Funny things that Ayva says...

While we've been sorting and packing we came across a little Christmas tree so we put it up. The girls were down for a nap so they had no idea. When Ayva woke up she came out and saw it and this was her reaction...

With a gasp  "Santa brought me my Christmas tree, that was so nice of him."

We also stumbled across her old swim suit and a pony and set them on a chair, just random things and when she saw those...

"Santa brought me my presents too." "I love 'em."

Is that all we have to do for Christmas for them, wrap up things that have been stored away? 

Then Josh got Cheyenne up and brought her out to the living room and Ayva was so excited and said...

"Look BeeSen, it's my Christmas tree!"

She cracks me up. It's something new everyday.

Last week at Wal-Mart Ayva and I were walking out and the bell ringer said goodbye and Merry Christmas. So I told her to say it back and she did. There was a lady behind us and Ayva looked up at me and said, "Mama, the peoples say Merry Christmas to me." The whole way to the car she was talking about it and the lady passed us and said, "Your little girl is so cute."

We're back...

Yes, I've been a slacker lately.

Well, I won't bore you with a long post, I'll just briefly inform you on what we've been doing.

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving with family in Utah(pictures to come). 

An insane experience with Black Friday (my first by the way) with my sister-in-law Natalie. Thanks Nat for being a crazy mom with me.

Josh was experiencing his first Elk hunt while we were there, no luck yet but he'll get one.

Enjoyed being with family.

December

Getting ready for a move into a house, hooray!!! Just renting the house not buying. No more apartment! Goodbye neighbor above!

Right after the move we are headed to Las Vegas for a Payzant Christmas family reunion. Yay, I'm so excited. It's been a looooooong time since we've all been together.

My super awesome cousin Janae just had her fourth child today, congrats!!! Love you Nae! Hope you are all doing well.

And for FHE this week we made, in Ayva's words, a Christmas House (Gingerbread House). I just bought that kit you see at Wal-Mart. So here are a few pictures, Ayva loved doing it. She kept saying, "I'm decorating the Christmas House mama."

Cheyenne wanting to help but really wanting to eat everything.

Ayva, very carefully, decorating the sidewalk part of the house.

Cheyenne found something to eat.

I was really surprised at how well Ayva was doing and doing it very carefully. I thought she would just want to put them in random spots.

And yet again, Cheyenne eating the decorations.

Ayva was really proud of herself and loved her Christmas House.

They were both really excited to finally eat the house.

Let the eating begin...

Ayva trying it for the first time, I don't think she liked it very much.

Cheyenne thinks anything with sugar is good.

Ayva didn't like it when dad broke it but got over it real fast.

Oh yah, last Saturday we had our first and last movie theater experience with a 2 and 1 year old. We saw Madagascar 2, it amazes me at how much adult content these cartoons have. Is it just me?

If I don't post again until 2009...

MERRY CHRISTMAS

AND

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Ayva's new alphabet...

A B C D Eedle F         H Y K K          Do you have a giraffe?

Ayva the butterfly

My very talented sister-in-law Elizabeth Bates played with this picture of Ayva and turned her into a butterfly. I love it and have been meaning to post it just never got around to it.

Although I don't ever remember seeing a butterfly that has a gut. HaHaHa!

Thank you Liz for making this picture, I love it!!!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

This is what we woke up to this morning. The first snow storm of the season. I love it! I just hope it continues!

Oh where do I start...

I'm sure a lot of people have their opinions about this whole Proposition 8 thing and of course I do too. 

It seems to me that we, the Mormons, are the victims and of course they wouldn't see it like that but this is why I think so. This country was founded on freedoms-freedom of speech, freedom of religion, etc. So apparently several people in the lovely state of California decided and voted Yes on Prop 8 because that is their right and weren't people out there trying to get people to vote. I seem to remember all these ads on the streets, tv, door to door, phones, etc, just trying to get people to vote, I guess it's a big deal (sarcasm). 

