I want to re-live this day

This guy down here planned such a fun day for us...

He loaded up the boat, boys, bait and brought along the girls.

This would look really yummy if you were a fish.

The three fishermen in my life.

Rita was a trooper with her huge honkin' vest.

They reeled 'em in while I sat back and watched. Loved it.

We caught a whopper...

Love all four of these kids.

There was a dolphin swimming by us...bottom right of the bird.

Joey docked us at a park and the kids played...
She gets her sweet pumping action from me.

Is there anything better than a happy girl?...Oh yeah, and Rita was pretty happy too.

Superman wanted to fly.

My Latin lover.

After the park Joey docked us at a fun restaurant on the water.

We ate and then the kids played in the sand.
There was a live band playing and the weather was BEAUTIFUL.

Can not believe I'm typing this...
but anytime you want to take us fishing Babe, I'm game!

Photography Don'ts

With my new camera in the bag
and inspiration galore
I am ready to be a photographer.

If only it were that easy.
I am pathetic.
It is a s....l....o....w learning process.

So here are tips from a complete novice on what NOT to do.

Don't go outside by yourself with your one year old thinking you'll get stunning photos.

Don't keep calling her name thinking that will get her attention.

Don't get frustrated when everything is coming out wrong.

Don't forget to be aware of clothing craziness and
making your one year old look pregnant.

Thank you, Rita. This is exactly how I feel.

Crawler to Toddler

A little over a month ago Miss Pita stopped doing this...

and this...

and she stopped walking in this...

and started being my little walker girl...

We are so happy/sad about this!

Boys Club (and sometimes two girls)

Any given day these boys, Jack Jack, Emree, and Rita are playing outside.
They are quite the crew and they have a good 'ole time doing what kids are supposed to be doing...
PLAYING!

Muggles, Hippogrifths, and Hogwarts

We love a good surprise and we especially love surprising the kids.
They had been dying to go to Harry Potter's Wizarding World, and by dying I mean driving us CAH-RAY-ZEE!

So Joey and I decided that on a beautiful Saturday there was nothing we would rather do than go to Costco...or that's what we told the kids.
Needless to say they were super duper excited when they saw they would be doing something other than eating samples (I personally don't think it gets better than a Costco sample in each hand!).

On their way to see their future school...

Whoop, there it is!

Platform 9 3/4. Glad we didn't miss the train.

Be still my Wizard loving heart.

Perfect little squib baby in a non-magical stroller.

Flying with the Hippogrifths...

Loving on some Rita in Dr. Suess land...

These two are best of friends...

Good job Universal on Harry Potter World.
If only the rest of the park could be as nice.
Sorry, I am a Disney snob.
Jello can never be creme brulee.

How Rita Pita Does One

My sweetest Pita face turned one on January 10th.
She is our sweet baby girl and we could not love her anymore. Seriously. This girl is wrapped around everyone's finger in our house.

She loves her mama and she still loves to nurse. She loves her two fingers to suck on and she loves to have her other free hand down my shirt...it's like a pocket. She loves to horse around on her dad and use him as a jungle gym. She eats like a maniac and knows Rocky will take anything she doesn't want. She likes Fresh Beat Band and Yo Gabba Gabba. Her sister can ALWAYS make her smile. Her brothers have to have her give kisses and wave bye-bye every night or else they're sad. If she sees the front door opened at all she wants to go outside to play or go on a walk to the Clarks. She is a mild sweetie and has let me take a whole shower and do make up while she sat watching TV. She loves taking a bath in the sink and drinking the water. She's a professional dumper and will empty any purse or bag in seconds. She does not like to sit in shopping carts unless she is eating or has a toy to play with. She's my Rita Pita, my peach face, pumpkin head, and the caboose on the Snider train.
WE LOVE HER.

On her birthday we went to the only place happy enough to lift me out of my deep depression that she was turning one...
DISNEY!

She had a great time! She saw how HA-UGE a Clydesdale is.

She went on the carousel and pretended she was on that Clydesdale...

She met her favorite characters (okay, well, my favorite characters)...
She watched the birds...
and she felt as free as a bird standing all by herself...
She met Mickey face to face...
and LOVED every minute of him...
She went to the candy store...
and well, acted like a kid in a candy store...
We partied hard later on with our family...
Things started out pretty neat and tidy...
and then Pandora's box was opened...
She ended up crowning herself Best One Year Old Ever!and we agree.

Never Grow Up

My kids just keep getting bigger and bigger.
Thumbs down.

Crazy Cousins

Aleksi came into town for the holidays and stayed a night at our house with Max and Cassie.
I love them. So much.
They make us so happy when they are here.
Enough said.

Aleksi and Cynthia (who came down with Max and just might be one of the funniest people I know)...

Max...it was late...and cold...and we were delirious...

Cassie can not take a bad picture, no matter the time, or circumstance.

Look at this guy! Could he be any cuter?!
He will be leaving for his mission sometime this Summer or Fall.
Oh, what will we do without him???

And this is why we love him! Because he does stuff like build Legos with the boys...

And draws lightening scars on foreheads...
We love Aleksi, Mitchell, Cassie, and Max!!!

Christmas Auction

We celebrated Christmas on New Year's Day with my family. Such a good time!
My mom had the idea to do an auction instead of a gift exchange! And it was so much fun!
We all had play money and everyone came with an assortment of things, new, used, thrifted...whatever! And then we bid on all the items.
In the end we ended up with a Pampered Chef chopper and a Chick-Fil-A gift card. There were some really great things but Joey and I were holding out for the mystery items...we're risk takers like that.

Edesse, Emree, and Brynn couldn't love eachother more...

My little bro, Evan, the artist...

My Aunt Maria with Pita...

My parents spoil all the grandkids and give them whatever their heart desires...

Can't wait for the Auction next Christmas!