Ava turns Five!

I am sorry I have taken a little hiatus from blogging, but I am back!  I did miss a couple of important events while I was away though, one of which being Ava's fifth birthday!

January birthdays seem to come all too quickly after the big Christmas celebration...they run together making it into one big party.  We had three celebrations for Ava's birthday this year: one in Carmel with cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents, a small family celebration on her actual birthday, then we celebrated with one of her friends a week or so later.

She loved being in the spotlight in Carmel

For her actual party she invited one of her close friends from church, Whitney, whom the girls all love and get along with wonderfully.  They painted frames, got their nails painted at the nail salon, had pizza and parfaits for dinner, then put on a fashion show for Paul and me.

Their finished frames

The birthday girl getting her nails done

All the girls waiting for their nails to dry.

Ava the little mermaid

Rose as Merida from Brave...shooting her fake bow and arrow

Whitney as Batgirl

Madeline the little princess

And Ella....I love how she posed with her hands on her  hips!

Pizza and Sprite

They serenaded us with One Directions "You Don't Know You're Beautiful."  Hilarious.

Ava is such a sweet five year old!  She is very sensitive and still has her temperamental moments, but she is very nurturing and compassionate toward others.  She is a little mother...often seen with a baby doll in her arms...toting it around, dressing it, or pushing it in her baby stroller.  Ava asks to be held whenever she sees empty arms; she is quite the cuddlebug.  Her sisters are her best friends...they do everything together. Her favorite thing to play with them is pretend (especially Mommy and baby)...I am often impressed by their imaginations!  She is finishing up gymnastics right now and is starting soccer with Paul as her coach.

As Paul is always telling her, "We always wanted a little Ava."  We couldn't imagine life without her!

Becoming an Adult

I know I technically became an adult at the age of 18, but I didn't feel like a "real" adult until I hit 30.  Paul and I have always been the young ones among our friends here in Kentucky.  Although they never treated us like kids, I know we made them feel old.  But I kind of liked being young...still in my 20s.  Now I can't say that anymore.

Here are Paul and I last year...still in our 20s :)

So this year, I decided that a family Barn Dance would be the perfect way to bring my 30s in with a bang!  Not only do my siblings make me feel young, but they make everything a party.  We laughed and danced, snacked and danced, chatted and danced and danced and danced.  Here are some of the best pictures that are an attempt to capture what a blast we had!

Max's awesome photographer shot...one of my favs.

Orange soda junkies

Overall twins doing the "Mollie pose"

Sunflowers, burlap, & antique lace to set the mood

DJ Luke keeping the party going

Yes, we learned a coordinated dance...Hoedown Throwdown!

Peanuts in tin buckets

Sangria gals

Um...I think Sam thinks wearing his pants
higher makes him look more country?!

Leaning it left

Even Mom's going country

The Klinkers representing at the mostly Titus party

That's how we roll!

Cowboy boot cookies

Taking Madeline for a ride

Lee got to experience the Titus craziness
for the first time

Belting it out

Sisters

Slow dance with the husband

Mollie actually got Jonathan on the dance floor

Having WAY too much fun!

Doing the 'Bootin Scootin Boogie"

How many girls can you fit in the wheelbarrow?

I don't think Madeline ever left the dance floor!

ALL my favorite people, minus Nicholas, of course :(

Thanks to all my family for making my big jump into adulthood one that I will never forget!