Christmas Eve

I think Christmas Eve is just as fun as Christmas day! I love the traditions and anticipation. We went to Eric's parents house for a bit and then came back for dinner at my parents. After dinner we watched a music video of Mary did you know, by Donny Osmond. It was so good and the kids actually sat through some of it. Then it was on to the Nativity, which was my favorite part! Ava was a beautiful angel and Dresden was the most handsome Shepard ever! He was so funny during everything. I love that Ava is starting to get the real meaning of Christmas. After that is was the money game for the adults and then my parents had one for the kids! Ava was thrilled with her money! Next we all hang our bells on the tree from oldest to youngest. And then we take pictures with the Santa hats on. It was such a fun night. Before bed Ava remembered to leave cookies out for Santa and even some celery and carrots for his reindeer.

I love this picture!

I'm sure they had fruit snacks back then too!

Dresden was obsessed with watching Buzz on Eric's phone. This was right before bedtime. Ava just cuddled right up with him. Love them!

Polar Express Party

My mom has started a Polar Express tradition with all the older grand kids. Ava was so excited to have a whole night with her cousins. Eric and I took Dresden and ran a few errands since it was a kid party. They ate dinner, watched the Polar Express, got new matching p.j's, frosted "bell" cookies, and ate hot chocolate, and caramel popcorn! We got home just in time to take a few pictures. My parents had their hands full with all the crazy kids! Ava asks to wear her monkey jammies almost every night cause she loved that her cousins had matching ones! And even though Dresden didn't stay for the party he still got some cars jammies! Which is obsessed with!

Sledding

Wow! It snowed a lot in Utah while we were there! Ava had been talking about snow for a long time so she was excited to play in it. Until she was actually outside and it was FREEZING cold. She still had fun though. We went sledding a couple times and then rode the side by sides once. Ava is just happy to be with all her cousins.

Dresden was so funny when he saw the snow out the window. He is in this jabbering stage where he just talks and talks and we only catch like one or two words. He was telling us something really exciting about the snow.

Of course we choose the day it's actually snowing and windy to use the side by sides. We didn't last long but I tried to get a few pictures from the car.

The other times we just went out in a field with four wheelers.

family party

We had a party with my extended family a few days after we got to Utah. It was great seeing everyone and the kids had fun playing. We had yummy Cafe Rio for dinner and then we had a few of the kids (and adults) do a talent show. So funny! And then Santa came! Ava and Dresden were so cute. They thought it was awesome to sit on Santa's lap and get a present! Ava was a little shy but Dresden just backed his little booty right up to Santa! After her got his present he kept going over to Santa and sticking it in his face to show him. He was not shy at all! We had a great time hanging out with wonderful family.
My favorite...Santa asked who had been good this year!

Dresden was trying so hard not to smile...little stinker!

Aniston, Lauren, and Ava

Ava was extremely happy about her Rapunzel barbie!

Christmas card

So I am totally lame and forgot to send out ALOT of my Christmas cards. Boo! I even had all the addresses. So here is our Christmas card. Mostly just to document but I hope everyone had a great Christmas!

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!