It's been a long time...indeed.

I cannot believe that October was the last time that I posted something here.  I am not quite sure why I just did not feel like posting.  Ari has been growing and given us tons to see, to laugh, to pull our hairs, to enjoy, to love. So, I guess it was just me not wanting to post.  2010 closed the year with many emotions and I guess all in the family felt exhausted.  But we look up to 2011 with hope that this year will be better than the last one.
I am looking forward to the spring.  Ari said that she will help me plant tons of flowers.  I think this year we will see our backyard differently and we will enjoy having the game (baseball) on the radio, some cold drinks, nice weather, and a beautiful and colorful backyard.  Maybe we will play ball, or just play with the hose.  All my nieces and nephews will be here and we will all get wet.  That sounds like fun.
She also said that she wanted to bake cookies with me.  I bought one of those frozen cookies that I just need to put in the oven.  We will do the real deal soon enough.  I am just trying to get myself out of the non-bake feeling for now.  Those chocolate chips cookies look great and we can still do it together.
And I think all of these hits close to my heart.  You see, I did not know I was pregnant until about 3 months, but I kept having dreams of this little girl that was helping me in the backyard, that was baking with me quite often, and that was playing tea parties with me.  After the nth dream, I thought this is too weird.  I remembered telling my friend Tiffiney that this "little girl" was pretty persistent. At that time, my brother's girlfriend was pregnant so I figure she was having the little girl (She had a boy).  So, I guess she was trying to tell me that she was here.  She was sending a HUGE HELLO! and I just could not hear it.  Now, all those dreams are starting to become a reality.  She has a voice now, and God knows we can hear her :)
(In this video, she had an itchy nose, but love her smile)

Time flies.

Wow, I found this picture of Arianna.  It was taken sometime last year.  How quickly time goes by...

Grandpa's Birthday!

After arriving from our vacation, it was time to celebrate grandpa's birthday.  We did a very impromptu celebration with some good pizzas and a small cake.  The kids loved it.
We were singing Happy Birthday!

 Eating cake!

Hope your day was awesome!

Vacation - PArt 5 and final!

We were at the Outfitters Store, Bob needed a new tent.  Arianna loved the store.  She wanted pictures with the big bear.

 I saw this picture in a frame in the store, and thought it was adorable.

 Leaving the store, I saw this peculiar leaf.

 Last meal of the vacation, we went to the Log Pancake House and thank God they are still good.

 Mike and Bob.  Very good friends.

 Whatever caught my daughter's attention...

 Our meal consisted of pig in the blanket (Mike), Hawaiian pancakes (Me), silver dollars (Ari), omelet (Bob)

 Few pics in our way out of the Smokies.  Until next time...

Vacation Part 4 - The Aquarium.

The first time that we went to the aquarium with Arianna, she cried all the way. We rushed and did not enjoy as much.  This time, she loved it.  She wanted more.  She did not want to leave.

 She was telling us about the starfish and her house.

 Hello.  Hello.

 One of my favorite animals, the seahorse.  Love them.

 Mike's favorite moment from the entire vacation.  We were sitting next to the huge tank and Ari and him were talking about it.

 A leaf horse?  Wow.  Very impressive.

 Papa and Arianna going through the tunnel.  Arianna's new favorite thing are tunnels!

 Grandma and Arianna enjoying some sharks.

 I rarely get my picture taken since I am the photographer, but I was there :)

 Interesting fish!

 Loved the jelly fish. 

 This looks like a movie coming alive.  The attack of the huge crabs!

 Mollusk?  I think. 

 We were surrounded by huge sharks!

 More fish pictures.

 And then it was us.

 This is a new section from the aquarium - Penguins.

 You can actually touched the manta rays if you want.

 Ended it up our day with some dipping dots ice cream and some Mexican food.

Vacation - Part 3

I bought this kit for Tiffany.  I took the picture so you can see how the put the sparkles.  It was not part of the kit, but I bought the extras because I think it adds so much to the kit.  Here is the picture so you can see it, and decide whether you want it or not.

 This is next to the quilting shop in Cosby, TN.  We also went to an apple farm/ restaurant in Cosby.  The food was decent, the apple fritters were awesome.

 We also found this little restaurant. Apparently they were here for years, but we did not know until this time.  They have a store in the first floor called "The cheese cupboard" and a very small restaurant in the second floor that sells sandwiches (about 6 different ones) plus chips.  The sandwiches were small, but they were very flavorful. 

 Can you tell that it is a German restaurant?

 I was not sure that we were going to see that much change in color since the temperature was still high, but we did.

 Our best tradition yet (in TN anyway).  We always go to Howard's Steakhouse and ordered the Steak for two!  Still great! (Bob tried the trout )

 Arianna felt asleep before her food arrived.  We ate it for her.  Ooops. 

Arianna liked her Titi Evelyn.

 I am not sure what we were doing in this picture, besides breakfast.

 Ron and Evelyn were leaving a day earlier so I was trying to get some family pictures.

 Arianna played really nice with Evelyn.  Hopefully we will see each other in the near future.

 The view from our parking lot.

 The Cabin had a lovely double deck.