The Acketts

Aaauuuggghhhhh...

Ok. I really am sorry I haven't written in a while. I have been staying really busy that when I get a moment I just want to numb out and think of nothing. I had planned on giving an update with photos, but for some reason my iphoto is not working and I cant get to any of my pics. I am so unhappy right now. I hope the mac support can help me. I have all of Ava's baby pics, and everything else on there. I was going to copy everything to a separate disk but now I cant.

Anywho, quick up date... Ava will be 9 months on Halloween, she is crawling like crazy, climbing up stairs, and pulling herself up and walking while holding onto the couch. (augh!! so soon). She is signing; dog, milk, more, and waving hi and bye. Jay is back in school two days a week with so much homework it makes me thankful that I am done! ;) He has ran in 4 1/2 marathons so far, was able to get out quite a bit with his friend and play golf, and is back in NFL season mode. I have been the same; Gym, work, Ava, repeat. I did try my hand at canning for the first time ever. I didn't do a whole lot. Didn't want to go to crazy. I did can peaches and raspberry peach jam. So far we haven't died. I would call that a success! We celebrated our 5th anniversary this year! I cant believe its been that long. We did a coupon related weekend. Spent 3 nights at a hotel in Bountiful (honeymoon suit) for free (gift cards from a golf tour.) Went to Maddox for dinner (gift card), played at Boondocks (coupon) for a night, and we were able to try out ifly in Ogden (gift card [thanks mom]). Let me tell you, Jay and I were a little skeptical about ifly, since we went skydiving before we were worried it wouldn't be as fun. Boy were we wrong. It was so much fun! We couldn't stop laughing and smiling (and slobbering in the wind tunnel). If you ever get the opportunity to try it I would. We want to go back so bad. If you have never heard of it, it's a huge wind tunnel that you get to hang out in for 2, 2 min. sessions. The wind is blowing so fast that you are floating like you would if you were skydiving. Our instructor said being in there is as if you went skydiving 4 times. Oh man what a great time! The one thing we had to pay for (well Jay) was a ring Jay got for me. Its being made right now since I got to design it. Its a family ring that I have been wanting. Ill have pics of it soon, maybe. We also got to go on our annual family river trip. We hit up the Gates of Ladore again for 5 days of bliss and relaxation. Scott and Laura couldn't make it this year which was a bummer but next year. I was able to teach Stacey how to row. That was fun to watch her try it out. I got into some tight spots too. I'm trying to get the video of it. I went through the Birth Canal of the Triplet rapid. Scary scary spot but so cool. I also rowed over Lucifer on the Hells half mile rapid. The Birth Canal is an extremely tight run through two very large rocks. Most boats cant even make it, however I was in a little shorty and squeezed through (and almost had a heart attack). Lucifer is a very large rock in the middle of the rapid that has flipped many rapids. This trip the water was just high enough that I could slide over and hit a major rapid, again heart attack. Oh, I love rafting. Especially with the family. We had so much fun and created great memories.

So, I think that is a semi-quick recap of what happened so far. Sorry again for no photos. I love looking at peoples blogs and seeing photos. It captures the memories so good.

I hope you all are having a wonderful Fall.

Happy Halloween!

I Have Exerciiiiised The Demons...

Man oh man. I'm not sure about your kids but I think mine needs an exorcist. Ava has this growl that is the funniest thing in the world. One min. she is laughing and singing then the next thing I know, the "demons" come out. Here is my proof. If you know a good exorcist give me the number! ;)

This house is clear.

Ava 6 month photos

August!?!

I cant believe its the middle of August already. Wow! We have had a lot going on this summer. I hope everyone else is having a great summer as well.

Here is a quick recap of what has happened...

We were lucky to be able to go to Bryce Canyon this summer. Jay ran a 1/2 marathon there. We also got to hike and see the beautiful views of the canyon. I cant believe how lucky we are to have these canyons and scenery around us.

