WE ARE FAMILY .......

Finally - we had family portraits taken - and it went as good as could be expected since it was a last minute planning... (i.e. I was running around the mall Monday morning/afternoon trying to find outfits that worked for all of us, Ryan had to get a hair cut and I had to try to get Ari to take a decent nap, be fed and in a good "picture taking" mood.

So here they are:

Ari has the best curly hair but we never photography him on his curly days -

so I made sure Ari was having a curly day (I didn't brush it when it was wet)

so everyone could see my sweet baby with his curls...... LOVE HIM

And I have some really cute video from Ari's birthday which I would love to upload however the USB cable for our video camera has grown legs and walked away (probably looking for a better home that would use it more often) so until I can find a replacement card - no video - sorry

We didn't order a ton of Christmas cards (mostly because they due to our last minute photo shoot they will not be ready until the Tuesday before Christmas.....) so those of you who will be getting one will share the same blood as atleast one of us (that is how limited our order was) and they will most likely be late ..... so here it is for you to see if I don't get one in the mail for you

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARI BURTON

Happy Birthday Ari Burton. We love you so much. You have changed every aspect of our lives for the better- When I dreamed about the little boy we would have someday - you were the little boy in my dreams (although I do think that little boy in my dreams was a little less of a picky eater!!!!)

Some Fun Facts about Ari:

His favorite foods are

Burger King Chicken Nuggets

Ocean Spray Crasins

Dried Cherries

Trader Joe's Yogurt (the creme kind yum yum)

Pancakes "cakes"

French Toast

French Fries

Words Ari says (that we understand) :

Car, Color, Sponge Bob (not thrilled about that one), Dora, Kai lan, Hair, Duck, Moon, oh no, wow, Dog, Mama, Dada, Papa (Ryan's Dad), Juice, NO, Book, Eyes, Teeth, Star, Spoon, Shoe, Two

Funny things that Ari has done: (well they are funny now... to think back on.....now that the mess is cleaned up)

- Walked on the piano keys (more like danced)

- Got Dewey's treat box down from the counter and gave the dog multiple treats....(no wonder they are best friends)

-Went in the laundry room, opened the dryer, climbed on the dryer door, got the laundry soap and dumped it on the floor (all of it) - then he came out with the dripping laundry soap to show Papa what he had done

- Got into my make up and successfully applied mascara to the eye area, blush to his cheek area and bit my chapstick......

- snuck in the pantry and helped himself to Reese peanut butter cups.... he even opened the wrapper

Ari's Favorite Toys:

CARS

Legos (somehow he found Ryan's old little legos and no matter where we put them he finds them and dumps them every where - but today he is getting Duplo blocks and those little legos are getting tossed)

Playdoh

We love you Ari !

Two years ago.....

Two years ago my life changed in ways I could have never imagined. Two years ago today I learned what it really meant to love someone unconditionally. Two years ago today - I became a Mom

Ari Burton Williams was due to make his arrival into our world on November 30th 2007. However- Ari, being true to himself wasn't about to let anyone tell him when he was supposed to show up- (this is a theme that has continued throughout the last two years. Ari is his own boss, ALWAYS)

Ari was only running slightly behind schedule (I went into labor on the 30th) and at 11:09am Ari Burton Williams was born, and life has never been the same since.

Ari is a character, ask anyone who has met him- he loves to flirt with the ladies, he is a real chatterbox and so so loving. He loves to give kisses and hugs and snuggles.

But while it is Ari's birthday today - its also an anniversary for me..... (although I don't get cake and presents.... what gives) See it was two years ago today that I faced all my fears and did one thing that scared me the most. I survived labor- I survived almost not getting an epidural (thank goodness they were finally able to give it to me)

I survived all of the things I was scared to death about - and the end result is pretty fantastic if I may say so myself.....

Love you Ari !!!!! Happy Birthday !

Happy Halloween

Ari was a Doctor for Halloween - and as is our Halloween tradition - we made his costume.... (we don't do store bought) The costume turned out perfect - it took forever to find the blue crocs to make it official and I debated buying Ari a real stethescope but opted for the dollar store version.

