Loving the snow

The kids always were wanting to play in the snow! All the work to get their snow gear on and they would only last about a half hour. They loved helping daddy shovel the snow though and make a snow man of course! My mom got this cute snowman kit to dress up the snowman.

Dental School Friends

We were so lucky to be able to finally get together with our best friends from dental school. It's been a year and a half and it was so good to see them. Joe and Karrissa came in from Georgia and Dane and Camille from Montana. We met at City Creek in Utah and attempted to eat at Cheesecake Factory but the wait was forever. We settled on Kneaders (can't ever go wrong with Kneaders) and even it was crazy busy. We also decided to stay in a hotel that night with the Kinghorns. We went back there after dinner and just hung out in the lobby. The kids loved running around and playing games all night.

Ava and Dresden were so excited to see the McKinley, Kylie, and Madison, even though Dresden was only 2 when we left! Plus we have each had a kid since we left Vegas.

 McKinley, Ava, Kylie, and Dresden. Madison was feeling shy and didn't want to be in the picture. :(

Crazy this is what they looked like when we left Las Vegas

love these girls!

 The whole group..minus little Greyson who went home with his grandparents after a long flight! The was taken at the end of the night, Ava was hot so she took off her cardigan! I didn't dress her in that! hehe

We also went swimming in the hotel. For sure the kids favorite part! Mostly the hot tub.  I really did pack my swim suit, two even, just be see which one made me look less like I just had a baby 3 months ago! But I forgot to pack them for the hotel. It was ok though I just dipped my feet with Nora!

 Robyn let us borrow a swim suit for Nora! So cute with those chubby legs!

Last goodbyes! Can't believe how big these two are. Camille and I were pregnant together and they are only 3 weeks apart!

So glad we got to see them. It was like no time had passed at all! Can't wait to do it again!

Flying to Utah

Our wonderful parents were able to fly us out to Utah for Christmas. Between the wheather and having a new baby we thought it would be best. So the kids and I flew out on Dec 18th by ourselves. It was crazy but they did give Eric a gate pass so he could walk me all the way to the gate and wait with me. That was so nice! I fed Nora before we boarded and pumped a bottle at home for her just in case. I'm sure the people on the plane were nervous as I was walking in by myself, Nora strapped to me, and two kids tailing behind. They actually did really well despite the dvd player not actually being charged like we thought and Ava's ipod also not charged enough. It was a small plane and I planned on Ava and Dresden sitting by each other but they said there had to be an adult next to one of them. So Ava and I sat together and Dresden sat next me me across the isle. He was so good and played with his stickers really well. Ava also colored almost the whole time. Nora would not take her bottle and I ended up feeding her on the plane. Not my favorite thing to do but it all worked out and we made it! So excited to see family and introduce them to Nora! We had a couple days by ourselves and then Eric got in that Friday.

So happy so see daddy!

Gingerbread houses

For FHE we made little gingerbread houses. We actually just used graham crackers to make it easy but Ava and Dresden loved it. I think I heard Ava say "This is the best day ever" about 5 times! They were good at decorating too. So proud to make it their own and be creative. Seeing the candy was also a highlight. They did a lot of taste testing too! I love spending time with them doing fun things they love. We had such a fun night.

Ward Christmas Party

We absolutely love our ward! The Christmas party was wonderful and this year they decided to have a little program and nativity as well. The girls were to dress like angels. Ava was super excited and we just happen to have some angel wings and halo from Halloween. Dresden really wanted to be up on the stage too, especially when Talmage went up. So I gave him my jacket and he sat on the stage to help sing. He was so happy to be like the big kids. And since he was only a few weeks away from being in Primary we figured it was ok.

I just love her little boots!

Santa also came! I love seeing the kids sit on Santa's lap. I wish we would have put Nora up there, but the line was pretty long and she was getting tired.


Dresden asked for a bike?? We thought it was so funny considering he has a bike. Little did he know grandma would pull through on that one!

Ava said she asked for an American girl doll and an easy bake oven!

3 months

Nora turned 3 months on December 6th. Time is flying by and I am having a hard time staying caught up on here.

Nora is getting more fun by the minute! 3 Months was so nice. She was laughing more and getting more of her cute personality. She was on a great schedule too. She was so easy going. Most of the month we were in Utah and that's where we discovered that she has some serious stranger anxiety! Boo! I was so sad, she wouldn't let very many people hold her for very long except my mom. She would still smile at them for the most part but then she realized after they smiled at her they would want to hold her. Eventually people would smile at her and she would start crying! Silly girl. It wasn't all bad and I can't say I hated that she always wanted her mama! :)

-She finally started taking the binky that we like. Yay!
-She doesn't mind tummy time but would not roll over. She would just cry forever and then we would finally help her. Kind of a little lazy bum! She has only done it twice and it may or may not have been on purpose.
-I can't get enough of her laughing. She is a little ticklish and it's so fun to hear here giggle.
-She loves Ava and Dresden. Always giving them smiles. Even when it looked like they were bugging her. Of course they still managed to actually bug her and be in her face all the time.
-She loves her play mat and can pull down on the toy to make it play music.
-She was sleeping in the bouncer until we got to Utah and then she was sort of forced to sleep in a pack and play. She actually did pretty good. For naps we just put on her on the bed and she loved it. And once Eric headed back home she shared the bed with me and slept awesome, only waking up once.
-She loves to kick, her legs are always moving a hundred miles a minute! Especially when she would get excited. We always talk about how hard it would be for us to do that while we laying down!
-Little stinker would not take a bottle in Utah. We got our Temple recommends renewed and everything! I couldn't even get her to last more than two hours between feedings. Ava and Dresden never questioned the bottle so I'm having a hard time with that. It was really only a problem in Utah though.
-She loves looking at the TV. I try not to have her facing it but she is fascinated!
-She loves her fists still and loves sucking on her fingers

"talking" to daddy

I love those cute squishy thighs!

life according to the iphone (November)

I was looking through Eric's phone and couldn't believe how many picture we take on that thing! It comes in handy sometimes though.

They still can't get enough of her

I love when she used to fall asleep on the floor

downtown walk

 I can back from my workout to find her like this. She is so good at the gym she never did that at home!

 happy girl filling out her 3-6 month jammies!

Dresden and his dog

cute girl before church!

 love her pose!

 Reading a book with daddy

 Ava always thinks she knows exactly what Nora wants, she put these animals by her so she wouldn't be lonely!

 She really started loving her fists!

Eric had SO much homework last semester. Almost every night. Boo!

Dresden ready for football. He became very into it after Drake came to visit!

 I just love this picture of Nora!

 Again with the love for football! Yay! Dresden came home from pre-school with this!

 Nora in her cute leg warmers