Tender moments

So, the other night Avery woke up with a fever. I went in her room about 2:00 am to see how I could help her get back to sleep. After a dose of tylenol and her blanket and binkie we sat in her rocking chair and rocked. Avery has quite the personality. As I held her in my arms (mind you she is getting longer by the day and is getting more wiggly by the moment, so to hold her in my arms is a rare occasion) I looked down at her a smiled. Through her binkie she smiled back and waved (opening and closing her fingers). Oh, my heart melted. We have also been pretending to sleep and showing her how to snore. Not too soon after she waved, she gave me a little snore!! She doesn't really know how to do it, it comes out as "zzzzzz" and that's about it, but it was so funny! We both started to crack up. What a funny little girl!!

Bah Humbug

I'm kind of feeling like a bah humbug this year and I'm not sure why. We had a tree for over a week and just got around to decorating it. Jake had to seriously beg me to help him. I was just not in the mood, nor am I. I don't really feel that excited this year. I should be, Avery is at a fun age, but I feel like sometimes the most important part of the holiday is over looked. Everyone is caught up in gifts that I'm having a hard time. Maybe since it snowed I will feel like it more and realize it is in two weeks. I don't know. I don't know what my problem is. Maybe because Jaymie is looking forward to it being over and I know that she is sad, so maybe I am feeling a little bit of that as well. I have no idea, but I think this is the first year I truly am not really in the "mood" for Christmas. How sad is that?! Our first Christmas party is on Sunday and we are hosting....I better buck up and get in the mood!

THANKSGIVING

Man, is it December already?! Wow!! Thanksgiving was so fun this year. However, I did forget to bring my camera. We had Thanksgiving at my mom's house. My aunt Denece and all of her kids, except for Trevor who just left on a mission, and their wives came and celebrated with us. My mom worked so hard to make such a special holiday for all of us. It turned out so nice. My parents purchased a table that has 12 leafs so we could all eat together, it was pretty impressive! The food of course was yummy! I LOVE turkey! Jake and I cooked one of the turkeys for the first time and it actually turned out pretty good! I think I want to brine one next year. I hear that is the only way to go. We'll see. My mom also put on a crazy game of bunco for all the adults. It was so crazy with all 20 of us, but it was very fun. We need to get together and do it again. Thanks mom for a great Thanksgiving.

I have so much to be grateful for. I have the best family in the world. We have had some trials recently and it is impressive how we can all come together. We definitely have our moments with each other, but for the majority of the time we have SO much fun together. We can get laughing so hard we cry. I love moments like that! I love all of them and wouldn't trade any of them for the world. (even you, Ben and Mark!!)

I am so grateful for the wonderful husband and sweet little girl that is in my life. Avery is such a blessing and such a sweet little spirit. I truly thankful for the opportunity I have to be her mom.

It is a great time to be thankful and I am so thankful for everything in my life. It couldn't be better.

Cousins are so much fun...

Avery LOVES her cousin Reese. She laughs at her all the time. She thinks Reese is hysterical on most days and it is so fun to watch them learn to play. They haven't always played "together" but as of lately they are starting to interact with each other even more. To listen to them laugh and hug and kiss each other is a blessing. I love staying home and being with my little baby. She is naughty sometimes but most of the time she is a sweetheart!

They were sitting together looking at the mirror with Reese's arm around Avery, but I couldn't get my camera fast enough...this one will have to do. Pretty stinkin cute if you ask me!!

Happy Haunting

Halloween was a success. The Friday before, Avery and I went to Jake's work for a little trick or treating. Avery is hysterical! She thinks she is so big it kills me! After she warmed up and got off Jake's lap...she was all about getting the candy and putting it in her "bah". I don't know that she knew it was candy, but she sure did like getting it and putting it in. She has such a small little body I was cracking up as she walked down the hall!! She is so cute I could eat her up!!



On Halloween, Jake ended up going to the U of U game and I ended up taking Avery around with her cousins trick or treating. I thought for sure she would be too little and not get it, BOY was I wrong!! She thought it was great!! Cute Hadley would run up to the door yelling "Cany, Cany", so cute!! In all it was a lot better being the parent excited for my kid than it was for me when I was a kid. I liked the candy, don't get me wrong, but dressing up is so not my thing!!

Two cute Japanese Princesses! I couldn't find Avery's chopsticks as this was the third time she had dressed up so I had to use pens. I was so bummed.

Johnny and his cute friend-Darthvader (however the heck you spell it!!)

My cute grandma and us (You can tell it is getting later! Avery's costume is off and makeup is rubbing off!!!)

....Now bring on the turkey!

TRICK OR TREAT!!!

Avery eating her cat litter...she loved it!!!

