Yesvember it is!

Ava is such a crack-up. Everyday it astounds me what she knows and is learning. Okay, so today, we were in Sam's club shopping, we passed the "birthday cake section" and Ava screamed..."It's my birfday, I want a birfdaycake!" With all the recent talk of birthdays, (mine on Jan. 5th, Scott and Harrison's on the 7th) birthdays are on the tip of her brain...obviously. So I say to her, "Ava, your birthday is in November, can you say November?" she copies me and we practiced a couple of times. A few minutes later she looks up and says, "Not NOvember, YESvember!" I had to have her repeat what she said because I couldn't believe she made that connection. I tried to explain to her that November was the "name" of that month and gave her examples of the other months, but she would have nothing to do with it. So thus, Ava's birthday from here on out is...YESvember 24th! She kills me!

What the Heaven? HARRY'S SEVEN!

Our little guy is not so little any longer. It absolutely kills me to put him into the "big boy" catagory now. I realize he's still young, but he's my first and I can feel myself requiring more of him and expectations are greater as he gets older... I suppose that is the way it is supposed to be. We haven't had a party yet, I'll do that at the end of January. But I did bring these "transformer" cupcakes to his school on his actual birthday. (Jan. 7th)

I get so emotional thinking of how his coming into my life (our lives ofcourse) but me as his mother has changed who I am and how I see the world around me. I remember after I had him, I felt like blinders had been removed from my eyes. The love I had for every child around me suddenly grew because my heart had learned to love in a way that was completely inconceivable to me. Through Harrison I've been able to see the world through the eyes of a child, and he's taught me so much about pure love and pure sweetness. This kid is something else! I'm so glad that he is our first child because he's such a wonderful example of how to be, and I'm so glad he's mine!


Seven Reasons we love Harrison:

1) He is pure...Scott compares him to Nathaniel of old, he has no guile.

2) This child can laugh! He has such a great sense of humor and laughs so easily and heartily.

3) He is so patient. Anyone that spends any time watching he and Ava together calls him a saint!

4) He is accepting. Doesn't matter if you're green, blue haired, cross eyed, or clinically crazy, this kid will love you up and appreciate you no matter what. He is a friend to all.

5) He is sensitive. You can explain anything to him in terms of how it makes someone feel and he will make sure he doesn't hurt anyone's feelings. He is very empathetic.

6) He is wild. Some days this could drive any sane human to jump off a bridge, but this kid is crazy!

7) He is completely uninhibited. He would greet you at the door tomorrow singing at the top of his lungs completely naked and not bat an eye.



Thank you Harrison for being you. We wouldn't want you any other way. You are perfect in our eyes!

Oh! HOLY NIGHT!!!!

A little hockey...



A little wrestling...



A little lovin'...

The grandkiddies: Ava, Max, Andy, Harry, Regan





A little blasphomy??? (Our manger scene, heaven help us all...we laughed so hard we cried!)





Hope you all had a great Christmas! Ours was wonderful and white in Calgary, Alberta, Canada...did I mention we were all sick every last one of us the entire time??? But despite everyone feeling a little under the weather we still managed to find time to be immature and crazy, eat great, gain weight all absolute musts at any "Sniderpalooza". Every night was a late one with lots of deep meaningful conversations, tons of laughing, cracking great jokes that only we get for sure, and ofcourse, guitar playing and loud singing! Loved it all! Here are just a few pictures.