Introducing the new fad!

This beautiful crown is made out of 100% pure recycled paper in the form of card board. It was the support for the one and only Charmin toilet paper. Don't get jealous ladies. I know that I could sell these crowns for millions, but I am willing to just tell you how to make it yourself. Use the whole roll of T.P., don't throw the card board center away because this the main part of the crown. Find a head band and figure out a way to attach the card board. Of course it has to be secure, so it doesn't flip flop back and forth. I found that twist ties work the best. You have to use two, if you use one the beautiful crown with flip flop back and forth and the beautiful princess wearing it will break down and cry because it is not right. You better make yours soon else the fad will be over before you know it! You too could look so beautiful and be a princess for a day!

Once again I am amazed at Mara's imagination. I would have never thought to make a crown out of a toilet paper roll and think that it really is beautiful.

Who knew!

Who knew a three year old could be so smart. Mara has been cracking me up lately. She has been saying the funniest things. This morning we all woke up and were sitting on the couch trying to decide what we should have for breakfast. I was holding Avery on my lap and Mara wanted to sit by me too. So, she came over and was trying to lay her head on my leg. Well, Avery gets very jealous when anyone else is around me and doesn't like it. So she was trying to kick Mara off of me. I was trying to find a way that would work for both of them, but nothing was working for Mara. She got frustrated and finally sat up and said, "Dad, (who was sitting on the other couch) would you like a girlie on your lap?" Connor answered "yes, of course I would." I was thinking that since Mara said that, that she would go and sit on his lap. But, Mara proceeds with, "okay, I will bring Avery over." She gets down and picks Avery up and carries her over to him. I just started laughing. My kids surprise everyday with what they say and what they do. I just think to myself sometimes, how did she know to do this or that? I am blessed to have the two darling girlies that I have.

Halloween Festivities

We had a fun Halloween! It is so fun to celebrate holidays with kids! When I was little everything was so fun, then as I got older it was fun, but not as fun. Now it is just as fun as it was when I was a little girl. I love to watch my kids get so into things and get so excited over the littlest things! Mara was Tinker Bell and she loved it. When we got home Halloween night, I asked her to take her wings off and she did, but then she became sad and a little quite and she said, "but mom, I was supposed to learn how to fly." She realized that if her wings were off she couldn't, and we didn't ever have time to practice. She had a blast knocking on doors and going from car to car at our ward trunk r' treat. Avery was a really cute monkey. I was also a monkey, but obviously not so cute. Connor my hilarious husband was a Wet Sow. (I think that is how to spell it.)

Cute family picture!

Happy Halloween, Connor won the funniest costume prize at our ward party!

Our pumpkins! We are not professionals, but it is fun still!

We had a Halloween party at the Thompson's and this was one of our games, it was fun.

Avery getting wrapped up as a mummy, she was not to sure about it, but she loved tearing it apart and making a mess!

I love this costume! They are extra large Cruisers!

First Snow Fall!

This week we had the first snow fall of the season. It was a little exciting at our house. Every morning when Mara wakes up she looks out her window to see if it is getting light. That is how she knows it is morning time and time to wake up. The morning that it snowed she looked outside and she saw the white stuff. She came running into my room and said "Mommy, Mommy it snowed outside, come and look out my window." I looked out my window and was excited too. But it was not good enough for her. "No mom, you have to come and look out my window." That is what we did and she was so excited to go and play in the snow.

The day before it was snowing when she woke up from her nap. But it was not sticking to the ground, she still wanted to go out and run around n it. So we got all ready and it stopped snowing. She was so sad, her words were, "It is never gonna snow again."

We had breakfast and as soon as we were done we were out playing in the snow. Mara loved it and Avery wasn't to sure about it.

What a good helper!

What is this white stuff dad?

Mara just had to build a snowman, it was a little hard because it wasn't good packing snow and there wasn't very much of it. We did out best, it is the little white blob on the left of the picture with a little carrot coming out for its nose.