So, I really hate to admit that I hate Halloween, but I pretty much do. I hate dressing up, I hate being scared, and most of all I hate eating things I don't know what they are!! Except this year has been a little different. My mom put in a lot of work to make this a fun night for all of us. She made vampire eye balls, worms, and cat litter for dessert! Johnny, my little nephew was not liking the fact that things looked a little different. It was so funny to watch him because he was so grossed out! He was worried my mom had done something weird to his taco soup! Needless to say, I think both he and Mikaylee went a little hungry that night!! After dinner we carved pumpkins. I love this tradition, I don't know why, it may be a little silly, but I love when we are all together. Thanks mom for the hard work and making such a fun night!! It was nice to have something happy to talk about with such a hard week this past week.

My mom cracking up over the cat litter!! She is totally laughing and I love it!

The Worms!!!

Aubrey being big and helping doing the dishes!! That's a first!! jk!! ;)

This last Saturday, our ward had their Trunk or Treat. It was so fun to get Avery dressed up and I think she pretty much loved it! She loved her pumpkin or "Bah" for ball, as she calls it. Her letting me dress her up made it that much more fun! I didn't know how to do her makeup and in real life her face didn't look so scary, but she turned out to be a pretty cute Japanese Princess! She thinks she is so big I can't stand it!!!

My little Japanese Princess!

Heaven can't be too far away

Yesterday was cute James' graveside services. As horrible as the situation was, it turned out really nice. I was amazed at how many people showed up to give their love and support. I overheard one of Mark's co-workers say that they shut their office down so that they all could come and support Mark. How awesome is that. How awesome is that when this world seems so bleak, there are people out there that will stop what they are doing and come and show their love and support.

At the graveside, Mark said a few words and so did my Dad. Bill, Mark's step-dad offered the dedication of the grave. I think that prayer said it all. The thing that stuck with me the most was that he said he had utmost respect for Jaymie. He was talking directly to her and I just really appreciated that as a big sister. Through this whole thing I have felt like I have needed to protect her. I have had no idea how to do that, but isn't that what big sisters are supposed to do? I felt like I just want to hold her and shun her away from all of the hurt and pain that she has been going through. It has been a week from Hell but I think laying his body to rest has been a good thing. Not that we need to move on, but now the grieving process can begin and hearts can begin to heal.

Today the sun is shining and what wonders it does to the soul. I am grateful for the knowledge I have of an eternal family. Cute James is waiting for his parents return and will one day run and jump in their arms. This has been a true test of faith. But I know we will see him again and can kiss that cute neck. See you soon.

Sunday will come...

My eyes are swollen and I pretty much have a headache. Kind of a bummer of a weekend. We will see you soon cute baby James McCleod Maines. We love you.

Please keep Jaymie and Mark in your prayers. This little while is going to be really rough. Hang in there Jaym and Mark you have the support from a lot of people. You will make it through this I promise.

All I have to say is....GROSS!!

The other morning I went and got Avery out of bed, only to find that her diaper had come off during the night!! I don't know why, but she likes to poop at night and seriously, so gross!!!! Gotta love diapers and love being the one that has to clean it up!!!

Discovery Gateway

Discovery Gateway

OMG, the coolest place ever for kids!! On Tuesday, my cute friend Jessica invited us to tag along with her and her little girl (plus two kids she nanny's for) to the Discovery Gateway. This place is so cool! Avery LOVED it! I thought that she may be a little too little but boy was I wrong! I couldn't get her to hold still to take a decent picture of her! Her little cousin Reese came along as well and she had so much fun too! Here are a few pictures I did try to get! Thanks Jess for the invite. So fun!!

Cute Elliyah

Avery LOVED this car. She sat and played in it for almost 10 min!! I didn't think she could stay in one place for that long!!

Reese's favorite part was the house. She didn't want to leave it!!!

Summer is almost over

I can't believe that we are half way through September already. Seriously, where does the time go? This past summer we have been so busy and it has been so fun to have a little baby to share the experiences with. Although, this last weekend was the first time I have left her over night.

Jake and I decided to go backpacking with his brother Josh up to Amethyst Lake. We did this hike about six years ago when we were first dating and it is soooo beautiful! It is about 13 1/2 miles up and back and is a pretty good hike. There is a mile where you are climbing elevation pretty quickly on rocks. But the end result is this beautiful lake. You feel like you are on top of the world, literally you are so high, there isn't much animal life. The first time we went, it was silent. There weren't even birds and I thought that was so weird. This time there were definitely birds and was absolutely gorgeous. It was warmer this time around and that is probably why. We took both dogs and they loved it as well. I love to be in the mountains. It is amazing how blessed we are to live in such a beautiful part of this country. My feet were a little sore by the end, but it was so fun to be with Jake. It has been a long time since we have spent a night without Avery. (**I couldn't sleep I had such back anxiety. I thought for sure there would be a bear ripping me out of my tent!!! Needless to say, I didn't sleep very well!)

Finally....some family pictures!!!

It seriously is like pulling teeth trying to get everything situated for family pictures. Luckily we got some really good ones....here they are!

I love this picture of my mom and dad! Aren't they so cute!!?!