Arrrgh! Happy Birthday!

This is a big celebration weekend at home. Tomorrow, my niece, Ava turns 3, which is cause for nothing short of big doin's.

She's one of those people in my life that didn't have to do more than just show up to become one of my top favorite people in the whole world. Then, as luck would have it, she grew older and more interesting, and without effort on her part, offered more reason than just living to maintain the "top favorite people in the whole world" status.

I mean, watching her do this is entertaining. No one else makes me laugh while doing that.

Charming she is, like when she sings, "Take My Life and Let It Be" in a pirate voice with her index finger in a hook.

Or, when she ran to the altar, flipped my train in the air, and climbed under my wedding dress, creating an uproar of laughter and breaking the awkward, "everyone is looking at me while I change my entire life" ice. When she's older and understands, I'll be sure to thank her.

When she's in the car with my mom, listening to her favorite mixed cd and says, "Mamaw, is this Madonna?"

She knows every animal, every song, makes friends where ever she goes, has an amazing smile, sense of humor and a knack for getting herself out of trouble in a mili - second.

Ava came into the world at a time when we needed an extra dose of happiness. She reminded us what love and family meant. And she continues to do so each day. She moved up from California to Washington as Ian and I were making plans to move to New York. She made the decision so much harder. I cried all the way home from N. Mason the night before we moved. I hate thinking about that, but it solidifies what family is and NEEDS to be in our lives, even from so far away and what God intended it to be. It can't make us happy, if we don't allow it to make us sad sometimes too.

Right now, I'm sad to not be there to bring in 3 with Ava. But more than that, I'm happy that she is 3. I'm happy that she gets to be happy that she's the special girl tomorrow and I hope she knows how special she is to all of us everyday.

Ava is the care - free, silly, happy girl that she is because of her parents. They let her be her, while instilling values of love, care and friendliness. Happy 3rd Birthday to Ava AND Brad and Heather!



( Suddenly I have lost what little blogging skill I had, and cannot figure out how to post a picture. hhhmmgh! Happy B-day any way A-Girl )