Birthday Girls

10 years! Ten Years! TEN YEARS PEOPLE!!!!!

I can't even BELIEVE that my little Annie Girl is 10 years old!

Yesterday was Annie's birthday and I spent the day looking at her in awe and disbelief! She is growing into such a wonderful, sweet, sensitive, caring, fun, radiant, happy, faithful, obedient young woman. She has a style all her own, she carries herself with confidence, she isn't ashamed of the things she loves, she is so conscientious of trying to do what is right and is sooo much fun! All I can think is "when did this happen?". When did she change from my temper tantruming 3 year old, leaving ME in a puddle of tears after each encounter (sometimes 5 + a day) and into this Sweet Angel who puts me into tears from laughter or pride or both! It has happened before me eyes and I'm ever so grateful that I get to be her mother!

Annie, thank you for being such a sweet girl. For ALWAYS striving to do what is right, for remembering you are a daughter of our Heavenly Father, for constantly helping others and for being such a light in our home!

WE LOVE YOU!

Happy Birthday Sweet Annie Girl!


TWO BIRTHDAY GIRLS


Today Annie is 10 and Avery is 3 months old! Again, WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?!!

12 Weeks Old

I took these pictures this past week cause I just couldn't resist my happy baby girl in her cute BOWS and her big SMILES!!! She started giggling this week too! Annie and I were playing with her one morning and out of nowhere she started to giggle. Annie and I looked at eachother and started to giggle too and soon all three of us were giggling together!

Those cheeks are evidence that she is definitely ours!

Big Blue (that's what Annie calls her "because of her eyes")

Look who found her hands! She's totally mezmerized by them.

I just love this one because it shows her chubbiness but also shows one of the adorable BOWS that Shannon made me.

Blessing Day

I have looked forward to Avery's Blessing Day ever since I knew she was coming! I love the special feelings I've had about each of my babies on the day Adam blesses them and Avery's Blessing Day was no different. She is such a special part of our family and in her few short months of life, I can't imagine her not being with us! I'm so grateful we decided to have one more baby and that she came to us a perfect, healthy little girl.

When Annie was a baby my mom crocheted a BEAUTIFUL blessing dress for her. My sisters and I have passed that dress around from baby girl to baby girl and it has become a very special and meaningful dress for each of us as our daughters have all worn it for their blessings. Annie, Natalie, Brooklyn, Reece and now Avery have all worn it and each of them have looked absolutely beautiful! Now that we're all finished having kids, we'll store the dress for the days when our Granddaughters will wear it and hope that our daughters will keep the tradition and pass it around between them as they have their own baby girls.
Beautiful Blessing Dress

It was so nice to have both Adam's Parents and my parents here for Avery's blessing. Adam and I both recognize the blessing it is to have both sets of our parents be such integral parts of ours and our children's lives. They are wonderful examples to us and we are forever grateful to them for EVERYTHING they have done, and continue to do for us. Thank you for being with us and making Avery's special day even more meaningful! We Love You!!

Gramma, Papa, Avery, Granddad, Nana
Nana and Granddad
Papa and Grandma

Adam gave Avery a beautiful blessing and I was once again reminded of how blessed I am to be married to such a righteous man! He loves me, our children and the Gospel and he shows it to us in so many ways! Thank you for honoring your priesthood, Adam, for loving us so much and for setting such a valiant example to me and our children. I Love You!

Me, Avery, Adam

As my sister Julie often says "my heart hurts" as I see how quickly Avery is growing and knowing she is my last baby! I'm indebted to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with 5 beautiful children when I know there are many families out there who long to have children and aren't able. I never want to let a day go by where I don't thank Him for the blessing it is to be a mother. My children mean the world to me and seeing how quickly time is passing by, I hope I can cherish each moment of raising them.
My Cuties! Spencer, Logan, Avery, Garett and Annie
Cute Sisters! I have a feeling I'll be posting A LOT of pictures of these two together over the years!

