MON-TAJ

Due to popular demand (well Jen mentioned she would like some)...here are some more pictures of Taj Owen!  There will be quite a few more, fear not.  We give Taj a bath every night before bed and he loves it!  And don't worry...that is my shirt...that I was wearing, in his mouth. He has been biting my shoulders occasionaly, but I don't think he means to...I think his teeth just really hurt.  He still just has the 8 but I think there are more on their way.

Man I love my Mom and Dad

Here are some pictures of my parents the day before they went into the MTC.  We spent that Sunday (which also happened to be mom's birthday) at Aunt Mary's house in SLC.  She had planned a luncheon and a lot of mom's family came.  It was a picture perfect afternoon and I don't think mom could have asked for a better birthday gift.  We had a great meal and then after cleanup we all ended up in Aunt Mary's beautiful backyard!  Then all of her siblings sat around in a circle and swapped stories from their childhood for a couple of hours.  It was really fun to listen to.  I also found it quite educational.  Uncle Tom apparently kept Pioche on its toes back in his day! :)

Here is a cute story that I wanted to share that my mom told me before she left the MTC.   It was just a cute visual and I knew my family would appreciate it.  I guess Mom and another single sister would walk back and forth across the back of MTC campus every night to get some exercise.  And on one of their last nights two young elders approached them and asked if they could practice teaching the 1st discussion to them in Chinese (they were just learning the language there at the MTC and wanted to get in as much practice as possible).  Mom told them could as long as they could keep up.  So can't you picture these poor two young elders in their white shirts and ties huffing behind mom on her speed walk rambling away to her in Chinese (as though she would have the first clue if they were saying it correctly or not! ).  Doesn't that just make you smile!  :)  Go mom go!

A Day with Alexis!

I wanted to do a little blog about my fun day with my niece Alexis.  She is a smart and charming little gem!  We had the best time hanging out together all day.  We went to the water park and played a while and then later, her Uncle Mark took her on a hike to the top of Lone Mountain.  He was quite impressed at how far little Alexis got in just her pink clogs by herself.  Mark said she was very determined to get to the top so that they could "touch the sky!"  And when they did finally make it to the top, it was quite windy so you can see that she held her hair back for the picture.  And she couldn't wait to tell me that she threw some rocks from the top of the mountain and watched them as they tumbled all the way to the bottom!

We had such a great day that we decided we would become best friends!  And then two days later when I saw her again she smiled huge and held both her hands to my cheeks and said "Hello Best Friend!  How have you been?" She makes me so happy!  I'm quite glad she is a part of our family!

San Diego

This last weekend Mark and I got to go to San Diego for our friend's wedding!  Tajkins stayed here with some good friends of ours.  We had a GREAT time.

Wendy and Jake were married in the San Diego Temple and it was a beautiful wedding.  They are the kind of couple you are really happy found each other.  They are just right!

On friday night, right when we got into town we went to dinner with Wendy and some of her family, so that's where the photos from. 

Then after the wedding we went to the beach and explored.  It was a nice cloudy day that made it perfect for being outside. (which is pretty much like everyday in San Diego right?)

It doesn't look half as scary in the picture but I was feeling really brave climbing on those cliffs and getting that close to the edge, especially because big waves would come crashing every now and then!  We had a great time!

Let the Blogging Begin

Ta-da!  Here it is...the blog that Cathy's starting. :)  I have been wanting to do this for a while and have only felt more and more inspired by all my friends doing one!  Now that I am here typing, you wonder what it is that you should say! :)  Well I am married to Mark Snavely and I really like it.  He is my surfer dream boy from Florida and we will have been married 5 years this December.  We have one little boy named Taj Owen Snavely.  He will be 1 on August 1st.  We got the name from a professional surfer in Australia named Taj Burrows.  There is also a famous jazz musician named Taj Mahal. Owen is my father's name and we are so happy that Taj carries that little bit of my dad with him wherever he goes! :) 

We live in Las Vegas and have just recently moved into my parent's home while they are serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Manilla, Philippines.  We had a smaller little starter home that we loved, but we were able to find tenants to live there while we live here!  

I just became a full time stay at home mom.  I have been working as an administrative assistant for an engineering firm here in las vegas for the last 3 years.  Even after Taj was born, I continued working 2 days a week while my mom watched him.  But since she has been "called to serve", I now stay at home full time with my son.  So far I have LOVED spending all this time with him, but staying at home will be a change for me.  I am going to explore some new hobbies and habits to keep me busy.  I have worked full time for almost 8 years now (I count the mission as full time work!)  So just staying at home will take some getting used to, but I look forward to it.  I have been cooking dinners for my husband!  That's a change and so far he really seems to like it!  And I am becoming more devoted to the cooking channel than I would like to admit. :)  

So that is what I will say to begin with!  From exploring other blogs, I already know that I will LOVE comments so feel free to drop a line.  And I will be back soon to fill you on more of my adventures!