For the Love of Jobs!!

Mara's job each morning is to put the silverware and plastic cups away. She does it really well, sometimes is it on her own time, but she gets it done before to many activities. Usually every morning I empty the dishwasher because Connor is gone to work. Yesterday morning it was Connor's day off and so the awesomely helpful husband he is, he emptied the dishwasher. I was getting the girls ready for the day and so he went about putting the silverware away. Once Mara was ready and went to do her job she found that it was already done. Now, most kids would jump for joy that they didn't have to do their job, but not Mara. She was so sad that daddy had done her job.

She came to me, "Mom, guess what dad did."

Me, "What?"

Mara, "He did my job and put the forks and knifes way, when I was posed to." She was saying this while crying.

I had to mend things over and remind Connor that he needed to leave her job for her next time. I asked Mara if she would like another job to do. To my surprise she said Yes! We had just cleaned the house the day before and her room was pretty clean. I had to think for a minute of a job that a three year old could do. Our cars were horribly dirty so I asked her if she wanted to help me wash the cars. That was a perfect job for her because she loves to use the hose. Well, we didn't ever get around to washing the cars and now today the rain is doing it for us. I was just so surprised that she was so sad that she didn't get to do her job. I really hope it stays this way. I have a little hunch that it won't once she gets a little bit older. I love Mara!!

Avery's 1!!

Just two days ago Avery was born and then I blinked and it has already been a year. I don't like this getting older stuff. Every year goes faster and faster. This year went extremely fast for some reason. I am sad that my baby is one. This past year has been really fun with Avery, she is so happy and cute! We wondered a lot how this year would turn out, and how Avery would grow physically and mentally. There has not been one little glitch in her growing, she has been perfect. We have just added a few extra doctor appointments in, but other than that she is meeting all of her milestones right on track.

At her year appointment she weight 20 lbs. 4 oz. and was 29.5 inches long. Both of which are in the 5oth percentile. Right where she needs to be!

We could never find a time to do one big Birthday party, so she had lots of little ones.

My happy one year old!

Avery had lots of help from Mara on her birthday!

Mara was a great helper, it was fun to watch her show Avery how to do things!

Avery loved her cake and ice cream.

I think Avery was spoiled this year!

She loves her new bike. She actually can do it quite well. Which surprises us because she is not into walking at all! But she can stand up in the middle of the room, but she won't move an inch. Maybe this will help her want to walk a little.

Over the weekend my parents and sister's family came down so we had a little party them too.

Mara being another big helper!

"Mom when is it my turn to play with my toy?"

Avery is starting to get a little attitude, but she is so funny. She really thinks she is funny and it is so cute to watch her.

This movie is mostly for my parents, but you are welcome to watch if you want!

Avery, We love you so much and have been so blessed to have you come into our family. You are such a fun little girl, who is so social and very determined. We just love watching you grow and learn everyday!

Meet Spots!!

We have been in our house a few months and we have decided that we need a cat. I grew up with cats so I like them, but Connor didn't and he is not so much a fan of them. But as we have been living here we have been finding mouse dodo around the outside of our house. Really it is not a huge surprise because we are surrounded by fields on all sides.

My sister gave us Spots. Mara had decided that she wanted to name it Sally. When we went to pick it up my niece and nephews had named it Spots and that is what they were calling it. Mara decided that is what its name needed to be. It is a really good kitty, it is so patient with our girls. Mara carries it everywhere bouncing it up and down. For Avery petting it is not good enough, she has to hold it too. They both love this cat. I am just so thankful it is so patient else we would have some sad kids. I often think "poor spots." It should be a good mouser, because its mom moused and it loves to get the grasshoppers. I think it will do the job.

I think Connor even likes Spots. I have found him many times sitting outside holding her.

Mara loving Spots

Sharing Spots has been a little bit of a challenge.

Sorry Spots, no peaceful eating at our house.

You can see the little house that Mara made for her.