Christmas 2011 in SIerra Vista

We were able to spend Christmas 2011 in Mesa and Sierra Vista with both of our families. We did Christmas Eve with Jeff's family and had the traditional pizza night with them, then headed to SV on Christmas day.  My parents loved having Annabelle at their house for the first time.  Of course my generous siblings spoiled Annabear and got her lots of fun gifts, she enjoyed her first Christmas very much!  

Another highlight is that we were able to Skype Jarom from Spain, he is on a mission there.  It was his first time seeing Annabelle.  When he gets home this December 2012 she will already be 16 months.  Fortunately he has had an amazing mission with many uplifting positive experiences.  It's always so humbling for me to hear how his testimony has grown through his emails.  I miss him dearly, but I know that him serving the Lord is one of the best things he can be doing right now in his life.

I asked my Mom to make her scrumptious homemade pizza for Christmas dinner instead of having the traditional turkey, stuffing and potatoes meal.  You could definitely say that she 
has perfected her pizza, it always turns out sooooooo amazing and makes my tummy happy! 

This is the pink jet as we like to call it that my family got for Annabelle! 
She loved playing in it and I know she'll have even more fun when she 
can walk herself around in it like the Flinstones!

1. Joc was sick so I made her wear a mask when she was holding AnnaB, didn't want to take any chances of my little getting sick! (Annabelle looks extra chunky in this pic!) 

2.  Annabelle in size compared to my Mom's stuffed animals.

3. Pink fuzzy bear blanket Annabelle got from Tutu.

4. Tara and Joc would fight over who would get to hold AnnaB next, her aunts definitely love her! 

5. I think Annabelle made Phil and Nicki baby hungry...hopefully they will get married soon and give her some cousins! 

6. Uncle Phil and Annabelle. 

7. Making Dad pose with me for a pic! 

8. Selfie with my Tara.

Mom was soaking in all the attention she could get from her very first grandchild.  I loved 
watching my Mom with her and knew that she would make the
best Grandma who would teach her valuable things and always show her love.

While we were in SV we went and met up with Jay and Jenn since they 
were there for the holidays too.  It was so fun to catch up with them and chat for a bit.  
Jenn and I always have something to laugh about when we are together, and hers is a 
friendship I will always cherish.  She was such a big support to me while I was going 
through infertility problems with Annabelle.

I appreciate all the time my Mom puts into decorating the house for Christmas.
Her tree takes her awhile to do but when it's done it's so beautiful.
She has started collecting some vintage Santa Clauses too.  
Jenny Payne sent me a text for Christmas and I can't help but laugh
when I get her doodles, they are too cute and she makes sure to 
send me one for every holiday!

Grandpa and Annabelle spent a lot of 1-1 time in his recliner! They would just
sit there and hang out.  It was so awesome to see my Dad
with her! I'm his first daughter and Annabelle is his first granddaughter!

My talented Mom made Annabelle her 1st Christmas dress and it was just beautiful! My Mom is amazing and so sweet to always want to make her dresses! Thanks Grandma Shaver, 
you're the best seamstress around! 

We had a wonderful time at my parents and I'm happy we could celebrate her very first Christmas with them and all my brothers and sisters in Sierra Vista!

4 Year Anniversary

4 Years Together:

December is always a special month for us because not only do we celebrate Christmas but we also get to enjoy our anniversary on December 14th.  It's become tradition for me to make Jeff breakfast on our anni, and this year I had to wake up super early to get it ready since he leaves to work at 5:45 a.m.  I didn't take any pics of it, but I made this scrumptious sausage/hash brown/egg breakfast casserole!  I love exchanging cards with Jeff because he has a way of writing things that just always hit me really hard and make me realize how truly lucky I am to have him as my prince charming. 

Since the money tree is low on shedding it's dollar bills we decided not to do gifts, but Jeff surprised me anyways with this really cool photo book he made for me with pictures of our first years together before baby came.  It was so thoughtful and I enjoyed reading it and seeing all the pics of us from back in the day.

These pictures remind me of when I knew I loved Jeff and would marry him.  He came to visit me in Flagstaff when I was an EFY counselor there in June 2007.  Funny thing is that I wanted to break up with him again right before I left to EFY because I didn't want the attachment of a boyfriend back home.  

In my silliness of always running away from Jeff I remember thinking that I wanted to be free just in case there was a cute EFY counselor who I was supposed to be dating instead.  How dumb I was not to notice the cute boy from Mesa who drove all the way up to see me with a picnic packed in the trunk of his car.  Later that weekend on a baseball field we shared some things that were not coincidental and I knew then I could no longer fight the fact that I was supposed to share my life with him. 

