Ramirez Family Blog

Uncle Cory's Visit

2009-08-04T12:59:00.000-07:00

Uncle Cory (my "little" brother) came all the way from New York to visit us the first week in August! We were sooo excited to have him here, and so grateful he was willing to spend his hard-earned summer money on a trip to the HOT desert! Caden and Dallin had a blast playing with their uncle and joining in on all the fun activities. We spent a day in Sedona doing some hiking, shopping, and taking in the beautiful scenery around us. Caden LOVED hiking up the mountains and of course, THROWING ROCKS!!

Dallin can't wait for the hiking to begin!!

The boys: Caden, Daddy, Dallin, and Cory

Sedona's beautiful views.. the pictures don't do it justice, but they are truly breathtaking!

Caden's rocks- he insisted on carrying them everywhere, even up the steepest parts of the hike! Then when he found the ideal location, he threw them down the mountain and promptly found two new rock companions to carry.

Cory and Laurie taking a break to pose...

Uncle Cory helping Caden...

Our little family enjoying a beautiful day.

We enjoyed spending time with our Aunt Kathy and Uncle David from Tempe, who treated us to a night at Peter Piper Pizza. Caden was beyond thrilled! He really got "into" the games....

Caden and Dallin have some fun!!
Of course the boys had to get in a day at the golf course to make the week complete. They were brave to battle a heat advisory of 114 degrees and a tee time of 10:00 am!! They had a great time nonetheless!

Justin and Cory.. before the rivalry begins!

Justin and Spencer... before the Becks move to Colorado. We'll miss you guys!

Cory perfecting his swing.

Justin hoping for an eagle!

The course....
Caden had the most fun playing with his Uncle Cory. They played games in the back yard, watched lots of "Cars", and got lots of reading time in. We're so glad the boys got to hang out with their awesome uncle.

Come back soon Cory!

Jennell and Mauli's Wedding

2009-07-18T16:12:00.000-07:00

On July 18, 2009, Justin's sister Jennell was married to Mauli Hodge at the Mesa Temple. It was a quick engagement, but the wedding and reception turned out beautifully. We were up late the night before setting up all the decorations, but the boys were troopers! They had a blast running around the church with their cousins until almost midnight. Justin and I were so happy to be a part of their ceremony in the temple. We had family pictures outside afterwards (I have to note the 115 degree temperature at 3:00 pm!), but the photographer did a great job and got us in and out quickly. Thanks Boyd!
The boys had fun dancing and running around at the reception. It's great to have Dallin walking around and able to hold his own! We are so happy for Jennell and Mauli and wish them lots of love and happiness together!

Caden with some sweet moves!

Daddy and his boys....

Dallin is enjoying the party!

Marcus and Caden.. cousins forever

Caden turns 2!!

2009-03-12T16:57:00.000-07:00

Our little man is growing up! It's hard to believe Caden is officially 2 years old! We'll probably say that every year from here on out, but time sure does fly. We are so grateful to have been blessed with such a curious, fun, and lively little boy. It's fascinating to watch his little mind work as he explores the world around him. It amazes us how his vocabulary has developed in such a short period of time. Our favorite phrases are: "I yike this song", "Go hockey game", "I wuv mommy", and "fight daddy." HIS favorite phrases are: "No, I do it" and "I don't WANT to."
Caden's birthday party was a blast and he enjoyed spending time with his family. We were especially happy to have Papa and Jean make the trek from Tucson. Here is Caden helping Daddy mow the lawn in preparation for the big celebration.

Caden checks out his birthday cake!
Lovin all these presents!

Caden tries on his new baseball helmet!

Thanks for the squirt guns, Aunt Stacia!

Thank you to all our family and friends who came to share in Caden's special day! We love you Caden!

Halloween Happiness

2008-10-28T15:56:00.000-07:00

Caden and Dallin received a Halloween package today from Grandma and Grandpa in New York. Caden was so exicted, he could hardly wait to dig right in!

He was especially exicted about the Halloween flashlight that plays spooky sounds. He is always trying to steal Daddy's flashlight, so it was a perfect gift!

