Christmas

We had a great Christmas this year, just like we always do. It is fun to buy gifts for everyone and see their reactions when they open them (and of course- it is fun to get gifts too!) We were very blessed our families generosity and received many great gifts which we will be able to use forever. Ava didn't really understand what was going on, or even care to know. She was a little overwhelmed by it all.

Ava in her Christmas dress


Christmas dress again (and daddy in his Christmas church clothes - oh wait, they were from LAST Christmas!)

Mom and Ava taking a break from the present opening do enjoy one of Ava's new books

Luke and I in all our glory (I hope this really isn't ALL of it!)

We got to talk to my little missionary brother, Jeff, and my dad rigged up a sweet contraption so that we could all hear him talk.

This is the funniest/cutest picture ever!!

Classic Ava on Christmas- she just climbed around, destroyed whatever she could get to, and broke into other peoples boxes!

Luke exhausted after his present opening

Grandpa and Jane playing telephone/veterinarian

I gave Ava and Luke this little Jazz jersey. I think it is so cute!

Jane, ready to open presents

The cute car Ava got from the Ramsay's. Luke was in charge of pictures at the Ramsay Christmas and he only took this one. There really was more action.

Aquarium

Friday before Christmas some friends and I took our kids to the Living Planet Aquarium in South Jordan. We had so much fun! Ava loved loved loved seeing all the fish. The aquarium isn't very big, but it does have a shark tank and you can pet sting rays (minus the stingers)- so it is cool. Ava was very interested in the fish and I think there is a good chance that soon she will be able to say "fish!" She says "hot" "bye-bye" "boo" and "uh-oh" in addition to the mama and dada that she has been saying for a long time now. We are so proud of our baby (I am prolonging calling her a little girl for as long as possible). It is amazing to watch her learn new things and progress. We think she is the cutest and funniest ever, but of course we are bias.

Christmas Party!

We just wanted to say that we had a great time at the Christmas party. It was so fun to see everyone and meet all your families (especially kids!). I was sad for all those that couldn't make it and hope to see you sometime soon. I think that we should try to do something like this twice a year and rotate who is in charge. What do you think of that? And are there any volunteers (let's say during the 4th of July holiday) It had been too long since we spent time with most of you. All of you who live in Cedar- we want to come visit and hang out! We miss you all. We hope you had a very merry Christmas and have a Great New Year. I will post Holiday pictures as soon as I stop being lazy.....

Christmas Party Finalized

OKAY- after much deliberation here are the specifics about the Christmas get together. It will be Monday Dec 24th from 1-3 pm at Rewind Diner (next to Zion Pharmacy). It will be a potluck so everyone bring an appetizer, dessert, or whatever to share. We will have the soda fountain open so everyone can have drinks. I hope that everyone comes- it will be fun to see everyone's family. Oh yeah- it's a family get together.

When: Monday Dec 24
Time: 1-3 pm
Place: Rewind Diner
What: Potluck

If you could all message me or email me at katy.stirland@utah.edu and rsvp for the last time I would greatly appreciate it :)

Christmas Brunch

For our ward Christmas party this year, we had a brunch and it was so fun! It was easily the best attended ward party I have ever been to. Ava had her first experience with Santa Clause and it went really well. She didn't cry at all. We also got a big group kid picture with Santa. Ava is very lucky because within 3 months before and 9 months after she was born there were a total of 16 babies born. Most of them will be in primary and start Kindergarten together and we are so excited. We love our ward so much. It is more like a big group of friends, it doesn't matter how old you are or what part of life you are in, we have get togethers where everyone comes. It has been so fun to make new friends and we hope we can stay in this ward forever!

The first encounter- not quite sure about him...

okay- it's all good so I can smile

Now we are speaking the same language!

Oh man- where did the candycane go!?

Sam, Jonas, and Gracie- Ava's babysitter, Erin's, kids (aka- Ava's adopted brothers and sisters!)

This was a very hard picture to take!

Ava grabbing the newborn baby's head...

Ava crawling towards the fireplace....

Me rescuing the fake fireplace from Ava... Oh, and poor little Max crying (he didn't like Santa too much)

Christmas Get Together:) READ ON.....

Ok- so here are the particulars about the Christmas get together. I got a bunch of different responses about good days, times, and places- so I looked at the majority and this is what I have come up with. Monday (Christmas Eve Day) from 1-3 pm at either Rewind Diner (we will reserve it and people can come order drinks, lunch, or appetizers) or at my house. If it is at my house we will just do a potluck or most people seem to want to do a money pitch in and I will be in charge of snacks. I don't know if this day and time will work for everyone, but I am hoping it will. We can always do it a little earlier if we need to also. So far- these are the people I think that have told me they could be there: I hope everyone can come and please let me know ASAP again if you can make this time. I will make a final update towards the end of the week with all the final arrangements. Also, if you know anyone that doesn't blog that would like to come- talk to them and let me know. Thanks everyone :)

Families who are coming:

Katz

Glaziers

Williams

Sanders

Jiminez

Taylors

Hamblin

Cutlers

Meyers

Redds

Sheltons

Ramsay

I am sorry if I accidently erased or didn't get an email and your name isn't on the list. Just email or message me again. Please let me know if you are on this list and can't make it.