As is also a "tradition" we took Ari to get his halloween pictures taken- we have had really good success in the past - but we had a different photographer this time and she was basically a one trick pony when it came to getting Ari's attention - needless to say her trick didn't exactly work - so we didn't get that great of shots - but they are cute none the less

And of course Ari drooled a big ol glob of slobber on the front of his shirt right in the beginning of the photo shoot - priceless - so he has that on the front of his costume in all of the shots

look at his cute little crocs ....... priceless

OK - you have seen how cute Ari is now go vote for him www.gap.com/castingcall

ID # 989371597

go vote .....

Oh on a slightly funny, slightly annoying side comment - Ari had a blast trick or treating on Halloween - however SEVERAL I mean more people than I can count on both hands - referred to Ari as a girl, all night we heard "what a beautiful little girl" "oh she is adorable" "what a darling little girl" "Oh she is so polite- what a good girl" and on and on and on -

I don't want to sound sexist - but Ari was a DOCTOR not a NURSE - his scrubs were blue, his stroller was blue, his crocs were blue, his sweatshirt when it got cold was blue..........

If it wasn't for the fact that they were giving us candy ( and a lot of times those remarks began like this "have an extra piece because..... she is so polite, she is such a beautiful girl, she is so adorable.......etc) I would have called all of those people idiots .... but I just let it go

Next year Ari has already decided he wants to go dressed as something that will be a NO DOUBT BOY COSTUME .... so he is going as a chippendale Dancer

Happy Halloween

Go vote for Ari ....

Now .... Happy Halloween !!!!!

We had so much fun at the Ward Halloween Party - Ryan and I had planned on going as two of Ari's patients - but last minute we decided to go buy scrubs and go as his fellow Dr.s (I think we should have gone with our original idea but oh well - I will go as a patient for actual trick or treat.)

Ari and his Papa

Ari and Ryan, best looking doctors by far

We carved our pumpkins today - I wanted to do something different so while we were at the pumpkin farm I got this blue moon pumpkin (I think that is what it was called ) anyway its this cool greyish blueish color . It was a pain in the butt to carve however.

But fun was had by all and the finished product is what counts - Ryan carved a coffin on his pumpkin and a bat on Ari's (he carved both pumpkins in the time it took me to carve mine)

Before

After

Happy Halloween - Now go vote for Ari !!!!!! www.gap.com/castingcall

problems with the link below

ok- riddle me this - the link doesn't exactly work, it will take you to his pictures but I don't think the vote button shows up - scroll down to the bottom and click register to vote and then follow the instructions - (you have to be registered to vote so that people only vote once per day per email) so register and then find Ari (you can stay logged in for two weeks so every time you go back to vote you won't have to enter your member name and password --- now GO VOTE

Vote For Ari

Vote for Ari ..... (hopefully this link will work I have been having a little trouble with it) if not - you can go to www.gap.com/castingcall and then search for Ari's pictures under 12107mom

VOTE VOTE VOTE

leave your email if that still doesn't work and I will send you the email that has the link attached too - (for some reason cut and paste does not want to work -) and the website will let you paste straight to your facebook (which I did - check out my profile tab) twitter (which I don't do) and myspace (does anybody myspace anymore ?)

VOTE VOTE VOTE - I am really curious just how well my call to action can do - were up against kids with 36000 votes already - I have faith that if I tell you and you post this on your blogs, twitters and facebooks and your friends post it on theirs and so on and so on and all those people vote ..... maybe Ari could win - it would be awesome - he is such a fun guy - for those of you who might vote that have never met him - your really missing out. He is the greatest blessing I have ever had - I know every mom says that - and for every mom its true - Ari is such a unique, amazing little guy -

OK Ari's pictures went live

ok - seriously I need everyone who sees this post to tell like 100 friends to vote for Ari - he is starting out a little late and if you look at some of the other kids on there they have like 36000 Votes - Ari is WAY cuter than them....