He also got some sweet new coloring books! Caden is just starting to enjoy sitting down using his very own crayons. They're the "twisty" kind of course, because he tries to eat them. He's already put them to good use!

A final Halloween surprise was a book with Elmo playing basketball. Caden loves basketball! You can see his delight as he realizes the book is all HIS! He is mouthing the word "hoop" to those that are wondering...

Dallin loved the special gifts as well, but took a particular liking to the Halloween candy bag. A sweet tooth like his mommy! He enjoyed a good game of peek-a-boo with it!
Finally, I told Caden to give Grandma and Grandpa his best "thank you" pose. When he matter of factly told me "no", I bribed him with an icee. This is what I got...

THANKS FOR THE GREAT PRESENTS GRANDMA AND GRANDPA!

Dallin at 4 months

2008-10-27T14:58:00.000-07:00

Our little guy is 4 months old today! He is very close to rolling over and has started eating "solids." With a little oatmeal in his nighttime bottle, he usually sleeps until 5:30 or 6 am. I REALLY like that part of him growing up! He is still handsome, happy, and plump! He weighs in at 16 lbs even and is 25 inches long. He is really starting to notice his big brother, who can always seem to get a smile out of him! A few of Dallin's favorite things are: looking outside, getting tickled, pulling Mommy's hair, watching Caden, talking, bath time, being a "big boy" with Daddy, eating, and being naked! We love our little Dallin!

Pumpkin Carve-Off 2008

2008-10-26T21:57:00.000-07:00

We hosted the 4th Annual Ramirez Pumpkin Carve-off at our house this weekend. The rules were simple- Bring your own pumpkin and Bring it on! We enjoyed a frightfully delicious feast and the company of one another!
Jaden, Chandra, Ashley, Caden, Justin, Jaela, Amara, and Buckabizzle
Jalen, Tata, Marissa, Nana, Leara, Stacia, Jaren, Lauren, and Jennell
Aunt Ashley helping Caden dig in!
Megan, Kristen, and Mason
Check out some of the creative carvings!
Laurie's Cat and Justin's Witch
Caden's Goblin (so appropriate...!)
Marissa, Lauren, and Kristen's
Dallin's Happy Face and Chandra's Spider web
David's Witch
Caden blowing out all the candles!
We only had one small mishap, when Justin's brother, David, cut right through his finger!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

The Great Pumpkin

2008-10-25T21:36:00.000-07:00

We took the boys to a pumpkin patch this morning to pick out some perfectly round pumpkins. Caden was more interested in the tractors, quads, and abundance of rocks to throw that he didn't pay much attention to anything else. He did try to eat a random gourd. Dallin slept the whole time. But Justin and I had fun! I just love the "fall" colors!

Caden delights over the gourd.

Caden samples the gourd.

Too much excitement for Dallin!

Daddy and Caden

Mommy and Dallin

Man's Best Friend...

2008-10-22T21:14:00.000-07:00

Most people cringe when they ask what kind of dog we have and the response is, "A pit bull." Trust me, it wasn't a decision we came to easily. I remember when Justin approached me 2 years ago and suggested we get a dog. I was thinking a cute little frilly dog, or maybe even a family golden retriever or labrador. He had a different idea. I said "No" right off the bat and there was zero room for discussion. I was 3 months pregnant and imagining a rabid dog snapping at my firstborn. Then Justin started watching The Dog Whisperer and reading books about how to train family dogs. I came to realize that if you invest the time to raise a disciplined, obedient dog, any dog can be a family dog. I reluctantly agreed to give it a try. We brought "Blaze" home and immediately fell in love. He was such a cute puppy!

Justin did all the things that "Cesar" suggested and has really raised an obedient, well-behaved dog. I give him all the credit. He gets along great with kids and Caden just adores him. I love to watch the two of them just roll around together. I'm not so excited when Blaze kisses Caden IN the mouth, but what can you do? I've actually heard a dog's mouth has less bacteria than a human's. Is this possible? I've seen the dog eat his own you know what in the backyard. Hmmm. Anyways, here are some fun pictures of Caden and Blaze having some best friend fun.

