Myhre's Visit

The girls are so lucky to have such wonderful grandparents.

Grandma Lu and Grandpa Gary drove out for a visit the end of June. The girls just thrive when they're here and we wish they could come out every month!

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Annabelle still gives the biggest grins when the camera comes out.

This is her saying, "cheeeeeeeeeese". Ava reading her new book, "I Love You Stinky Face" with Grandpa Gary. Filling up the pool is hard work.

On a hike with Grandma Lu.

Annabelle is definitely getting way too heavy to be carried on my back!!

Having a picnic.....PB&J and blueberries. YUM.

Stop to smell the roses, Annabelle.

Who wants to visit next??!!!!

We're Still Here!

Yes, we are still here. This blog isn't a complete failure yet, but almost, I know.

We are finally enjoying our summer. It rained every day this spring and finally got sunny at the end of June. Ok, so I really don't have time to write much now (going on a hike)....

but thought I'd let you all know that I'll try to do better :)

Here a few pictures taken yesterday.

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We went out on the boat yesterday. Ava was in heaven. See that big black cloud behind Ava?

We got POURED on. Poor babies... they were huddled up under the bow of the boat freezing their little buns off. Memories, huh? Ava and Annabelle being goofy. I seriously can't get a good picture of the two together. Ava is always trying to play mommy by hugging Annabelle just a little too hard.

Miss Annabelle hiking.

That's all I have for now. I will try to do better. Hmmm... I know I've said that before :)

Baking Cookies with Grandma Em

I think that my mom's favorite thing to do with Ava is bake cookies.

Ava loves it of course....now that I think of it, they baked cookies

twice during the week my mom was here!!

Ava took the job VERY seriously.

As I'm sure you'll notice in the pictures, Ava is not smiling.

This is how she gets when there is a serious job to be done!! :) Notice the matching aprons? And Ava's new hair-do??

My mom makes the best chocolate chip cookies ever.

Jason ate about 10 a day for a week straight.

Thanks Mom! And thanks Ava!

Annabelle is 2!!

My sweet baby Annabelle is 2 years old!! She had a great birthday. My mom was here, which was fabulous. We had a small party of just my mom and us, which was perfect.

This is how her birthday started out.........AT 3 IN THE MORNING!!

Annabelle got a new tooth for her birthday :)

It woke her up in the middle

of the night...and she stayed up for 2 hours!

Seriously. I was not happy.

But, she was in the greatest mood ever and just wanted to play.

Thank God my mom was here.

Annabelle went back to bed, but of course

Ava was up and ready to go at 7 am.

My mom got up with Ava so I could get some

more sleep. Thanks, Mom!!

Ava read Annabelle a book for her birthday.

...then Annabelle went #2 on the potty!!!

Too bad she hasn't done it since her birthday... Ava helped make cupcakes.

The girls were soooo excited when Daddy came home.

They both love their daddy so much and promptly attack him the moment he walks in the door.

We had a birthday feast. Ava and Annabelle got to have macaroni and cheese. The rest of us had jambalya and cornbread.

For dessert, cupcakes and icecream.

The night ended with Grandma Em reading Annabelle's new book.

Happy Birthday, Dear Sweet Annabelle!!!

We love you sooooooooooo much!

Today

Eating pasta salad... Saying "CHEEESE" for the camera. Frantically vacuuming..

Here is Ava saying, "Look Mommy!! Odin is eating off the table!!!"...

Going for a walk.

Being sisters. I just love them.

Ava is 3!

My big girl is 3!! Hard to believe. We had Ava's birthday party today. She had a great time. We had a few friends over...had some good food and some strawberry cake. Ava felt really special :) She's been saying for a long time now...."Mommy, I'm only two...but on my birthday I will be three and I will be a really big girl! ".

Happy Birthday, Ava!!

Dressed up as a princess... Annabelle had fun at the party too... Here is Annabelle dressed in an outfit that my mom made me when I was a little girl.

My mom will be here for Annabelle's birthday in 3 weeks. Can't wait!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Just wanted to wish everyone a very happy Valentine's Day! Here's a picture of the girls 1 year ago. Ava's 3rd birthday party is tomorrow! Hopefully, I'll have some new pictures to share soon! *Hugs* to you all!

For Artie

This post is for Artie. For those of you who don't know, Sara moved in January 2008 and had full hopes of being called "Tia", which is Spanish for aunt. Well, Ava had other ideas, and starting called her "Artie". We still don't know how she came up with it, but we went with it. Now we still call her Artie and it doesn't sound so strange to us anymore. :) Artie lived with us for almost 2 years! I don't think any of us expected her to stay that long, but it was so fun having her here. She was here for some very big moments in my life and I miss her. It was funny, because having an Artie in the house was all that Ava and Annabelle ever really knew. I think Ava thought that all families have a mommy, a daddy, and an Artie. Because we miss her and because Saturday is her birthday, I decided to make a little tribute to Artie.

This was the day Sara arrived. After a 2 day (18 hour drive), she was happy to be here.

Ava was only 11 months when Sara moved in, and I was 5 months pregnant. She was here for Ava's 1st birthday. With all the fun we were having, Miss Annabelle decided to join us 2 1/2 months early. Thank God Sara was here to watch Ava when Annabelle was born. This picture was the first time Artie met Annabelle. We had to get special permission for someone other than me and Jason to visit in the NICU. Sara got Ava all dressed up for Easter. I drove home from Denver on Easter day to pack some things up and to see Ava. Sara had cleaned our entire dirty house.

Artie was here for Ava's 2nd Halloween....

...and Annabelle's 1st Halloween.

Ha ha. This picture makes me laugh. Oh, the joy when Barack Obama was elected into office.

Decorating the Christmas tree (2008).

Ava's 2nd birthday!!

Annabelle and Artie in the hospital.

Sara used to take Thor for hikes.

She used to make smoothies all the time before work. The girls loved them.

Artie and Annabelle and the Teton County Fair.

Halloween...again!!

We miss you, Artie!!!