Mari's First Trip

Last week Mari and I went to Missouri for a visit.  We left on Thursday morning and 

were supposed to come back on Monday, but decided to extend our stay until Wednesday.  We took a plane and Mari was so good.  She loved people watching in the airport just like her mom.  Greg was very busy at work so he was not able to come with us.  We did miss him very much, but were able to Skype almost every night.  Sarah and Liam came for the whole week as well, so it was fun to have the cousins get together and get to hang out with my sister.  We had a lot of visitors during our stay to meet the kids.  It was busy, but so great to see all the friends and family.

Here we are on the plane to Missouri.  She was such a good baby.

Hanging out at Grandma and Grandpa Quirk's.

We were home during Valentine's Day.  Here was her Valentine outfit for the day.

Aunt Sarah brought the Bumbo so we gave it a try and Mari loved sitting up all by herself.  

Grandma and Grandpa Nienhouse got her an adorable My 1st Valentine's Day sleeper and bib.  I do have to say she is toooooo cute.

Grandma and Mari loved getting to hang out.  We can't wait for the next visit in April.  

Aunt Sarah, Mari wants to know when you are going to move to Colorado? :)  

Liam and Mari loved laying on the play mat together.  It is fun to see them respond to eachother, by grabbing and trying to eat the others ones hands.

Plotting how to get their parents to live in the same state. 

Grandpa and Mari.  He was great at singing to her to calm her down.  Thanks Grandpa see you in April.

My cousin Omega with Mari it was great to see them again.

Omega's husband Emmanuel holding Mari. 

Sarah and I went shopping with the kiddos one day and I found these at Target so I thought what great pics for when they get older.  

Family, Friends, and Super Bowl!!

A couple weeks ago Grandpa Keating was able to come and visit.  This was the first time he has met Mari.  She of course took to him and loved having him hold her.  We enjoyed seeing him as well and can't wait to see all the Grandma's and Grandpa's again soon.

Mari and I are going to Missouri for a long weekend this week and can't wait to see everyone again.  Sarah and Liam are coming up as well, so the cousins will get to hang out again.  We are flying so be praying all goes well.  

Grandpa Keating and Mari

Dad and Mari at the Super Bowl Party we had.  She loves to stand and always face out so she doesn't miss anything.

Our friend Ben and Mari watching the football game.  

Some of the ladies at the Super Bowl party.  We enjoyed the social time.

Mommies Group

Every Friday we have a morning mommies group.  We get together and let the babies play and just get time to chat with eachother.  Of course it is usually about the kids and when the weather is nice we go on many hikes.  This last week was gorgeous so we got in many hikes.  All the kids love it and are turing in to outdoor mountain babies.  

Here are the mommies with all the kids.  The oldest one Cain is about to turn 1 and Mari is the youngest and will be 3 months on the 11th.

Look at the view.  Mari is sleeping and she loves to bury her face in my chest.  

Me, Mari, Holly, and Jesse

After the hike, ahh what a great day!

Cain and Mari checking eachother out.  Cain will be turning 1 on March 3rd.  We can't wait to have his B-day Party.

  Here we are with the girls for another hike this week.  The past couple of times Mari has been staying awake for awhile and enjoying the views.  

I'm getting so big...

Well, Mari is now 2 months old and went to the doctor and had her first round of shots.  She did such a great job.  I think it was harder on me than her.  I know we cried about the same amount.  She weighed 10 lbs 2 oz.  Still small but the doctor was happy with her weight gain.  That puts her in he 25% for weight.  She was 23.25 inches long and that puts her in the 75%.  She is so much fun and it is great watching her grow up.  I love just playing and laying around with her.  So you could say I don't always get much done, but oh well she won't be this small for long so I am trying to soak it up while I can. 

I thought I would throw this in.  Greg got to meet Barry Sanders and ski with his son, so that was an exciting time for him.  Pretty cool I think.

Back to Mari... look at how strong she is.  This was a few weeks ago and she is doing even better now.