This one is from a while ago, but it's so cute. Waiting for Daddy to get home..

If you look closely, you can see the dog actually has its toungue in its nose. Wild.

For the Love of Shoes...

2008-10-18T17:39:00.000-07:00

You might think Caden has inherited his love of shoes from his Mommy. While I do love a new pair of shoes like the rest of us, it's the Daddy in this family that owns the most shoes. Sneakers, dress shoes, flip flops.. you name it. The closet has been taken over with Justin's shoes. They have even spilled over into plastic storage bins in the garage.
Genetically, our children cannot escape shoe love. Caden loves to put on my work shoes after I've slipped them off to relax on the couch. We've gotten some good laughs as he's learned to master walking in heels. He enjoys wearing his "church shoes" any day but Sunday. He also gets a kick out of Daddy's running shoes. This morning I went into his bedroom to check on him, and I found him asleep with one random shoe on. They are actually shoes for next summer that he must have dug out of the back of his closet and snuck in bed with him the night before! Here are some pictures of Caden showing a little shoe love...

Check me out!

Ready for work!

Dreaming of a sea of shoes... (ignore the random "teeth marks" on the crib. i don't understand it, either)

Daddy's sneakers.. those are some big shoes to fill!

How do I look in these!?

And So It Begins...

2008-10-13T16:07:00.000-07:00

As the mother of boys, I know there are certain realities that are inevitable. Bruises and broken bones, motorcycles, strange insects, sports, missed toilet seats... the list goes on and on. Although Caden is only 19 months old, training has already begun in many of these areas. He had his first motorcycle ride at 4 months old. He fell asleep the other night enthusiastically yelling "football" over and over again. He ate his first bug before he could walk and he tries to catch crickets and spiders with his bare hands. It's already happening....
After a motorcycle ride with Dad, the boys spent some time hanging out in the garage. Caden is always warned to stay away from the motorycle after their rides because it gets so hot. But as usual, curiousity beat out our warnings. What do we know anyways? Caden hopped on the motorcycle and learned what "hot" really means. Check out the war wounds...

Dallin's First Hockey Game

2008-10-11T23:44:00.000-07:00

It's officially hockey season! There's a liveliness in our house that's only here this time of year.. or maybe that's just from my perspective. Growing up near Buffalo, NY, you plan things around the Sabres games. I have endless memories of my family gathered around the television rooting on the guys, yelling at the refs, and cheering for a good fight. My older brother played hockey for 11 years and my dad coached. We did lots of traveling to support them and I really developed a love for the game. Moving to Arizona, I quickly learned that hockey is a foreign activity. I couldn't believe it when Justin told me he'd NEVER been to a game. Tragedy! I happily obliged and took him to a few games. Although games in Phoenix are not as loud and enthusiastic as the ones in Buffalo, it's still fun to be in the arena and watching them play. I'm grateful to have a husband who is willing to get excited and learn about the things I like. He even joined our family's Fantasy Hockey League this year! What a sport! We took Caden to a few games last year, and he seems to enjoy watching "hayee" on our NHL ticket. So we decided to get a Coyotes season ticket mini-pack this year to get the boys even more excited. Our first game was a blast and both boys were really good. Go Coyotes and Go SABRES!!

Dallin's very first game! He held on almost the whole time, but eventually fell asleep in the middle of the third period.

Our Fatty Man Eats

2008-10-05T16:02:00.000-07:00

Dallin is officially our Fatty Man. Don't get me wrong, I love getting lost in his little rolls. His chubby cheeky and thunder thighs are the cutest... But there comes a time when a mom can't keep up with the demands of a hungry, growing boy. And then we know its time for solids! Today we gave Dallin some rice cereal and he ate it like a champ. I'm hoping it helps fill him enough to actually sleep through the night! Does anyone know when that generally starts happening? I know it varies from baby to baby, but I feel like Caden was already sleeping through the night by this age. Anyways, here are a couple pictures of Dallin enjoying his first solid feeding!

What is this? This is not right...!

I love this stuff!

