We are back!!

Honestly I don't even know where to start! So, much has happened over the holidays and I haven't blogged in over 2 months!!
To start out we had a great time with our family. It was so good to be back in our home town, since we hadn't been there in almost a year. It was fun to show everyone our sweet new baby. He is such a pleasant little guy and growing so fast. Ava is our little ball of fire and had a lot of fun with her aunts, uncles and grandparents...and I can't forget all of her little cousins she loved to play with!! There is never a dull moment with our sweet Ava!
After Thanksgiving Justin came back to Omaha to finish hie finals. We were apart for 3 WEEKS!! It was a long and tuff 3 weeks apart. To top in all off, the day he was going to come back there was bad weather. So he ended up not coming home until the next day. I was glad he made it back to me safely! Here are a few pictures from our trip to Idaho!

Eli in front of the Christmas tree at moms. Eli was so content looking at all the lights on the tree.

One morning we woke up and it snowed..A LOT!! Ava was all ready to go out side first thing in the morning. She was still in her PJs and heading for the door, I bundles her up as warm as I could and sent her outside. When she came inside she was ready for a warm bath.

The break was nice to just lounge around taking naps, playing games or watching Christmas movies.

We went to my dads on Christmas Eve to celebrate with him. He bought all the grandkids cute matching Chirstmas outfits. You can tell they sure love him!

Ava and her cousin Emma. They are so cute together! They enjoyed having tea party together and played house. It was fun to see her play so cute with her cousins!

Grandpa opening he Chirstmas presents!

My older sister Camille. She cooked us a yummy dinner on Christmas Eve!

Ava and Eli with my sisters kids Emma and Chase.

Ava got to sit on Santa's lap on Christmas Eve. Good Job Ava!

Our spunky kids in there PJs Santa brought them on Christmas Eve. Ava 3 years & Eli 5 months.

8 Things About Me

8 favorite TV shows:
1. Bachelor- 2 more months until the next one starts
2. Biggest Loser
3. Extreme Makeover Home Edition
4. Rachal Ray
5. Dancing with the Stars
6. Good Morning America
7. The Office
8. Martha Stewert

8 Things I did yesterday:
1. Got ready
2. Went to institute-loved it
3. Voted!!
4. Went to the park- enjoying the last good day until spring!
5. Went to the zoo-Ava loves it!
6. Vacuumed my stairs and front room
7. Folded cloths
8. Went to quilt night (I started quilting my quilt:))

8 Things to Look Forward To:
1. Finishing my quilt
2. Justin comming home from school!
3. The weekend
4. Going home for Thanksgiving and Christmas
5. Getting my hair Cut and Colored
6. Watching Ava at dance class
7. Living in a house after dental school
8. Having a back yard for Ava to run around crazy in

8 Favorite Resturants
1. Chilis-I worked there are I still love it
2. Olive Garden
3. Harrahs
4. Applebees
5. Arbys
6. Subway
7. Jonny Carinos-My very favorite!
8. Garcias

8 Things on my Wish List:
1. 4in curling Iron
2. New Cloths
3. Moving back home to be by family!
4. Eli to sleep through the night (or be on a schedule)
5. Justin no more homework
6. Gas prices to go down and stay down
7. My house to always be clean (or have a maid)
8. Become a great cook over night :)

8 people I want to tag Summer, Amy, Melissa, Carissa, Haley, Jenn, Emily & Sasha. I know you are all excited!

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!

Eli's Blessing Day

Today Justin gave Eli a beautiful name and blessing. Eli was an angel through the whole thing. He even slept all through church. We wanted to take pictures when we got home but Eli was still sleeping. For all those who have a new baby, know that rule number one is, never wake a sleeping baby...so we took a couple with him in his car seat...and then some later! This evening we had some friends over for Justin's famous brownies and ice cream. It was a great day. By the way, Eli slept 6 hours last night without waking up. I am so proud of him!