Trick-or-Treat!

Brace yourself this is a long one...

This year for Halloween Ava is a fairy and Eli is a pumpkin. Our wonderful friend, Angie, took some pictures for our kids in there costumes.

Halloween for us started on Sunday when Justin wanted to make sugar cookies. Every year Justin's family make sugar cookies and then get together to frost them. My favorite is Justin's tooth cookie with decay on it. (Can you find it?)

.....Then for Family Home Evening we carved pumpkins. Ava got to color hers.

Every Wednesday we get together for singing time at the clubhouse. Which Ava loves. They decided to have a Halloween party. We all dressed up, played games, sang songs, and ate treats! The kids looked cute in there costumes.

Each year a few days before Halloween we go the dental clinic and have a Halloween parade. It is so fun to see all the students kids dressed up. After the parade we get to have lunch with Justin before he has to finish the rest of his school day. It is fun to see where Justin is everyday, we are proud of our student.

The next day we got together with some great friends to have a witches brew at Carissa's. We all dressed as witches and the kids played a lot of fun games, thanks Lisa & Carissa!

Halloween day we went trick or treating at Village Green...

...and then over to our ward trunk or treat and dinner. It was so fun to see all the neighbors and kids in the ward dressed up. We were all on a sugar high when we got home and Ava was very tired. It's not a successful party unless the kids are crying when we leave. It was a fabulous Halloween!

...After a fun filled week, I think Ava is glad it is over.

Family Pictures!

We got our family pictures taken a few weeks ago at the Lauritzen Gardens, down the road from were we live. Eli is 2 months and Ava is almost 3. I love the pictures with them together, you can tell how proud Ava is to be Eli's big sis. I'm so thankful for the beautiful family I have been blessed with.

I ordered this book called "To Children Love is Spelled T-I-M-E". It has been a great book in helping me rememeber the most important job I have is being a mom. I've been making a special effort this last week to enjoy the small things like: holding Ava's hand while we are watching a movie, all the little kisses she gives me throughout the day, the many expressions Ava gives as she is talking to you, the many coos and smiles Eli gives me (especially in the morning) and enjoying his little cuddles. And of course, I couldn't have any of this and be so happy if it weren't for my wonderful hisband, Justin. It is so comforting knowing they are mine and I am there's, forever.

Happy Birthday Ava

I haven't posted anything in a while and thought I would catch everyone up. Ava had her three year birthday on Tuesday. Justin took her out to breakfast Saturday morning and then we had a party with all her little girl friends in Village Green. It was so cute to see them all playing together and so excited about all the ballons. Sunday we opened a few presents and had a little party with our family. She got some fun dress up stuff and loves dressing in it. I will post a couple of pictures from her party. Ava was asking to make a heart cake months in advance. I can't believe she is already three.

I love my little Ava. I can remember when she was as little as Eli. She has grown so fast and I am amazed how beautiful she is inside and out. Ava is a great leader and is always trying to do her best. She lives life to its fullest! Everyday she says things that make us laugh. And of course she gives to best hugs and kisses. I love you so much Ava, we are lucky to have you in our family.

We went to the doctor for her 3 year check up. She is 41 inches tall and weighs 43lb. The doctor also talked to Ava about not sucking her thumb. She has been making a great effort to stop. Everytime I see her with her thumb in her mouth I remind her and she quickly takes it out. I hope she keeps it up!

We just had our Primary Program today. We have been practicing for serveral weeks and all there hard work paid off. The children all did a wondreful job. It was really neat to look out in the congragation and see the loving looks on all the parents faces. You can see how much they love the children and how special they are. I think it will be really fun to have Ava in Primary next year!