One Cool Dude

2008-10-04T11:51:00.000-07:00

Another Caden favorite... Sunglasses! He actually loves to wear glasses of any kind and has no problem snatching them right off your face. But he's finally to the age where he'll keep them on his face for extended periods of time. Day or night, shades are Caden's way to go. It can actually be a battle to get them back. Here are some pics of Caden modeling some sweet shades. We've since ordered his own pair from Children's Place (which were only 2$ by the way; they're having a great online sale right now!)

Caden's New "Bike"

2008-09-30T11:42:00.000-07:00

Like all little boys, Caden LOVES bikes. It was actually one of his first words. He loves big wheels, tricycles, mountain bikes, motorcycles, ATVs.. you name it. If it has wheels, its a bike. One of his favorite things to do is ride the motorcycle with his dad. Since he's not quite big enough to ride his own bike, we opted for the next best thing. One that rides for you! So here are some pictures of Caden enjoying his new "Spidey bike"....

He's got tricks already!

Dallin at 3 months

2008-09-27T16:59:00.000-07:00

I can't believe our little guy is 3 months old already! It's just amazing how quickly time flies. Justin and I were talking about how we can't wait to be able to play with him and chase him around and tickle him like we do with Caden. Then we sort of stopped and realized... that time will be here before we know it! Why is it we're always wanting what we don't have, when what we DO have is just perfect =)
Anyways, here are some sweet shots of Dallin. He is a BIG boy, that's for sure. He loves to "coo" and "goo" at anyone who will listen. He is a happy baby, very smiley almost all the time. He likes to watch his big brother and is a really good sport with all the sibling torture. He still has his big blue eyes and cute little dimples. We love our Dallin!

Like Father, Like Son....

2008-09-15T21:14:00.000-07:00

There's a song on the country radio stations called "I've been watching you." It talks about a little boy who learns many things from his dad by just observing what he does. All the while, the father has no idea his son is watching him. He learns to eat his vegetables, swear when he's mad, and even pray on his knees at night. We had a fine example of accidental parental modeling last night. Justin got home from work a little late and helped himself to some soup that was still hot on the stove. As Caden sat eating in the living room, he watched his Dad drink the leftover broth from the pot. Within seconds, Caden decided he was going to eat his soup the same way. Check out how the story ends...

Take me out to the ballgame...

2008-09-13T22:51:00.000-07:00

Compliments of Justin's work, we took the boys to the Diamondbacks game against the Cincinnati Reds. Our seats were great! You can see from the pictures how close to the field we were. We also got to see Jessica Simpson who was scheduled to sing after the game. Unfortunately, Caden wasn't feeling too well and started to get cranky around the 8th inning, so we left a little early. I'm sure Justin was secretly relieved! But it was a beautiful night and great to be out as a family!

Here we are, the Ramirez crew!

Not sure who this is up to bat, but you can see we had some pretty good seats!

Here's Jessica Simpson doing a little interview between innings.

11 weeks already!

2008-09-12T15:40:00.000-07:00

Time sure flies. Our little Dallin is quickly approaching his 3 month mark! He is such a good little baby. We just love him to pieces! He is very vocal and smiley. He usually sleeps about 5 1/2 to 6 hours before he has to eat in the middle of the night. I wish I had started blogging when Caden was this young so I could compare the two of them! But he is a very good eater and finishes in record time! It usually takes about 5 minutes (TOTAL!) and he is done! I timed it the other night... he woke up at 3:50 am. I fed him, burped him, changed his diaper, and layed him back down. It was 3:57 am. I told you he's a good baby. Here are some shots of our dimpled boy...

Love the belly!

And those cheeks!

Happy just hangin out!

Grass and Anniversaries...

2008-09-10T15:22:00.000-07:00

I remember one year for Christmas when my mom got a vacuum cleaner from "Santa." I thought it was a cruel joke. But she was so thrilled! Today reminded me of that day. As Justin and I celebrate our third wedding anniversary, the day has been overshadowed by the arrival of our sod! It is the best present ever! No more rationalizing with an 18 month old about why he shouldn't throw dirt, bury the dog with sand, or eat the mud he created from the liquid in his sippy cup. We finally have our grass. We are especially grateful to the Schneiders for their time, knowledge, and resources in helping us novices get it done right! Here are some pictures to commemorate our great day.