Now look at our big girl.  We are trying to do lots of tummy time.  The doctor was surprised at how well she could hold herself up and said she will be rolling over soon.  

It is not always her favorite, but she can make it last for a little bit.

She is doing such a good job, I tell you what we are some very proud parents.  And those bright blue eyes.  I love them so much.  

Finally the cousins get to meet...

So finally I was able to meet my nephew Liam and Mari got to meet her cousin.  Mom, Dad, Sarah, Cory, and Liam all came out for a nice visit this last weekend.  Of course it was not as long enough, but we had a great time and I can't wait for the next visit.  

The family all together.  What a great picture and hopefully there are more times like this.

The two cutest kids in the world playing together on Mari's playmate.  They love each other so much and can't wait to go skiing together.

Awww.... how cute Uncle Cory holding Mari.  She looks so tiny, but Greg and I think she is getting so big.

Double bath time!!  Those babies were stinky.

Aunt Sarah and Uncle Cory with the cousins.  And once again Mari is rocking her Michigan State clothes.  I think they won this time.

Check out those great proud Daddy's.

The guys went on a snowmobile tour and had a great time.  We got some snow the night before so that made for some great riding.

We took a ride on the gondola up the mountain, this was Mari's second trip up.  She made her first trip up when she was about 5 days old.  Just getting her ready to be a mountain girl.

This was the first time Sarah met Mari and the first time I met Liam.  He is so cute and much bigger than Mari.  Liam is 10 weeks older than Mari. 

Posing for a picture after the Ullr parade and waiting to go have dinner.

I can just tell these two are going to be the best of friends. 

Liam loved checking Mari out and Mari loved discovering her fist.

Grandma and Mari just hanging out.

Grandpa and Liam hanging out.

And the doting Grandparents loving on the babies.  One night Grandma and Grandpa watched the kids so we could all go to a movie.  It was so much fun to get out for a few hours and have a date night.

Hanging out with my brothers.

We hope everyone had a Happy New Year's.  We sure did with a new baby.  We were wild as usual and stayed up until 11, so we watched the ball drop New York time.  Greg had to work today and Mari and I stayed in and relaxed all day.  It was a great New Year's Day.

Juarez and Bogey are taking to life with Mari quite well.  And Mari is taking to life with barking and licking dogs too.  

They posed so well for the pictures and it was an excuse for them to get on the couch.

Aahh how cute are they?

What a proud Dad of all the family.

My 1st Christmas

So we celebrated our 1st Christmas with Mari and it was a great one.  Greg had the day off so we started it by getting up at 7:00, Mari was so excited for Santa.  We went downstairs to open gifts at about 9:00.  Mari loved all of her gifts from everyone and so did the dogs.  They couldn't get enough of all the treats they were given.

Then for the afternoon we just relaxed and made a turkey for dinner.  We had some friends over for Christmas dinner, they have a 9 month old boy named Cain.  It made for a great Christmas celebration.

WE HOPE EVERYONE HAD A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

We miss you all and can't wait to see you soon.

Here is the gift from her Uncle Brian and Aunt Celine.  It is her first camo outfit to go hunting.

A book from her Aunt Morgan and it is even signed by the author.

Then from her cousin Liam she got a car seat toy and a dress and some bows from Aunt Sarah and Uncle Cory.

On Christmas Eve we went to church and then had dinner with the Bodenhausen's.

Here are some pictures of Mari in her Christmas dress that she got from Grandpa and Grandma Nienhouse.

She wore her eskimo boots as well, it was a very cold night.

Santa's Little Helper!

Mari in front of her 1st Christmas tree.  We went with a small one this year hoping for a little less clean up of all the pine needles.  It was a perfect size for Mari, she loved watching the lights on the tree and railing.

We went to the lighting of Breckenridge and then to get her picture with Santa.  This was taken right before she turned 4 weeks, so she has changed a lot since then.  She slept the whole time we were there, but she looks like she enjoyed it.

This is one of the many pictures in her other Christmas dress for our Christmas card.