Santa's message

My brother found this cute little site for the kids about a week before Christmas. We told Ava Santa sent her and Dresden and email. Ava was so excited to watch her "mail" from Santa! I thought it would be fun to video her watching it. Ava was so cute. Dresden didn't quit know what it was but liked seeing pictures of himself! It couldn't pronounce Dresden so his didn't say his name. It was so fun to put in what we wanted them to work on. I wish we could have picked more than one! Everyone was asking Ava what Santa was bringing her and every time she said "a pink baby doll". I had never heard her say that so we had to hurry and tell Santa that's what she wanted!
Don't mind that we are still wearing our halloween jammies!

Click on the link to watch their videos. Seriously so cute!!
http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/watch/guest/0mi5goABWxZUpcFskDK9yg

This is Ava watching her video.

Untitled from raquel wilbur on Vimeo.

Dresden's message from Santa!

http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/watch/guest/XBPfmxEiZAXvZI-FwGTH3Q

Parent teacher conference

A few days ago we got to have parent teacher conference with Ava's preschool teacher Mrs. Waker. It was so nice to sit down and talk about how and what she is doing. Eric came to because he had actually never met her. Ava was very excited to be there and give her her Christmas present. I was so pleased to hear that Ava is doing great! Her teacher said she is gaining better social skills with her friends, and her speech is improving as well. Mrs. Waker was impressed that she could write her name as well as all the letters in the alphabet. At one point she was talking about the skills they like kids to have before kindergarten and mention something about next year. Eric said she is only 3 and has one more year. Mrs. Waker look surprised and wondered why she thought she was older. She said probably because she is so bright! I was extremely happy to hear that, especially since she is in the older class. We are now working on recognizing numbers and writing them. And we have always been working on her stubbornness!
We had to ask the teacher if they had been talking about China. We were surprised when she said they hadn't! For a couple weeks Ava keeps mentioning random things about China. She bended her straw in half and said she was using chop sticks! Then when she says her prayers she says " ...and grateful for the Chinese"! And my most favorite was when we were driving and she was being silly. Eric said "your a silly goose". And Ava says "I'm not a silly goose, I'm a person". She paused for a second and then said "made in China"! We were seriously dying. What a funny girl. She always says the most random things! And that's why we love her!
I'm so proud of Ava. She has always been good about going to school. She loves to do her homework, especially when she gets to sit at the table by daddy while he does his homework too! We love you Ava!

And just for fun here are just a few recent pics of Ava!

Cactus garden Christmas lights

Last weekend we went with our friends the Nelsons, Winwards, and Kinghorns to Broadway Pizza and then to Ethel M. Chocolate Factory Cactus garden's. It was pretty cool to see all the cactus and trees full of Christmas lights. We had fun walking around together and then enjoyed some hot chocolate!

November fun

November went by so fast! These are just a few pictures of the fun we had in November.

I found a few more from Thanksgiving weekend.

Bryn and Dresden watching Toy Story 3!

Tank and Sienna. They were being so cute together.

Watching a movie with Tyson, Bryn and Taige.

It actually got pretty chilly here in Vegas for a few days so the kids got to dress warm. Dresden LOVES wearing hats.

just my silly boy making a mess of our bedroom! Our house never stays clean for long!

Before we left for St George we bought Dresden a "warm" cars blanket to sleep with. He was SO excited when we gave it to him. He just wanted to lay on it and smile. It kinda made me excited for Christmas! He just gets so happy about stuff like this.

This one is my favorite!

Thanksgiving weekend

After our little Thanksgiving dinner we headed to St. George to meet my family. It was the first time in a long time that we have all been in the same house at the same time. We were only missing Richard and his family. The last time we were all in the three bedroom house there were alot less kids! It turned out to be one of the most fun vacations we've had there. The first morning my mom, sister and I did a little black Friday shopping while everyone else went out to Sand Hollow to ride the UTV's (side by sides). After we were done with the shopping we met them out there. My dad and brothers all have their own side by sides and then Russ and my dad brought four wheelers. It was perfect because we all were able to go together. And after riding in two if them, Eric and I officially want one!! We had so much fun and kids had even more fun. It's so nice they have seat belts in the back for all the kids. We spend a few hours riding around Sand Hollow. I was so sad I didn't bring my camera out on the ride because it was soooo beautiful out there. We stopped a few times and let the kids run around and play. Ava loved being with the big kids, rolling down the red hills, and climbing on rocks. After we went back and grilled some hot dogs and hamburgers. My awesome brother Russ pretty much fed us all! Eric and Dresden stayed to ride some more and me, Robyn, and my mom went back with the girls. It was such a fun day.