Avery, you have been a bright light in all of our lives this past year. From the day we found out you were coming, to the day you were born, to now, we have all fallen in love with everything about you. From your sweet cooing sounds to your smile to your cry, our home has changed for the better having you in it! We Love You!
Sweet Little Angel

Fever

Our sweet baby girl started running a fever on Sunday night a few weeks ago. With all the junk that's been going around I was really worried about her! There have been quite a few cases of H1N1 around the community and both Garett and Adam had been sick the previous week with flu-like symptoms (though they both tested negative for flu) so understandably I was worried.

Monday morning I took her into the doctor and to my relief (and the doctors) her right ear was filled with fluid and bright red! An ear infection! Though I'm sure she didn't feel "relief" from the diagnosis, I was happy it was nothing more serious. Within a few hours of starting the anti biotics she was feeling MUCH better! Poor baby!!!

BIRTHDAY BOY

I can't BELIEVE that my baby boy is 5! In so many ways he is still my baby but in so many others he seems so grown up! I always tell him that no matter how old he is, he'll always be my baby boy! He doesn't like it when I say that but its true! He may be a "big boy" but he'll always be my "baby"!

Last year I was a bad mommy and didn't have a birthday party even though I told him we would. Life just got so busy and I kept putting it off that eventually I had put it off for so long we were closer to his next birthday than we were to his last! I have felt guilty about it for the better part of a year so this year I made sure to plan ahead and give him a fun birthday party and FUN it was!

We rented an ALLSTAR bounce house for the afternoon and he invited 10 little friends over to bounce the day away! His friends are all such cuties and Logan did a great job of remembering to say thank you and be sure everyone was having fun! But then again, how could you not have fun in a bounce house???

Cool Bounce House

One of Logan's "girlfriends" Madison
Cute Tyler
Tait and Logan wouldn't stop moving, thus the blurry picture!
Yummy Soccer Cake
All the cute kids! Trevor, Jack, Soren Logan, Tait, Allie, Martin, Carter, Tyler, Madison, London

Soren, London and Logan (London is another of Logan's "girlfriends" ;-)

Logan's party was on Friday and his "real" birthday was on Sunday! We celebrated as a family that night. Logan got some fun presents and is now one happy FIVE year old!
Modeling his new vest!

A new ski suit!

Choir Festival!

At the kids' school, 4th grade is the first year you can be in the school choir and Annie could hardly wait to start rehersals! Starting at the beginning of September she had early morning choir practice two times a week in preparation for the first annual HS Feeder Choir Festival. All the elementary schools that feed into the HS we'll go to were invited to the festival which was held in a local park! Annie was so excited!
Annie is in that group somewhere!

The evening of the festival came and the kids and I headed off to hear Annie sing (Adam was working in Fort Collins that day and couldn't be there). The boys, Avery and I picked up some dinner on our way and parked ourselves amongst all the families who had come to enjoy the music too! All the choirs sounded fabulous but I have to say our schools ROCKED IT!!! Our choir was HUGE with over 100 students in it! Our choir director/music teacher is so great! Definiately a step up from Mrs. Shepard and Mrs. Braun, my teachers when I was in Elementary school. The best part is, Mrs M doesn't walk around doing silly clapping patterns that you have to repeat back to her EXACTLY! (that's what my teachers used to do during assemblies- someday one of my siblings or I will have demo it for you :-)

Garett and his two best buddies Carter and Colby (yes they are twins!)
Annie and her friend Emma
Cute boys!

Cavities

We FINALLY have Dental Insurance so September was filled with dental appointments! I was SOOOOO scared to find out who had cavaties and how many they had when we went in to the Dental office. I'm embarrassed to say how long it had been since our family had teeth cleanings! To my surprise Garett didn't have a single cavity! Last time he had EIGHT!!! Spencer's cleaning also showed no cavities! Both Logan and Annie each had a few that were "flossing" cavities but overall I was happy with the outcome! It could have been much worse!

After Logan had his cavities filled, I couldn't help but pull out my camera and take a few shots! He was giggling his head off because he was looped out on laughing gas and thought his half frozen face looked hilarious! After getting the gas he looked at the assistant and giggled "I can't even feel my whole body"! Uh Oh.... is that a good thing? Anyway, here are the pictures of him after his appointment!

