Avery's TWO YEARS OLD!!!!

Here are some pictures from Avery's belated birthday party.  We had a fun party for her up in Utah on her actual birthday but we came home and had one with my parents a week later. She got this outfit from Omma and Ompa and it was so cute that I had to have her wear it for this. She got this little horse from Grammy and Papa, it attaches to the T.V. and she can do her ABCs and counting and all sorts of other things.  She really likes it.  She also got her first dress up cloths from Marisa and Jeremy and Ethan.  She loves the shoes and skirt especially.  She was insistent on wearing the skirt Christmas shopping the other day.  Brian and I let her wear it in the car and then we pulled a quick distraction to get it off before we actually got into the store. We probably should have just let her wear it.  I'm sure we will get more relaxed later on in our parenting years. Oh, and her cake turned out much better this year.  I don't know if anyone remembers the pictures last year, but it was awful.  We hope to never have one that turns out like that again.

Avery was doing pretty well at sharing with Ethan, sometimes she struggles with that but it is only with, go figure.

Here are the Sleeping Beauty shoes. When she walked around in them she looks like a little Grandma hunched over taking little steps.  We love it!

Here is the tiara and the dress again, isn't it sooo cute!

The Polar Express and Temple Square

Oma and Ompa took everyone on the Polar Express in Heber, Utah.  It was a 90 minute train ride that reenacts The Polar Express book. We got hot cocoa and cookies. They read the story to us and we met Santa and Mrs. Claus.  They also gave everyone a bell for the first gift of Christmas. Avery really liked the train ride and especially since she'd been on one earlier in the week. Ompa got a lot of good pictures so we didn't take that many, we will get some from him and hopefully post more later. 

Oma got the girls these pajamas and they all wore them on the train.  Aren't they so cute!

These are a couple pictures from temple square.  It was my first time.  I love this first picture that Brian took.  I can't believe I never went before after living in Idaho for years.   Oh well, it was worth the wait.

Thanksgiving in Utah

We had such a great time in Utah, it was sad to go.  It marked a few firsts for Avery.  Riding on a train, jumping on a trampoline and swinging on the big kid swing all by herself. I love this picture of Natalie, Avery, and Ashley.  They were going down the slide in a train and Ashley and Natalie would take turns being in the front and back.  They had so much fun. 

Here is Avery on the big kid swing

Natalie had a fun time going around really fast.  At one point Avery slid down to her feet in the middle of the tire swing.  Her little feet were moving so fast trying to keep up with Natalie's swinging so she wouldn't fall.  

Ashley was so good at being soft with Avery, she was like a little mommy.

Avery kept getting frustrated with her hat, it kept spinning around to where she couldn't see anything.  Those that were watching thought it was funny but I can imagine for a little two-year old that would be difficult.

Avery's Birthday Dinner at Spaghetti Factory

So, I have to say that Tami and Scott's girls are sooooo sweet to Avery.  They helped her get up and down the stairs multiple times a day (as it became a game for her) and they played pretty much whatever she wanted. As you can see from the picture they were often times holding hands together.  Cousins are so cute, we wish we lived closer. 

Our little family

Everyone

There must have been a lot of birthdays that night because we kept hearing the song sung by the wait staff.  They then came and sang it to Avery.  She wasn't sure who these people were singing, but by the time we got back home she was singing the song.  It is so cute to hear a two year old singing Happy Birthday.  They grow up too fast!!!

This Is The Place Monument

I know this is an awful picture of me, but everyone else looks good, and Avery loved this train.  She was so excited each time we saw it.  This is the first time trains have even interested her at all. Scott and Tami took us here and the kids had a great time.  At the Brigham Young home they got to write letters to Santa and then gave them to him and the adults really liked the hot apple cider that "Sister Young" provided.  It was a chilly evening so that hit the spot.  We saw a puppet show about how reindeer came into Christmas and then went to the live nativity.  (They even had a real camel). Following that we learned an old time dance.  Avery loved this part.  At the end of the dance it was time for everyone to leave and it looked like the musicians were ready to pack up as well, Avery walked up to the lady who was announcing and said, "One more?" It was so cute in her little voice so the lady had the musicians play one more waltz and our whole family danced and Avery danced with her little cousins.

This is pictures with Santa, unfortunately little Natalie was already on her way to the next thing so we missed her in this one. 

Here is Avery in the dance hall with Ompa.  This trip was fun for them because she 

actually wanted to be held by him quite a bit.