Here is our good friend, Justin Schneider, working away before it gets too hot!

Caden enjoying the finished product!

Fun with the hose...

I think I've got this down.

Oh, HAIL no!!

2008-09-09T19:54:00.000-07:00

Today was one of those days where I was trying to catch up on the cleaning that didn't happen over the weekend. I love how people think its so easy to keep the house clean when you're a stay at home mom. It's actually pretty tricky! You've really got to utilize nap times and get creative with keeping the kids occupied when they're awake. And today Dallin wanted to be held and "cooed at" a whole lot. So when he finally dozed off to sleep, I went to town on my cleaning. I noticed the storm clouds start rolling in, and shorty after that, I heard banging against our bedroom windows. My first thought was that Caden had snuck out the doggy door again and was hitting the window with his baseball bat. He'd wake up the baby for sure! I couldn't believe it when I looked outside and saw the hail and downpour of rain! I quickly grabbed Caden to show him the spectacle and he was eager to check it out in person. So here are some pictures of our hail storm and Caden playing in the rain for the very first time!

Okay, so don't judge our backyard by this picture.. we are in the process of redoing the whole thing! But here's a cool pic of the hail and rain just pouring down!

Here's a closer look at the size of the hail!

Caden was a little reluctant to play in the rain at first, but when he saw mommy splashing around, he figured it was legit...

This is GREAT! I can't believe they're lettin' me do this!

Does this mean I don't have to take a bath tonight?

A glimpse of the rainbow...

But I don't WANNA come in!

Our trip to New York

2008-09-03T15:00:00.000-07:00

We had a great time in New York visiting our family this past week. It's always amazing how long you wait in anticipation for a trip, and how quickly it flies by once its actually here. The plane ride was challenging at first, but we were able to keep Caden occupied with country music videos I downloaded on my Ipod. Gotta love the hair!

He got a kick out of all the random buttons on the plane. I also put together a picture book of all his favorite family photos. This kept him occupied for quite a while. We had a short layover in Cincinnati and then introduced the Dramamine for the second leg. Don't think I'm a bad mom, but this stuff is miraculous. For those of you who know Caden, he is not a calm child. I didn't realize how curious and busy he is until I met some other children his age. Needless to say, 5 hours of sitting still was alot to ask. But the Dramamine helped settle him down and actually fall asleep! Dallin did a great job and slept most of the time. The change in elevation bothered his ears a bit, but he was a trooper! Finally we arrived in New York and how happy we were!

Here is Dallin on his very first plane ride!

And we're off!

Caden and Dallin loved spending time with Grandma and Grandpa. We spent most of our days just sitting around visiting, enjoying a break from the Arizona heat. The weather was so nice! My grandparents have an RV that they park in my parents' driveway for the summer months. So we spent time outside under their canopy just enjoying the warm days and cool evenings. Caden particularly enjoyed playing basketball and legos with Grandma and riding the lawnmower with Grandpa.

Here is Caden and Grandma shootin some hoops!

Thanks for the new Legos, Grandma!

Caden and Grandpa, ready to go!

This is great!

Caden also enjoyed going to the horse races. I grew up in a small town in Western New York called Batavia. When I was young, I remember 'Batavia Downs' as a happening kind of place. The horses would race every night and attract people from all over. The track shut down for quite a few years and re-opened after I moved to Arizona in 2001. So it was neat to go there with my family after all this time. You can see Caden sitting on the fence watching the horses race by. We also watched from inside the restaurant, where we had a yummy buffet dinner. Dallin enjoyed sleeping at every restaurant we went to. He is such a good baby. Sometimes he slept on the floor at our feet, other times he opted for a quiet corner. A couple times he fell asleep right on the table where we ate!

Here is Dallin camped out on our table!

