New Pictures

Our friend Marvin took these family pictures of us. Not much of an update- but at least it is something to look at!! We are all happy, healthy and loving every second we are together!

Wesley Milo Slavens

Wesley was born at 12:14am on February 25th (6 days past his due date). He weighed 8 pounds 14 oz and was 20 inches long. He looks just like Mason did as a baby but Wesley has blonde hair and Mason's was dark brown. Wesley weighed one ounce more but was 1.5 inches shorter than Mason.

Mason is an excellent big brother. His job is to make sure that no one kisses Wesley on the face and that everyone uses had sanitizer. (RSV is really bad right now and I am being a little over-protective).

My parents flew in on the due date to help out- but had to leave on the 28th! They were able to be with Mason while we were in the hospital, watch Mason ski, help cook and clean- and I even dragged my dad on a hike with me! I just felt bad that they had to hang out with me (no one that goes past their due date is very pleasant to be around- especially myself!)

The coolest kid ever!!!!

Mason skiing. This is from one of his first trips this winter. He has gotten much better since this video. Mark is hoping that if skiing continues to be successful this season- then Mason will begin snowboarding next year. Mason is pretty excited about that idea. One of his favorite things to do is watch snowboard videos with his dad!

Our Family!!

This posting is a shout out to our wonder family
that we rarely see enough of.

Mason's cousins on Mel's side of the family: Devin, Elly, Mason, Reagan, Avery and Sidney. A very unique group of kids! One other has been born since this picture- baby Connor, Avery's little brother.







Mel's brothers and sisters- very rare occasion when we were all together. Mitzi, Michelle, Mel, Gina, Darrin, David, Shane and Justin.








Mason's cousins on Mark's side of the family. Mason, Spencer and Max.







The boys- Mark, Don (Mark's dad), Andy (Mark's brother), Mason, David Lucas (Mark's brother) and Spencer. Mark's brother Jesse is not pictured.

Fresh Start

I had lots of plans to put a slide show of 2008 on this blog... but it is just not happening. So, we shall just say that 2008 was fun and full of adventure including our trips to Wyoming, Utah, Maine, NYC, Adirondacks, and several interesting places in the Ithaca area. Thanks to all those that visited us, or took the time to spend with us when we were around. Thanks for being part of our 2008 memories! For those of you who weren't part of our 2008 memories- you better get ready to join us for something in 2009!!

Do You Realize?

I was listening to one of our CD's on the way home from work yesterday. For some reason I felt like the words applied to me and my inability to keep in touch with those people that I have deep feelings for- but have been so bad at showing it, especially since moving on to every new part of our lives.

The Flaming Lips:

"Do you realize that happiness makes you cry?
Do you realize the everyone you know someday will die?
Instead of saying all your goodbyes
Let them know you realize that life goes fast.
It's hard to make the good things last.
You realize the sun doesn't go down,
It is just an illusion caused by the world spinning round."

I have been touched by many other poetic and inspirational quotes and songs but this is the one on my mind today- as I remember great friends, great times, and all the happiness each of you provided for me- despite my failures to communicate that to you!

Happy Birthday Mark!!!

Mark turned 31 years old on March 28th. Getting old. He struggled a bit with this birthday and threatened that he was going to get himself a midlife motorcycle. The movie clip is Mason singing his version of Happy Birthday. (The candle on the cake is from Christmas a couple years ago and Mark is under his blanket because we were pampering him!)