a really big deal! Anyway I've never been able to go up for any of his shows but I just started listening to his stuff on myspace and it's sooo great! I love hip hop and rap so combine that with a really beautiful christian message and I'm sold!!!

http://www.myspace.com/hourtohope

fun friend wednesdays!

My friend Krista and her baby Brian come over to play on Wednesdays. It's sooo nice for me to have an adult conversation, but it's also a great time for our babies to do some socializing! I captured some of their interaction today. I'm sure you'll get a kick out of it. I know Krista and I did:)

Holiday's are so much more fun with a baby. As my Granny said "You really don't need to plan anything, they are the whole show!" Well said Granny:) Ava looked adorable in her new pink Easter dress from Grammy.  We had a blast shopping for it and even more fun dressing Ava up in it:) It is so ridiculously fun having a girl, she is my little dollie. What a lucky lady I am:)

After a scrumptious meal we spent the afternoon outside egg hunting and kite flying. 

Here are some hilarious pictures of my darling cousin Isabel finding the "golden egg" after about an hour of searching. She is soooo happy:)

Here are a few pics of us doing what we do at Granny Birkelands house. Music. Lots and lots of music! Basically everyone in the whole family plays an instrument or sings so these gatherings are a lot of fun. My cousin Gwen and her boyfriend Jacob are opening for Jars of Clay next month!!! I still can't believe it, I'm so proud of you guys! I also have to mention how much Ava loved loved loved Jacob ( He's the one showing her the guitar below). No matter what mood she was in that day, he would get the biggest smiles out of her. This was especially nice since she was really sick that day with her first cold!  

It was a lovely Easter, and the only thing that could have made it better would have  been if my hubby could have been there. We did get to talk on the phone and skype in the morning so he could see Ava in her Easter best:)

Sad weekend fun weekend

So Jas left on Saturday. And I can honestly say that it went well. Thank God for that. Seriously, we've had some pretty traumatic goodbye's in the past but not this time. I think we've been preparing for this for so long that in a way it was sort of a relief to have the leaving over with. Of course we were/are sad, as any couple would be. It's a long time to be apart! But oddly enough I am at peace. Goodness that sounds cliche- Well it might sound cliche, but it's really happening to me. I mean, my man, my lover, my best friend, my emotional support isn't here and I'm doing ok?? I think that maybe for the first time I truly understand Philippians 4:6-7

Don't worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. 

7 Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 

That's it. That's exactly how I feel, like my heart is being guarded, surrounded with peace. Now even though I know that all this is Jesus' doing, there is really something to be said for feeling so supported by the "Church". I can't express my gratitude enough to those of you reading this who have reached out to me before Jason left and since. It really does ease the burden of his leaving and helps me not to get too wrapped up in myself. Thank you thank you thank you for all the offers to: babysit, have me over for dinner, take care of house problems, go out shopping, bring me food and to keep me company. I feel so blessed.  

Here are some pic's from the weekend. My Mom and Aunt came down to spoil Ava and I. We had a blast as usual even though I was sick with a nasty cold!

Breakfast at our favorite place Grounds for Celebration

     <--Look at Ava's expression here:)

Ava With Great Aunt Debbie. So much Love!

     

    

Moments with Daddy- And yes, she is having fun:)

  

Too precious for words

Family time

You'll have to excuse me for not blogging for the last two weeks. I was having way too much fun with my sister-in-law and her hubby cliff and our nephew James. They were here visiting from North Carolina and we had so much fun! It was so good to see them, we miss them a lot and treasure any time we get to spend with each other.

Ava loves James. Whenever he's in the room, she's watching him studying him closely, wishing she was as mobile as him! Here's a few cute pics for y'all to enjoy. I have to let you know that I didn't take a single one of these pictures, these were taken by Diane, Jessica and Jas ( I can't help saying y'all now after spending the week around Cliff!)

Seriously, is my nephew cute or what? He's got this look down!


Cliff and I got to record some of our music this week too!! We had a lot of fun, even though I was a bit rusty. Ok, very rusty. But Cliff was very patient and encouraging to me which was really nice. His quote of the week was "Well it's close but.....let's try that again" 

Notice our makeshift mic screen. -It's hard to take yourself too seriously when you're singing into a pair of pantyhose!


Here is James reading Ava's favorite book (Peek-a-zoo) to her. She loved it and of course we all thought it was adorable:)
                            

I'm not sure what's going on in this picture but it cracks me up because it looks like Jas is trying to make a point, & Jessica is firmly disagreeing with him. I wasn't there for this moment, so I'm just making my best guess:) I sort of just wanted to show Aunt Jessica with Ava in her favorite position. It works like a charm when she hits her crabby-time*

Oh this picture just kills me! They are so cute together, in a manly way though, you know?

Just a few more cute ones of my little darling in her "going to the gym" outfit:) And of course one of her playing with her little twinkle toes. I love her so much I can hardly stand it