Caden enjoying some "bones" with Grandma and Grandpa!
Caden was brave enough to try his first lemon. We've given him tastes of a lemon before for mere entertainment, but this time he ate a big bite. It was hysterical to watch his face change as the taste got more and more sour! You could almost read his little mind wondering if it would ever end. Finally mommy spoiled the fun and let him spit it out. We did get it on video and as soon as I figure out how, I'll put it online. We laughed so hard, we were crying. Here are a few pictures, which of course don't do it justice!

We also got to see Uncle Ryan and Uncle Cory before they headed off to college. Ryan starts his sophomore year at SUNY Delhi and Cory will be a freshman at RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology). I loved this shot of Cory and Dallin talking to eachother. Dallin was just smiling and cooing like it was the greatest conversation ever...

Justin got to enjoy 3 straight days of golf with my Dad and brothers, bless his heart. We also got to play lots of Euchre with my aunts and cousins. This is a popular card game in Western New York, but I don't find too many Arizonians who have heard of it. My family is always playing some sort of game, mostly cards, and the competition is brutal!

Caden and Grandma playing their own little card game!
With the weather as beautiful as it was, we took Caden to the park down the street as often as possible. He enjoyed the slides, the swings, and all the great new things to climb. He just loved being outdoors and getting dirty!

Here is a view of the beautiful greenery and the leaves starting to change. But don't let it fool you.. the snow will be here SOON!!

Caden and Daddy taking a "guy" break...

Caden really loved these swings because he could sit by himself and go "high" (as he kept saying!)...

Okay, so Dallin wasn't so crazy about the whole park experience. His little expression says it all!
One night, at a loss for what else to do to occupy Caden, my Dad took him outside to play catch. Caden got a kick out of Grandpa throwing the ball up on the roof and trying to catch it as it rolled back down. These shots are priceless!

We are so grateful to have been able to make it home and see so much of our family. We miss everyone so much already.

Brothers forever!

Now we need a vacation from our vacation! Oh the laundry!

Washing the Car...

2008-08-09T16:50:00.000-07:00

Taking your car to the carwash seems like such an ordeal. Or maybe its just me. Where I grew up, you didn't get out of your vehicle and drop it off with a stranger. There was no waiting in a lobby (sometimes for a rather long time!) and then being flagged down when your car was finished. There wasn't that awkwardness about whether or not its appropriate to tip. Where I grew up, you stayed in your own car (which was the perfect temperature and had the best songs playing) and drove it through an automatic car wash. There were a few different cycles to make sure it was cleaned thoroughly, but overall, it went pretty quickly. There was even a "dry" cycle that left your car both water and spot free. You didn't have to worry about tipping anyone because there wasn't anyone to tip. If you wanted to clean the inside of your car, you drove it around to the "vacuum section" and did it yourself. It was a little extra work, but it always turned out cleaner than the car washes today seem to leave things.

So on Saturday, we opted for a Ramirez car wash in the good ole driveway. I say "we", but I really had no part in all the hard work. Of course Caden had a great time being outside spending time with Dad. He was a great help to Daddy by spraying him with the hose and throwing rocks in the clean, soapy water. Thanks to my boys who did a great job getting our car fresh and clean!

All About My Husband...

2008-08-08T11:59:00.001-07:00

Okay, so I stole this idea from Carly Reese's blog. But I thought it was such a good way to honor husbands! As you all know, we recently had our second baby 6 weeks ago. All my family lives in New York and haven't been able to see our little guy. With the price of airline tickets and the inconvenience of time off work, they just haven't been able to make it here. My husband has had a little money invested in a fund through an old job for a few years now. We received our quarterly statement last week and the darn thing just continues to DROP! So we decided to pull the money out and have some fun with a little extra cash. I know he had been talking about a new motorcycle for Caden. He even mentioned some parts he needs for his mountain bike. There are also a few things we need to do to our third vehicle to get it in good shape and of course a few unfinished "projects" around the house. So much a little extra money could go towards. But guess what my husband let ME spend the money on??? You got it- airline tickets to New York!!! I called my mom and she was virtually in tears. My dad called it an answer to prayers. So in just 18 quick days, we will get to spend a whole week with my family. Do I have the best husband in the world, or what??? So Carly's post seemed quite timely. I hope you learn a thing or two about my one of a kind man....

