Into the Fourth Year IV

This is one of many spray paintings that Ava's made on the computer lately.  She's able to change the colors herself, and, like some of the kids' websites that she goes to, she can navigate around without asking for too much help. 

Ava says that this painting is a total abstraction, or "a non-objective composition," as she prefers to call it.  I don't know where she got that from...

 

Some final primping from Mommy just before her picture day at dance class.  Her class is doing a "Little Devil" theme thing, as you can probably tell.

 

Helping with the yard work with her very own watering can.  In fact, it's our only watering can now, I think, so it's the one that I'll have to use this summer, too.

 

Looking for more things to water.  After several weeks of fairly constant rain and cold, this was a nice day with a lot of good light in the late afternoon.

 

I tend to set the camera on the continuous shooting mode and let it take 10 or 15 shots over the course of a few seconds, then I look at them later and keep a few, like this one...

 

...and this one.

 

Helping Cousin Megan celebrate her sixth birthday in late May.

 

 

On the Square in Medina on Memorial Day, waiting for the parade to begin.  By this point, word had spread that kids along the curb would have candy tossed at them by people in the parade, so Ava was being extra attentive.

 

During the parade, someone's big bag of candy got dropped in the middle of the road before they could throw any of it to kids sitting near us.  Ava and the rest of this thought that this was kind of funny.  She eventually did get quite a lot of candy, although some it from this pile was pretty squished.

 

To the nimble goes the candy.  This is the Junior High band, with casual and heat-wave-friendly attire.  The High School band hasn't changed since I was in it, though--they had to wear their thick and heavy uniforms regardless of the tropical heat and humidity on this day, and none of them broke the rank-and-file order to pick up any candy.

 

Later that day, Cousin Jessie reads Ava's favorite book of the moment (Mermaidia) to her.  We visited because it was a holiday and, more importantly, it was Aunt Valerie Jeanne's LMst birthday.  Ava's pink sandals stretch over the edge of the couch more than they did a year ago.

 

During a visit with Mommy's friend, Mrs. Werner, Ava got yet another stuffed animal.

 

Mrs. Werner (who used to run a greenhouse that Mommy liked to visit) makes a special bouquet for Ava in her backyard before we left.

 

We've returned to doing our evening walks now that it's warmer.

 

We all got our first taste of the rigors of show business in the days leading up to the season-ending dance recital in June.  On this particular day, Ava and I had to be present for two very long dress rehearsals.  Here, Ava and her class practice the show's finale, where they sit at the edge of the stage and are assisted by some older girls.

Before the big performance, a donut helps put a little gas in the tank.  Since she sat in the audience with us for some of the show, Ava had to have her glittery devil costume covered up.

The most dreaded part of the whole thing...putting on the horns, which always made for some ouchies.  Mommy's hands were the most gentle, so she gets the task here.

Outside during intermission, Mommy shows Ava her name in the program.

Pondering her college major.

Waiting with Cousin Brianna for everyone else to figure out the next stop at the Cleveland Zoo.

This is only the third haircut that she's ever had.  Ava sat for it well, taking the chair after me when Abby cut my hair on July 1st.

Bubble mania with Cousins Megan and Morgan at Bunny and Bill's house during the Fourth of July weekend.

Going for a walk with me on the night of July 4th.  I used some fill flash here to brighten her face a bit in the early evening light, and I think that it worked fairly well.

A swallowtail butterfly in a bush next to our house.  Having a camera on me at all times for whatever Ava does next has its rewards.  Maybe I'll get a tornado next time.

Jumping for joy as we hit beach number one on our vacation--Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina.

Watching the waves with Mommy a few minutes later.

Ava tries to convince Mommy and the park ranger that she's tall enough to climb the mighty Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (the tallest in the U.S.) all by herself.  It looked to us like she was a half-inch shy of the minimum, but the ranger thought that she was "purty" and let her go on up.  He was also impressed by her determination to walk all of those steps by herself, which she did, holding Mommy's hand all of the way up and down.

Beach number two of the trip was at North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where we met up with many members of Mommy's family and Aunt Sessie's family.  On the first night, Ava and Cousin Valerie went for a walk.

 

There was talk about each family being part of a shark-tooth-hunting competition, so I made t-shirts to inspire us.  Sadly, despite the hype here, and despite some earnest looking, Team Reishark netted zero shark teeth in the end.  Uncle Mark's tally was way more impressive.

Heading into the water (ankle deep for Ava, likely) with Cousin Megan.

On Uncle Mark's shoulders during a nighttime stroll.

Resting a moment with Mommy at Barefoot Landing in Myrtle Beach.

Riding the carousel at Barefoot Landing with Cousin Brianna.

Getting adventurous with Mommy in the waves the next day.

Each night's dinner in the beach house was a different theme, and this night was Hawaiian Luau night.  Everyone under 40 who was there that night is in this picture.

Watching all the commotion as she eats her tasty Luau dinner.

Somewhere in West Virginia on the long ride home.

I finally got to show Ava a different kind of Ava...the very small town in Southern Ohio that Opa and I visited over 30 years ago when we used to go fishing down here.  She was quite impressed and didn't have to be asked twice to get out of the car for a photo or two, despite the 98º heat.

 

Making funny faces for Cousin Jessie when the camera was connected to the television.  You can never get anyone to look into the camera lens when the camera is connected to the television!

Trying on her bikini on a Sunday morning before going to Aunt Sessie's pool.

Later that day.....After much coaching from Uncle Mark and Mommy, Ava was able to leap into the water knowing that they'd catch her before her head went under.

Her reward: Headquarters.

An earlybird freshman.

Checking out the new Winchesters at Giant Eagle.

After much anticipation, Ava was happy to finally go to her Fourth Birthday party.  Since it was in the same park once again, Aunt Renee and I were able to take pictures of Ava and her cousins in front of (and on) the climbing wall once just like three years ago.  Note how some of the cousins have grown since then!

At the bottom of a slide with Cousin Valerie.  I think that Ava has crazy static hair from the slide....Let's go in for a closer look....

Oh yes...

Many cousins (and Aunt Valerie) were involved with the opening of some spiffy gifts.

One last look at the princess-themed cake before it was cut.

So, it's into the fifth year already....

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