We also, this past weekend, were able to go to Haley Idaho to visit Jay's sis and bro-in-law Trina and Tommy. I absolutely love going up there. It is such a beautiful area and we always have so much fun that time just flies by. I also love it because they love Emma. So for these vacations we get to take the whole family and not leave her home. It was so good seeing them again and just relaxing. Well me relaxing. Trina takes Jay hiking and running to try and make him throw up. Some strange type of sisterly love. I learned early on that when they say they are going for a hike or jog I shouldn't go. There type of exercise and my kind of exercise are completely opposite. Lets just put it this way. For Jay his "Fun and easy runs" are the 1/2 marathons that he has been doing (and not even training for). And his sister. Well she has done multiple 100 mile races and crazy 50K's. That's nuts to me. Non the less I love going up and visiting with them.

Jay has had fun buying and selling quite a few motorcycles, my motorcycle, my truck (don't ask on both, still a touchy subject) and a few other things. He is really good at it and just loves doing it for some reason. For as long as I have known him he loves to find a steal of a deal and turn around and sell it for more. I have to say he is a natural at it.

Well, me, I have been going to the gym as much as possible, I work at LDS, work on the river, and play with Ava and Emma the rest of the days.

I have to say, I think it is the cutest thing when a dad and his daughter play together. Since Ava has grown, Jay has become more and more relaxed and playful with her. When she was first born he was so nervous to hold her or do anything because he though he would "break her."

And now, he has so much fun with her and makes her laugh so much. This is a pic of Ava and Jay playing around. It freaked me out the first time I saw them do this.

I found Ava like this one night sound asleep. I thought I was going to wake her up from laughing so hard!

Ava has been swimming quite a bit. She loves the water! She loves to stick her face in the water and blow bubbles. I love that she is a water girl!

We bought her a kiddy pool to play in (which has now blown away from a major wind storm).

When she is done playing in it Emma takes her turn.

Ava has two front teeth and is working on crawling. She kind of does a caterpillar move to get something. She also rolls to different areas in the room. Babies are so smart. It's amazing to see what they just naturally can do. Ava is now 6 months! I can't believe we have a 6 month old. Where has the time gone? She really is growing up so fast. Well we got Ava's 6 month photos from our friend John (who took her newborn photos.) He took over 200 pics I swear. They were so cute. I cant wait to get them back. They are still getting touched up so I'll post them next blog, until then here are some I took...

Lots happening!

Well we have had a busy few weeks.

Jay ran the Ogden 1/2 marathon and did great! We went to support him, it was great weather but by the time he finished it was getting pretty hot. I was feeling bad for the runners still out there. That pavement creates a lot of heat. This was Jay's 2nd 1/2 marathon so far, with many to go.

Jay just finishing the run

Ava and I cheering Jay on

On May 28, we went to Livermore, California. Near Oakland. We flew in making this Ava's first plane ride. She did really well. She was a little fussy taking off with her ears, but that passed quickly. During the plane ride she was getting tired (when she is tired and can't lay down she tends to get upset) so I was standing at the back of the plane trying to rock her. Just so you know this plane was small, 4 seats wide. So rocking her was a bit difficult. Whenever Ava wanted to cry I would step into the bathroom so we wouldn't annoy anyone. We hung out in there a few times. Rather weird standing in the restroom. Other than that she did great.

After we landed we got our rental and headed to San Francisco. We drove over all the bridges (Golden Gate, Oakland and a few others). They were cool.

Jay and Ava heading to the plane

Us at the Golden Gate Bridge

I couldn't believe how the houses are crammed on top of each other there! I don't think I could do that, I'm to used to open with no one behind me. My mouth was dropped most of the time driving through the big city and seeing how and where people live. Just so you know I have never been so S.F. before. Very cool though. The next day we met up with some of Jay's family who were also over there. Then we went to Pier 39 and walked around, drove the windiest (don't know how to spell that) in the US, The Road

and took Ava for her first swim. She had so much fun! She really liked it when Jay would kick and splash. After watching him kick she would try it and get the biggest smile on her face.

Ava's first swim!

