Fresh start

So I'm back again...I think. At least I'm trying to be back. I've just felt lacking on the blogging side of things...not much going on, not much to write about.

I am so excited for spring. Mara and I were outside working in the garden yesterday, and I found a few worms for her to play with. When she was talking to Josh about it later, she told him that the worms were moving around. He asked her what it looked like, and she said, "Oh, like a wormy moving," and she got on the floor and arched her back to show off her worm skills. We had fun outside, and I'm excited for a weekend outdoors!

One other quick funny Mara moment: Mara loves to hold people's earlobes when she's tired...strange, I know. The other day we were giving someone a ride, and Mara started holding her ear. After a few minutes, she told the girl, "Oh, my arm is SOOO tired. I can't hold it up...(pause)..I'm going to have to let it down ...(pause)....I'm going to have to put it down.....Is that okay?" It was so cute and funny because she really was so tired.

In other news, Mara started dance classes in January. She LOVES tapping around, and she just had her dance pictures taken this week. I'll post some pictures of her classes soon.

Merry Christmas; Happy Birthday!

This time of year is such a wonderful time for us to reflect as a family upon the birth of the Savior. We are thankful for the role he plays in our lives as our brother, our friend, and our Savior. At Christmas time, we feel especially close to him as we remember his birth and strive a little harder to be like him.

This time of year also causes us to remember Mara's birth. Each year, I am able to reflect upon our own dear child, who is such a gift to us from our Heavenly Father. Because she was born on Christmas Day, I feel a special connection with the story of the first Christmas. I feel myself drawn to Mary, the mother of Jesus, who gave birth to her son, the Son of God, in such humble conditions. I learn so much from that and take so much more, as a mother. (Of course I am still in my toddler stage of motherhood...I love growing with Mara and looking back on how far we've come.)

In reminiscing on the birth of my own child, I feel an extra sense of gratitude not just to have her in our lives but to be the person chosen to be the mother of this extraordinary little girl. She is such a blessing in our lives, such a joy for each day, and such a great friend.

We love you Mara! Happy Birthday!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Happy Birthday Josh!

Josh's birthday was last Saturday, the 20th. We were busy throwing a birthday party for Mara that day, so I wasn't able to write a post then. But now, too much time is passing, and I need to get this up here.

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband. He's such a great daddy, and Mara would tell you that she loves him "more than the whole, wide world." He's such a terrific friend, funny, kind, and best of all, he's mine. Hope you had a great day, love!

N-aughty or N-ice?

Check this out! So cute.

Ever have those days?

I was having a great day today, spending time with my favorite 2 (nearly 3) year old. We went to the gym first thing and then came home to split a bowl of cereal and scrub the tub. Oooo. Yes, it was actually fun. Because in the process of me scrubbing, Mara gave me a free sales pitch and demonstration of how make-up should be properly applied. Luckily for me, the caps remained on---probably not luckily for you because those would have been some pretty awesome pictures. Then I took a shower in the clean tub while Mara sat outside and expained how she had broken the shower door the other day in a fit (which is true) and how the elves probably thought that was "very not nice" but that it's okay now because she's trying harder. (please excuse the run-on's in this post....just trying to really convey the realness of the conversation) We finished up the shower with a few rounds of "Jingle Bells" and "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer."

After that, we hit Super Target, which became Super-duper Target, and Mara decided that she wanted to meet everyone we passed in every aisle. She later serenaded an elderly lady in the bread aisle with her "Jingle Bells", and let me just tell you that if she's ever looking for a job, Mara has it made in field of entertainment for the elderly.....seriously, Mara was so loud and enthusiastic, the lady wanted to hear it again.

When we got home, we had a little emotional meltdown about not wanting to "wait just a second" for some more chips, but we decided to watch the rest of the Polar Express, which made everything better.

It has been a fun day so far, just the two of us. Now we're off to meet dad and get an oil change. I'll let you ooo and ahh over our plans and leave you with a few older pictures.....

Mara started at a little preschool that some of th moms at church have put together. She loves it. This was on her first day. She's the youngest, but she really interacts well with the others.

This was when we were preparing to host preschool. Mara thought it would be a good idea to line everything up to be sure it was all there. She loves to put things in lines. It's pretty hilarious.
We made cookies while daddy was at the Priesthood session of conference. I normally don't do things like that, but I felt like I should try to do something "womanly" like a lot of other mom's do. I'm not sure we'll make it a tradition; however, I do like the tradition of eating the dough!

We went out on the lake a couple of times this summer. Mara loved to go on the tube and go knee-boarding. She has tons of fun on the boat! Although this picture is pretty fuzzy.

Mara just being cute.

And silly, as usual.

Well, we're off, and in Mara's words, "peace out!"

We're back

Is it really fall? I can't believe that we're here already, and it's not even just the beginning--we're half-way through already. I haven't even blogged this season yet....isn't that sad? I really need to get back on track with my blogging. I especially need to get back to posting pictures, and now that we've found our plug for the camera, I can actually upload pictures. So be expecting updates soon in an attempt to play a little catch-up.

We've been sick for the last month or so. Mara had croup, and then Josh and I got it. Right when we thought we were all getting better, we all had relapses. This virus is difficult to shake. Still, we've been able to do a few fun things, and we made it to the apple orchard/ pumpkin patch twice this year.

Mara felt it was absolutely necessary to inspect each apple for bugs and worms. She learned that the apples on the ground were squished and brown; thus, rendering them "nasty."

After we found that they were good and clean, some apples just needed a taste-test.

At the orchard during a trip with daddy to pick out our pumpkin.

I know this is just a short taste, but right now I'm being summoned downstairs. A little voice is calling for mommy to come read. This will have to wait. See you soon with some more pictures and updates.

Looky! I have a LUMP!

Now, before you start thinking that something terrible has happened or that there is some medical issue I’m about to tell you about, please relax. That’s not what this post is about. Although, I happen to love supporting non-profit organizations and things if I can, and breast cancer is something that has affected family members and friends. So if you want to help fund free mammograms with just the click of your mouse (no credit card needed this time), click here.

If you haven’t heard, my sister (in-law), Rachel, has started living with us. We went to my Zumba class, came home and showered (because MAN did we stink), and then made “dinner”. Mara isn’t the greatest of eaters, so her dinners generally consist of pieces of something substantial and fatty and then a LOT of fruit or vegetable because that’s what she likes. I know, I can’t complain, right? So for dinner, she had 3 bites of leftover turkey brat/sausage, a slice of cheese, a pear, and a plum.

In addition to a late night, last night was a study night at our house. Josh was taking some practice tests downstairs, which was why dinner was a rush. We rushed to make it and rushed upstairs to eat it. As we began eating, Mara grabbed the plum – the first she’s had—and took a few bites as Rachel was coming up the stairs. Mara then ran to the stairs, still holding her plum, and said, “Look Rach. I have lump…..a puh?....It’s a Lump!” We loved it, and although I corrected her once, I thought it was too cute to really stop her from saying it.

The rest of the night consisted of her talking about how much she loves lumps and that pears were good too. She didn’t like the sausage, and I had to nearly force feed her the 3 bites she did take. I am seriously in need of some good and EASY recipes, especially some that Mara would enjoy. Any suggestions? Until then, we may be eating lots of lumps around here.