Charley poses for the camera

Charley doesn't really understand smiling for the camera! If you tell her to smile for the camera she says, "Smile". Which usually means we get a picture with her mouth open. If you tell her to say "cheese" we get a squinty eyed Charley with a large, toothy grin. Finally, if you tell her to be normal and say, "Eeee", she makes up her own face and you're never sure what you're going to get. She kind of reminds me of my brother Steve that way! Professional pictures are kind of a joke.
Here are a few of Charley's choice poses in the past couple of weeks:

Charley and her good buddy Christopher at the ward Christmas party. He's only 4 by-the-way . . .

A true Charley outfit! She has her PJ top on, her velvet pants, mommy's "Elmo socks" (as she likes to call them), and my slippers. This smile is almost normal!

Charley found a basket and decided it looked better on her head. It's all very festive isn't it? I think the fact that she's on the potty adds a little more depth to the shot - don't you?

My little Elf

I have been doing a lot of baking this holiday season for Christmas parties, clients and a cookie decorating party with the girls I teach in primary. Charley has been a great help to me and does a great job licking the spatulas and spreading the flour. I'm not sure where she picked up the "thumbs up" sign, but she looks pretty cute when she does it doesn't she?

Thanksgiving 2007

I've done so much baking in the past few weeks that it seems appropriate that the only pictures I took at Thanksgiving were of the pies I made (coconut cream & sour cream apple). They're definitely not as pretty as Mom's, but I did OK. They tasted good anyway and I think they spurred on my final pregnancy weight gain . . . and I was doing so well.

What the heck?

So I was making dinner one night and had just placed Charley's bowl on the table to cool. The dish towel was hanging on the back of a chair and I went to grab it when I noticed a big stick stuck to the towel or the chair. It was so weird I had to lean in for a closer look. As I leaned in, I noticed that the stick slowly looked straight back at me!!!!! I quickly realized that a praying mantis was staring me down. Of course I yelped for Ameri and told him to grab the camera quick!
The following picture is not great because I was a little nervous when I took it. I AM NOT an insect type 'o gal. As Ameri is my insect champion, I asked him to take it outside. I'm pretty sure it was a male so I felt sorry for him knowing what his last few moments were likely to be and I just couldn't kill him. Besides, he'd make a big mess and we were about to eat!
Here he is:

Trick or Treating

Charley was quite excited to go out on Halloween. We only take her down a couple of blocks, but in Pasadena people go all out so she had her fill I think! She had a great time watching everyone cram by us on the sidewalk. We're going to have to find a calmer neighborhood next year!

Like Father like Daughter

Ameri and Charely were quite intense while carving (drawing on) pumkins for Halloween. Here are some of my favorite pictures and the end results!

Halloween "Trunk or Treat"

Happy Halloween! Charley started the festivities off early at our church "Trunk or Treat". She's still not sure of how the whole "trick or treating" thing goes, but it was a nice dry run for the real Halloween.
Little Red Riding Hood suits her well don't you think?

The Pumpkin Patch

I was trying to get into the fall spirit and didn't have many inspired thoughts as to what we could do (I blame it one the pregnancy). My client Doug told me that he and his wife Shannon had gone to a farm to pick out some pumpkins the previous weekend. I made plans for the next weekend and tore Ameri from the lab. It was great to get outside and just enjoy time with our little family. Many thanks to Doug and Shannon!

By the big tractor

In action

Running around the patch

Charley likes to organize!!

Posing for pics

More tractor time

Twisting at the Patch

There was a band playing at the farm when we arrived. Charley had a blast dancing to the music. I hope you enjoy her little "booty shake" . . . and please disregard my encouragement in the background! Better yet - just leave the sound off!

Charley's first professional haircut!

Poor Charley has had mommy cutting her hair for a while now and I finally decided to take her to a professional. Grandma Charlie tried to fix what I had done, but to no avail. I finally gave in and paid the $17 for Charley's new pixie cut! I don't know that our girl was overly excited about the whole process - she was excited about the balloon she received afterward though!

Watching "Dora" to keep her mind off of the "snipping"

No more "snipping"!!

I'm freeeee!

Our pixie and her balloon

Family time

The wedding over, our two families merged for some R&R.

Hina and Diane

Karen, Sydney and Charley

Ameri, Charley, Regis and Johnny

Diane, Mom and Grandma

Katie, Charley and Diane

"What Are You So Grumpy About" as read by Katie to her b-in-law and 'Lo

Eve and Rory's wedding

The David family had two weddings this year. Regis and Emily were married in August and Eve and Rory were married in October. Unfortunately, we forgot our camera at Regis and Emily's wedding so we don't have any pictures from it. Fortunately, they were at Eve's wedding so we do have pictures of them!
I don't think that Ameri and I have done as much traveling in one year as we have this year! With family reunions, weddings and Ameri's work we've been crazy busy. It's no wonder it took me 6 months to update our blog!


Charley and her beloved Tati Diane


Charley and her new beau Ethan Moore - what a gentleman!

Charley and Daddy

Charley and Mommy

The new brides: Emily and Eve

Smiles and snuggles

The eve before the wedding

Dancing for Tati

A very pregnant Kristi with Ameri and the newlyweds

The Dashing Davids!