Another funny Ava statement:

Ezra looks almost human!

Fixing Hearts

A conversation between my sister Bekah and Ava this week while we were in Vegas together without our husbands.

B: Where's Mark?
A: At work, I think.
B: Where's your dad?
A: At work.
B: What do they do at work?
A: Them fix walls.
B: Oh, what do mommy's do?
A: Them fix hearts.

A Happy Easter

Carole and Dennis went all out giving us an Easter to remember. I think it has something to do with trying to convince us to move back after business school. :o) We love living by you guys! Anyway, the day started out with Easter baskets, a dress for Ava, some trucks for Ez, then church and dinner at the Autrey's! Grandpa and Grandma had an egg hunt, baskets for the grandkids, a delicious dinner, and a bunny cake!!! Ava LOVED the egg hunt. Wish I had gotten better footage of it, but cinematography is not my gift. Brooke and Dana, you'd better send me some of your cute pictures if you guys are reading this!!!

With Easter approaching, Mike and I have been using Family Home Evenings the last several weeks to teach about Jesus. One week was about his birth, one about his miracles, one about his parables, and one about the atonement and resurrection. I've also been making an effort to read any of our books about Jesus with her during the week. About a week and a half before Easter Ava came up to me and said, "Jesus died so we can get our bodies back." I was blown away, and so grateful that my two year old little girl was catching on to one of the most important concepts the gospel teaches, and put them in her own words. Yes, Ava, Jesus did die so that we could have our bodies back, and also so that we can live with Heavenly Father again.

Ava has also been saying prayers own her own really well. One day I found out that one of my cousins was expecting a baby and they asked to keep her in her prayers. "Do you want to say a prayer with me for Beautiful Bride X (we will let her remain annonymous until the announcement has been publicly made) and her baby in her tummy?" "YEAH!" So, I pray that the mom will be strong and feel well and be able to provide for her baby and accomplish all that she needs to academically and close the prayer. I realized I hadn't actually mentioned the baby, but figured I could include it in the next one. Ava, who was listening carefully said as soon as I closed, "MOM, YOU FORGOT THE BABY!" Can't get away with anything with this one. She also makes sure we include a thank you in our prayers for our bodies, the sun, our day and that we'll get into the right school. If we forget, it's instant tears, and we're talking to our Heavenly Father again.

Kenna's Party

I'm telling you, thse Utah Mama's know how to throw a party! Ava's friend Kenna turned three last week and invited us all to celebrate with her. Her mom made some awesome Cafe Rio Pork and we all had a great lunch and played some fun games, including bashing a pinata.


Ez had lots of fun hanging out with the girls (and Aiden)


When prompted to "put your arm around her" Kenna and Ava somehow got a little confused. Thanks to Ash for taking some amazing pics!

Silly Pics

A little bit of fun on Brooke's computer.

Ez Walking on Camera

Sorry it's sideways. He is the most pleasant baby you could ever get.

My Paintings

They're done!!! And hanging. It took a professional in construction management to get them hung straight (thank you very much Ryan S.), but they look great. When taking pictures to show them off, I had a hard time getting the right lighting. The morning light is too cold, and in the evening the bulb and can lights cast a yellow sheen on everything. I used the morning light pictures, but the image lost some of the warmth the paintings actually do have. The bottom picture is Ava and our neighbor, Ty, making cookies and covering their ears because the mixer is so loud. I thought you might be able to see a little more of the warmth I am talking about in that image. The top picture shows some of the texture; the third image down allows you to notice the flower image curving around the edge of the canvas. It'll be fun to tote these through life with us! Thanks once again Ashlee for letting me take over your studio, paints and brushes!

Crafting

Just wanted to post some crafts I completed for Christmas gifts this year. I can't take credit for the ideas. The ladies on the Enrichment Committee took care of me really good by providing ideas and supplies. You ladies ROCK! Anyway, it was lots of fun!

Meg & Russ

As a very proud aunt, I just had to give a shout out to my new niece and nephew.

Justin and Jamie had little Meg on Jan. 4, 2007. She's so cute, a little feminine Justin.



Bekah and Mark had big Russ (9 lbs., I'm so proud of Bek!) two days ago on Sat., Feb. 23rd. I think he looks a lot like Mark, and can't wait to meet the little guy in person!!!

Happy Valentine's Day

I've been informed that I really need to update my blog. So sorry guys. I tried uploading a video of Ez walking (he's a pro now), it was taking forever, and I just got turned off to blogging. I've been chastized, so now I'm back. I hope. Anyway, you can thank my friend Ashlee for this adorable pic of Ava on Valentines Day. Sarah threw a party for the Sorenson kids plus a few, and it was SO MUCH FUN! Pin the lips on the Valentine, dancing, cookie decorating, party favors... she went all out. I've already told her I'm stealing her ideas to throw one next year. Hopefully our husbands will go to B-school together, and then I can just be her lovely assistant.

I had to share this pic with an explanation. Mike was out of town for V-day, and I was trying to get a good pic of me and the kids to send him in an e-card. This is just an example of one of the many pics we got. It just cracked me up trying to get both kids looking and me smiling all at the same time.

