Happy Birthday Ava Jane!

So in the year of magical birthdays, Ava turned 2 on the 11th day of the 11th month in the year 2011.  I don't know what you call that birthday, but it was pretty special for other reasons.  You see, Ava's birthday kicked off a weekend of glorious events.  After the jog-a-thon, we came home and got to work making strawberry cake (which the girls did by themselves), and pork and sauerkraut pirogies.  My Mom had been cooking all morning with Aunt Peggy and made a pan full of gollumki (I am positive that is not how you spell it).  Becky, Tyler and Maren and Greg & Britany came in town for Joe and Michele's 25th Anniversary party.  So we had a big Polish fest for Ava's birthday. 

I just love creating memories and passing down traditions to the kids.  There is something so moving about knowing that you are repeating a process that has been done for generations.  The kids love being involved.

The finished product........absolutely delicious and it is amazing how the taste of certain food can actually take you back in time.  I thought about Babci and her long silver hair always pinned up just so.  I thought of how she always used vitabath and how I used to be a little afraid of her because she would yell at us sometimes when she lived with us.  All from one bite of food.  Hope we made you proud Babci!  The cake came out beautiful and delicious.

And what about that sweet thing blowing out the candles :)

You got lots of gifts and lots of help opening your gifts!

I hope you know what a gift you are to us.  We named you Ava Jane which means "God is gracious with life" and He has been so gracious to us.  You are the little spark around our house and you think you run the show.  You have been the source of thousands of smiles that never would have been if there had been no you.  You have stretched and bent and twisted my heart and I can not believe that you are already 2 years old.  Happy 11-11-11 Ava - we love you!!!!!