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