Our Trip

Last weekend Josh, Ava, and I went to the Grand Canyon for the first time! It was really beautiful and seemed almost surreal.­ We left Friday morning and because we were meeting family in Flagstaff and they weren't going to get there until late afternoon, we decided to take our time traveling and go along a piece of "Historic Route 66.­" We were inspired by the Disney movie, "Cars.­" So Thursday night, I printed out some information from the internet and on our way, we stopped in the little towns and tried to find the landmarks from Route 66's hayday.­ It was really fun; Ava even seemed to enjoy it.­ We stopped in one town, Seligman, Arizona, that is in the extras on "Cars.­" We bought a malt from a place that advertised that they sold "TACOS, BURITTOS, AND DEAD CHICKEN," visited a barber shop that thrived before the freeway bypassed the town, and found a car that may have been the inspiration for Stanley in the movie.­

That night, we went to the Lowell Observatory and got to see Saturn through a telescope that weighs six tons and its mount is thirteen tons.­ We also looked at the moon and Mars.­ The Lowell Observatory is where Pluto was discovered.­

Then, then next morning, we went to the National Geographic Grand Canyon visitor center and watched an IMAX movie on the Grand Canyon.­ That was cool because we only had a day, and the movie showed things that we would never have been able to see ourselves and also told about the history of it.­ Finally, we went to the south rim of the canyon and hiked a couple of miles along it.­ (I say hiked, but it was really a paved pathway.­) It was beautiful and the perfect time of year to go, as it gets up to 120 degrees in the summer.­ It looks like a picture and you can walk right up to the edge, at your own risk.­ We saw deer and elk and some huge birds, too.­ So I recommend going, but it would have been better if we could have spent a few more days there and hiked down into the canyon.­

Ava's favorite things to do at the canyon were climb on the boulders next to the pathway and eat dirt.­

Ava's new hairstyles!!!

There was snow in the mountains next to Las Vegas when we woke up this morning! It was so pretty, but made me miss having real seasons.­

As for us, Ava is turning into a crazy toddler and she is hilarious.­ She says a few words now: Daddy, Mommy, banana, please, Jesus, cheese, but still points, grunts, and uses baby signs for the most part.­ She walks around and babbles to herself a lot, too.­ The signs have been really fun.­ She learned please, thank you, more, finished, dog, cat, book, baby, ball, telephone, flower, bird, and a few others.­ We are trying to teach her that she has to ask nicely for things, but before she says, "ees" (please), she lets out a blood curdling shreak to get our attention.­ Of course we turn, expecting to find some horrific scene, and instead we see this little girl with big eyes who quietly says, "ees?" She does really crazy things all of the time, but I can't seem to remember them at the moment.­

The only one I can think of is one day when she was helping fold the laundry, she put a dish towel over her head.­ She couldn't see, but I laughed.­ So being the clown she is, I guess she thought she would do something to add to the humor and started walking around.­ We live in a small apartment, so after three accelerating steps, she crashed full speed into the desk.­ I think she was hurt and quickly bounced back up to come to me, forgetting that the towel was still blocking her vision and misjudging where I was sitting.­ Before I could save the day, she ran straight into the table! It was really funny, but I had to muster my laughing because she was obviously confused and in pain.­ Having a kid is the funniest thing that has ever happened to me.­

I would tell you about Josh and I, but we are mostly the same and I have to leave to choir now, so love you guys! Bye.­
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Notice how disgusted she gets with her daddy.

This is our beautiful Ava!

She loves playing on our porch.


Ava loves her mommy!


This is Daddy's favorite time of the day.

Ava loves to show off her mad basketball and walking skills.

Ava and Her Bandaids :(

She still fits in the sling! Yes!

The mittens are too big, but cute, nevertheless.

Just an Update

Yesterday, Ava had a doctor appointment and got 5 shots! She is almost 13 months old now, and weighs 18.­6 pounds and is 27 1/2 inches tall (or 28 1/2, we can't remember which and I didn't write anything down).­ I was surprised, because on our home scale, I thought she was 20 pounds.­ I think their scale was off.­ She started really walking two weeks ago and now uses walking as transportation probably just as much as crawling.­ She is becoming more and more individual and independent all of the time.­ For example, a couple days ago I made her a delicious lunch of baked potatoes and broccoli and she responded first by throwing it piece by piece on the floor, then when she saw me coming, grabbed the whole plate, and with a sweet smile, dumped it into her lap.­ The same thing happened at dinner.­ I think I need to start reading parenting books.­.­.­She says a few words now ("Daddy," "Mama," and "Cheese," her three loves), and signs please, thank-you, more, and all done.

