Christmas Day!

I was really looking forward to Christmas morning this year because I was so excited to watch Ava open her presents! It was her first Christmas and I'm so glad she got to spend it in Utah so she could have a white Christmas! We got up just me, Eric , and Ava and opened presents together. I pretty much opened them for her but she was happy to get them! My Mom and Dad came up to watch Ava open some of her presents later. She was so excited to to get her first baby doll. It was definitely her favorite new toy. She has carried it every where and she gets so excited to see her in the morning.She got some fun new toys. It was a great Christmas morning! We got ready for the day and went to Eric's parents house for a while. Then we came back to my parents to open presents with my family. We open presents one at a time so it usually ends up taking all day. It's so much fun though, I like seeing what everyone gets! We are so spoiled and had an awesome Christmas day!

Ava watching herself on the video camera

Her new rocking butterfly rocking chair

Ava giving her baby kisses

Daddy putting on Ava's new shoes

She loves pushing grandma's shopping cart- she put her new baby in too!

Our family by the Christmas tree!

Home for the holidays!

So we finally made it home to Utah! The drive wasn't too bad and Ava was pretty good. She is really into Mickey Mouse Clubhouse so we bought the movie so she could watch it. She mostly just likes the Hot Dog song! It's been so nice to be home! We have stayed pretty busy most of the time, and by pretty busy I mean just sitting around or playing guitar hero! Yes we are pretty much obsessed with it right now! But it's been nice to have Eric home and not in another room studying! I finally decided to get some pictures up of what we've been doing.
The first night we got here we made ginger bread houses with all the kids. Ava is still a bit young but we stripped her down and she mostly just made a mess and tried to eat all the candy! Then on Wednesday night we had our annual bowling for bucks party. It was way fun and nice to hang out with my family. Eric and I didn't bowl too well but we still made out with $130. Not bad for just bowling! Then we all go out for dinner. We ate at the pizza factory! Yum!! We also did a bit more Christmas shopping.
Ava is walking so well now. She will not sit still for 5 seconds-seriously. She hates getting her bum changed and getting dressed because she has to hold still. The only thing she likes to sit still for is eating and if she can she will eat and walk at the same time. We had to buy a gate for my moms house because she loves climbing the stairs. She is having so much fun with all her cousins. They could play all day in the toy room! Here are some of the pictures. Ava eating the candy for her gingerbread house

The finished product

I taught her well... Ava doing some shopping!

She is into everything-this is her looking alot like her daddy!:) We call her butt crack baby!

Mom, Jake, Jenn, Rob, Robyn, Angi, Camille and Eric during our bowling game


Me and Ava

Ava playing in the wrapping paper- she was loving it

Grandma and Ava- Grandma bought her the Rudolph shirt that lights up when she moves.

Finals week! :(

So let me just start out saying I hate finals week! Eric has had multiple test everyday this week and has pretty much been locked in either Ava's room or our room. He even pulled our kitchen table in the room because he was falling asleep when he tried to study on the bed! If he's not at our house he is studying with his friends at one of their houses all night long. Although I'm not sure how much studying he gets done at our house because Ava knows he's home and she just stands outside the door trying to get his attention! It's of course the cutest thing ever so he usually lets her in. She doesn't necessarily even want him she just wants to be in the same room as him! Then she just walks around and jabbers! I do feel bad for him though it's really alot of work and he has been very dedicated. But luckily we have great friends down here and us wives have tried to keep ourselves busy! One night we got together and make sugar cookies! It was alot of fun! And yesterday Karrissa and I took the girls with us to run some errands. Which was a little crazy but we got some things to make bows. Tonight we got together to make the bows and watch the Top Model finale! Which was also crazy because the girls were all over the place and towards the end were very tired. Especially Ava who is cutting teeth!!(I know finally... she will be 10 months on Sunday!) I can't wait til we can actually see them! So anyway finals are almost over and I'm really looking forward to the Christmas vacation! Here are some pictures of the week! Good luck Eric I know you'll do great!! some of the cookies we made

Mckinley, Ava, and Carolyne hanging out while we made the cookies

Eric hard at work (after he shaved the beard)

Ava and Mckinley playing with the hippo toy we just bought

Ava and Mckinley playing while we made bows. They are so funny- I ave no idea what they are doing in this picture!

These are the bows I made for Ava



This is what Ava does while daddy tries to study in her room! She is getting so good at walking! (if your wondering who the homeless man in the back is it's Eric- they were having a competition at school to see who could grow the best beard! How could Eric not win ;)

Surprise... more pics of Ava!! :)

Well nothing exciting has happened lately so I just thought I would post some of the random pictures I've taken of Ava! (Like I don't post enough as it is!:) She does the funniest things during the day!


This is Ava's concentration face! She does it when she's really into something or reading! I love it and usually she looks up when I get the camera out but she was to into that book! Looks alot like her daddy!


Her first candy cane!! She thought it was the greatest thing ever! And of course she (and everything she touched) got super sticky! But I couldn't take it away it was to cute!

This was on our way home from church. I just think she looks so cute sleeping!




Just some pics of what we do all day by ourselves. She loves looking out the window. The second one is two of her favorite things walking and eating graham crackers. I thought she wouldn't want to walk because she had her 9 month dr apt the day before where she got her shots, but she felt great!(we found out she weighs 19lb 8oz, she was in the 50% for weight and 75% for height) She is doing so good lately, I can just put her down and she takes off walking! It's so cute!

We just got her a new bear towel(she grew out of her baby frog one). She is so happy when she gets out of the tub!




One of Ava's usual spot during the day... behind the doors! I don't know why but she loves playing with the doors and the door stops! It you look close at the first one you can see her peeking through! It's so cute, she loves playing hide and seek!

Christmas Spirit!

So we are starting to get into the Christmas spirit here in Vegas! Yes it finally got cold!! If your sound is on I'm sure you noticed the Christmas music! I love Christmas music so I couldn't resist! I usually don't like music on blogs that much (only because I have a hard time reading and listening at the same time:) But since I have more pictures than words on mine I thought it was ok! You have to listen to them all because they are some of my favorites! Anyway... keeping with the Christmas spirit we got together with our friends last night to watch Santa Clause 3 and have hot chocolate and donuts! Yum!! It was fun to cozy up on the couch to a Christmas movie and eat our treats!

Camille, Eric, Ava (in her new snowman jammies), Joe, Dane, and Me

Here's one with Karrissa and McKinley

We got elfed!!!!

Ok this is pretty funny! My sister-in-law Angi did one and sent it to me. Just click on the link, it will make you smile I promise! I think Ava looks so cute! Don't forget to turn on your volume! Enjoy- hope everyone is having a great holiday season!!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1113783938

First Steps!

Wow I can't belive she is taking steps already at 9 months! It's so funny to watch. She only takes a few but I swear every week she takes more. She was particularly happy last night when she got out of the tub and wanted to walk everywhere. It's a weird angle and crapy lighting but she's doing it!