anyway so pick a picture and vote daily and tell your friends, your dentist, your neighbor, etc - VOTE VOTE VOTE

you can find Ari's pictures under 12107mom

they don't add the votes up from all of his pictures so pick one and spread the word to vote for it

THANKS

It's pumpkin time

Today we went to a pumpkin patch in Santa Paula (there were closer pumpkin patches, however our Mazda was getting a new engine in it in Santa Paula... whole other story, and it just happened to be ready for pick up today)

It was such a fun little pumpkin farm/ festival. Ari had a blast in the hay bale race (is that how you spell bale, spell check didn't catch it if it is wrong...) Anyway Ari had fun running through the race, he had slightly less fun running through the corn maze which actually resembled a crop circle more than any corn maze I have ever seen.

I have to say - it is still awkward to me to be picking out pumpkins in 80 degree weather - but I will adjust, eventually. I was a little heart broken that I couldn't dress Ari up in cute jeans and a flannel or sweater for his little pumpkin patch adventure but we were sweating in the shorts we wore so its better that I didn't. Ari wasn't really that interested in the pumpkins -

As is totally expected when ever we plan on going anywhere, one of our cameras was dead by the time we got to our destination, this time it was our video camera. Luckily our digital camera takes video with sound ( we had never tried it out before, but it actually worked pretty well ) sorry its a little shaky.

I am so glad at least our camera took some video - since its nearly impossible to get a glimpse of Ari not on the move (pictures are almost pointless) - While we were there this little girl kept finding Ari and "flirting" with him - too cute

Ari is obsessed with knocking on doors - I think maybe he is practicing for Halloween - anyway - of course while we were at the pumpkin patch Ari was so much more interested in the port - o - johns then he was in the pumpkins ..... he kept knocking on the doors - it was so funny

All and all it was a great day - we had so much fun chasing after our little guy ....

ITS COME TO MY ATTENTION....

It's come to my attention that I was a little early on the call to action - please stay posted - I guess an actual person at the GAP has to approve Ari's picture (you know make sure its not porn and such) before they put it up to be voted on - I should get an email shortly (any day now) saying my pictures have been approved and then the voting madness can start - sorry to all of you who wasted time searching for our cutie pie who just isn't there .....

I will post an update on here and facebook as soon as his pictures go live -

THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION

Vote For Ari http://family.go.com/gapcastingcall/?cmp=OTC-Gap-Vanity tell your friends and your neighbors and their friends and their neighbors and their aunts and uncles and brothers and sisters - ROCK THE VOTE !!!!! (I think you can only vote for one picture a day or something like that and we have five pictures on their - they don't add the votes together for all the pictures so I suggest to make it most effective you just pick one of the pictures and vote for that one repeatedly......

We may not have captured they many sides of Ari, but we got some of the good ones !!!! V

We couldn't get any really great pictures of Ari (we just found out about the contest on Saturday) so we had to work with what we had... but I think he is pretty cute regardless.... We love our little boy

Where have we been?

Ok so its been roughly forever since we updated our blog. SORRY - long story short, our laptop (aka the thorn in my side) died and we were trying to decide if we wanted to buy a new one or buy a desktop and then we were trying to decide if we should wait til Windows 7 was released ... and after much deliberation we decided to get another lap top - before Windows 7 ... so now were connected again.

BUT ... nothing really that exciting has happened in our world to make us blog worthy?!. We bought a jeep liberty (not really planned- but ok) so now we have 3 cars. Anybody want to buy a 2002 Mazda Protege 5 ? (super clean runs great sad to see it go)

I am now officially a Grad Student at Cal State - Northridge, Ryan's job is going well, Ari is getting so flipping big... same ol' same ol'

A keep getting bugged for more pictures of Ari - sorry I have been horrible at documenting his life- but in my defense, come to my house and just TRY to get a decent photo of my son who is constantly in motion from sun up to sun set....its just near impossible. And the other thorn in my side (our camera) doesn't make things any easier

but here you go for those who were asking:

DODGER NIGHT - (Mormon Night)

we went to Dodger Night this year it was so fun. Andre Either hit a grand slam to win the game -

Ari was such a good little guy the whole game

Here is our sad attempt at a family picture.
Ari and his daddy
Look how cute my boys are

Okay so that was Dodger Night ....

