SUSIE IS HOME!!!!!!

The one cute photo of Ray that was taken all day!
Welcome Home Susie! hahahaha
Abby with "The Head"---Ali was trying to take ugly pictures of Ray......
She succeeded!
Me and Ray Ray! (The red line in my hair is not blood--it means (in India) that I'm married!
Susie seeing Ray Ray for the first time in 5 months!
A lovely close up of Susie's feet!
JOY!

This past week has been really busy and REALLY beautiful! Susie finally came home from Calcutta, India after being gone for five months. We all packed into a rented 12 passenger van (the only thing big enough to fit our whole family) and made the memorized trip back to Logan Airport to get Sus! Being back at the arrival gate gave us all so many awesome memories--especially Josh and me! It was always such an amazing time seeing each other again and coming back home-sweet-home! When Susie walked off the plane she looked SO cute....like a bohemian traveler dude. :o) She looked like she could have just walked off Sudder Street. She wore the same sandals that she wore everyday in Calcutta off the plane and they had holes worn through the soles. Her feet were black and "Calcutta-fied" (she actually didn't scrub them the night before she came home just so she could show us how bad they get!) She told us all her stories the whole ride home and it just made Josh and me want to go back! (Believe it or not!) She made some really great, lifelong friends and was blessed with TONS of beautiful experiences--The Dirty City will always hold a special place in her heart! Here are some photos of her arriving at the airport and of her "welcome home party" a week later! God Bless Everyone!

Sorry.....

that is has been SOO long since I updated this blog! I might be the biggest procrastinator in the entire world and for some reason, I kept putting an update off! I hope someone is still looking at this blog! haha. Yiayia..I hope you like all the new photos! Nothing too much is new here. School is going well (my last semester, yay!) and Josh is working hard as usual! We are SOO excited to have Susie back with us...she comes home in two days! The five months that she has been gone in India has FLOWN by and of course, this last week has gone by as slow as death! We rented a 12 passenger van so that we can all go and get her and drive in the same car. It will be so great to have her home. Something has certainly been missing for all of us...and it's her!! Hopefully the next photos/updating I do will be of her return!!! Until then, God bless and LOTS of love!

Ray's Latest!

Here is the most recent picture we have had taken of Ray Ray. I had a coupon to Picture People for a free photo so we decided to drag Ray in to take advantage of it....little did we know that THIS was the happiest face we could get out of him! haha. The poor photographer was rolling all over the ground, making REALLY interesting sounds, and using every prop at her disposal and the little runt wouldn't even KINDA smile! We kept assuring her that he usually smiles no problem and that it would happen any minute, but it didn't! It ended up being a really hilarious session--Ray sat there staring at us (just like this picture shows) through all of our ridiculousness. Maybe he was trying to tell us something? Either way, it turned out cute even if it is the most serious he has ever looked!

Tampa Visit!

Caramin and Prema, the Cullum's new addition!

After our time in Jacksonville at Craig and Jenn's wedding, we took a quick trip to the Tampa area to visit with Kyle and Michelle, Isaac and Prema and Drew, Caramin and Dillon! It was a really quick trip (too quick!) but great! The Cullum's recently adopted a little girl from Calcutta, India and it was such a treat to meet her. She even let us sleep in her room (thanks, Prema!) Isaac was as cute as ever and really into football--Josh has HIGH expectations of Ray now! Dillon has gotten so big since we last saw her (when she was two weeks old!) and hanging out with everyone was a blast--as always! Hopefully we can get down there again soon! Xo!

Isaac Cullum!

Kyle with Ray Ray in Florida

Our Tattooed Son!

Mommy's tattoos arent quite as intricate as the real ones!
Happy 28th (WOW!) Birthday, Daddy! (Ray is awfully excited for you)

Bath-time pictures are always so cute!

We inked him with some replicas of Daddy's tattoos! haha

These are Ray's first attempts (and failures) at sitting up alone! This first one is the end product!
AND that's what came of that
This is where we started....YAY RAY!

Jacksonville, Florida for Craig and Jenn's wedding!

Here are some of the photos from our time in Jacksonville, Florida for Craig and Jenn's wedding! It was an absolutely beautiful day and we were so blessed to be a part of it. Because Josh was in the wedding, (and because Maine is freezing in January) Ali came with us to Florida. It was really fun exploring Jacksonville with her (and sneaking her in and out of the hotel!) It was so great for me to meet tons of Josh's friends. I have heard so much about all of them that I felt like I knew them so it was really nice to put a face with the names and stories! The Greene's and the Curell's were so welcoming and kind--Craig's sister-in-law even stepped in for some "Ray Duty" so I could eat! The wedding day was SO wonderful--not only was the weather perfect, but Jenn and Craig were perfect! So filled with love and joy. We are so happy we could be a part of your special day...we send you our love and prayers for a beautiful marriage and life together! Keep in touch!

The Bride and Groom!
Josh and some of his college friends
Josh and Carrie

Craig and Jenn's Wedding Day....it was beautiful!
cutting the (really yummy!) cake

The Curell Family
:o)
Ray Ray in the hotel room in Florida.....all smiles as always!

Ali channeling her inner flamingo in Jacksonville, Florida
All of us at Craig and Jenn's Rehersal Dinner
Ray Ray, Josh and Ryan Kieffer at the rehersal dinner

Christmas In California with the Tuckers!

Aunt Jean and Ray Ray! We miss you, Jean!

Joe and Mandy!
This is a photo of the MASSIVE amount of food Josh ordered (and almost ate) in Santa Monica. Had to document it because in person it was so unbelievable!

Whoops...that's a sideways Mandy...I cant figure out how to flip it. Tina, HELP! haha
Grandma Tucker with Ray Ray....see a family resemblance?!!
My mature hubby and me!

Just the three of us!
Jean, Mandy and me holding eachother up after wine tasting in Santa Monica
Believe it or not, the Nacho Libre Mask was Josh's favorite Christmas gift!


This Christmas we went to Los Angeles, California to spend Christmas with the Tucker Family! Not only was the weather PERFECT (about 70-75 degrees and crystal clear everyday) but we got to spend time with everyone all in the same place! Mandy spoiled everyone with her amazing cooking (homemade Eggs Benedict on Christmas morning!), we made some amazing outings (wine tasting in Santa Monica and Rodeo Drive), and the long flight wasn't that bad, either! All in all, it was a really blessed Christmas and Ray Ray loved spending time with his aunts, uncle, and Grandma and Grandpa Tucker! Here are some pictures....

Craig, Stacey, Steph, Erica, Ria, Lew and me at Christmastime!
Stace, Craig, and Steph

Ria is 21!!!! (This was the tame part of the celebration!)
Lew and me...Good luck in Seals, Lew..we love you!