If One Picture is Worth a Thousand Words...

...prepare yourselves for a novel!

The Annual Tucson Gem & Mineral Show is a big event for the Contessa family. And this year was no different. Actually, it was an even bigger event than usual, with three of the newest members of the family in town. Gerri and Ro arrived on Thursday, January 28th. Saturday, Farlan, Shanika, Jayden and Amare drove down from Phoenix, as did Hass & Amy. And Reef, Tawnisha and Zander finished up their treck from Colorado. And somehow we managed to fit everyone in our little house: 10 adults, 4 kids and 4 dogs!

Uncle Ib meets Zander for the first time.

Farlan, Jayden, Shanika & Amare.

Zander, Reef & Tawnisha.

Amare was having fun with all the toys!

Proud Papa, Reef.

Jayden and Bella playing tug.

Gerri & Hass.

Auntie Lisa hanging out with Zander.

Amare...11 months old, already!

Uncle Ib and Jayden having some fun.

Hot mamas!

Gerri & Ro in Auntie Heaven!

Uncle Reef & Amare giggling before bedtime.

Zander & Knox saying "What's Up, Cuz?"

Daddys with their Mini-Me's.

Uncle Hass has kisses for the Knox!

We're too cool.

That's right: Rockstars...it runs in the family.

Auntie Gerri...soaking up the cuteness!

Smiles all around!

Uncle Reef showing Knox all about fishy lips.

It's an Auntie Sandwich!

Knox loves his Auntie Ro...he had special good morning smiles for her every day.

It was her first trip to the desert, so Ib took Gerri to see the sights of Tucson.

What would a family get together be without a self-timer group photo?! What a great week. We love you guys! Thanks so much for making the trip.

What a Difference...

Farlan & Cooper; Ib & Vinnie; Reef & Roxy - November 2006

Farlan, Jayden & Amare; Ib & Knox; Reef & Zander - January 2010

Three proud Papas...and four cousins who will, no doubt, get into lots of trouble together in the coming years.

You're Gonna Love My Nuts!

Sham-Wow Vince. He's entertaining. Admit it. But the Sham-Wow is a sham...we know someone who has tried them.

Being the salsa-making master that he is, Ib is always looking for a way to speed up the process. A couple years back I bought the As Seen on TV Vidalia Chop Wizard. It's great for larger stuff, but Ib wanted a way to chop the cilantro. It's a pretty messy endeavor with a knife and cutting board.

We got to talking about it, and wouldn't you know, Jen Price surprised us with a parting gift once she got back home to Wisconsin. Yep, an authentic Slap Chop. Ib was so excited. He couldn't wait to make salsa again. I love how Vince's picture is on the box. As if you could mistake this kitchen commodity.

And, just as he suspected, it worked like a charm for chopping the cilantro.

Fresh salsa for the next visitors! Book your tickets now! But wait, there's more! If you come visit in the next 20 minutes...well, maybe Ib will let you use the Slap Chop, too.

Cheese, Please!

Cheesehead, that is! Saturday afternoon Jen Price arrived in Tucson for a long weekend visit. After finally finding each other at the airport, we came back to the house to find Ib whipping up a bowl of his world-famous guacamole.

Meanwhile, Knox couldn't sleep for the excitement of finally meeting Auntie Jen. They got along just smashingly!

Sunday we took her out to see the sights. First, a stop at A Mountain. She had seen it while she was flying in, so she was pretty excited to be standing on top of it.

Overlooking our fair city.

Then through Gates' Pass to the Desert Museum. Even the mountain lions were out and about! The weather was perfect.

Knox had a comfortable stroll, a little snooze and he and Daddy even went caving. We ate some ice cream and Jen bought some Prickly Pear Cactus Jelly.

Then we rode out through the Saguaro National Monument so Jen could have her picture taken with a giant cactus. She had fun giving them all personalities as we rode by.

Monday we spent some quality time watching Golden Girls...just like the old days. Then I took her to visit San Xavier.

Knox was having a fantastic time and he talked up a storm while we walked around.

Tuesday came too fast, and it was time for Jen to head back to Wisconsin. We were sad to see her go, but thankful for the time we shared together. We've got room for you whenever you are ready to come back!

The Tooth, The Whole Tooth and Nuthin' But the Tooth

If he can reach it, it goes in his mouth. Yep, you guessed it:

At 14 1/2 weeks, somebody is teething.

That's My Story and I'm Stickin' To It...

"This television collects too much dust."

"I can't read the football scores."

"I'll only use it while I'm exercising."

"I didn't get Ib anything for Christmas."

"We'll have a really nice tax refund this year."

"It's been 100 days since he had a cigarette."

Do I need to come up with more? We've had a pretty big weekend, here at the Casa Contessa. Saturday marked Ib's 100th day as a non-smoker, as well as Knox's 100-day birthday.

While I absolutely love being able to work from home, I do miss the gym. I found myself on craigslist and saw an ad for an elliptical machine, dirt cheap. I sent an email and it was still available. The lady told me that the computer, which keeps track of your time, heart rate, calories burned, etc. did not work. The price was right, so I told her that I wasn't concerned about it. So Saturday morning I went and picked it up. It just fit in the Toyota and we got the back door closed.

I've never been crazy about exercise equipment in the living room, but this thing is a beast! We really don't have anywhere else to put it. I'm hoping the plant will help disguise some of the unattractiveness. Oh, and the non-working computer...two AA batteries go a long way. It works perfectly!

So we've been working on rearranging the living room, as well as a little spring cleaning for Jen Price's upcoming visit. That's when I decided I'd had enough "talk" about a new television.

I really thought I'd outdone myself when I conspired with Laura and Christie to get some of Ib's favorite beer (only available on the east coast) delivered to Arizona for an early birthday surprise.

But you should have seen the look on his face when I clicked that "COMPLETE PURCHASE" button last night.

Sears was having a sale on a sale, with cash back on top of that. So I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth...and now I think I may have been replaced.

This purchase also just fit in the back of the Toyota, with the back door closed. I'm calling it "television gluttony".

It's not as obnoxious as I thought it would be and it really improves my TV feng shui. Plus, I can easily see it from my elliptical machine on the other side of the room. Even the football scores.

Knox wasn't that impressed, but I must say I'm looking forward to some HD Sesame Street.

Rub-A-Dub-Dub

This boy loves the tub!

And he adores his Daddy. Who can blame him, really?

A little scrub here...

A little scrub there...

Making it "rain" on his head and belly makes him grin.

No tears, here. I can't wait til he can play with rubber ducky!

And getting wrapped up in the towel is still his favorite part.

Fresh and clean and toasty warm! Who doesn't love bath time?