Las Vegas

After Christmas we packed up and drove to Las Vegas. 

We spent the week playing card games, eating good food and catching up with family. 

It was a great week.

Having fun with the uncles 

staring down that dice tower...

After church in her Christmas dress from Grandma

One afternoon we all went down to the Bellagio to walk around and see the fountain show. Ava loved the fountains and all of the Christmas decorations that were still up

Waiting for the show to start...

Ava watched the show with Grandma and really liked the fountains for the most part

The Bellagio was pretty packed, but it was worth fighting the crowds- it was decorated so pretty and Ava loved it.

Me and Maddie waiting to go out to the cars. She was such a sweetheart with Ava. I love that Ava has so many fun cousins. 

December Happenings

December is my favorite month of the year and like it always does- it went by way too fast.

We spent the month decorating the house and yard for Christmas, going to Costco, going on walks, and going to parks. Jeff was still in Texas for the first few weeks of December and we were so happy when he joined us out here in sunny Arizona.

Costco trips = hotdogs and drinks :)

Watching Christmas cartoons with Will

The weather was so nice! We were still wearing shorts for the first couple of weeks.

She only wants to go on the big kid swings now

Me and Jeff sent a lot of pics and selfies to keep each other in the loop for the month we were apart. I left Texas before Thanksgiving and he stayed behind to finish up school. It was a long time to be apart for us, but school kept him busy- and Ava kept me busy so the time went by faster than either of us anticipated- and now we both have a surplus of selfies. 

Ava's living the life

Ava really wanted to be in the tree like Will....until she was actually up in the tree and then she hated it

I decorated the tree myself this year.

I focused on using a lot of lights :)

Ava does this new thing where she lays down and plays dead if I catch her doing something she's not supposed to be doing. Here, she's up on Grandma's desk messing things up. She thinks if she plays dead I'll leave her alone....

And Jeff made it to Arizona!

His parents drove with him out here with all of our stuff. They were a big help!

Will and Ava at the elephant park

My brother sent me a picture of him in the freezing cold at one of the bowl games in Boise- and since I'm a nice sister I sent him this one back of me out on a sunny walk without a jacket :)

Still loving Costco

Naked cartoon watching

Before going to the ward Christmas party. 

And I cleaned out my phone for 2014!!!

Ready for 2015. Let's go!

Christmas 2014

This year we spent Christmas in Arizona. 

On Christmas Ever we had a little program and while Jeff read from Luke, we acted out the story of Christ's birth. 

Ava was Mary- here she is riding her donkey/moose :)

Ava in her Christmas jammies getting ready to open one present before going to bed

"oh wooooow oh wow oh woooooow"

Family pictures in from of the tree before bed

And then Jeff and I stayed up late putting some toys together....

Christmas morning!

  

 My parents got her this tent/tunnel thing to run around in- Ava loves it

Christmas cuddles. 

I was loving this!  

She never stays still for this long

 We had such a fun Christmas and we're so grateful to our family for remembering us this season. My grandparents in Concord sent us a package filled with books and toys for Ava that she just loved. The quiet book my grandma sent is a major hit. Ava loves it. Ava also really loves her play table my parents spent. She loves to sit and play or sit and eat  her snacks. It's perfect! 

That night we celebrated my birthday! A few days earlier Jeff and I had gone out on a date and did some birthday shopping, and this night we just celebrated with a cake. Jeff had bought a cake to make that day but the night before when I questioned him further about what he got we realized he forgot to get the stuff to make frosting. Jeff was outraged that the frosting didn't come with the cake mix lol he claimed false advertising since the cake on the box has a picture that includes frosting....:)- oh well. We also didn't have any eggs so Jeff had to go bum some off the neighbors. Thankfully Amy saved the day and brought the most delicious chocolate frosting for that night. 

And now I'm 27. 

Merry Christmas to everyone! I hope everyone had as wonderful a day as we did.

The Greats

Since coming to Arizona I've just loved hanging out with my Grandparents. It's so fun seeing them with Ava. They make pretty awesome Great-Grandparents :)

Ava loves coming up and cuddling with her Great-Grandpa at the end of the day. And Ava's Great- Grandma is always quick to give her a baggie of her favorite goldfish or a popsicle. 

Ava's in heaven.

End of the day snuggles

Getting ready for church- can you spot Ava??

Discussing important business

Great-Grandma letting Ava play her games

Apple lovers 

Putting together Will's puzzle. 

I'm sure Ava was helping a ton. 

This year we're sure thankful for family, especially Great- Grandparents :)

Christmas Throwback

In the beginning of December my mom sent me a package with some Christmas goodies and she included this Christmas outfit that I wore when I was Ava's age.

I about died she looked so cute in it.

The progression of Ava....

1. She sees you and walks toward you looking cute as a button

2. She gets excited and picks up her pace

3. She sees she's getting close, and thinks for a second about slowing down.....

4. ....she then scratches that idea and goes for the tackle