Frozen Face
Not so sure

Believe it or not, he's trying to smile here! So funny!

Avery's First Vacation

in September Adam, Avery and I took off for a quick weekend trip to Utah! Adam had to work in the SLC office and since there was a BYU football game that weekend, he decided to make a weekend of it and stay for the game on Saturday! Since I hadn't left the state in MONTHS, I decided to bring Avery and join him! We had a great weekend visiting family and friends and letting Avery meet so many people who meet so much to us!

MEETING THE ARMSTRONGS

Our first stop was, of course, the Armstrongs! Since they had a busy weekend and we did too, we were only able to spend a few hours with them. Though it was short it was so sweet to see them and let Avery meet them. I think it was love at first sight for both parties! Avery loved them and they loved her!

JULIE'S NEW DO
The week before we left, Julie told me she was planning to get her haircut. I begged her to make her appointment while I was in town so I could be there for the change! She obliged my request and I was on hand to take pictures while Val worked her magic!
THE BIG CUT

In Foils

The Final Look! LOVE IT!


MY ADORABLE NIECES AND NEPHEWS
I'm one lucky Auntie because I got to take Julie's four ADORABLE munchkins to meet up with "my other sister" Julie to have their pictures taken! Julie was in town from Canada and was doing some mini photo shoots for her Utah family and friends. The photo shoot overlapped with the hair appointment so I offered to take Jackson, Natalie, Brady and Reese to meet up with Julie. It was so much fun to watch these kids in action! Natalie is SOOOO into posing for the camera, the boys acted like they didn't care but I think secretly loved all the attention and Reesie was a little gun shy at first but warmed up and did great! Click here to see the pictures Julie took! They are SOOOOOOO good!

LUNCH WITH THE SCADLOCK GIRLS
After the hair appointment and photo shoot, Julie and I met up with mom and headed off to LOS HERMONOS to meet my Grandma and Aunt Lori and cousins! Yummy food and so many people I love made for a wonderful afternoon! All together there was Amy, Drew, Julie, Mom, Val, Rileigh, Sage, Dylann, Aunt Lori, Avery and Me.
Grandma Bonnie Gene (Avery is named after her Avery Jean -different spelling but still named after her)

Mom and Aunt Lori admiring pictures of Aunt Lori's newest grandbabies: Twins Daxton and Jacoby Ehat!

Four Generations: Mom, Me, Grandma and Avery

Julie, Amy and her cutie pie little bubba Drew!

Aunt Lori, Me and Mom

JUST HANGIN' OUT
Hangin out at Julie's is always lots of fun! Avery snuggling with Uncle TJ!
Reese and Julie! Reece just couldn't get enough of Avery! She is so stinkin' cute!
Mom and Dad hangin' with us!
Oh!!! Two Love Birds!

GRANDMA AND GRANDPA CHRISTOFFERSON
Saturday morning I headed up and over the mountain to take Avery to go and meet Grandma and Grandpa Christofferson! I spent about an hour and half with them and am so glad I made time to see them. They are so sweet and wonderful! They fell in love with Avery and she with them!

Grandma Jeanne (the other Grandma Avery is named after-again, a different spelling but still named after)

Grandpa Paul taking a look!


JACKSON'S FOOTBALL GAME
After visiting Grandma and Grandpa C., we headed over to Jackson's football game! Jack's such a cutie pie and a great football player! I'm glad I was able to see him play!


BYU VS FSU :-(
Avery's first "BYU" outfit! Though she didn't come to the game and spent the evening with Grandma Scadlock, she looked adorable in her cute BYU shirt and bow!

Pre Game
The game was a HUGE disappointment as BYU played their worst game in years and got their tooshies kicked by FSU. I did, however, get to meet up with Londyn Clawson, my friend Tanya's daughter, who just started her freshman year at BYU! She is such a cutie and I'm soooo proud of her for all her success!

AND OF COURSE IT ENDED WITH THIS....
No vacation would be complete if Adam didn't fall asleep at some point! This was after the game when we came back to Julie's. We were watching TV and before we knew it Adam was gone! Definitely a sign of a fun weekend!