Funniness

Poopie found a new super secret sleeping spot in the closet...shhhhhhhhh

Vi finally got a watch!!!!  She has become fixated on what time it is each and every second of the day, so this has helped reduce the question "what time is it" to only about 10 times per day.

Vi went to a kids only salon where she rode a pony while getting a haircut and got stick-on earrings to match her outfit.  What a way to make a girl feel special!

Daddy and Uncle Bini were seriously competitive on Just Dance and provided us with some entertainment.

Cousins

Meet Rocco!

The fam

Proud Aunt Cindy and Uncle Tony

Rocco fulfilled Vi's lifelong wish to be a "big cousin" and she could not be more ready to have someone younger to help (aka boss around).

Vi snapped this blurry shot of Uncle Joe, although I'm pretty sure it reflected pretty well a cloudy head as a result from baby exhaustion :)

Santa came to town!

Breakfast with Santa was a big hit with Vi this year.  Although she is still in awe of him, she LOVED visiting with Santa and Ms. Claus this year.  This photo will definitely go in our yearly Christmas frame!

Vi has really loved singing along to "O Tannenbaum" (Oh Christmas Tree) with Andrea Bocelli.  Here she is in front of our family tree.

Mom gets together with two very special friends from college each Christmas.  It's so special now because we all have a kiddo to bring with us.  They definitely had fun at Mr. Gatti's while eating pizza and opening gifts together.

more memories

Our stage beauty is all made up and ready for the 2nd performance

a special gift from Mamaw and Paw

more flowers from Grandma and Grandpa, here she is "in costume"

having fun backstage!

The most wonderful time of the year

 So, our Christmas season started WAY early this year due to extra ballet practices for the Nutcracker.  It's very exciting because it is Vi's first year doing ballet.  "I just want to be on stage, Mom" - Vi

Here's your chance, kiddo!  The Polichinelles are the little children that come out from Mother Ginger's big hoop skirt in the second act of the Nutcracker.  They had only a few practices before actually coming out from underneath the skirt because the prop was too big to fit into the studio, but they did a great job!  Here they are practicing before the big show.

Dance partners looking cute before their big debut!  This was also Vi's first time being beautified for the stage which included French-braided hair, blush, mascara, and lipstick.  Daddy was in a state of shock for a moment, but she was very excited to get dolled up.  100% girl!

We have already had one small chat with Santa and hope to see him again soon at Breakfast with Santa.

Happy Holidays, everyone!  It really is the most wonderful time of year for making memories!

Mom & Dad's 5th Anniversary!

 Bienvenido!  Mommy and Daddy finally got away to celebrate their anniversary!!!!!!

We were lucky to stay at this beautiful resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with the help of Aunt Cindy and Uncle Jerry, our resident travel experts in the family.

 This place was sooooo relaxing but we opted for a bit of mental stimulation every now and again with daily games of chess.  All of the parents out there: can you remember the last time you ate a leisurely breakfast and played a full game of chess.  NO.  That is why we needed a vacation :)

We started working on our retirement skills early with some games of shuffleboard as well.  The activities team at this resort were really enthusiastic, but we mainly went there to do nothing.  So they created "lazy games for lazy people" as they put it, like shuffleboard and gringo bingo (all you have to do is guess the right number and you when a bottle of tequila - awesome!).

The town of Puerto Vallarta was really beautiful as well.  Neither of us had ever been across the border, so we were pleasantly surprised with the town and the friendliness of its residents.

So much wildlife!  Sea lions, freshly hatched sea turtles, birds, dolphins....

He was just born a few hours ago!

Thanks Mamaw, Paw, Grandma, and Grandpa for spending time with Vi so that we could get away.  After 5 years of marriage, welcoming a baby before our first anniversary, several job switches and moving a few times, we felt that we really deserved this trip which made it all the more enjoyable for us.

The lovely marina with mountain views in the background

Our resort from the sunset sail.

We miss you Puerto Vallarta and hope to be back VERY soon!

The doc is in!

 Happy Halloween from Dr. Vi!

 

We were very happy to trick-or-treat with Smokey (aka Beckett) and enjoy the crisp, Halloween weather.  In the car on the way to trick-or-treat she kept saying, "I'm so exciting!" meaning that she was very excited to start the festivities.  Vi told a few people that she wants to be a nurse (or doctor) when she grows up.  We asked her why she wants to be a nurse and she said, "because nurses are pretty."  Hopefully she'll come around to the realization that nurses help sick people and that will become the new reason :)

 

The cutest and smartest 4 year-old doctor in town.

 

This witch was handing out out books and toys for Halloween.  We thought that was Santa's job, but we'll take it!