Ava's New Hair (just more pictures)

Ava wanted me to take her picture (for some reason, she doesn't want to wear clothes today...). She told me she wants to make funny faces and take pictures of her new hair cut. So I did...All I can say is she is truly Chad's daughter.

Ava's First Hair Cut!

Ava has had really really long hair and I've loved it. The only problem has been, she hates having bows or elastics or clips in her hair. So I will do her hair in the morning and it will look adorable. Then without fail, Ava will rip everything out of her hair, leaving her looking like an orphan. So my friend Stacy cut her hair this morning. I LOVE it! I can't believe it took me so long to do it.

Before her hair cut

One Busy Boy...

So my husband might just be the hardest worker I know. Yesterday was our 4 year anniversary. Because of Chad's new job, he had to work on New Year's Eve (until 1 a.m.), our anniversary and he will also have to work on Valentine's Day...I'm not complaining. Chad just works really hard. On top of that, he has been studying every single spare second for the GMAT test he will be taking tomorrow so he can apply to some MBA programs by this Friday. Along with studying, he has his applications to do- essays, statements of intent, letters of recommendation, etc. Needless to say, he has been a trooper. Chad is one of those guys that can just handle anything and everything. At a time like this, I am very grateful for his dedication and motivation. He just takes everything in stride. I love him for this! I would be a basket-case. Literally... So honey I love you. Thanks for the funnest and craziest 4 years I have ever had! I can't believe how much I love you and how lucky I am to have found you.

Sugar Cookies with My Sugar

My Ava might be the most meticulous cookie decorator I've ever met. She spendt so much time putting the "sparkles" (as she calls them) on her cookies. She would pick up one sprinkle and place it on the cookie- one at a time! Then she would take a break and eat one. Ava literally decorated 2 cookies in the amount of time I frosted and decorated the rest of the batch AND cleaned up the mess. I love her. As you can see, she was pleased with the outcome of her carefully decorated cookies.

26 Weeks Pregnant!

Snow Day

For Christmas, Ava finally got snow clothes! This is the first time she's had any..I'm pretty sure that makes me a terrible mom.. So when it snowed today, Chad came home for lunch to take his little girl out for her first snow day. She was so excited! She cried when she had to come in because she was just getting the hang of how to make a snow ball. It was really cute to see her try to maneuver in the million layers I put on her. It was worth it. I already promised her we could go out later today...she's my little snow bunny.


Ava fell over and couldn't figure out how to stand back up...so funny!

Christmas '09

Christmas was amazing this year! We went to the Talbot's house in Orem for a few days to spend the holidays with Chad's family. Jake and Amanda were there. Chad's brother Brett and his wife Marnie were able to fly in from Texas. And as some of you know, Wes (Chad's little brother) is temporarily home from his mission for back surgery. So it was no small feat that the whole Talbot family was together this year for Christmas. We thought Chad would end up having to work on Christmas day, but we got really lucky and he had the whole weekend off. What a fun time. We spent a lot of time with cousins and grandparents and aunts and uncles. We also got together with the Birrells and played a lot of fun games. Pretty sure it's been a while since I've laughed that hard. It was so much fun!
Ava was of course spoiled. Her favorite present she opened Christmas morning was this little guitar. She wears it non-stop and she really loves playing the guitar with Chad. I surprised Chad with a new guitar for Christmas, so he and Ava rocked out all weekend. The most incredible thing is, she actually plays it the right way. Her form is excellent. She has the whole hand-coordination thing right AND she plays in the "power stance" that her daddy and uncles taught her. So cute. So here are some pictures of that. It felt good to be back in Orem. We're kind of in a weird transition where we aren't quite adjusted to Ogden yet, but Orem really isn't home anymore, either. So we're just trying to feel like SOMEWHERE is home... But it was a really great Christmas. I got a sewing machine because I am going to attempt to make my baby's bedding. Wish me luck (if any of you have done that and have cute patterns or advice, please let me know!!). I really hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!

Home for the Holidays

So the reason that I have been so lame at keeping on top of blogging is that we recently moved to Ogden. It happened really fast and was way unexpected. Chad is considered self-employed being a financial advisor...which means that we have private insurance...which as most of you know is ridiculously expensive. Our monthly premiums and deductible have been so crazy, but we were just dealing with it. So then Chad was offered this job in Ogden where he can still do his financial planning and work for this company that offers full benefits from day 1. So this has been a HUGE blessing for our family! We have been really happy with everything. It just happened so fast, that we're just barely feeling settled. We found out on a Friday that Chad got the job and we moved on Saturday. We feel really lucky to end up where we did and how everything is coming together. I have loved being close to my family. Ava loves it up here with all of her cousins so close, too. So that's the deal- we live in Ogden right by the mouth of the Canyon. Our view is beautiful, our ceilings are vaulted, and my parents are 10 minutes away. I have no complaints. All of our furniture isn't here yet, so I'm going to hold off on pics of the inside until my house is put together.. So here is how it looks from the outside. I am really really really going to miss my family and friends and young women in Orem. A lot... We were down there for 4 years, so it's a huge change not to be right there by them. I loved our ward and being close to Chad's family. I will miss it a lot. We are just going to focus on starting here in Ogden and getting ready for our baby boy!