The fun things you get to do...

when you and one of your best friends have baby girls only months apart! Aren't they sweet in their matching Christmas outfits! Of course getting a picture of them both smiling at the camera is almost impossible here's the best shots we got before our Christmas shopping trip.

Ava meets Santa!

So she lasted a few seconds before she was like "Wait a minute....who is this guy!?"

We had our children's Christmas program at church Sunday night. so she got to meet Santa and Ms. Claus...

Holiday photo shoot

Over Thanksgiving Daicia was sweet to do a holiday photo shoot for us. I love her work and love how these turned out!! Here's a few favorites:

Thanksgiving

We had a lovely Thanksgiving before the stomach plague of 2010 hit us. We enjoyed a relaxing time with friends and family. My Thankful thoughts over these days include my girl friendships. All my dear friends that were my bridesmaids I am still close too and know we always stay connected through our life long friendships and most importantly through our bond in Christ. I love how they all are so familar and so easy to get along with and have warm converstaions with even when we haven't seen each other for awhile. I also love how they are different and I appreciate very different things about each those friendships that I cherish.

Here's all the girls from the holiday get together:

Q is such a sweetie to share with Ava and show her the ropes. These two are getting to enjoy each other's company more and more with each visit:

24 times

That is the number of times someone in this house has thrown up over the past 72 hours. Poor Ava started out puking like crazy starting Saturday night. I called our doctor twice because I was so concerned at how much and how long it was going on. I was so sad for her, she would dry heave and I would cry. Such a helpless feeling and she is too little to take any of the meds. As she was finally getting better, I started. Ryan stayed home from work on Monday to take care of us. Then later that day it over took him as well. It ended up actually 5 other family we were with on Saturday came down with it too. My brother ended up with a hospital visit for IV for hydration. We've all been better here most of today but stayed home from work to make sure we don't infect anyone else.

As bad as all this was I can come up with lots of thanksgivings during this time to cover days 27-30:

1) I am so grateful for Ryan, He was so helpful and comforting in taking care of me and Ava. When I think back about this terrible crazy sickness that is one thing I will remember and love him for how sweet and care taking he was.

2) I am grateful we didn't all come down with it at the exact same time. It was spaced so that as each of got better the next one came down with it. I don't know what we would have done if it was all of us at the same time.

3) I am thankful it gave us today all together, we were feeling better, we slept in, put up Christmas decorations and enjoyed an unexpected extended day all together.

4) I am thankful dogs can't get people virus! Rory was fine but very confused why Ava was getting to sleep in our bed.

Stomach flu of 2010 is in the books! Glad to type that! I will cover the rest of our Thanksgiving holiday at another post.

Thankfulness catch up...

Catching up on my attitude of gratitude, days 15-21...

15 - My New laptop! Ryan got me a new computer. I am so thankful for his thoughtful research and selection, he wants me to have what will work the best for me. Very sweet and thoughtful.

16- I am going to leave this one mysterious: I am thankful when those we love surprise us in the best, most unexpected ways.

17- My in-laws. I feel blessed I very much enjoy the company of my in-laws. They've always treated me as one of their own.

18- Cheeseburgers, enough said.

19- The library, there aren't many things for free these days, I love that I get to check out books for free! I know my tax dollars fund this so its not "free" but its a very worthy use of community funds.

20- My parents are visiting as Ryan is out of town. So nice to spend a relaxing weekend together just visiting and enjoying entertainment.

21- Matt and Lori staying with us for a few days!

7 months old...

Out little Ava Bear turned 7 months this weekend! So many signs she's getting big: As you can tell from these pics she's now a pro at sitting on her own. She will quickly eat napkins, paper and anything else she can get her hands on. She can get where she wants to go with lots of rolling. She is much more expressive letting us know what she thinks about things. I'm so excited to share her first holidays with her that are just around the corner. Love this sweet girl more than I have words to say!