Enchanted

So my friend Kelli and I saw the Disney movie Enchanted last week and we really liked it. It is definitely a Disney movie (don't be fooled by the presence of Patrick Dempsey! aka Dr. Mcdreamy (I don't watch Grey's Anatomy so can anyone tell me why they call him that!?)) Luke is a great sport at humoring me and my movies, but I don't think even he could have hacked this movie. It definitely isn't a guy movie! It is super cute though and a cute love story- thanks Disney. I haven't seen a good movie for a while- it seems Hollywood is totally into the unhappy endings these days (ie: Becoming Jane- I know it's a true story, but I still hated the ending!) Enchanted would definitely be a fun movie for mom and daughter to go to. It is clean, funny, and entertaining.

The last month in review....

I haven't posted any pictures for a while, so this will probably be a long post. The last month has been super busy for us. I am going to give a quick (well, kinda quick) review of what we have been up to during the last month.
I have taken 4 tests, written 5 long papers, taken 4 finals, taken Ava to the doctor 4 times, and cleaned my house maybe 2 times. Needless to say, I am so thrilled to have another semester under my belt. I am officially halfway through the classroom portion of pharmacy school :) YAY!!!
Ava has had to go to the doctor four times because she had her well baby check-up where it was discovered she had two ear infections. Then she got a rash from the antibiotic they gave her so I had to take her in the next day. Three weeks later I had to take her in so they could check her ears and a week later I had to take her back in because she had had a cough for two weeks and it wouldn't go away. They discovered two ear infections again and sent us home with an antibiotic. I have to take her back in two weeks so they can recheck her ears and then take her in a month later for her 12 month check-up! Oh my gosh- I am starting to feel like I live at the doctor's office- and I am seriously not a freaky mom or anything.
Last Monday we went to Thanksgiving Point to look at Christmas lights. You drive along all these roads and there are wire light structures to look at everywhere. Ava absolutely loved it like I have never seen her love something before. She danced and yelled and talked through the whole ride. I will post those pictures later.
This past week we had two sleepovers with my neice and nephew and it was super fun. Jane and Jonah are both so cute with Ava and she loves playing with them. Jane is so helpful and makes sure that Ava isn't doing ANYTHING she shouldn't be! Jonah isn't quite sure of Aves because she eventually grabs his hair or face. She is very intrigued by him. Ava is so lucky she has cousins so close that she can grow up with.
Luke and I had our first Christmas toy shopping experience and it was way fun. I can't believe what they have for kids to play with these days. We felt like we needed one of everything, but exhibited much self control when we realized what our house would look like with toys everywhere. We also realize that Ava is going to like all the wrapping paper more than she does any toy that she gets!
Luke of course has been busy finishing his last class before he gets his Bachelor's in Accounting, working at his dream job, and spending quality dad time with Ava. He is so good with her and she is so cute when he gets home from work. She hears him walk through the door and starts looking to see him and when she does... she waves her hands and laughs. I feel so blessed to have such a great husband and father for Ava.
That is about all that we have been doing. We are looking forward to a relaxing Christmas break from school. We are hoping to further baby-proof all the cupboards and drawers since Ava's new favorite thing to do is empty out everything she can get in to. I am really going to enjoy spending every waking moment with Ava- we are going to have so much fun!

Ava and Jane at sleepover #2
Jonah safely sitting where Ava can't reach him

Ava laughing at Jane
Grandma Beej and her three grandkids

Ava demonstrating her new skill- pointing.

I don't really put Ava in this swing anymore, but I did the other day and was amazed at how much she has grown!

Ava demonstrating another new skill- emptying the diaper bag at any opportunity!

Bonus- she got a ziplock open that had crackers in it and was able to sneak a few.

If this isn't a guiilty look, I don't know what one looks like

Funny binkie

Emptying out the drawer for the third time this day

Ava and her friend Keyana playing

Some people show their kids their first snow- we let ours eat it!

She really did love it, but made this funny face after each time she licked it

The first night Ava was sick she woke up at midnight and was having a hard time breathing through her nose and couldn't get back to sleep so we let her stay up while we finished the movie we were watching. She loved it!

Me getting tired, Ava just getting started

The "tent" Ava slept in for about a week so she could breathe better

Just a cute smiling picture

Cute bath picture- Ava's favorite thing to do

Pulling down all mommy's shoes she can reach. I didn't mean for her to look like a boy with her shirt halfway open- it was just so I could rub mentholatum on her chest!

I have been tagged

I have been resisting this whole tagged thing, but I don't want to be a bad sport so I will try to come up with at least a few things that people might not know about me.

1- I am in a movie called "Digging with Dinosaurs." I was a Sophomore in high school when this crazy opportunity came along to be in an educational movie that was broadcast live to schools across the United States. It was about the newly excavated Hadrosaur found on the Grande Staircase Escalante Monument. Maybe I will let you borrow it sometime...HaHa:)

2- I was the Science Sterling Scholar for the Southern Region of Utah.

3- I really enjoy spicy foods. I will eat jalapenos straight from the jar and even though my nose starts running and my mouth feels like it is on fire- I will eat more and more.

4- I have just started Weigh Watchers for the third time. I almost reached my goal weight and then I got pregnant with Ava. I figured since Ava is now almost 10 months old I probably don't have any excuses anymore about why I am not back to my pre pregnancy weight! I am mainly posting this fact as a way for me to keep motivated now that everyone knows:) I lost 1.5 lbs last week so I am off to a great start!

5- I am in pharmacy school at the University of Utah and am almost halfway through. Hooray! I go to school for about 20 hours a week and then get to stay home with Luke and my wonderful daughter, Ava (or Aves as we call her).

6- I don't really have anything else to say so I will be done. I am not going to tag anyone because I think probably all my friends have been tagged already.