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve day started with a trek to Chuck E. Cheese with Shelley, Jake, Evan and Skye. Ava's first time. She loved it! Then home for a good nap so she could party the night away and welcome in the New Year.


Ava adopted Grandma as her absolute best friend for the New Year's party. They had so much fun together taking care of "baby."


Ava tootin' her New Year horn.

A final 2007 farewell as I head off to feed Ez, knowing full well Ava will most likely get my New Year's kiss from Dad.


Instead of a New Year's kiss, Dad gets a New Years bop!


Ez finally decides to wake up and join the party.

Cabin Time!

Grandma C let Mike and I take his family up to her cozy and comfortable cabin near Duck Creek at Strawberry Point for a few days after Christmas. To put it succinctly, we had an absolute blast! We played in the snow, took Ava sledding, snowmobiling, had a bonfire (thanks to Mike and Scott who dug the fire pit out of three feet of snow), played games, ate good food, and started making plans to build our own family cabin someday. Thank you grandma!!

Christmas Day

Christmas day was full of family, but my favorite memory was watching Ava and Pops get to know each other one on one. It was such a cute sight! They played and played together.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was awesome. It all started out with a breakfast at Justin and Jamie's where we got to see Mark and Bekah (HURRAH!).


The evening festivities took place at our house with catering by Wingers, lots of games, and a nativity play put on by the Sorensen Clan. Just in case you want the cast list, here we go:
Mike- narrator
Ryan- Donkey
Brooke-Mary
Scott, Dana & Shelley- wise men
Daniel (Mike's cousin)- Joseph
Ava- Angel
Ezra- Baby Jesus
Dave- Innkeeper
Kelsey- Shepard
Dennis- Star of Bethlehem

I was video recording, and Carole helped queue our actors for their parts.


Grammy gets some Christmas Eve cuddles from our boy!

This is the Place Park

My cousin, Jody, won tickets on the radio for admission to This Is the Place Park in SLC. She kindly gave Mike and I a pair, and we snatched the opportunity to check it out. Mike had a few vacation days he needed to use up before the New Year, so it made opportunities like this easy for us to have a night out with the kids. They also gave us the week between Christmas and New Years off-we just LOVED having him around and couldn't be more grateful. Anyway, This Is the Place was a fascinating Park, complete with a train (trolley) ride, original and replica homes and in-costume characters typifying 19th century Utah. It was so fun.

Ava and Dad learn the Virginia Reel. I didn't think Ava would catch on, only being two, but she did a great job and loves dancing with her daddy (and Ezra). :o)


She got to kiss Baby Jesus. Baby Jesus is her favorite Christmas character. She threw a big fit when I was taking the nativities down, poor girl. She talk about him, sings about him, loves reading about him. She even told me, "Mommy, you are not a woman, but Mary is." I'm not going to compete for womanhood with that amazing lady. She's right, compared to Mary I am no woman. Anyway, she tells the nativity story pretty well from the taxes to the angel to the gold, frankincense and myrrh, if you need a narrator for next year's pageant.

Ava saw a donkey shaking and hiding in the corner of the stable and said, "Come her sweet donkey, I will give you rubs." Too sweet!


My handsome boys. Aren't I a lucky girl???

Ava's First Sword Fight

Meet Jess and Danny. Jess is my sis, Danny's the fiance. Congrats!!! They plan to marry May 31. Ava loves them both and can't wait to see Jess as a "beautiful bride," and Danny as her "handsome groom." Anyway, Danny only has nephews. His parents were so kind to invite us up to their beautiful home to meet the family, and Ava had her first experience with wild and crazy little boy "fighting" play. Check out the intense look on her face. It had up CRACKING up with laughter. Wish you could have seen it live.

She also learned how to "die." So funny.

Ava Meets Santa

Ava waiting her turn in line to meet Mr. Claus.


When asked what she wants for Christmas, Ava replies, "I want to open my presents!" So easy to please. After hopping off his lap, Santa gave Ava her first taste of candycane, a new Christmas obsession.

A Day in the Life...

These are my babes having the time of their life together. Crawling up and sliding down Ezra's mattress, and wrestling before bedtime. They are such good friends already!

Ezra's Walking!!!

I realize that I am way behind on blogging, but this just had to be publicized! Ezra took his first steps on Monday, Jan. 14th. Another nine month walker in the Sorensen family. Luckily he doesn't yet realize what he is doing. When he does, I'll be in for trouble. For now we are just excited 'cuz he's as cute as can be on his little feet.

The Froscars- Sorenson Cap's Christmas Party

Sorenson Capital hosted a fantastic Christmas Party at Le Chateau in Deer Valley. It all began walking down a red carpet to a lovely dinner and an awards ceremony, "The Froscars." Mike won two awards, complete with a golden and gleaming froscar trophy. One award "Dynamic Duo" was shared with another co-worker for their unstoppable brain power. The other, "I Can't Believe It Actually Happened" was awarded for performing the "The Three Amigos" Buttercup routine while dressed in their amigo gear. Wish I could have been there for that! As you can see, Ezra was able to accompany us because our party was an overnighter! We stayed in a beautiful suite and had the fireplace in our bedroom going all night to keep us warm. By the way, Mike wasn't the only one in a colored tux.