we are still here : )

Where has the time gone?? Well shortly aftermy grandma died, I decided to start looking for apartments. I found one and we moved in in September. Big freaking mistake. Ava and I got the keys and went up to check out our new digs. We weren't even in the apartment 4 minutes when we saw the pet they gave us. A giant flipping scorpion in Ava's closet. That should have clued me in. Well over the next 2months we encountered 9 more. All was well for the winter and we did great. However, they are now coming back out.I went to see a lawyer and have turned in a legal notice that they have to remedy the scorpion situation or I'm out. So now I sit back and wait. Gotta say, this is all making me nervous and stressed.We did our annual camping trip in October, which happened to fall at Ava's birthday (I can't believe my little girl is 5). I look forward to getting out of the valley each year with good friends. It's so nice to sit around a fire and actually need the heat. This year we went a little later in the year and we had to light a fire in the fireplace INSIDE in the morning. So nice to feel that chill! We were a little lazier this year and didn't do any hiking..next year perhaps!

My brother came out for Thanksgiving this year. We got some pretty good family pictures. I am so glad he is able to come out every so often. Ava really does love her Uncle Jared. Side note, I got an iPad for Christmas and Ava LOVES to FaceTime her Uncle!

My parents took Ava and I up to the "North Pole" this year. Ava got to see the snow for the first time up close. She wouldn't really touch it though. She seemed to have a great time riding the train and talking to Santa!

We had a small News Years Party this year. Just the girls. It was nice to be able to hang out with friends while the kids played. The apartment is a bit small, but we made it work.

Other news, Ava had her tonsils out last Friday and recovery has been incredibly rough. She wakes up screaming in the middle of the night. I am running on fumes. I'd say I've had maybe 20 hours of sleep this last week.....maybe 25. I just can't wait until she's feeling better. She did do incredibly well before, during, and immediately after the surgery.

That pretty much sums up the big thing in the last several months. I sure am hoping 2012 is a little better to us. So far, it's not too bad.