fort wayne, indiana

april 20, i FINALLY took ava back to my hometown for the 2nd time in her life. the first time was when she was 3 months old so i'm sure she doesn't remember a thing! we stayed with my best friend becky and her family. she has a daughter that will be 2 in july. i was so excited for ava to have someone to play with for awhile. however, 2 and 4 are quite an age difference and they didn't get along too well. i know there were lots of factors affecting the way they were with each other. i'm sure kelsy was a bit jealous of the attention her mom was paying towards ava and i. and i'm sure ava was a bit jealous of the attention i was paying towards kesly and becky. but we did have some good times with them! and it was wonderful to be able to spend all that time with becky, i miss having her near me.
ava also got to meet my longtime friend, aimee, and her daughter, lillie. it took ava about 20 minutes, but once she was comfortable, her and lillie became instant friends!!! they played together allllllll day!! i really wish i lived near all my old friends. i am sad that ava won't have close relationships with their children. i wish that was the way she could grow up.
on our last day there, becky and i took the girls to the zoo. fort wayne childrens zoo is such a great zoo!!! the weather wasn't perfect, but it was super hot either which was nice. a bit cloudy and windy, but the sun came out for a bit here and there.
overall, it was nice to get away and GREAT to see my bestest friend in the whole wide world!! i'm so glad ava got to meet some of the most important people in my life!

Ava and Lillie

that hug is seriously the cutest thing i have ever seen!!!

Ava and Kelsy

Becky and Kelsy at the zoo

Fort Wayne Children's Zoo....terrific zoo!!!

the four of us

these next 2 pictures are so important to me...the house in the background is the house i grew up in. all of my childhood memories are associated with this house. i loved it and the neighborhood i grew up in, i was very fortunate!!

i will never forget this day for as long as i live. i was 15 years old and a boy i had grown up with was in an awful car accident that claimed his life and that of his passenger friends life. it is an amazing experience to go through as a teenager when you think you are completely invincible and realize that no one is. this was the first time since the funeral that i have visited his grave. i have always meant to but never did. i know in the future each and every time i am in fort wayne, i will visit his grave site. never forgotten.