Cows Are to Subdued as Ava Is to Happy

During Memorial Day weekend, we went up to Preston, Idaho with the Olsen clan. While there, we went to visit the Becksteads (Krista's maternal grandparents) on their farm. Ava was pretty excited to see the farm again, but things started out on the wrong foot when her dandelion fell over.

Larry soon distracted her, however, by pointing out some of the farm animals and making cow noises.

What is Ava so excitedly pointing at here you ask...?

...why Grandpa Beckstead's cows of course. Although the cows do not appear to be equally enthused.

Ava especially liked these little calves.

Not pictured: Ava fretting over her shoes getting dirty from walking around the barnyard (she's definitely her father's daughter).

Cooking Time With Ava

Last Christmas Ava received a kitchen set from Santa. It has since become her favorite toy.

We keep the kitchen down in the basement, so Ava is constantly asking to "go downstairs and play with the kitchen". Once in the basement, she'll say "Daddy/Mommy come cook". She really enjoys making pizza and cupcakes, which she then serves up to her mommy, daddy, and little brother Jellybean. She also likes preparing bananas and bottles for her baby dolls.

She sometimes gets a little silly when she's in her kitchen.

She also tends to make a pretty big mess playing in her kitchen, but she'll typically help clean-up afterward so long as we sing the "Clean-up Song". We can't wait until she's old enough to do some real cooking.

Hairdo Poetry

Ava has many different ways in which she likes to wear her hair. Sometimes she wears it up...

...and sometimes she wears it down.

In the mornings a hairdo for lounging around...

...in the evenings a hairdo for going out on the town.

Sometimes she wears it curly...

...other times she wears it in braids.

Many days she'll put it in pigtails...

...but sometime she'll just wear it with shades.

Though no matter how she wears her hair, there's one thing that stays the same...

...her hairstyle may always be changing, but she'll always be our little dame.

A Wild And Crazy Girl

Ava's latest quirk is that she likes to dress herself. She is extremely adamant about doing it completely on her own and gets quite angry if anyone so much as attempts to help her. What's worse is that she also likes to choose her own outfits. Every morning she selects from her wardrobe something to wear that is even odder than what she wore the day before. Often changing outfits several times a day, she will rummage through her closet and drawers picking out articles of clothing (both old and new) until she concocts the strangest ensemble you've ever seen. Here she is wearing one of her 6-month dresses as a shirt over top of some pajama pants and her favorite Little Mermaid socks. She has accessorized with a baby bib, sunglasses, and an infant hat.

Sometimes she even refuses to change into something more presentable before leaving the house, forcing us to take her out in public looking like Drop Dead Fred's kid sister. On the bright side, her zany outfits tend to bring out her wild and crazy side. Just take this video for example.