Holiday Fun!

It all started when Avery took her uncle Ryan to the MTC. He will be there for three weeks before he leaves for Jamaica.

That weekend, we went to visit Josh's grandparents. Avery had a fun time with them, especially her great grandpa. He kept taking her to listen to their clock. (If you push a button it makes really pretty music.) Avery kept staring at it and he was nice to keep taking her back to look at it.

After the nice visit with the grandparents we went to dinner and temple square with my parents. The lights were beautiful. We stopped in the visitors center to see the Christus and to warm up a little bit.

This tree is in the Joseph Smith building. We had a group picture of all of us, but it turned out blurry, so here is a nice one of Avery and her grandma Cindy and grandpa Mark.

While we were in the Joseph Smith building we got some hot chocolate to help warm us up. It worked!

For family night we made a gingerbread house. This is the first one we have made together. I hope it becomes a tradition.

The night of Christmas Eve we went to my Aunt Sherrie's house for dinner. Avery had a good time with her green beans! I don't know if any really made it in her mouth.

Here is Avery and her cousin Hannah in matching pajamas. We didn't plan ahead. We both just happened to have the same pair for them to wear that night. Sarah and I always had matching pajamas for Christmas Eve, and now our girls can take on that tradition.

Christmas morning!

Her first present! She loves riding around on her new little car. She knew just how to sit on it and where to put her hands, what a natural!

Thanksgiving!

This year we spent Thanksgiving with Josh's family. We had a great time. One of Avery's favorite things this trip, among many, was seeing her cousin Kayden, who is just 2 months older than her. Avery was always so excited whenever he was around and enjoyed getting to play with him. After Thanksgiving dinner, while on their dads' shoulders, Avery and Kayden gave each other hugs and kisses.

Look how hard they were laughing! It was so cute and fun to watch.

Avery also got to meet her Great Grandma Betty on Thanksgiving. Avery liked looking at her and pulling on her earings.

Great Grandma Betty had a suprise 80th birthday party while we were there. She was very suprised and enjoyed the party. Here is a family pic!

Cap Look-alike Meter

There you go, there you have it, Avery looks like her Mom and Dad!

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Family tree software - Geneology

Things Avery Has Been Up To

Avery is growing up so fast. She will be 7 months old next week. These last few weeks Avery has really been learning a lot. Josh and I find her doing something new each day. Just in the last 3 days or so she has started scooting backwards on her tummy quite a bit and has been "talking" more too. Here are some pictures of some other things that Avery has been doing lately:

Avery has started to sit in her stroller without the carseat. She does pretty well like this and enjoys being able to see what is going on.

Avery has been quite the helper. In this picture Avery and Lynsey are working on the family's 72 hour kits. This is often how Josh will find them, Mom working on things that need to get done and Avery right along side her. No matter what Lynsey needs to get done (shopping, running errands, organizing something, etc,) Avery is always working by her side. Lynsey calls Avery her "happy helper" because she is always smiley and happy while they work.

Avery got to dress up for Halloween this year as a pretty little princess. She picked out her costume herself, we think it's a good fit!

Avery got to go trick or treating for Halloween with her cousins Autumn and Megan. She had her own pumpkin to put the candy in and everything. At each house the people would hold out their bowls of candy and Avery would reach in and grab out just one piece (of course a princess would be polite and only take one) and put it directly into her mouth. Sometimes Mom and Dad would direct her to a piece of candy that they really wanted!



Avery started eating rice cereal a few weeks back. She enjoys it and has now added oatmeal and squash to her diet. Squash is one of her favorites, she can eat quite a bit. This is a new high chair/booster seat that she just got. She now gets to sit at the table with us when we eat dinner.

Congrats Josh!!!

Last week Josh had the opportunity to fly to Dallas for a second interview for an internship with Deloitte. They took him to the BYU/TCU game, dinner, and put him up in a very nice hotel. The next day he went to the office and did some things there and met with some of the people. Then the last stop was to meet with one of the partners. When he sat down he offered Josh an internship! They were impressed with him and anxious to have him join their firm. Josh of course, being such a great husband, told them he would need to take the offer home and discuss it with me and then he would let them know. We talked about it and decided to take it. Josh's first day is June 1st. The internship will last about 2 months so we will be back in August. Congrats Josh!!

Our Trip to Logan!

For conference we headed up to Logan to visit Justin and Haylee. We got up there just after the first session. We had a later lunch at Cafe Rio and headed back to there place to watch the afternoon session. When the boys got back from priesthood session we had ice cream and played games (hand and foot) until 2:30 in the morning. The next morning we made waffles and watched conference. We all had a great time visiting, but we think that Avery had the most fun. She loved being with Justin and Haylee. When she wasn't sleeping she was laughing and smiling. She loved playing with them and having them hold her. She showed them all her new tricks; grabbing her toes and putting her foot up to her mouth, rolling over, sitting up, laughing, talking, and sleeping well. Josh said that it was probably the happiest weekend of her life. We look forward to seeing them again.

