On the Front Porch

Another post about this wonderful weather - yeah for melted snow and sunny days! We love having a front porch. The kids and I spend quite a bit of time out there, sittin' in the chairs and watching the world go by. Someday (soon, I hope), we'll have a nice back patio where we can do the same in some privacy (right, Nick?). However, I don't know that the front porch will ever be replaced...there is just something about sitting in the sun and watching the cars drive by.

A self portrait of Maren and I, lookin' hot. ;)
Ellie had to bring a good number of toys out with her. She read a story to her Elmos (she told me today that they are brothers). And then put them to bed.Maren had a good time too, checking out the pattern and texture of the porch chairs. Don't you just love Elvis', I mean Maren's, curled lip?

Here Comes the Sun

Today has been such a nice day, we played at the park with friends.
Welcome back, warm weather! We missed you.

Our Weekend

Here's a review of our weekend:
Friday evening we hung out at Nick's parents house and held teeny newborn puppies. They have 5 cute Shitzu puppies, if anyone out there is interested. We certainly aren't. I won't be taken in by all that cuteness - I clean up after my kids all day - the last thing I need is a puppy too.
Saturday we went on a spontaneous adventure to Roy. Yup, that's right, Roy. We have been wanting to try the Burger Bar (featured on Food Network's Drive Ins, Diners, and Dives) and a road trip sounded like fun, so we went for it. The food was really quite tasty. Afterwards, we visited with a friend who lives close by. It was a fun trip.
Sunday (that would be today) we had my parents over. They are in the process of remodeling their kitchen and jumped at the chance to get out of their house. They came to Stake Conference with us and then we had a wonderful dinner and visited for a good while. It was nice to have them.
And here is the moment you have all been waiting for... the photos:

Ellie gave Maren an earring. Can you tell who my favorite photo subject is? Yeah, that's because she holds (somewhat) still.

My New Love

I've always been interested in photography, and in the last year or so, I've been wanting to buy a digital SLR, but haven't because of cost, of course. These last several months we've been putting money away to buy one, and yesterday we finally did it! I have my very own Canon Rebel XSi, and I am so excited. Here are some photos I took this morning:

Feast of Love

We had a fun Valentine's Day. I woke up to this: Nick had made me flowers, a card, and breakfast. Oh, and a small box of chocolates he had gotten at work. (What can I say? We don't believe in buying Valentine's presents for each other.)
The girls got all decked out for this day of love, and lookin' cute.That evening we had our own romantic candlelight dinner at home, complete with three year old (by the time we actually were finished cooking our meal, the baby was in bed). First course: crusty Italian bread with roasted red pepper dip.Second course: Chilled banana and coconut soup.Main course: Ravioli Caprese (cheese, chicken, spinach stuffed ravioli tossed in lemon, basil, and olive oil) and bacon wrapped asparagus.Dessert: Chocolate souffle with chocolate whipped cream.

The food was DELICIOUS, but even better was making a big mess with my wonderful husband in our kitchen. It was a wonderful evening, despite a mad Maren and an ornery, nap-deprived Ellie.

6 Months

My goodness, how time flies. I swear, it just keeps going by faster and faster. Maren is already 6 months old! I took her to her doctor's check up today and she is developing well and is a healthy baby girl. She is 16 lbs. 12 oz. (65%) and is 25.8 in. long (50%). Apparently, she didn't really grow any taller in the last two months (she was 86% then). The doctor said that that's normal though. She also is a very good sitter, but doesn't roll over. The doctor also said that it's common (I learned that about 25% of babies don't roll before they are sitting), and developmentally, sitting is much more difficult than rolling, so he wasn't worried at all. That makes a mom feel better, ya know? We all want normal children. She is loving eating some solid foods. Others not so much. She squeals in laughter at her big sister and says "mom mom mom". Speaking of 'mom', she has become particular about who's holding her. That's good (makes this momma feel loved), but also very bad (she's been known to scream for babysitters and Grandmas and Grandpas). She loves her jumperoo and slobbering on toys. She is such a sweetie.

Smile...on this Snowy, Cold Day in February

So these are the things that made me smile yesterday:
*An old, gray-haired man at the track wearing coveralls and a hat - just like my dad used to wear on the farm.
*I was 1 lb. lighter than when I weighed myself earlier this week.
*I wore my 'skinny shirt'.
*Ellie: "You be the prince, and I'll be the princess. Let's dance!"
*Tulips and daffodils are poking up through the mud and snow.
*Ellie doing crazy dance moves. She didn't learn them from me, that's for sure!
*Maren jumping like crazy in her jumperoo - and then jumping on me too.
*Playing with Ellie. She is a great hostess. She made me pizza, and then a birthday cake and ice cream.
*Maren taking all of Ellie's play dishes out and slobbering all over them.
*Ellie explaining to me that dads make cookies. "What do mommies make?" I asked. "Dinner" she replied. That's true in this house.
*Maren and Ellie laughing hysterically at each other.
*Maren's after-nap huge grinner smile.
*Nick coming home from work.
*Nick greeting the girls and making them giggle.
*Snuggling with Nick on the couch after the girls are in bed.
*My nice, warm comfy bed.

Playing with Cousins

We had cousins Maybe and Seth over to play the other day and had a grand time. Here is Maybe and Maren 'playing' together.Having a good chat.

Maren makes this funky turtle face - she sucks in both sides of her top lip and it looks really funny. You try and do it, it's not as easy as it might seem.Ellie and Seth doing puzzles. And me, looking slightly like a frog.

The Many Outfits of Ellie

So Ellie loves to dress herself, and wear dresses - she usually changes several time a day. Today, I got proof.

Here is Ellie's first outfit of the day. Second outfit of the day: her nightgown. Oh, and Aspen came to play today.

Here Ellie is waiting for Aspen to serve her strawberry ice cream (pretend, of course). Connor helps out too. Ellie is still in her nightgown, I just thought it was a cute photo.

Ellie's third outfit of the day. Oh, and now Aspen is wearing Ellie's nightgown.
Once Aspen went home, Ellie changed back into her nightgown, and remains in it still.

And, unrelated, here is a cute photo of my Maren.