This is the season...

I love Christmas. I think everyone loves Christmas, but I am really enjoying the season this year. I really think it has something to do with the fact that I got all my shopping done so I can just enjoy it! I have been very contemplative the last couple months, for no peticular reason. I am so grateful for a whole month where we are celebrating the birth of the Savior. I feel like I always try to be a good person and to live a good life but the last little bit I have been trying extra hard. Im so thankful for Jesus Christ in my life and for the knowledge that I have that even though I may make many mistakes ( alot of really dumb ones) that I can move past them and try again to be better. I think maybe one of the reasons I have tried to step up my game the last little bit is because of Avery. I have this little person in my life now who depends on me for everything. I want so badly to be a good mom to her and to teach her how to be a good person. I know she is only 8 months old and I may be jumping the gun a little bit but I figure if I want to teach her all these things I better make sure I am living the things as well! Im not saying that I have not been but I just want to always make sure that I don't get complacent with where Im at. I hope that I always am trying to do better. Im so thankful for a wonderful, patient husband who is such a good example to me and makes me want to be better and at the same time makes me feel like I am already the best. I am so grateful that we have the priesthood in our home because Kurtis lives worthy and is always trying to improve himself. Im grateful for people around me who improve who I am and who are amazing examples to me. Anyway, I love Christmas and I hope in some small way I can find little ways everyday this season and throughout the year to help others around me come closer to Christ and be happier, because I know there are so many around me that do that for me!

Just Because

I know it's been some time since Daddy has posted on the blog. Well, I wanted to talk a little about my amazing little family, just because. It's not a special occasion or day of the year. I just need to say how crazy I am about my wife and how much I love my little Avery. Sometimes, while I am away, Aubrey has rough days. Many times it is because Avery is cranky and tired. I cannot be there for Aubrey on those days except by phone. Even then I may only have moments to comfort and support her. Not once has she complained about me being away. She has never said she wishes I had a different job. She just pushes through those rough days and keeps telling me how much she loves me even though I can be insensitive at times. She is the most brilliant and amazingly loving mother. Avery is such a blessed little girl, and I, a lucky man. Being a dad is the most incredible experience. There is nothing better than having your little girl lay her head on your shoulder and fall asleep because she is just so tired. Or have her give you such an amazing little smile when you get her out of her crib after a nap. I love that little angel more than I thought I could love anything. It doesn't hurt that she is so dang cute. Each week when I come home from work she has changed. She is growing so fast. We are so lucky to have wonderful family and friends who are close by and support us. Again, another great blessing. In order to keep this post a reasonable length, I will end by simply saying that my beautiful wife and insanely cute daughter are my rock and my light. Anytime I find myself complaining about my life I simply stop and think about how happy I really am. The End!

Halloween weekend

So, I decided that I really like having Halloween fall on a Sunday because its a good excuse to celebrate the whole weekend, which is exactly what we did! Friday night was our 2nd year at the road rally. This years theme was Alice in Wonderland, so Kurtis and I went as the Tweedle twins! We never decided who was Dee and who was Dum, oh well. We had SO much fun! The clues were so great and it was so well done. Heidi and Andrew came with us and with all 4 of us we figured out where we needed to go pretty well. We thought we might win but I guess for only our 2nd year 6th place out of 20 teams isn't bad eh? My favorite part was when Heidi and I were booking it through University Mall to find a clue and we totally got yelled at by the Mall Cop! He was like "if you enter the mall you need to walk!" We were just like "okay" and started running anyway! I was laughing so hard because he probably thought we were 16 and little did he know that I have a child at home!
Then on Saturday night we got Avery all dressed up and took her to my mom and dad's. She looked so adorable in her monkey costume! We put her to bed at their house and went and played games with some friends. We did more this last weekend then we have done since Avery was born. We are SO grateful my parents live so close and are willing to watch her so often!

Sunday we went up to Bountiful to have dinner with Meghan and Steve. They are living in Steve's parents house right now while they are on a mission. We all dressed up and had a great time. Steve even made name tags with a different picture on each one. We waited a little too long to take the picture because Avery was ready for bed and screaming when we actually took it. Overall, it was a great weekend!

What makes a bad day all better?

Isn't she the cutest thing ever?! I was kind of bummed when I was done with work today because Kurtis had a short weekend and had to go back to work for 4 days today. I went to pick Avery up from my mom's and she gave me the biggest smile ever. What made all my icky feelings go away you ask...I picked her up and she wrapped her cute little arms around my neck and gave me tons and tons of kisses! This is a pretty new thing for her and she has to be in right mood but she totally knows what she is doing and she wouldn't stop kissing me. It was just what I needed to shake my bummed-out-ness. I can't believe she is 6 months old already! Time has really flown by. Although she drives me crazy sometimes, Avery is the sweetest, cutest baby girl ever and I don't know what I would do without her. I really feel so blessed to be able to be her mom!

What we have been up to

Its been a while since I updated my blog. I'm not a very good blogger anyway, but when your HOA cuts your internet off without notice and then the wireless on your computer totally quits working, its a little bit harder than usual to update it! So, I'm back now and I could write a really long blog about what we have been doing but... I don't really want to so I think I will just post some pics and say a few things.... One of those things being how much fun Avery is and how much I love this little girl. I'm not going to lie, 5 months is so far my favorite stage. Her little personality is coming out and she learns new things everyday. She is always a great source of entertainment! We had a great summer, which included a two week trip to the cabin in Montana. Kurtis got the full two weeks off of work so that was awesome. Avery was so funny in the water. I was worried she wouldn't like it because it was a bit chilly but she didn't mind. She didn't mind at all actually, she is so chill about everything. She just sat there in the floaty with no expression. We went to a park for Labor Day and it was the most beautiful day ever! I'm so glad we were outside. Avery loves being outside. I want more weather like that day, its been too hot lately! Well, I think thats it for now. I promise it wont take me this long again to blog. My brother Nathan gets home from his mission in 3 weeks so Im sure I will blog about that!

Laughing!

I should post more because we have done a lot of cool things recently but for right now this is all. Avery absolutely loves her daddy! He can make her laugh anytime he wants! Her first laugh was on his birthday, such a good birthday present. She is a daddy's girl already.

Birthdays and beautiful weather!

So, Kurtis's birthday is June 18th and mine is on the 19th. He turned the big 31 and I am now 28. We are both pretty old! We had a great family birthday dinner at my parents house on Friday night. We got a backpack to carry Avery in when we go hiking and since it was actually beautiful weather this past weekend we decided to test it out on Saturday. We hiked up to Stewart Fall and it was so beautiful. I have never seen the run off as big as it was and the weather was perfect for hiking. The trail is mostly shaded so that was nice. Avery loved it! She did so good all the way up to the waterfall. She loved looking around and hanging out in the backpack. The way down was a different story... She started to get hungry and I was really hoping she would hold out until we got back to the car. But, she didn't and she started fussing in the backpack and got upset so I took her out and carried her down the rest of the way. Well, while she was fussy in the backpack she must have been kicking the back of it which is mesh and not very soft and she rubbed two of her little toes raw! I felt like the worst mother ever, I didn't have socks on her and I didn't bring a bottle. When we got back to the car I was crying along with her but we eventually got her settled down (and me as well!) and went home. At least we learned some lessons for next time! Then that night Kurtis and I went to dinner while my wonderful parents stayed at our place while Avery was in bed. We both had great birthdays and Im so glad the weather was so nice!