Kaci's 30th Birthday!!!

        Happy 30th Birthday Kaci!!!!  I woke up that morning and my mother-in-law Teresa & Tyson woke up early and put cupcake and birthday cake decorations on the ground from the room I was staying in out to the counter top with kisses and a birthday sign and a cake decoration.  I was so surprised and so happy that they would do this for me.  Tyson and Ava took me out to IHOP for breakfast and I was sang to and received a free ice cream.  Tyson gave me a present to go and get a pedicure so I went with my sister in-laws and mother in-law.  The plan was for me and Tyson and Kristy and Shawn were going to Rosas for dinner and then a movie to see Sherlock Holmes.  Well what I did not know was Tyson had been planning a surprise party for me back at my parents house.  While I was getting my pedicure I invited everyone to go and have dinner with us and then to the movie.  The funny thing is that they knew about the surprise party but did not want to say no and be rude.  So when Tyson showed up and met us at Rosas and saw everyone there he started to panic on what to do.  We had a good time at dinner and then everyone was like oh we can't go to the movie and just started making excuses which I thought was weird cause it was my birthday and nobody wanted to hang!!!  Everyone left but Kristy, Shawn, Tyson, and me as we sat and waited for the check which I did not know was planned so the others could hurry and go to the house.  As we were leaving Tyson was on the phone and said Ava had a tummy ache and we needed to go by and just check on her.  We got there and I walked in and saw on the counter a gift from Kelsey with a sign that said, "30 Sucks" and had 30 different kind of suckers.  While I was looking at it I was just rambling on talking to myself while everyone was in the other room waiting for me to turn around trying not to laugh at me cause I was just laughing and chatting to myself.  Eventually I turned and saw them and I was so surprised.  I had no idea and it truly was a surprise.  Tyson then told me how he had to change everything cause I kept inviting people and everything.  We played games and had junk food and laughed at each other as we acted out different characters.  It truly was a good birthday especially for my 30th.  

Christmas 2011

    The 2011 Christmas was such a great time for us this year.  We were able to do our little Christmas as our own little family in Portland before we flew done to Arizona.  We put up the tree and opened a game for us to play on Christmas Eve.  Ava loved decorating the tree and also wrapping herself up in some of the ribbon.  We were able to spend a great amount of time with our families by doing family Christmas parties and Christmas itself.  We were also able to spend time with some of our friends as well.  We were so glad that we had the opportunity to go down and be with our families for the holidays.
   

Here are some pictures of Ava during our time in Portland and Arizona for Christmas

(The game Lets Go Fishing for Christmas Eve)

      Here was Ava looking under our Christmas tree admiring her gifts that she could not wait to open.  Santa Clause came over to pay a visit to Ava while we were at Kim & Dave's house.  Ava is still not a fan of being close to him.  I decided to sit with Santa and kiss his Rosy cheeks.  We did the Nativity at the Markham family party and Ava was the camel for the wise men.  After the Nativity we all rode on the back of trailer with hay and went around singing Christmas Carols.
 

 Here we are at the Adair's Family Christmas Party where we had food and fun as always.

Top left: (Tyson & Kaci) Bottom Left:(Jared & Megan) Middle Top: (Charlie & Dave)            Middle: (Kaci & Kim) Bottom Middle: (Howard & Tracy) Right: Kristy & Shawn

We did an activity called the Nativity Ball that the kids love to do and requested it.  They unwind the paper ball and as they do there are little papers inside the ball every few feet that have specific kids doing something while a story is told with it.  The kids did a cousin exchange this year while doing the Nativity Ball.  Me and Tyson announced to his family that we were going to have a baby by pulling a baby doll out of a bag saying, "We have a gift we brought from Portland and it is.... we are having a baby!!!"  It was exciting to be able to tell them in person.

Here is Ava and her cousin Tessa playing together.  They had each other for the cousin gift exchange and they were both very excited to give the gift to each other.  We did the Nativity again with his family with Ava playing the role of the camel again.  She really liked it.  We did a big pinata that Ava just wanted to hug and ride the reindeer until we told her that there was candy inside and she changed her mind and wanted to hit it with a bat like everyone else to get the candy out.  Lets just say that it was so big every kid had a full bag of candy and there was still a ton left on the ground. 