These pictures remind me of when I knew I loved Jeff and would marry him.  He came to visit me in Flagstaff when I was an EFY counselor there in June 2007.  Funny thing is that I wanted to break up with him again right before I left to EFY because I didn't want the attachment of a boyfriend back home.  

In my silliness of always running away from Jeff I remember thinking that I wanted to be free just in case there was a cute EFY counselor who I was supposed to be dating instead.  How dumb I was not to notice the cute boy from Mesa who drove all the way up to see me with a picnic packed in the trunk of his car.  Later that weekend on a baseball field we shared some things that were not coincidental and I knew then I could no longer fight the fact that I was supposed to share my life with him.   

I always want to remember: 

1. The restaurants we liked to eat at were Pei Wei's, Texas Roadhouse, Macaroni Grill, Wing Stop, Rumbi, Chick-fil-A, Aloha Kitchen, Macayo's and Red Robin.

2.  We were in the car after Jeremy and Liisa's temple sealing when I first told you that I loved you! (July 7, 2007)

3.  On our first date you took me to Macaroni Grill and the Hyatt where we sat and talked around a fire pit for a long time.

4.  You first kissed me while we were watching Lord of The Rings.

5.  You first held my hand at Tempe Town Lakes while we were walking around! (remember the red umbrella on that one building?)

   

6.  You first told me you loved me in your room.

7.  On Sundays in the singles ward you always liked to match your ties to my outfits.

8.  You would always stay up late writing me emails so I would have something to read when I went to work in the mornings. 

9.  We danced to Tim Mc Graw's "My Best Friend" at our wedding. 

10.  The sealer during our wedding ceremony said that being married in the temple doesn't guarantee happiness, but if we love each other then we will always work towards being happy.

Annabelle 4 Months Old

Annabee turned 4 months old on December 13th!  We often say how we just want to freeze time and not let her get any bigger.  Knowing how fast time flies with raising children reminds me to take a moment each day to enjoy the sound of her laughter, look into her brown eyes and tell her that I love her, and to take a couple minutes to chomp on those chubby cheeks! 

And now the CUTEST TENNIS PLAYER in the world...

(Excuse her for not having her itty bitty racket, but it broke in the match she won!)  

4 Month Milestones:

1. You were 25 inches and 16 lbs at your 4 month check up

2.  You are content just sitting in Mom's lap and watching TV

3.  You have to be held from the hours of 5:00-8:00 p.m.

4.  You drool so much that sometimes we find you with your whole shirt soaking wet

5.  You like to sit with Dad when he plays his games

6.  You enjoy your stroller and going on walks with Mom and Dad

7.  You have a bald spot on the back of your head from where you sleep

8.  You always are looking to the right

9.  I put you in your bumbo seat this month and you kinda got stuck because of your boom boom thighs

10.  You try really hard to sit up and roll over but still haven't mastered it yet

11.  You will not take a binky but would rather suck on your hands

12.  Daddy can get the cutest giggles out of you with the funny noises he makes

13.  You would rather be held when someone is standing up than sitting down

14.  Your favorite song that Mom sings with you is, "I Love To See The Temple" 

15.  You like to listen and watch Dad play the keyboard

16.  When you get really excited you move your legs so fast like you are riding a bike

17.  You are sleeping up to 9 hours at night now

18.  You make silly noises when we put you on tummy time in the boppy pillow

19.  Mommy loves to doll you up with bracelets and head bands and thankfully you still keep them on

20.  When you get mad at us you yell instead of cry

21.  You have this bashful smile you do every time you see someone or wake up in the morning

22.  Below the bald spot on the back of your head you have this patch of hair that we call your duck tale

23.  You like to face time with our family and friends

24.  You think it's so funny when Mom comes in the room and says, "Annabelle, what are you doing?"

25.  You love story time with Grandma Schaub

Ugly Sweater Party with the Maggards

Deri's birthday was coming up and we had been wanting to go and visit the Maggard's because they hadn't met Annabelle yet either, so we decided to make a trip up to Prescott!  I love that small little town, it's so green and just the right size with all the shopping.  It brings back fun memories too, because when we were all single we would go up there to stay at Deri's cabin.  His parents are always so gracious and welcoming so it's fun to catch up with them when we visit.  Deri and Cherylee had been living with them, but were going to move soon so it was another reason we wanted to get up there, plus they are some are very bestest friends who we just love hanging out with!  It's always a guaranteed roll on the floor laugh fest with them!

Cherylee had told me she was doing an "ugly sweater" party for Deri so we were excited about that, we had never been to one before!  We didn't have any sweaters to wear, but they had extra so we borrowed a couple.  And of course Chef Cherylee cooked up some scrumptious meals while we were there, it's always a treat eating her food.

We love you Maggard fam and always wish that you lived closer so we could chill and bear testimony together of the power of your friendship and how it has phenomanally changed our lives in the most spectacular way! Haha!