Justin with Caden and Dallin when they were born.

What is his name? Justin Jared Ramirez
How long have you been married? 3 years next month.
How long did you date? We dated a year and a half before we got married. I was a little gun shy.
How old is he? 32

Justin's 32nd Birthday. He got a gift certificate from the whole family for a new mountain bike!

Who eats more? Usually Justin. He comes from a family of 9 kids, so you don't leave ANY food on your plate. He cleans up my plate nicely. When I'm pregnant, however, my plate is MY plate.
Who said I love you first? He did, but it took a little prompting from me
Who sings better? Definitely Justin. He has a great voice, even though he denies it. I remember the first time I heard him sing. We were driving in the car and he sang to Randy Travis's Forever and Ever, Amen. I know it sounds dorky, but I totally melted.
Who is smarter? Depends on the subject. If it's book knowledge (which is really only good for Jeopardy and Trivial Pursuit), probably me. For everyday, common sense kinds of things (the stuff that matters), definitely Justin.
Whose temper is worse? Mine. Unless we're driving.
Who does the laundry? Usually me
Who does the dishes? This is Justin's least favorite chore, so that one's usually me, too. But ask me the last time I've vacuumed or scrubbed the bathtubs and I couldn't tell you. Justin always handles those chores and I don't even have to ask! Don't hate!
Who mows the lawn? Lawn? That's funny. See below for explanation.

Our backyard... a work in progress!

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do. I just took it over when Dallin was born because there's more room for the bassinett on that side. But sometimes I creep to the left side, too =)
Who pays the bills? I do. But I wish neither of us had to!
Who cooks dinner? Mostly me. Not that I cook every night, though. We justify getting Taco Bell at least once a week. Luckily Justin eats just about anything, whether I burn it or not.
Who is taller? Not even close! Justin clocks in at 6'4", a whole foot taller than me!
Who drives when you are together? Whenever I can help it, Justin drives. I'll admit, I'm not the best driver out there. I get sidetracked with things like babies, a good song on the radio, or the driver next to me picking their nose.
Who is more stubborn? I'm gonna go with me on this one. But Justin can hold a good grudge.
Whose parents do you see the most? Justin's parents live here and mine are in NY. So we get to see his family most.

Justin's parents on our wedding day and my parents with Caden at 3 weeks old.
Who Kissed who first? Guilty.
Who proposed? Justin proposed in April and we got married in September. We wanted to leave enough time for my family and friends to make travel arrangements and of course to get all the planning done. The night Justin proposed to me, we went out for ice cream (my favorite!) and then for a walk down by Tempe Town Lake. As we were walking, a bird pooped all down the front of Justin. I told him that was good luck (someone had told me that once), not knowing he was about to propose!

Our Wedding Day
Who has more friends? Justin probably has more friends. At least it seems that way because alot of my friends live out of state.
Who has more siblings? Justin has 8 and I have 5.
Who wears the pants in the family? We each take a leg.

The Music Man

2008-08-04T12:45:00.000-07:00

I had to do a quick post to show these cute pictures. We had family over this weekend and Caden confiscated an Ipod from his cousin, Marissa. He walked around the house enjoying a little hip-hop, country, and good ole rock and roll. It's amazing how mesmerized he was with this little device. I couldn't even get him to look up at me and smile. I even tried Brandi's "bug in the hair" trick, but no luck.

I've got this ALL figured out....

Jammin'

Can I get one, Mom???

What a Blessing!

2008-08-03T18:00:00.000-07:00

Dallin received his blessing at church today. His Daddy did a wonderful job and was truly inspired in the things he said. It made me stop and consider all the things I hope my children will have in their lives. Of course you wish for things like good health, normal development, and obedience =) But even greater is my desire for Dallin to know his Heavenly Father and his Savior and how much they love him. I pray that he will make good, righteous choices and always be kind to those around him. I truly believe if that foundation is there, everything else will fall into place. I better like his wife, too.
Here are some pictures of the big day. Thank you to all our friends and family who made it. Thanks to Fuzz, Danny, Scott, and Tata for being a part of the blessing.

