Good times, good times.....

We had a great summer! We are sad to see it end, but anxious to get on with our lives.... So far everything is going well with the new semester. I am seriously thinking about potty training Ava this weekend. She went number 2 in the potty yesterday and I think she is ready. Maybe..... The space bar on our computer is having issues so I can't type much



Ava riding the cars at Liberty Park

We had a BBQ with my friends from pharmacy school after our immunization training last Friday. It was super yummy and super fun!

Eva and Marco the newlyweds

Todd and Amy

Mike's wife Melanie- so so sweet with Ava :)

Kanab Trip

Last Sunday we went to Kanab and stayed for a whole week. We had so many fun times with friends and family. We were able to go to Lake Powell with my aunt and uncle and stay on their houseboat for a few days. We had so much fun. Ava absolutely loved it. We met our adorable new nephew, Brady, for the first time and Ava was able to play with her cousins Baylee and Trey. She loved it! Jeff had his welcome home in sacrament meeting Yesterday and he did such a fabulous job. I can't believe how much he has grown spiritually. What a great guy! He has taught me so much in the week and a half that he has been home and we are so excited for him to live with us for a while during the school year. Here are a ton of pictures from our vacation.



Together again!

The whole Stirland Family (Sans Ava (napping...), Spencer, and Quinn (oh when will we ever get to see the Quinster again!?)

Boys

A few boys...

After a few days with only Lake Powell baths, I couldn't stand it anymore and had to give Ava a real bath. The only bad thing was that the sink was tiny, and Ava isn't very small anymore!

This is some 8 mm footage of my dad before leaving on his mission, he and Jeff look quite a bit alike

Ava in her usual crazy hair state!

Watching very old home videos

Craig (aka, the arabian) fishing

The little girls playing Rummikub

Me being pulled on the tube

The wonderful houseboat. We got to stay in the top room :)

Luke rescuing Ava from the paddle boat

Daddy and Aves going for a ride in the kayak- what a man!

Our little lake lover

Here she is again- isn't Luke's farmers tan great!?

What a little cutie!

Being choked by the life jacket

On our way to see Rainbow Bridge for the first time

Ava "hiking" to Rainbow Bridge

And here it and we are in all our glory...

Ava captivated by the "kish"

With Uncle Jeff

Trying to eat the banana off the book....

This is what many of our party was reading much of the time...

And this.... (well, just at nighttime I guess)

Ava enjoying her pasta pick-ups

Jeff in the water for the first time in two years

What a cute picture!

This is what Ava did half the time we were at my mom's house

Stop and smile.....

And she would put all the cans out onto the floor and then put them away, over and over again

Mauling cute little cousin Brady

Jeff's Home!!!

We finally got Jeff home! What an exciting day it was to meet him at the airport. I have never been to the airport to see a missionary get home- what an experience. It is almost worth having a brother be gone to get to have them come home in such a spiritual, fun, exhilarating, awesome (I could go on and on and on) experience. I know what it is going to feel like when we die and meet our loved ones who have gone before! Ava went right to Jeff and didn't even cry which is quite the amazing event. I wish I had more pictures from the airport,but I am waiting for them to be emailed (hint hint) We made shirts with Jeff's face on them surrounded by sun rays and we all wore them- even the kids. It was so fun. Jeff is such a great person. It is amazing how much spirituality he has brought home with him. It has increased my spirituality so much to be around him. I am so proud of him for serving the Lord for two years. We are so happy to have him home :)

Later that night we went to the Temple Square and the Conference Center where we listened to the MoTab chior rehearse and then went in a little private room where Jeff shared his testimony with us. It was so great. This is Ava looking through the window to the waterfall right in front of it.

Ava making herself at home on the escalator....

This is our little monkey. Seriously she is doing something like this running and laughing probably 75% of the time she is awake

I love love love this picture even if it is a little blurry

She is contemplating the best thing to do with this rock- about two seconds later it was being thrown through the air!

Caught off guard

Cousins....

Happy family....

Big happy family.....

Even bigger happy family.... And this is only two families!

The night before Jeff went to the MTC we ate at Benihana, it was only right that we should celebrate there when he got home! Oh how I love the fried rice there....

Grandma Beej with the girls

Newly returned Elder- isn't he handsome!?

The kids all love him!