Temple Square

This past weekend we traveled to Salt Lake City to celebrate the life of my good friend.  While we were there we decided to take Ava to Temple Square.  This was her first time seeing the Salt Lake Temple or according to Ava "the big temple".  It was the first time for all of us to see the Conference Center.  It was being built when Rich and I were at BYU.  We all enjoyed the afternoon and seeing the sights on temple square.

Ava was so excited to see the "Big Temple" and "Big Angel Moroni".  She loves visiting temples.

Ava and Mommy

Daddy and Ava in front of the reflection pool.

Ava playing in the reflection pool.

Ava drew a picture with the water and announced it was a picture of President Monson (our prophet).

Us in front of the conference center.

On the roof of the conference center.

I didn't realize the original of this painting was so large.  It was amazing.

Inside the South Visitor Center we bumped into President Monson.  Not really, but Ava wanted to meet him so bad that this picture was perfect.  She was a little disappointed and hopes to meet him someday.

Inside the South Visitor Center we found this cool Angel Moroni.  I didn't take a picture of it, but there was also a neat model of the inside of the Salt Lake Temple.

We stopped by this picture inside the North Visitor Center, so Ava could show us 8 fingers.  Ava is always telling us she is going to get baptized when she is "8 fingers old".

Ava with "Big Jesus" in the North Visitor Center.

Ava taking pictures of the flowers.

Ava also took a picture of herself.

The flowers at the temple are always so beautiful.  I love tulips, so it was a treat to see all the varieties.

I added this picture not because it is cute, but because Ava is such a little flasher lately.  She flashed several groups of people while walking around and I'm constantly reminding her to put her shirt/dress down.

The other day I dug out my old cowgirl outfit for Ava to wear.  She was actually pretty excited to wear something I wore as a little girl.

Me in my cowgirl getup.

Ava the cowgirl.

Ava's mean cowgirl face.

Sweet cowgirl

Ava with her Jesse (Toy Story) hat on.

These are some of Ava's favorite shoes.  This is her 2nd pair.  She had some last year and loved them so much she got another pair this year.

Ava with her best bud Luca.

Making Music

 Ava was inspired after watching an episode of Curious George when he made musical instruments out of household objects.  She raided the kitchen and made drums.

Bodega Bay

 During the second week in April Ava and I went to Bodega Bay with the local sister-in-laws and cousins.  We shared a cottage for a few days and hung out at the beach.  It was a blast.  Ava was so happy to be with her cousins and play in the sand.

Ava running toward the water.  Once she got close she turned and ran away.

Ava loves to play in the sand.  She was cold and shivering but she didn't care.

Ezra

Kobie hiding in a pre-dug hole.

Ezra, Eli, Lilly, & Ava

Bella with Kobie holding a crab shell.

EmmaLee, Sherrie, and Jessica trying to stay warm.

Lilly & Ava

Ava and Ezra running toward the water.  It looks like Ezra is falling, but he was doing a cartwheel.  It was awesome.

Rachel, Nathan, & Kobie braving the COLD water.

Eli enjoying the water until he fell in a few minutes later.

Lilly, Nathan, Bella, & Rachel

The cousins running on the beach and headed toward the tidepools.

I was trying to get a cute picture of Ava with the waterfall in the background, but she just wanted to play with the sand.

Hunting for creatures in the tidepools.

Ava still just wanting to play with the sand.

Rachel was kind enough to fish this starfish out of the water for Ava to see.

Ava holding two starfish.

Kobie

EmmaLee & Ezra

Bella and her collection of shells.

Ava & Lilly

Nathan & Kobie building a fire (I think Aunt EmmaLee might of helped).

Cousins having fun in the bath.