Sundance

Friday night we decided to take Avery to Sundance Ski Resort. Josh and I went there a couple of weeks ago for a pre-interview social for Deloitte and thought it was beautiful and a fun place for Avery to see. (As an update Josh has received two flyback interviews and will be heading to Dallas for those interviews in the coming weeks. Deloitte will be taking him to the BYU TCU game, which Josh is very excited about. Congrats Josh!) Avery enjoyed watching the fish at the pond and got excited anytime there were little kids near by. I think that she will be a great big sister one day. We didn't stay too long because it was pretty chilly and Avery is getting over a cold.

Avery Sitting Up

Avery has learned to sit up by herself over the last week. She's

learning that it is lots of fun to play while sitting up.

Here is just a little sneak peak at what she

can do!

Tagged

You can never escape tagging can you? No matter the situation, someone will find a way to send chain letters out and have everyone participating. I am no exception and thus, am posting this per Courtney's request:

the RULES
1. link the person who tagged you.
2. post these rules.
3. tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
4. tag 3 fellow bloggers by linking them.

1. My laugh
2. I don't like to be by myself
3. If I don't have something for a recipe, oh well I leave it out.
4. I am terrified of stray dogs
5. I have trouble with my rights and lefts (I must have missed that day at school)
6. I can't have the open end of the pillowcase facing the inside of the bed, mine or Josh's.

1. Kelly
2. Stasha
3. Gianne

Back to School

Well we are back! We had a very nice time in St. George and enjoyed being with Josh's family. It has been awhile since we updated our blog because we both have kept pretty busy. Here are some things that have been going on.

Josh started school. This is his first semester as a Master's student. He has already had to apply for internships for next summer. He has an interview next week (hopefully two and a third the following week). We are applying for internships in Dallas and Austin Texas. Our first choice is Dallas, but either would be great.

I have been busy taking care of Avery and getting our new place organized. It is all done now, I just have to decorate. I have also been cooking and baking a lot. I learned a lot of new recipes this summer from my Mother-in-law and Eleisha. Josh's cousin Emily and I have been getting together on Wednesday's to make bread too. We grind our own wheat and make yummy whole wheat bread. Avery enjoys playing with Emily's daughter Madeline (who is 6 months old) and learning new things from her.

Avery has been keeping busy being a baby; playing, eating, and sleeping. She rolled over for the first time on Sunday. She rolled from her back to her stomach and did it three times. It was fun to see her finally get all the way over and to see her face when she realized she did it.
Here are a few pictures!

Our Little Skipper

Avery has been in her bathing suit almost everyday for the last week. She went swimming for the first time last Friday. Avery got in a little floaty and just floated around the pool (she even got to go in the deep end). Avery and Mom had so much fun that we went again on Saturday, and this time Dad got to come. Since Avery had such a nice time swimming Mom decided to fill up the kiddie pool at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Avery went swimming Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday! She looks so cute letting her little legs float in the water. She likes to splash with mom too!
Yesterday the family went to the lake and Avery got to ride on the boat. Mom was able to find an infant life jacket just before the family was leaving. She did so well on the boat. She just sat there and stared the whole time. She did that for about two hours. The only thing she would move was her eyes and occasionally she would smile when she could. her life jacket squished her little cheeks. Avery got to hold the flag too. She liked holding the flag and didn't want to give it back. Now we call her our little Skipper!

Do you remember that one time?

I read this on a friends blog and thought it looked fun.

Leave a comment on our blog of a memory that you have had with Josh, Avery or Me together. It doesn't matter if you've known us for a short time, or a long time, anything you remember!Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. Ready, Set, GO!

I Got Tagged!

Thanks Rebecca!

Here we go...some random questions and answers.

Four places I go over and over:
1. The bathroom (Josh told me to put this)
2. Avery's crib when she is trying to fall asleep at night
3. Church
4. Salt Lake, I love to visit my family and friends!

Four people who e-mail me regularly:
1. What to expect. com
2. 24 hour fitness
3. Babies R Us
4. Walgreens

Four of my favorite places to eat:
1. Kneaders
2. Texas Roadhouse
3. Schlotsky's
4. Olive Garden

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Swimming with Avery in the pool (she is so adorable in her swimsuit!)
2. At the movies watching Dark Knight (we still have not seen it)
3. Disney World
4. Lake Powell

Four people I talk to on a daily basis:
1. Josh
2. Avery
3. Mom
4. Heavenly Father

Four TV shows I watch over and over:
1. None but every once and awhile I watch Barefoot Contessa
2.
3.
4.

Four people I’m tagging: Courtney Wightman, Eleisha, Courtney Kent, Kelly O'Roark

Trip to Las Vegas

For the 4th of July we decided to take a trip to Las Vegas to see Josh's sister Eleisha and her family. We had such a great time and didn't want to leave. We did lots of fun things. We made ice cream cones (this has become one of our favorite traditions), went to the M&M factory, went bowling, went to see the fireworks, and ate lots of yummy food! Also, Avery's cousin Kayden was nice to share his crib with Avery. She has never slept so well as she did in Las Vegas.

Anniversary and a Birthday

Family Pictures

Today our family of 3 went and got some pictures taken. Right before we went Avery was smiling and laughing like crazy, but after falling asleep on the car ride there, she was a little more somber. So we didn't get any pictures with her smiling, but she sure does look cute in them still (and so does her mom)!