Mi Vida Ocupada

My niece Bianca turned three years old last week so we had a little family birthday party for her at Brian & Michelle’s house.

I took plenty of photos while practicing with my camera, you ready for them all??!!

The birthday girl

Bianca posing with Uncle Jeff and Grandpa Jim in their new “Chile” t-shirts……( Jeff and my dad literally got home from South America the night before the party)

One of Bianca’s big presents was a new bike! Big sister Annika helping with helmet

Speaking of Annika…..

Uncle Jeff is so silly….

I can’t forget the little dude! (who at this moment was in the mood for a photo apparently because he made this face and got all up in my camera!!

Last but not least, some pics of the cakes!!

Michelle has more photos from the party on her blog so go check them out :)

PS On an unrelated note….. sweetsauer.com will be moving to a new server and platform this weekend so make sure you subscribe using this feed otherwise you will not continue to receive my blog updates!

My dad's birthday was on Dec 30th and if you have been reading this blog over the years, you may remember that my dad has a very unique and special (almost famous) birthday.  Every year we celebrate together (usually more than once!) and we usually have pizza.  This year we met at Davanni's Pizza (after my bros took our dad to see Avatar earlier in the afternoon) for a quick dinner (review to come soon).  I had just gotten my new camera so I brought it with to test it out.

My niece Bianca

My nephew Bennett.  I know this isn't the greatest picture (sorry Michelle!) but I just LOVE that with the SLR only part of the photo is in focus with a blurred background.  Kick ass!!! This is with the 18-55mm kit lens, using flash. 

And there ya have it, my first pics with my new camera :)

This past Sunday the whole family met up at Running Aces Harness Park for brunch to help my mom celebrate her birthday.  Here it is 3 days later and I am still full from all the food I ate! Just kidding, but I really was full for at least 24 hrs afterward!

It was a semi-nice November day, nice enough for Jeffrey to show up in his flip-flops.  I have many photos of Jeff "posing" like this one, someday soon I will have to devote a post strictly to these photos ;)

A few photos from brunch:

These are the last photos I took before returning my dad's camera back to him.  (so sad to be without again)

Glad you had a nice birthday mom and I hope you're having fun in AZ!

It was a beautiful day yesterday (and today is even better!) for Bennett's birthday party.  I was only able to attend for a little while, but I was actively taking photos the entire time ;)
The Birthday Boy with his new ball


Michelle and Bennett
Brian and Annika

My mom and Bianca- I was going to crop this until I noticed Annika in the background on the left and the reflection of Michelle and Bennett in the microwave on the right!

Jeff and Amanda

Me and my mama

Erin and Stew

My dad and Bennett

Michelle's grandpa and Tucker

Rick (Michelle's dad) and Annika (do you like her Tinkerbell wings and costume?! she was a lucky girl to get this gift from somebody on her brother's bday!)

Jodi (Michelle's mom) and Bennett

I wasn't able to stay for dinner or cake, so hopefully Michelle will be posting some of those photos on her blog later ;)

Brian and Michelle threw a party for Bianca's birthday this past Sunday.  They had family, friends and neighbors so it was a semi-big gathering.  Lots of little kids :)

I have to say, Bianca is one of my favorite kids ever.  Seriously! She is so cute and has such spunk and personality.  The faces she makes have always cracked me up and now that she is talking, she is pretty charming ;)
Knowing that my brother and Michelle are taking the kids to Florida in a few weeks, I got the girls each a pair of cool shades.  I also got Bianca some Snow White dress up shoes and a My Little Pony.  She loved those glasses!

One of the things I love about Beebs is that she is a girl after my own heart: she loves to eat and she isn't too picky! We had a variety of delicious dips and salsas and then a Mexican buffet for dinner.  Bianca wasn't sure how to eat the burrito when it was rolled up so she just unwrapped it and ate it with her fork.  lol

Bianca loves cake probably as much as her mother.  (Cake is Michelle's #1 food in case you didn't know! lol).  This look on her face cracks me up!!!!! Who knows what she is thinking!!??
Look how big Bennett is getting, he is only about six weeks shy of turning one.  Time flies!

Michelle has a cool slideshow on her blog if you want to see more pics!