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!)

Easter 2008

Mason's third Easter. We did the usual egg decorating, egg hunt and easter basket full of books and toys... and no candy! We will continue to stay away from candy at holidays as long as he lets us!






It was a good Easter- although Mason had a stomach virus for 4 days before the "big day." He couldn't keep anything down for 3 days and unfortunately one of those days was spent traveling home from our desert trip. Poor little guy... it was rough for all of us and I still smell vomit just thinking about it!

Trip to the Desert

If anyone knows me, you know that I love red rocks, blue skies, sunshine and slot canyons. Lucky for me Mark enjoys these things as well. Luckier for me was that Mark was needing a break from school around the same time of the year that I go through my deep longing for the desert items just listed. Mark surprised Mason and I by purchasing tickets to Las Vegas. Hurray! A much needed trip for the mentality of all three of us.



Mason was such a big boy and was very insistent on pulling his own bag (or carrying it while Mark or I carried him) through the airports.








We visited the Valley of Fire in Nevada with my sisters, Gina and Mitzi, and Gina's daughter, Avery. We had a perfect day of 80 degree weather and clear skies.











We stayed in Mesquite, NV for a couple nights for some swimming, miniature golf, and yes, $20 lost at gambling :( Then we moved on to St. George where we met up with our close friends and family Kyle, Beth and Finn Price. We visited Snow Canyon and enjoyed the swimming pool at the Price's hotel... which coincidentally was where my good sister Mitzi works.

We stayed with Gina and Aaron for a couple nights- and spent some good quality time with family.

I have so many great pictures of this trip... but I haven't figure out how to add a slide show so the pictures are somewhat limited.

Buckskin and Antelope Canyons

Our desert trip continued to Paria Canyon. I had big plans to hike the Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch, which is about 4 miles of hiking through slot canyon and actually passable with a kid. We made it to the BLM and were strongly encouraged not to drive out to the trail head secondary to muddy/ impassable roads (we had a rental car without 4 wheel drive). I was almost in tears... We traveled over 2400 miles to go into a slot canyon. I was ready to give up when a jeep of fellow hikers told us to follow them. We made it to and from the trail head with no problems other than a little beautiful red mud on the car.



The hike was beautiful. Nothing beats a slot canyon in my eyes.















We then moved onto Page, Arizona; home of the well know Antelope Canyons. I have seen pictures of these canyons... but needed to see them with my own eyes, especially if I wanted to use similar pictures to decorate my house. Well, the canyon was very beautiful as you can see from the pictures... but the magic of the desert red rock was lost because of how populated the canyon was. Only tours can go to these canyons and it cost us nearly $35 per person. The canyon was packed full of other tourists- not unlike ourselves. It was quite disheartening... but we still were able to take some fantastic pictures.