We caught a little smile before Dallin drifted off to sleep. So handsome!

Dallin is obviously getting irritated with our photo shoot.

Up, down, up, down....

2008-07-30T11:50:00.000-07:00

Caden the Climber. It's like Bob the Builder. This child LOVES to climb. It doesn't matter how big or small the incline is, he will go up and down as many times as you'll let him. We were at the park this morning and I got some pictures of the climber in action. It's hard to tell from the pictures how steep the hills are, but you'll see from the sweat that he's really working hard!

Going up.....

Coming down.....

Oh, the concentration. I can't tell you how many trips up and down these stairs he took. I wish I had his energy!!

Now here's a man on a mission. Check out the determination on his face as he tackled this hill!

Jaela's 7th Birthday party...

2008-07-26T23:09:00.000-07:00

The family got together today to celebrate Jaela's 7th birthday. We had a swim party at Jennell's apartment complex and the kids had a blast!
Here is a picture of Caden and Mommy hanging out by the pool. Caden enjoys the water, but only for a short period of time. So mom was thrilled when he opted to sit with her poolside for a little while.

Here is Caden and Daddy taking a dip!

One part of becoming a Ramirez is understanding that your children are going to be picked on, tortured, and dangerously tossed around. I am still trying to get used to this. Here is a picture of Caden being thrown back and forth between his Dad and Uncle David. I am grateful for the water to catch his fall; that's not usually the case!

Finally, here's a picture of Caden and a beach ball. He carried it around, threw it, rolled around on the ground with it. If there's a ball in sight, Caden will find it.

Four weeks old!

2008-07-25T20:12:00.001-07:00

Our little Dallin is four weeks old today! It's amazing how quickly he is growing and changing. His eyes are still very blue and we're wondering if they'll be green like mommy's or turn brown like Daddy and Caden's. We saw 2 little smiles yesterday and another this morning, but he's being a little stingy with them! Dallin is becoming more and more alert to what's going on in his surroundings. He will watch mom go from the living room to the kitchen... and then he goes cross-eyed.

Fun at Nana's

2008-07-24T16:00:00.000-07:00

These summer months are sooo hot! To you and I, we'd be perfectly content staying in an air-conditioned house doing a whole lot of nothing. Not Caden!! The longer he can be outside, the happier he is. It doesn't matter how hot it is or how much sweat he has pouring down his little face. He just loves to be outdoors. Unforunately, we are in the process of redoing our backyard and have denied Caden all access. He often stares out the back window just wishing...
So today I packed up Caden and Dallin and we went to visit Nana in Tempe. Caden had a great day playing with his cousins. He especially enjoyed some baseball with his cousin Jaden and riding bikes. He made motorcycle noises the whole time, not minding that they were girls' bicycles. His cousins sprayed him with the hose to keep him cool, but it wasn't his favorite part of the day. Regardless, he was one happy little boy to spend so much time outdoors. Nana to the rescue!
Dallin was content as well.... he ate twice, filled his drawers, and took a long nap in Aunt Ashley's room. Oh, to be a baby!

Off to the park!

2008-07-18T22:18:00.000-07:00

Justin and I took the boys to the park this evening. Caden was getting a little stir-crazy in the house and his energy was that of a 16 month old. So we loaded Dallin in his stroller and took him for his first walk around the neighborhood. He didn't say much and wasn't too interested in the scenery, but he did pipe up when he lost his binky. Needless to say, Caden had a blast running around with Blaze (our dog), sliding on the slide, and throwing sand. He even tasted a handful of sand!!

Dallin is fast asleep!

What a brave boy!

So handsome!

Behind the Times...

2008-07-14T14:55:00.001-07:00

So I've recently been informed that the Ramirez family is officially 'behind the times'. The latest and greatest means of capturing family events is through a blog. Forget scrapbooking, forget family photo albums, forget those old paper and pencil journals. I guess THIS is where its at! So I've been inspired to start our own family blog and I'm eagerly looking to steal ideas from the sites of all our friends. Enjoy!