Josh's semester starts next Monday and he is really excited.­ He is taking a child psychology (thank goodness, now I will know what goes on in Ava's brain), English, PreCalculus, information systems, weights, and a Doctrine & Covenants institute class.­ He will still be working as a math tutor in the afternoons and evenings.­ I am excited for him, too, but will miss having him around.­ We've had some great times while he has been home in the mornings.­ We have gone on bike rides, had picnics, ran errands together, and other fun stuff.­

As for me, my sister and I have been walking in the mornings which is very cool.­ I love being a mommy and staying home with Ava! She is so fun to be with and makes me laugh a lot! The End.­

This was Ava's first bike ride and she loved it. We have taken her on a couple more. We think that she is the most adorable girl in the world!!!!

Holidays are GREAT!

Sorry we haven't posted anything for a really long time! Hey this is my (Katie's) first time writing a post and I am excited!
We had a fabulous holiday season! We spent Christmas in Queen Creek, Arizona with Josh's family. It was great: we went iceskating, ate delicious foods (with emphasis on the desserts! a lot of 'em!) re-enacted the Nativity with a thrift store dress up twist, sang Christmas songs, wrapped presents until the wee hours of the morning, watched Christmas movies, had nerf gun wars, played board games, danced! It was so fun and made us realize again why we love Arizona and its people so much! The time there flew by and we returned on the 26th to Las Vegas. So now I am going to figure out how to post pictures




Ava's Christmas outfit from Great-Grandma Carol

We celebrated Ava's first birthday in Arizona. Poor child didn't know what to do with a cupcake.

With Aunt Aleese

Our loveley gingerbread house, complete with flagstone walkway and frosting snowman by Josh.

A visit with Natalie, friend since birth:)

We have been ELFED!!!!

We got it to, we hope you like it!!!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1616157747

This is the newest family picture we have. It was taken on Dec 4th at the hospital right after Katie's sister had her baby.

It has been a very eventful last couple of weeks. Katie's sister, Anna had her baby on Dec 4. So we have been busy with all that comes with that since we live 1 mile away and the next closest family is a 1 hour drive away. Ava took her first step on the 4th as well.
We, well I mean Katie, has finished decorating the house with all of our Christmas stuff. And I must say she does a pretty good job. Ava is growing so fast everyday. In fact, its about time to get a bigger car seat. Maybe Santa will bring her one cause they can be pretty pricey.
Josh has finals this next week and then will have a break from school till mid January. Right now he only has 6 credits, but has registered for 13 credits next semester. Needless to say, he will be much busier come January 22. But he is very excited to take his education up another notch.
Ava has hid our camera somewhere, but when we find it we will post some newer pictures and videos. We hope that everyone is having an amazing Christmas season. We love you!!!!!!

Well, hello there everyone. I wanted to share the fact that Katie, Ava and I are now official residents of Las Vegas. We moved out of Katie's sister's apartment and are now living in our very own 2 Bedroom condo. We finished moving things in on Friday night around 10:30 pm. The place is still pretty out of control with boxes and furniture everywhere, but it feels nice to have a place of our own.
Ava has been teething for the last couple weeks, so she has had nonstop drool and runny nose. She hasn't been sleeping very well, and as I am writing this Katie is conked out on the bed while Ava is sleeping in her crib and I am all alone.
We were set apart as Primary Teachers today after church. We teach the 8 and 9 year olds. We have a high functioning autistic boy in our class that makes things quite interesting at times, but we love to be back in Primary and Ava enjoys it much better as well.
On Wednesday night, we will be driving up to Elko, NV to spend Thanksgiving at Katie's parents house. The drive is shorter than when we were living in Gilbert, but it is still very long and tiresome. And since the best time to travel with Ava is in the middle of the night, that adds to the tiresomeness. But we are excited to spend some time with our family up there and enjoy the slower paced lifestyle for a weekend.
Ava has been so cute with her little mannerisms and new eating habbits in fact the pictures below are her finishing off some rainbow sherbert.