This year, we traveled to Arizona to spend Christmas with the Lohmeier side of the family. Before we left, we celebrated Christmas with just us 3 (4 if you count the furry one). Ava still is, of course, too young to understand what Christmas is truly about, but we explained it to her nonetheless - we can't wait until she really internalizes it!
We were minimalists for Christmas this year - here Ava is in front of her gifts. She received a new baby doll with high chair and potty, as well as building blocks and a book about Jesus' love for her from Mama and Dada. She also got a train and lego table from Grandma and Papa that she still plays with daily, and an open-flap book about the Bible from Miss Debi (which she loves!). Mama was surprised to find two gifts for her under the tree as well - dada used his points earned at work to buy mama a fitbit charge HR and a Sony bluetooth speaker! Such a sweetheart!
She immediately wanted to read her new book! Love my little bookworm :-)
She LOVES her baby doll and will even say high chair every time she plays with it (pronounced "eye chair"...too cute!)
The day before we left for AZ we made Canvas Art using Ava's foot and hand prints - I just love how cute it turned out!
On the 23rd, we flew out to Arizona. Unfortunately, Ava came down with an awful GI bug the day after we arrived (Christmas Eve), so we endured a lot of sleepless nights. Fortunately, she was herself during the day and didn't ever have a fever...so, we still had a lot of fun!
Christmas Eve was at the Alfaro's (my brother's in-laws; Auntie Ella's parents), but since Ava was so sick, we didn't feel right about making her sit in a car for so long and be up past bedtime, so the three of us stayed at mimi and grandpa's. Ava and Grandpa had fun with bows before they took off...
We took a nice walk as a family on Xmas eve...
While I helped Mimi wrap the loot of Xmas presents, Tuc stood guard in front of the door - too cute!
Christmas morning, (after recovering from explosive diarrhea in the middle of the night and early morning...too much information? Sorry!), Ava put on her adorable Christmas Candy jumper Auntie Darrilyn made and Mimi couldn't wait to scoop her up and show her the ginormous pile of presents!
Ava loved sitting in Grandpa's lap while opening her presents!
She was ecstatic to get another vacuum! This girl loves to vacuum as much as her mama does!
Ava really has the "unwrapping presents" talent down this year...
Mimi is now thinking, "why did I buy so many gifts that require assembly? Dee - come assemble this!"
Dada to the rescue! Ava still adores this multi-level minnie mouse play house!
Mimi's tradition is to make strada for breakfast Christmas morning each year, which we eat while opening presents.
More presents for Ava! She loved her Frozen-themed fort!
...and, instantly played inside it!
It was about at this time that Ava went to the door and said she wanted to go outside. We said, "but, don't you want to finish opening your presents first?!" To which she replied, "NO! No, no, NO!" We all had a good laugh!! So, we took a break and let her play outside!
Ava opened one of her favorites next! A baby stroller, swing, and crib for her beloved baby dolls!
Ava also got a whole loot of adorable clothes for Christmas too! I didn't get any pictures of the rest of the family opening presents, but every one had a good time and got quite a lot of gifts! Mimi and Grandpa spoiled everyone rotten!
I also didn't get any pictures of the adorable Winnie the Pooh Vans shoes Uncle Johnny and Auntie Ella got Ava - they are so cute and her absolute favorite!!
Once she finished opening presents, Grandpa taught her how to twirl a basketball on her finger!
Feeding baby popcorn in her high chair...
But, then she decided she better eat it instead!
A casual Christmas dinner. Mimi made a fantastic Prime Rib Roast with her infamous cream corn, along with potatoes and veggies. Ava's favorite were the rolls!
Ava loved playing with her Auntie Ella!
After Christmas dinner, the boys played catch outside, while Ava fed tennis balls to the dogs.
Uncle Kev with Tuc
Tuc loves to give Ava kisses!
Ava loves her Auntie Ella SO much! Every time she sees their save-the-date on our fridge, she points to it and says "Ella! Ella!" Melts my heart! Ava can't wait to be her flower girl in April.
Ava loves bubbles! Mimi is making sure she doesn't fall in trying to catch the bubbles!
Once she saw Uncle Johnny cleaning the pool she ran straight from the bubbles to "helping" him!
I've never seen a sunset so beautiful as those we see in Arizona!
Ava and dada relaxing outside :-)
Ava loves to clean, and is mopping mimi's whole floor one baby wipe at a time...
Mimi and grandpa brought a giant Jenga out from Kansas with them, and we had a blast playing a few times.
Snuggles before bed with Auntie Ella and Uncle Johnny!
Ava loved playing "horsie" with Uncle Johnny and Auntie Ella...
These girls together! So precious! Ava is so blessed to have such a loving and fun auntie!
Auntie Nan came down from Phoenix a few days after Xmas to celebrate with all of us. After exchanging presents, she graciously, upon my request, taught all of us girls how to knit. We immediately hopped in the car and drove to Joann's to get our own needles and yarn. Janella and I have pretty good sized blankets underway now...thanks so much Auntie Nan!!
Ava's favorite game these days is to be chased while one person holds her and runs away with the other chasing - Mimi and Grandpa were more than happy to play!
Ava also loved getting into Auntie Ella's shoes and modeling for us all.
My parents arranged for our in-town family to all get together one night at Mama's Pizza. It was so much fun to see everyone and all be together at once. Here Ava and Luke are - they were being so precious and sweet sharing pizza crust back and forth!! His mama and I were only 4 days apart in our due date, but she ended up delivering early and I late, so they're a month apart...
With Auntie Ella and cousin Stephanie (Luke's mama)
Cutie pies!
Auntie Darrilyn made Ava ADORABLE jammies for Christmas, complete with embroidered tinker bell on them. I just love them so much!
Rocking Mimi's Maui Jim's on the way to the zoo.
As soon as you walk into the zoo, you see the carousel and Ava immediately points and whines to go on it! Here she is happily on it!
A super sad experience at the zoo was during my favorite exhibit, the sea otter. Ava did not understand that they can happily swim underwater and thought that they were drowning. She would exclaim "oh no!" and start crying hysterically. It was devastating to see her so worried and upset. It took two times of her seeing them do it and me calming her and explaining to her that they're okay and can swim underwater for her to understand they were, in fact, okay. I do love that she has her mama's heart for animals :-)
She loved the peacocks that we roaming in and out of the giraffe exhibit, and all around the zoo (they, however, did not love her chasing them)...
Up close with the lion cub! It was a perfect zoo day, all the animals were super close and active. The grizzly bears were even playing with each other and running up to the glass and licking it!
One last play session with Auntie Ella before we left...
Home at the Sacramento airport and saying (over and over again) "Mimi! Bumpa! (grandpa) Ella!" She misses them all terribly and so do we!
We have a lot of videos to share, but will save those for another post to follow, as this one was quite inundated with photos!
Merry Christmas!
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