Ari has taken up reading as a favorite past time. He is such a funny guy I will be looking all over for him and I go upstairs and find him in his room sitting in his rocking chair looking at his books-

Here he is reading away

look how cute this kid is

WE love Ari so much

I still can't believe this is the boy I thought would NEVER sleep in his crib, he is such a champ at sleeping in his own crib ( although now I worry he will never sleep in an actual bed) Thank goodness he hasn't even attempted to climb out of his crib.

We took a day trip up to Santa Barbara to go to the zoo up there- and decided from now on we will go to the LA zoo (hopefully next year we can make a trip down to the San Diego zoo.

My favorite sign at the zoo

My favorite Animal at the zoo

My favorite boys at the zoo

Ok so a while ago I told Ryan to grow his hair out like "Edward" - so to spite me he is growing it out, and wearing it like Zac Efron
He even got Ari to do the "Efron" look

Ari made the paper -

County neighborhoods earn ice cream socials, friends : Communities : Ventura County Star
County neighborhoods earn ice cream socials, friends : Communities : Ventura County Star

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Well we made it 20 months

I thought for sure Ari's first trip to the E.R. would be for a broken bone or stitches .... boy was I wrong

Some people who know Ari would say we made it longer then expected - others are shocked that this was our first trip to the Emergency room with a little boy who is so smart, so clever, and so climby ......

That's right the streak is over, after twenty months, Ari was rushed to the E.R.

On Monday August 3rd Ari decided he had a headache and took matters into his own hands. Apparently Ari is too smart for childproof, and he helped himself to some extra strength tylenol- which prompted a call to poison control (IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE NUMBER TO POISON CONTROL BY YOU PHONE - GET IT THERE - IF ITS NOT IN YOUR CELL PHONE - PUT IT IN THERE, AND YOUR FRIEND'S AND YOUR HUSBAND'S AND YOUR MOTHER IN LAW'S, ETC, ETC, ETC. - GO DO IT RIGHT NOW 1-800-222-1222)

Since it was an old bottle of tylenol and we had no way of knowing how many pills were in there before Ari helped himself we were told to take him to the E.R immediately - there were three wet pills that probably had been in Ari's mouth the coating had been sucked off and one had been bitten a little

Since Ari was not having any immediate signs of tylenol poisoning we had to just sit and have him observed for four hours, at which point they did a blood draw and then if he had a toxic level in his system he would be given an antidote. It was a long wait, plus we had to try to get Ari to drink Charcoal which was daunting. The results took a little over an hour and then we got the good news that he did not have a toxic level and we were sent home.... all is well that ends well

Country Days.... Rockin Nights

At last - I made it to the legendary (maybe only in my mind) California Mid State Fair. Okay, I have been to state fairs and county fairs and the such I mean hello I am from Wisconsin, home of hundreds of festivals all summer long - not to mention SUMMERFEST.... but the Mid State Fair was something of a magical event- Ever since becoming a Williams (actually ever since befriending an Osman) I have heard story after story of the Paso Fair-

So I was EXCITED when we decided to take a quick trip to visit the fair this year
Ryan and I decided to have a "Fried" theme for our fair food - Ryan started off with a deep fried foot long corndog, then we had deep fried vegetables, a tater twister and for dessert Ryan had a deep fried Snickers and I had deep fried Oreos....... Agh the bliss of indegestion



I wish I could say the fair was everything I dreamed it would be BUT - the foot long egg roll on a stick cart WAS NOT THERE !!!!!!!! it broke my little heart (but probably saved a few of my arteries)

4th of July fireworks

I already posted about the 4th - so here are just some more photos - we went to T.O. to watch the fireworks and they were great - once again Ari was on his best behavior and loved every minute of the show

Ari sort of looks terrified in the pictures but I promise he was loving it - It was difficult to gt a picture of his excited face - the flash from the camera sort of ruined it