Joyeuse Anniversaire Ava Jolie -- 3 ans!!

Happy Birthday, Ava Jolie-- 3 years old!!  We all love you so much!

From the time I was pregnant with Ava, I knew she was going to be someone special.  I had this feeling about her... I actually started to wonder if she was going to be handicapped somehow because I just kept feeling like she was a very special spirit.   And so she is!  She brings so much happiness into our family, I can't even tell you!  She is such a good friend to everyone, always trying to help and learn and new things for herself.  And she is an amazing help to me, especially for a 2, now 3 year old... always by my side, cleaning up, putting things where they go, helping me make things, and of course wanting to be Mia's second Mommy.  Maybe Ava was to be special to our family because she was the first child that I actually realized would grow up so quickly... I cherished every moment of her babyhood, as I missed the other 3 being so small. And now she adores every moment of Mia's babyhood as we adore her growing into her childhood! Its just happening too fast though!

I can't wait to continue watching Ava grow up, learn about life and become even better friends with her baby sister Mia, as well as Maddy and the boys.  I thank my Heavenly Father for all the joy He has sent me in my life with all my children... and today I thank Him for the gift of Ava, the strong willed, sometimes shy, ever inquisitive, controlling, yet loving, little mini ballerina, Dora lover, Daddy's little princess!

WARNING:  LOTS OF PICTURES TO FOLLOW!

Always Daddy's girl... here they were enjoying the snow when she was 5 months old

Contemplating life at 6 months old

Bathtime with the whole crew (this was for photo purposes only =] )

Mommy loves Ava

Grandpa Sly loves Ava

Daddy looovvves Ava!

Maddy loves her little sister so much too...

Havin fun at Lagoon... 9 months old

On the go!  Hiking in Provo Canyon

Time for kisses from Daddy

Ava loved baths then and still does now!  She would bathe 10 times a day if she could!

Ava's 1st birthday and 1st baby doll.. she loved babies even then!

Ava's 2nd Halloween (she was only 2 weeks old on her 1st!)

Chicken pox!!  15 m0nths old

At Legoland with Goodman cousins and Isaac and Maddy- 21 months old

3rd Halloween! (Ava's pumpkin is the 2nd from the right, its carved as a bat)

Ava as Princess Dora

Happy 2nd Birthday!

Happy 3rd birthday, ballerina princess!

Arriba, Arriba, Go Eagles!

Well today was Cameron's 4th football game, only the second I have gone to... yes, I am a bad mom in this regard. His first game was so hot and long that felt I had an obligation to keep my other kids safe from heat and boredom!.. and me from their craziness after sitting for 3 hours in bleachers! Well today was a different story... not only was the game much shorter, we didn't have to sit in bleachers, and we were actually COLD! Cold in Arizona before Halloween? Not a commonality.  Today was special, too, because it is my Dad's 58th birthday... he and several other members of my family came to watch the game and afterward celebrate his birthday by taking him out to lunch. Cameron did such a great job today... he made a few tackles and also facilitated 43 yard run for a touch down! Yay Cam! We had a great time at Arriba's for lunch, too. So happy birthday, Dad, and good job Cam on a game well played! Go Eagles!!

Nathan and Chris were into the game the most out of us all... don't you love how their shirts match?  They planned it of course 

The wild ones of the family... Isaac, BryLee and Elias... they are all always on the go when we get together!  But of course this is because they are so smart and curious and always wondering... whats over that hill over there?  Or what will happen if I run around in circles for the rest of the time we are here??

Gettin a little pep talk from the coach after the game...

Such a handsome Eagle

Emma and Maddy hangin out... Maddy only got to cheer for a little bit this game!  We were kinda late and they stopped cheering about 10 minutes later...

Happy Birthday, Papa!

Everyone who came to lunch at Arriba's, minus me, Chris and most of our kids  (Carol had to go home and I was in and out of the bathroom with kids most of the time b4 we got our food)

Nate, Jenn, Jake, Bryant, Jackie, Papa, and Cam

Thanks for coming everyone!! (You too, Carol, Emma, Eli, Tyler, and Tyson!)

Happy October!

October is finally here!  Maybe it will start being cool soon... yea right!  Maybe by Halloween!  Does anyone have any great ideas for baby costumes?  Ava was a spider 2 years ago, right before she started walking, it was soo cute and so easy... I want to do something like that for Mia, too.  Just let me know in my comments if you have any cool ideas or websites.  Thanks!!