Abbey and Ava During the Holidays

Grace and Abbey (adorable cousins) show their new Sunday School dresses on the Sunday before Christmas: Some of the extended family went to St. George, including the Kleins and the Brent Zimmerman family, just before Christmas. Here Abbey sits with Brent's family at the Pizza Factory restaurant: Abbey loved the curly bread sticks, especially the buttered, salty outer crust: While in St. George, we went swimming almost every day, which Abbey really enjoyed. She was brave to overcome her fear of the water, and gradually got more and more comfortable in the swimming pool, especially with Eric: Even Ava seemed to enjoy the trip to St. George. Here she is in her carseat (and with a little milk product on her mouth!): (Back in Orem.) Beverly is following Sheri's tradition of reading books to her babies . . . and Ava absolutely loves it: Here Beverly turns the page while Ava looks on intently: We love having Abbey and Ava around, in Orem or in St. George!

Christmas Eve

Eric, Abbey, and Ava spent Christmas Eve in Davis County

It started with a family party at Brent and Rita's house (Sheri's brother)

Then Christmas Eve jammies were opened at Aunt Andrea's house

Then Abbey helped her cousins Trevor and Skylar put out oats for the reindeer

and the kids got to have a sleep over

while Andrea snuggled Ava

We can't wait until tomorrow morning!

Like Sheri

I've heard people say that Ava looks like Eric, especially since they have the same hairdo. But to me, as Ava's getting older and more alert, she looks more and more like her mommy. No wonder I think she is absolutely adorable....

I love being with Sheri's girls--they remind me so much of their beautiful mother.

New Friends

While Ava and Abbey spent 10 days at Aunt Andrea's house, lots of new friendship were made:

#1: Abbey, Skylar, and Trevor

Abbey and Skylar enoyed having nightly sleepovers (which is really code word for talking, laughing, and goofing around until Andrea or Eric made them stop). After a week of hearing the fun from the next room, Trevor cleared himself a spot on the floor and refused to sleep anywhere else. He's been asking for Abbey and Ava ever since they left.

#2: Ava and the red dog

Ava loved looking at the red dog on the swing. She tried so hard to grab him in her little hand.

#3 Ava and Andrea

One night Ava got very talkative with Auntie Andrea and gave lots of smiles. Eric didn't find the high pitched baby talk that Andrea used to get this smile nearly as cute as Ava did (and it worked--look at that smile!).

A big thanks to Eric for letting me hang out with the girls and for helping Nate with the office furniture and for watching all the kids that one day!

A weekend with the girls

This weekend we (the Paxmans) were lucky to have two visitors.

Skylar was so excited that Abbey decided to stay and play too. They had fun having sleepovers, playing restaurant, and taking care of their babies.

Ava got sick over the weekend with a double ear infection. She was tested for RSV, but thankfully didn't have it. Despite being sick, she was an angel as always. Most of the nights she slept 8 hours!

Each time Ava is at our house we take a picture of her with the baby doll. Look how big she is getting (bottom picture was taken the first week in September)

We loved having the girls with us this weekend and hope they'll keep coming back!

More from St. George

Here are some other fun pictures of the girls playing in St. George over Thanksgiving break

Sky and Abbey at the park

Abbey, Sky, and Grace being silly

Swimming with Aunt Andrea

Eric and Ava cuddling

Ava being her adorable self

Kleins in St. George for Thanksgiving

Over the Thanksgiving week, a whole bunch of our family went to the warm climate of St. George to enjoy some vacation time. During the time there, Abbey went "swimming" with her cousins. She didn't venture fare from the steps, but she enjoyed the pool time nonetheless. While in St. George, Ava just about found her thumb! In our Silver Creek home, Eric and Abbey try to hide from Scott's camera. Now we know where Abbey gets her camera shyness. We all had a great time in St. George and enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.

Tummy Time

When I told Eric that I had been doing tummy time with Ava, he told me that he remembers Abbey not liking it as a baby. Well, Ava does NOT like tummy time either! The boppy pillow seems to help a little. But trust me, she was still crying after 2 minutes of this...

{11.17.09}

Abbey's House

During our trip to Montana last week, Abbey kept saying "Are we going to my house?" (as opposed to Grandma's House). She loved going to "her" house. She's going to be sad when her Montana home gets sold in the not-too-distant future. The new siding and the exterior paint job look great! Here's a picture of the house from last Saturday:

Like Big Sister

This girl is already trying to be like her big sister!

She worked all week to find her thumb, leaving nail marks on her chin from missed attempts.

I'm guessing that pretty soon she'll be a thumb-sucker just like Abbey!

Growing Girl!

Since I don't get to see Ava every day, I am always surprised at how big she is getting. Look at her growth over the past few months:

She is finally fitting in the swing and starting to play with the toys hanging from it!

She is definitely bigger than the doll now! In no time she'll be using the doll as her baby!

I just adore her smiles and silly faces. She looks so much like her mommy!

Last night Eric picked Ava up from our house and we already miss her. When Trevor, her two-year-old cousin, woke up this morning he looked around for Ava. He then said, "Ava go to work!"

Piano Lessons

Abbey has been keeping busy by giving Baby Hippo piano lessons.

A smile

While Grandma visits Aunt Suzanne, and Eric, Abbey, and Grandpa are in Montana, Ava gets to spent some time with Auntie Andrea. This smile shows how much fun we are all having together!

Three Little Monkeys

It's so great to see how well Abbey gets along with her cousins.

Abbey, Grace, and Gabe {11.9.09}

On this night these three monkeys enjoyed jumping on Grandma & Grandpa Zimmerman's bed!

Halloween Pictures

This is the cutest flower and Elmo I have ever seen!

Ava's Blessing Day

On Sunday, November 1, 2009, Ava was given a baby blessing by her father.

Eric reminded Ava that her birth was a miracle and that she has brought love and comfort to her family during a very difficult time. He said that although she will never know her mother in this lifetime, she will learn about Sheri from friends and family and will want to follow in Sheri's footsteps and become a righteous woman.

The Zimmerman, Klein, and Seethaler families all came together to participate in the blessing and to eat dinner. Eric's dad came from Arizona Eric's mom was there too

The blessing was held at the Zimmerman home.

Many of Sheri and Eric's siblings were there to show support

Aunt Melissa and Andrea

James and Wendi

Mel and his family

and a whole bunch more!

Abbey spent much of the afternoon playing with Elmo and her cousin Katie.

We all had a had a wonderful evening together!