Ava after the swim

On Sunday (the main reason for the trip) we went to help out with a 50k mountain race. Jay's brother, who recently passed away, used to run this race and said out of all the races he

runs that this race was by far the hardest. The guys who put this on every year dedicated this race to Kris (Jay's bro.) This race is in the mountains by Livermore. When I say mountain running I mean straight up and straight down these mountains with no shade. Jay helped at 1/2 way point which was a 2 hr hike for him. It was one of the highest points in the race. Jay said it was a really hard hike. So just so you know how crazy this run is, last year one of the runners was life flighted out and spend 3 days in the ICU because he was having liver and kidney failure. I think they said 2 other guys were flown out as well. Another thing I learned is Marathons like St. George or Salt Lake there are thousands that run it. This race only had a little over 200 runners. Anywho, Jay's family and some of his brothers friends came to make team Kris for the race. A few of them ran the race while the rest of us helped out. Most runners started to come to the finish around 8 hours. The guy who won ran it in 4 hours. Jay said he was nuts and was amazing. The night before the race we had a huge party with everyone. It was really fun

seeing everyone come together for this race.

Monday, June 1st we flew home. When we got on the plane the flight attendants we going nuts with Ava and we introduced her to the Pilots and got her picture taken with them. They were so nice. One pilot told me he would trade me spots and hang out with Ava while I flew, man if only! Ava did awesome on the way home She fell asleep on the take off and slept most of the time. Oh, I love vacations.

Ava and the Pilots

Today, June 4th Ava went in for her 4 month check up. I can't believe she is getting so big! She is now 14lbs 12 oz and 25.2 in long. She had to get more shots as well and did so good. She cried a little during but right after she stopped and was fine. Also today, Ava got her ears pierced. Now, don't think I'm a mean mom for getting them done on the same day. My thoughts were since she has Tylenol in her already from the shots to help the pain why not get it done

and over with now so I don't have to create pain another day. I was shocked at how well she did. She slept until the piercing happened, cried until they were in and looked at the lady like, "really? did you have to do that?" But she is good and in no pain.

Before

After

Also, we are getting our yard in! I am so excited Ryan, our neighbor from Heber, is a landscape designer and came while we were on vacation to start our yard. Today, he is planting all the trees and shrubs and we will lay sod later today. Oh I am so excited to have grass!!! No more red dirt tracked in my house by Emma and now we can go outside and play! YES!!!

Sorry this blog was so long. Glad you made it through! Have a great day!

Roll me over baby!

Yesterday, May 8th. Ava rolled over for the first time. It was the funniest thing to watch. She would get half way sit there for a while like she was thinking about doing it, and wallah she was on her belly. I caught her second roll on video (I wasn't sure if she was going to do it again because she doing fake outs). But I caught it. Here it is...

This weekend is Mother's Day! For mom; Jay, Jay, and I are tiling her shower floor with pebble tiles. I'm so excited to finish this project, I have never tiled before and I am kind of liking it. I think my favorite part is adding the extra pebbles in (its like a giant puzzle trying to find a rock that will fit in the certain spot).
Mom I just want to tell you how happy I am that I have you as my mother. You are a wonderful, kind person, and perfect example of what kind of mother I want to be. Happy Mothers Day Mom, I love you!
For all you mothers out there, Happy Mothers Day! You are amazing and I hope you have a wonderful day!

Catching Up

All right so I have been slacking yet again. So I apologize and without further delay... here we go...

Ava had her first Easter. We really didn't do anything huge since she was only two months. We went to church, took a long walk with Emma and just hung out. It was great.

When Ava turned 10 wks. I finally got to go back to the gym! I was so excited! It felt like forever of sitting around waiting, but finally it happened. So Ava and I go every morning. The ladies there at the Nursery are so sweet and take such good care of Ava.

On Sunday May, 3rd Ava had her baby blessing. Jay did such an amazing job and the blessing was beautiful! I even stepped out of my box and bought Ava the cutest blessing dress. It really looks like a mini wedding dress. It has pearls, diamonds and gathers all over the skirt.