Christmas 2011

A belated post but Im finally getting to it. We went to Eagar this year for Christmas. We went down a week early and stayed a week after. It was very fun. We stayed with Cords parents the first few days and hung out with the family. It was great to see everyone, we havnt been down to AZ in over a year. Once everyone arrived, Cord and the guys played basketball and the girls wrapped presents and hung out, and everyone got involved witht he chess tournament. I got to go to lunch with my sister in law Ashley and her Sister Sal. It was alot of fun and a very nice change of pace for me. We also got to go to lunch with a couple of Sals friends and I had a blast! While there a big snowstorm hit. We got so much snow!! It was nice though, we got to drag the kids around on the sleds and Mike, Johnny, and Brian built a huge snowman with the help of Avery and Raylin. Johnny nad Melina came to visit us at Mike and Ashleys, it was so good to see them!! Their girls are getting so big.
For Christmas Eve dinner Tammy and Brando cooked up a feast. We all ate alot and visited, which is my favorite past-time =). Christmas morning was great. We all got upn(well Nate and I did) at 6:30 am and met at the Wiltbanks (where everyone was still sleeping) =). Cord of course got everyone up with Christmas tunes, avery had a rough time waking up so early she started bawling unitl I showed her the chocolate Santa had brung. Everyone came even Grandma Mary. Her bag had gotten left in Mesa so she wore Steves robe and big socks Christmas morning it was awesome. I heard Gma MARY and ave became close friends. Ave sat and talked to her late for like an hour asking her a ton of questions.
Christmas morning the room was packed full as we passed out presents. We got some great stuff, and were excited with the presents we were able to give. It was really one of the best Christmases. Avery got so excited with every present. "look mom!! A doll!!!" said while jumping up and down. "look its a flashlight!! and BATTERIES!!!" lol She LOVES presents. I wish I had caught it on video. Gage just tried to get down and play with the paper. We got to stay for the next week after and spend time with Jen and her kids and Emily, Nate, Tammy, and Brando.
I also want to say Thanks to Velda and everyone for helping with the kids while I was sick. Poor Gage had some stomache bug while we were down there and I got a flu not a good few days.
Well here are some pictures of the Holiday.

Thanksgiving

This year for thanksgiving we went to Vegas to celebrate with my family. The week before though, Ashley and Mike came up from AZ to visit. It was great to see them and hang out together. We all were hoping emily would have her baby a little early so we could all be there to meet her, but instead she came the day after we all left and Rylee arrived on thanksgiving day.

Thanksgiving was great this year. Cord and my dad got to go golfing a few times and went to a UNLV game. The ladies cooked all day wednesday and thursday, my sister CC especially getting a little fancy with her desserts. We went over early thanksgiving day to visit my Dads side of the family. It was good to see my family. My cousin wendy was there with her 10 month old little girl Sophia. Gage loves to mawl Sophias face, and she is very calm about it. This time he got too excited and just lunged for her and tried to eat her face.
For our thanksgiving my sister CC invited her friend and her kids over and my grandma and cousin came it was very nice. It was great to be with family, we missed my sister kennedy and her family though, they couldnt make it down from Nebraska.
That night we all geared up for black friday shopping. At 9:30 we went to walmart and got there just in time since people started ripping things open way before they should have. We started grabbing movies all we could. i ran for the back to find the WII's and TVs my mom wanted. Meg got there when i did and hse stayed in line while I ran to grab all the other items we had on our list. We ended up getting everything we wanted, with only a little violence involved. After walmart we went to target to get a playstation and a few more toys and such. We got home around 2:30 exhausted and loaded with gifts. It was a lot of fun! Cord had to leave saturday to be back for his final. The kids and I got to stay and hang out for the week. We got to go to the relief society christmas party and see my mom and sister sing. It was a great week.

I hope everyone else had a great Holiday!

Halloween

Halloween this year was pretty fun. Cord was on a fire ride, and Ransom and Katie were nice enough to invite us trick or treating with them, so we went with them on halloween. At first the kids got to give out candy to trick or treaters, and they loved it! They ran to the door everytime the doorbell rang. =) When it was time to trick or treat the kids ran out eagerly and ran up to the first door. Ave got a little nervous but after the first door she was on the go. We could barely catch up with them they ran from door to door so fast. We went for about an hour and a half before Ave anounced, "Im done." She was ready to go home but a few more houses needed to be hit for friends to see Costumes and every house she had to get up there when the other kids said trick or treat. After the trick or treating we went back to the Birrels and had some dinner and treats. The kids played together for a bit and then it was time for bed so we packed up and went home. All in all it was a great night. We missed Dad, but he got to go to the trunk or treat so he didnt miss much!

In other news Avery is still as crazy as usual. She cant wait for Christmas! Gage is standing with the help of things now, and is getting more steady. He is crawling everywhere and getting into everything. His sleeping is still bad but he generally happy if Mom or Dad are around, lol. He is happy alot, unless hes fallen over or hungry. I love having them they truly make my life an adventure. Hope everyone had a happy halloween and is getting ready for a great thanksgiving!

Four Years Old!

Avery turned four years old the 22nd of October. I cant believe she is getting so big! I feel like just yesterday we brought her home from the hospital and at the same time It feels like weve had her forever. She is one of the greatest blessings weve ever been given and we are so glad to have her in our family. Avery is a little clown and a princess. She loves sparkles and pink, big dresses and high heels (up-shoes)but shes also a tom boy she loves sports, horses, blocks, swords, and tools. She sinds the craziest songs and dances everywhere. Life with Ave is fun, crazy, exhausting, and frustrating and we love every minute of it, we wouldnt have life any other way. We had her birthday party yesterday. My sister CC and her son tyson came up for the event, and we had a few of Aves friends over. We played a few games like eating the doughnut off the string, and did an egg spoon race. Both of these were very funny to watch. Then we played a little baseball and ate some yummy food. After that we painted pumpkins and then decorated monster cupcakes. After singins happy birthday and eating some cake we opened gifts, all of which Avery loved! I feel like it was a real success, and i know Ave loved it! Later that day Aunt Emily and Trace came over to visit and we went to the park and played some volleyball while the kids played. All in all Avery had an awesome birthday, thanks to everyone who came to celebrate with us! Happy Birthday little girl!





Aunt CC and the nuggets

My little girl and I

Birthday Girl!

Opening Presents

Daddy, Little Man, and MJay

Blowin out candles

Guess you have to eat like a monster when youre having monster cupcakes..



Willem slurpin a worm

yummy monsters...

Conrad as Nacho

Decorating the cupcakes

Tyson and Conrad trying to get the doughnuts

Eating the doughnuts

The Turds =)