So can someone tell my why a certain group of people are now upset that some people voted a certain way-hint hint?

I get it, I get it, they think that everyone, that is not like them-especially religion, are out to get them. It's interesting to me that they are targeting the LDS church when there are several churches out there that supported it as well, even the evangelical churches thanked the LDS church for supporting it. 

Anyways, back to the reason why I think we have become the victims. We voted Yes on it, again that's our right, and now we are getting protested against, vandalized, etc. I understand that in the US protesting is ok but when it gets out of hand it's just wrong, in my opinion. I personally can't stand protesting, seriously what good comes from it? And vandalizing people's homes and cars for voting the way they believe, that's just not American. 

I know guys, it's hard to hear the truth sometimes but as the saying goes-don't kill (or should I say attack) the messenger? (more sarcasm)

We are not taking their rights away, we are simply voting the way we believe and if they choose to live that way then that's their right. And this is a quote from a very public figure in their own circle...

Sir Elton John

(click on his name to read the article)

"We're not married. Let's get that right. We have a civil partnership. What is wrong with Proposition 8 is that they went for marriage. Marriage is going to put a lot of people off, the word marriage."

"I don't want to be married. I'm very happy with a civil partnership. If gay people want to get married, or get together, they should have a civil partnership," John says. "The word 'marriage,' I think, puts a lot of people off.

"You get the same equal rights that we do when we have a civil partnership. Heterosexual people get married. We can have civil partnerships."

When all this Prop 8 stuff came out I didn't really care one way or another, I figured eventually it was going to happen but because they came out against us so violent and maliciously I have to say I'm starting to harbor not so good feelings towards them. 

Anyways, that's how I feel about it. Everyone has their own opinions, right!

Just to clear something up...

no, I did not make the cake and sorry for making it sound like I did. I can't take credit for the cake, I have to give the credit to Wal-Mart. Thank you for all your kind words though!

Cheyenne's Birthday

YES, ANOTHER LONG POST SO HAVE FUN!

We started with the gifts. 

She wasn't too sure what to do. I think she liked the box and bows more, what kid doesn't at this age.

She opened her gift from Grandma and Grandpa Payzant.

Thanks mom, I love the clothes!

Ayva was dying to open her presents, she of course thought they were for her.

Cheyenne was a good sport in letting her sister open her presents for her.

New clothes for Cheyenne. She never gets new clothes, she just always wears Ayva's old clothes. It's always fun to get new things though, I'm sure she'll understand that at a later date if she's anything like her mommy.

This is Ayva's gift to Cheyenne, although I think Ayva really wanted it for herself.

Ayva did let Cheyenne at least see it.

Here's her cake. I was just going to do a little round one but I saw this and thought it was cute. Ayva, of course loved it.

She wasn't too sure about it and Ayva was right there waiting for her chance to pounce.

As soon as she had a primer...

she was good to go.

Meanwhile, Ayva was having a blast with her new toy.

And Cheyenne was licking her fingers clean, well as clean as a 1 year old could get them.

What a face! I mean, come on. I just had to add this one.

Ayva decided to eat the dog cake like a dog would. That's my girl!

And here she is in her new clothes!

Thank you grandma and grandpa, we love 'em!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET CHEYENNE!!!

Happy Birthday my sweet baby girl!!

You had a rough journey coming into this world and loved from the very moment you arrived.

So here's your year in review...

You have been a wonderful addition to our little family and through the year you have fill our home with love and happiness. You have a sweet smile and it melts my heart every time I see your smile. I love your laugh, it's very contagious.

You are such a blessing and every time I look at you I am very thankful that you were such a fighter and still are.

You are a very curious little thing, always looking at and studying things. When a door opens you dart for it, wanting to explore everything you possibly can. 

You love your sister and she loves you very much. You guys enjoy playing together, it's so cute to see you interact with your big sis.

You are sweet, adorable, stubborn, happy, curious, emotional, fun and active little girl.

We love you!