Saturday Eric was nice enough to take both kids out on the ride with everyone and my mom, Robyn and I hit the boutique and had lunch with a few of my cousins that were in town. After that all the boys went to Iggy's sports grill to watch the BYU/ Utah game. My sister-in-laws and I took all the kids to see Tangled! Which was such a cute show. Ava loved it, she kept saying "I have long hair like Rapunzel"! Dresden did pretty good but was up out of his seat a few times. Ava loved sitting by her cousins and sharing popcorn. After that we all hang out til the boys came home. That night we stayed up so late with my sister and brother just talking. Something we don't get to do that often! I didn't take many pictures after the first day but we got alot that day!

We were all so sad to leave the next day! Good think we get to see everyone in a few weeks! Thanks for the fun vacation everyone

This was everyone the first morning. All jam packed into the family room. I loved it though! :)

Dresden loved riding

Ava and Brynli
Tia is the cutest dog ever!

Dresden was in heaven! Just running and getting dirty!

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful thanksgiving! It was the first year we weren't able to eat with family. We usually meet my family in St. George but this year they decided to eat at home and then drive to St. George.
So for Thanksgiving dinner we enjoyed dinner with our friends the Nelsons and Kinghorns! It was all so delicious. It was also the first year I have ever made anything myself and all from scratch! I was pretty proud of my self for even attempting it. I'm not a huge fan of elaborate cooking. :) I made the stuffing, green bean casserole, and some pies! All from Pioneer Woman, because she is awesome!
We have so much to be thankful for and I'm so glad we got to spend some time with our friends, especially since this is our last Thanksgiving in Vegas.

Brinley took this group picture for us!

The dinner

Time out for Women

Last weekend I was able to go to Time out for Women with my good friends Becca and Dayna. Seriously the best weekend!! We missed the one in Vegas so we drove all the way to Salt lake for it. The drive didn't even phase me, we were just having fun talking and snacking! It was crazy how fast it went by, especially compared the the usual 6 hour drive we make to Utah when I'm turned around handing things to whiny kids who need something every 20 minutes! Dayna was in the back and she didn't ask me for anything even once! Haha! :) We stopped to eat and headed right to the conference. Friday was my favorite. The speakers were Virgina Hinckley Pearce, and Heidi Swinton. After that we got gelato ice cream and then my sister picked me up and I got to stay with her that night. It was great seeing her little family. Sienna is the sweetest baby ever and I was so happy she liked me! I was worried because I don't get to see her that often. That morning they were nice enough to take me to breakfast at Kneaders (yum). Then I got to hang out with my sister for awhile and then she took me back to the conference. Thanks for letting me stay Robyn!

The second day was also amazing. There were so many great things that were talked about and I'm so glad I went. After it was over we stayed and took a few pictures with some of the speakers and then if was off to Vegas. The drive home was so fun and funny...for so many reasons! We talked about all the highlights of the conference and anything else we could thing of. Thank you to Becca and Dayna for going, it was so fun to hang out with you guys! And thanks for the pictures Becca.
And of course I'm so thankful for Eric who watched the kids all weekend, AND the house was spotless when I got home! So nice!!



me and Sienna

The lady that was taking our picture told us to do this! :)

buddies

Dreden and his dog...they are great buddies. We went to check on him before we went to bed and we found him like this. It's totally blury cause it was pitch black but he still looks so cute. We have seen this lots since then too. In the morning Dresden has to get him out with him and he sits with him while he eats his banana and juice in the morning. Sometimes he throws a fit because he wants to have him in the high chair with him while he eats cereal. So now dog gets his own chair next to Dresden during breakfast!

trunk or treat

I forgot to post these from Halloween! We had a great time at our wards trunk or treat! It was yummy soup and cupcakes.The kids got way to much candy but they had fun saying trick or treat and passing it out to the other kids.

She fell asleep on the way there! :)

the cupcake walk

the kids had fun running all over the place. Ava loved being wonder woman!

enjoying the cupcake!!

Madisyn, Ava, and Dresden

handing out candy

Ava and McKinley! She loved the scary teeth she picked out from someone!