Seven Year Bliss!

Seven years ago today I married Mark.

Best decision I ever made!

The rest of these are random but goodies. 7 years sounds and seems so significant, and looking at how young we look in a lot of these adds to that. :)

Mark Snavely,

You are the most patient, kind and coolest man I have ever met.

I really like you.

I'm glad we are married forever!

I love you!

p.s. Thanks for my cute babies! They are awesome too.

"All I want for Christmas is to finish growing in this tooth!"

The Christmas Spirit

The Christmas Spirit

Merry Christmas Friends and Family!

p.s. Mark may or may not have cried a little bit when he watched this. :)

Lemon Juice Taste Test

The other day I was at Costco with Taj getting some groceries. Taj was helping me get the stuff we needed from our list. When we got to the lemon juice on the list Taj said "mmm! I want some juice." I told him its not yummy juice its lemon so its sour and yucky. He kept asking until we got in the car but then he forgot about it. Then when we got home and brought the groceries in he saw his beloved juice and again asked for some. So we gave him some and got it on video. Children's curiosity is a lot of fun.

Christmas tree light show

I had to return something at one of the stores in the District in Henderson recently. On our way out to the parking lot the 50 ft Christmas tree started its light and music show. Taj and Ari and I sat and enjoyed the show before we proceeded to the car. Its pretty impressive and its free (if you are looking for fun family Christmas stuff to do).

Happy Turkey Day

This year for Thanksgiving all of Cathy's brothers and sisters came to town to have Thanksgiving at her parents house.

After we ate most of us went for a walk around Calico Basin. This is a great idea because it seemed to help with digestion and by the time you finish you are really ready for round 2 of food.

The main event...sooo good.

Cathy's Dad. Sometimes he likes to pretend he is grumpy but with a plate of food like that there was no hiding his excitement.

Cathy's sister. Classic "Jilly Poppins" pose.

Cathy's Mom. She was head chef and mastermind of the whole event. Looks like she forgot to get some turkey on her plate.

The next 5 photos are what I call my "Deer in the headlights" collection. Interestingly, her deer in the head lights face is very similar to the "your in trouble" face. I know that face well. I think I will get this look when she reads this post. :)

Cathy's sister

Cathy's bro

Cathy's nephew

Cathy's niece

Are you kidding me?

I had to make a brief appearance on our blog here. Not that I haven't THROUGHLY enjoyed Mark driving the blogging bandwagon as of late....but he snapped these pictures today and showed them to me right when I got home from work and I HAD to blog about my daughter. I am waiting for the other shoe to drop because she is PERFECT! She smiles and loves everyone. She never fusses. She eats whatever we feed her. She goes right to sleep whenever or where you place her for nap time (granted its always in a crib or pack-n-play). She even sucks her thumb....and its cute...oh so very very cute. Feel free to click on the above photo to see it bigger...because the bigger she gets it just gets cuter.

A few blog-worthy milestones. Ari is 8.5 months old. No teeth but I suspect something should happen soon in this department. She sits up, and pulls herself up to standing on most furniture, including her crib. But she doesn't know how to "gracefully" get down once she is up holding onto the side so she squawks adamantly until you appear to rescue her and then you are greeted with lots and lots of happy squeaks and smiles. She waves (just in the last 2 days), holds her hands over her head when you say "SO BIG" and if you ask if she is going crazy she shakes her head relentlessly (thanks ungurens!) I am also working on blowing kisses. She loves to play this game with me but has yet to do any kiss blowing without my help. She has also started doing the "stink face" where she scrunches up her nose and sniffs. The above picture was taken approx 3 mili-seconds after the stink face. We will capture it in its full glory here soon and document it.

I love seeing her personality starting to emerge. She ADORES her brother. If he even glances her way she lights up. Taj on the other hand prefers to not have much to do with her. But every so often I catch him loving on her and being kind or singing to her....fleeting moments but they do occur.

And here we have a picture of what happens when you sneeze when eating a rice cereal bottle. :)

I love you Ari Nicole!