It is a tradition in my family to go and see the Christmas lights at the Mesa Temple every Christmas Eve.  We love all the lights and how they decorate all the trees and flowers.  We love to be at the temple with our family and have memories.  Kristin and Ryan and there kids came as well and we got some pictures with Grandpa Tom and Grandma Mikki with all their grand kids.  Ava was so happy to see the lights and was being loving and cuddly the whole time. 

Another tradition is to get a new pair of pajamas to open up on Christmas Eve to sleep in and wear for Christmas morning.  This year was the Little Mermaid.  Christmas morning at my parents house with all the grand kids waiting to see what Santa brought them.  Ava received in her stocking her favorite thing Cheetos.  That was all she wanted and carried it around just eating them.  We had to try to convince her to put them down and open presents and she refused so she had some help from daddy and her cousins.  She's just like her daddy and loves chips! 

Here are some other pics taken at Christmas



Fun Cute Pictures of Ava

   We just love taking pictures of Ava and catching those moment that make you laugh and make your heart melt.  She has such a spunky and fun personality.  The picture with the chocolate face was when she found some stashed chocolate in the kitchen and tried to eat it all real fast before we tried to stop her. (Hence the reason it is all over her hands and face)  The pic in the middle was on a Sunday and she kept refusing to take a nap and just wanted bread and Tyson gave it to her and 2 minutes later she was asleep with her leg up on the wall holding the bread.  She loves mom and dad reading books to her and she loves trying to read it back to us.  Ava likes to work on daddy's table using her baby's and tells them "sshhh it's ok I help you."  The other pictures are of her just being fun and cute.  What a blessing it is to have her in our life and the wonderful spirit she brings to our home.  We always have a good laugh each day with her!!!  We are so lucky to be her Mom and Dad.

Thanksgiving in Portland 2011

       For Thanksgiving this year we got together with some of our friends to have a Thanksgiving feast.  The group consisted of the Atkinson's, Finlayson's, Finlinson's, William's, and the Missionaries elder Ellis and Elder Vang.  We were all assigned different foods to bring to share with everyone.  After eating a ton of food as usual on this day the girls looked through adds in order to prepare for the all night shopping that happens for Black Friday.  We had a good time laughing and enjoying each others company.  Even though we all were away from our extended families we still felt like we were with the people who we loved and who we considered to be our family.

Family Bowling!!!

       We found a deal on Groupon for some bowling and we decided to do a Family Bowling Night!  Ava was so excited to be able to roll the ball down the lane to knock down the pins.  Of course she wanted to carry the ball herself and push it by herself no matter what.  She was just so excited and wanted to bowl like mommy and daddy and no help.  This made bowling with her more interesting to watch.  She dropped the ball on her foot a couple times and pushed the ball to slow so it got stuck on the lane or in the gutter and slipped from going onto the lane.  The picture with her face down was when she did not knock any pins down and she got upset and starting crying.  Even with those things happening we had a great time just watching her be so excited to go bowling.   

Elder Romriell Gets Transfered

      Elder Romriell was in our area for 7 1/2 months and we had many discussions and dinners and laughs while he was here.  He was one of the Elders that helped teach the man Tyson baptized.  When he first came to the area he was very shy and did not say very much.  Very, Very, quiet...  There was major progression that happened in the time he was here.  He became more confident in himself and looked like he was ready to take more things on and not hesitate to talk to anyone.  We have been able to have the Elders in our home and feel of the spirit they bring with them.  We were glad to have met Elder Romriell and be apart of his mission.  

                         Elder  Ellis                                             Elder Romreil                                         Sweet little Ava

Ava's Fun Dance/ Tumble Class

We signed Ava up for a dance/ tumble class that she totally loved.  She caught on very quick with the instructions and the dance moves.  She loved crawling around acting out different animals and running the obstacle courses that were made.  There were times were the parents were asked to join in and you can see us trying to show Ava how to do it.  After the class Ava got to go and swing on the swings in the park next to dance building.  She always looked forward to dance class and asked everyday if it was dancing time.