Jingle All the Way to Utah

It's gotten pretty hectic this week. We are so excited to come to Utah and the packing and planning has already begun. Jimmy and Melissa, it you are reading this. Call me!! We will be in Utah from the 20th-28th. We want to see everybody. 4 days to go and we'll be on the plane...with a toddler...one layover...8 hours of traveling. I'm so past nervous, I can't tell how I feel. We'll live and it will be worth it to see the people we love and miss so much. This is the last post until after the new year. We hope you are all enjoying the season. See some of you soon. Hugs and kisses all around.


Ava helps with the bills.


Financing with no pants-ing.


Laughing.


Mommy loves you.


Well hello there Emer. Thanks for coming over to play.


Take your coat and fireman hat off and stay awhile.


Livi has the most radiant smile. Love that kid.


Ava and Emer make jewelry.


Up, up, upper.


This doll stroller was a big hit with the kids. Ava pushes Livi.


Emer pushes Livi.


There's that smile.


Livi pushes Ava. How cute is this?!


Cute girls.


Emerson cheers on the action. We didn't know it at the time, but he had a fever in this picture. It was a sign of things to come. The Thaynes are feeling much better now.


So close. Livi almost takes a step.


How can you not take a picture of this face? Adorable!


Mommy and Ava get new winter boots.


Christmas shopping at Morgan Imports in Durham. Great store.


Ava takes a reindeer ride.


We stroll through the trees downtown.


Mommy and Ava.


Carols playing from those awesome grounds speakers. Ava loves it.


A pose.


Pretty downtown Durham.


All lit up over at the historic tobacco district. (no pun intended)


Daddy and Ava.


I love the wave.


Our tree. Easy to set up, check. Out of the way of toddlers, check. Pretty, check.


Rex has been taking some great pictures with his new camera.


Amazing sunset.


Ava trying to stay warm at the park.


Cute Ava and her beads.


Don't worry about over accessorizing. Just go with it.


You're a pretty girl Ava boo.

Dancing Ava

Snow

Camera update: It was at the museum the whole time. I checked the lost and found and there it was. The Black Friday special has been returned. Good riddance. It wasn't a keeper. Last week the beach, this week ... snow. It's truly winter now. Ava and I were just getting over our summer cabin fever and now the cold weather is here. We'll have to get creative.


Ava and Emer looking at a reindeer display at the museum.


Emer grabs Ava's hand to show her something cool. Soooo sweet.


Ava's second winter.


Let it snow.


We visit the Thayne's on the weekend and have some winter fun.


Bundled up Emer.


Three snow bunnies.


Look at Emerson's face as he shows us the snowman he built the day before. He's beaming.


Some snowman maintenance.


Livi helps.


Gathering accessories.


Becca, Livi, Stan, Emer, Ava.


More maintenance.


Cute little Livi all bundled up. Such a sweetie. She reminds me of baby Maggie on the Simpsons.

Thanksgiving and Fort Fisher

As I mentioned in the last post, our camera is lost. I mean, it's still on the planet somewhere, I just don't know exactly where. I took little videos on Thanksgiving with the flip camera and screen captured a few shots. Not the best quality, but still, I got a few pics. We had soooo much fun with the Thanyes and their friends. The kids had a total blast. We ate a lot and enjoyed ourselves. Let's do it again soon! On the weekend, the Nielsons packed up and took an impromptu trip to the beach. The hotel deals are so cheep right now. We wanted to go see the aquarium at Fort Fisher. Got a new camera on black Friday, but I'm not sure if it's a keeper. I'll give it a chance.


Lots to be thankful for. Yummy.


Becca and the babies.


We all shared stories and the kids played and played.


That little girl getting tackled by Emerson is named Bella. She was tough.



Livi, Emer, Ava.

"When is this thing going to be over?" was one of the complaints heard from a child, but I got them to watch most of the Peanut's Thanksgiving cartoon. Popcorn and toast for dinner?! Hilarious.


Thanksgiving dance party!



Ava snoozing on the way to the beach.


Out of the car and in the hotel.


Out of the hotel and on to the beach. It was in the high 50's.


Swimsuit, snowsuit, whatever works.


Daddy catches Ava before she runs into the water.


Collecting shells.


Gifting them to Daddy.


Back in the hotel room.


What is there to do around here? Ava found something fun.


The love affair with toilet paper continues.


When she was done playing with the toilet paper, she politely tried to put it back on the roll.


Rex went for a walk on the beach and found a Christmas gathering. We all came down to see.


Beach Santa.


Watching a live nativity.


Lots of singing.


Chatting with St. Nick. This is a close as he got.


A beautiful morning.


A sand piper fishing for sand crabs.


Packing up and getting ready to go to the Fort Fisher Aquarium.


This is Luna the albino alligator.


This is Ava kissing a fish.


I think this is a a Pipefish. (related to seahorses)


The tidal touch pool.


A view of a sea marsh.


This was definitely my favorite thing. The aquarium was not busy at all and I sat inside this concave looking window for quite a while. I felt like I was underwater, looking up at the fish coming by.


This is what you see.


Ava takes a peek.


Peeking at a jellyfish.


An amazing creature.


We had a fun time together.