December 30, 2008

Santa Claus Is Gullible

Since my parents have become such lazy bloggers, I figured I had better get on here and catch everyone up on our December before ringing in the new year. A few weeks ago we went to see Santa Claus. I wasn't really that interested, but these girls waiting next to me in line seemed to be very excited.

I eventually made it to the front of the line and my parents placed me on Santa's lap. I didn't really want to go through with it until I noticed that Santa was holding a candy cane. If you recall from last year, I wrote about how Santa Claus was mean because he wouldn't give me his candy cane.

So this time around I decided to just take it from him.

Once I was certain the candy cane was mine, I was out of there.

I thought I was finally done with Santa until next year. Then on Christmas Eve, I was at Granny O's house minding my own business and playing with my cousins when he showed up out of nowhere! Once again my parents wanted me to sit on his lap, but at least this time he came bearing gifts.

Then my parents wanted a picture with Santa also. However, by that time he was out of presents, so I really didn't see what the point was and decided to look for an escape route.

Everyone else seemed to think Santa was the bee's knees though. Here's a slide show of everyone's picture with Santa.
So, I've decided that Santa is a little gullible. All you have to do is sit on the guy's lap for a bit and he gives you stuff. If only my parents were this easy.

December 28, 2008

Two Little Mermaids Turn Two

On December 13th, we hosted a Little Mermaid-themed birthday party for Ava and her cousin Annissa, both of whom turned two this month. Here's Ava in her mermaid dress anxiously waiting for the party to get started.

Soon everyone arrived and the festivities began as we gathered "under the sea" (i.e. in the basement). Ava was quite entertained by the party favors.

The main event of the party was a show performed by The Balloon Guy. Prior to the party, he made two life-size Little Mermaid balloon sculptures for the birthday girls. Ava (who loves anything having to do with Ariel) was absolutely ecstatic.

Here's The Balloon Guy in action twisting a balloon puppy for Ava.

This is a slide show of everyone with their balloon character.
Once everyone had their own balloon character, we opened presents. Here's Ava opening a Little Mermaid doll. Very appropriate considering the theme and all.

Annissa was quite excited about this present. Wow!

We concluded by heading up to the kitchen for mermaid cake and fish-shaped cookies.

Thanks to everyone who celebrated Ava and Annissa's birthdays. They both had a great time.

November 29, 2008

November 23, 2008

Old Grandpa Beckstead Had A Farm

A few weeks ago we spent the weekend with Krista's family at their new vacation home in Preston, Idaho (Granny O's hometown). While there, we visited Ava's great grandparents on Krista's mom's side of the family. Here's Krista and Ava with Great Grandpa Beckstead.

And here's Ava with Granny O and Great Grandma Beckstead.

The Becksteads live on a cattle ranch, so Ava got to see a lot of livestock. However, Ava's favorite part of visiting the Beckstead farm was chasing their many little kittens around the yard.

November 21, 2008

Spaghetti O's and Z's

This is what happens when somebody skips nap time...

November 16, 2008

Searching for Penguins

In September, Granny O and Mommy took me and my cousins Annissa and Seth to Hogle Zoo. First, we went to see the elephants. Seth was very interested in seeing how much he weighed compared to an elephant. It turned out that he weighed much less than even a baby elephant. While Seth was busy weighing himself, Annissa and I did the baby elephant dance.

Next we went in search of the penguins. However, when we got to the penguins' house, they were nowhere to be found. We were very sad.

We all looked through the window to see if we could spy the penguins inside their house, but it was to no avail.

Annissa and I decided it was time to try looking elsewhere, however Seth was convinced that the penguins had to be somewhere inside.

Finally, Granny O and Mommy helped us find where the penguins were hiding. The penguins had gone out front for their morning swim. They were so much fun to watch.

Lastly, we went on a train ride through the zoo. At first, I was not paying much attention because I was too busy daydreaming about the penguins. I was thinking about how Nala and Lily Mae would just love to have a pet penguin to play with.

Then I had a great idea—I could ask for a penguin for Christmas!

I can't wait until Christmas to get my penguin.

November 7, 2008

Zachary Aidan

Erika (Krista's sister) and Ethan recently welcomed an adorable baby boy into their home. Zachary Aidan was born on October 30th. He weighed 7 lbs 6 oz and was 20 inches long.
We drove up to Erika and Ethan's house last Saturday to see our new nephew who had just come home from the hospital.
Ava was thrilled to meet her new cousin "Ack." She was very excited to see a real baby (they are much more fun than Cabbage Patch Kids).

Larry and I were reminded of just how much Ava has grown since being a newborn; and Ava thought Zach had cute ears.

Ava made sure to be very soft with her new cousin (thank goodness). Here she is patting Zach's head (he has a full head of hair).
Ava wanted to be next to whomever was currently holding Zach. Here she is next to Aunt Maddie, who is quite the pro with little babies as the aunt of six nephews and nieces.

Now that Ava has five cousins on the Olsen side of the family, she is looking forward to her first cousin on the Furr side of the family. Just ten more weeks to go!

November 5, 2008

Halloween 2008

For Halloween we took Ava up to Freddy O and Granny O's house for a Halloween Bash and trick-or-treating. Ava dressed as a leopard, however, we told her she was a kitty cat (her second favorite animal after dogs). Here's Ava on Granny O's front porch checking out the pumpkins, crows, and witch's cauldron.

Cousin Annissa, who dressed as Minnie Mouse, was also there for the fun. Annissa got an early start on the Halloween treats.

Here's a picture of all the cousins together, along with Krista (because Ava wouldn't be in the picture without her). Sophie was a Peep, Lucas a race car driver, and Seth was WALL-E. Of the 20 pictures Larry took, this is actually the best one. It's quite difficult trying to get five children to sit still and smile for the camera all at once.

We then took Ava trick-or-treating around the neighborhood for a bit. Afterward, we returned to our own home and gave out Ava's loot to the trick-or-treaters who came by our house. Sorry Ava. You can keep your candy when you're older.

October 25, 2008

Our Almost 2-Year-Old

We have been really bad at blogging for the last couple of months. It is crazy how fast time goes by and how busy a very active toddler can keep you. We haven't had a chance to download recent pictures from off our camera and sadly there aren't that many on it anyway as Ava has recently decided that she prefers running everywhere to sitting still for a photo op. We also have been busy finishing our basement, adjusting to Larry's new job, watching BYU football games, getting well after Larry and I were both terribly sick, entertaining family from out of town, and visiting the Olsen's fabulous new home up in Preston, Idaho. To motivate you to keep checking our blog, I am putting up some of my favorite pictures of Ava from August that didn't make it into any of our previous postings. She is sitting at the piano, one of the few places where I can actually get a picture with her staying semi-still.

Here Ava is practicing her kissy face. Although she has never been an overly cuddly child, Ava loves to give kisses. Hopefully this love of kissing does not continue into her teenage years!

Here is Ava at three months. Back then she had already mastered puckering her lips, but was much better at sitting still for the camera.

Hopefully we can start making more time for blogging. Stay tuned!