Photo Shoot

I'm so lucky to have so many multi-supertalented friends. My newest friend, whom I met through Kantorei, named Eldeen, is a photographer (www.lilacphotography.com). She offered to take pictures of Mary and me. They are posted on Facebook if you are interested. Here is one to peak your interest.

Curious

So I'm curious about something . . . Ever hear people say "Today would've been my mother's 95th birthday (or whatever number)"? My Mom's side of the family says it a lot about my Grandparents. I'm truly not meaning to be offensive or disrespectful, but I don't get that. And they don't say "today is my mother's birthday" they actually say how old they would be if they were still alive. I think this is a bit odd. Do any of you feel the same way? I hate to point out the obvious but they AREN'T still alive. So why say how old they'd be? And at one point does one stop counting how old they WOULD'VE been . . . "Today would've been my father's 115th birthday". I mean really! Come on!

Please don't hate me for sharing these thoughts. I think it is sweet to remember a passed on relative. I hope when I die, someone will think to remember me. Someone help me understand please.

Perhaps it is because no one close to me has ever died. I've been really lucky. In fact maybe I should delete this post. Maybe it is different if it were your own child? I can see how that'd be different because you would be recognizing how they would be changed if they were still living. Sometimes I think about my nephew Ben who died just before 1 year old and how he'd be a teenager now. I don't know . . . Curious.

I know someday I will have to deal with a close loved one dying. But I keep hoping and praying it won't be until my 115th birthday at least. : )

In the meantime, please enjoy some pics of my beautiful, sweet, and sassy Mary Nicole at 16 months old.





Aunt Beckie and kids sent the most wonderful Valentine's Day Care Package last week on Valentine's Day. And this is the cutie cute outfit Miss Eve picked out for Mary. So cute and colorful and a PERFECT transition dress from Winter to Spring - you can wear it either time. And we happened to have a perfectly matching headband to go with it!

After posting Mary's fun with PBK's chairs, my MIL begged me to get Mary one. Like I'm gonna say no . . . ; ) Mary loves hers of course!

SO HAPPY!

Part-ay in the Cul-de-sac

Yesterday Mary decided to nap in the morning instead of the afternoon so we ran errands in the afternoon instead. When we got back, my neighbor Angie (who also is in my ward) was out with one of her boys and baby girl (one year younger than Mary). Mary saw P riding his bike and had to join in the fun. Then another friend of our's from church, Amber dropped off Angie's oldest boy from school and her 3 boys came out to play too! Amber's youngest is just one month older than Mary. So we had a little impromptu party in the cul-de-sac. Mary had a great time hangin' out with the boys. Just remember young lady . . . no dating til your sixteen!


And here's another just for fun . . .

Valentine's Day Post

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you are all having a lovely day. As you know, this is one of my favorite holidays - Jeff calls it "VD DAY". : )
I hope you all have someone to share your love with and if you don't - I'm sending you my love! I love everyone - even people who don't like me!
So here is some love for all of you . . . a few pics, some cute anecdotes, and some scriptures perfect for today. Love to all!



Grateful to have Jeff to share my life with. Love isn't perfect agreed? Both people are flawed. But I've come to realize more and more how blessed I really am. Instead of a temple pic, I opted for this one . . .



Here is what Mary wore to church yesterday. It was also her Christmas dress. I think it is suited well for both.


For Valentine's Day, Jeff took me shopping. I ended up with this outfit that is a bit . . . different? I'm not sure it matched, but it was in the catalog this way so hopefully it worked. I think when I wore it to church that some people wondered about it. But some liked it and more importantly I liked it! I felt so bohemian chic! Wish I could always dress this way.


A few cute Mary stories . . .

Saturday as I was getting ready, Mary was sitting in her usual spot - the bathroom sink. It gives her a chance to play with all the goodies on the countertop and look at herself in the mirror, brush her teeth, etc. So at one point she was playing with my contact lense case (I had already put my contacts in so the lids were off of the base). She was trying to put the little circular lids on, etc. Then I notice her stick her finger in the container and bring her finger up to her eye and then squint and blink. It was soooo stinkin' cute to see her imitate her Momma.

The other story happened during church yesterday. We have moved to the back since I have been released as music chorister and also because Mary is very actice. So we sit in the overflow area behind the pews in the soft folding chairs. The first week we sat in the back, I let her roam a little too much and felt she was pulling too much focus for the worshipers in the back. So since then, I've decided that I really need to have her be with us at the chairs and that has gone well as long as I have enough things to keep her quiet. She did really well. But at one point, she saw her friend Delaney and wanted to go play. I decided I would let her during the rest hymn. So she started heading over but then the music started playing - Called to Serve - which is a lively, upbeat hymn. She then decided to start dancing in the area behind the pews and in front of the overflow. It was so cute and everyone was enjoying her so much that I let her continue. She was just clapping and bouncing. I figured it says we should praise His name through dancing and that that was pretty darn close. It was cute.

Okay here are some scriptures for you that I thought you might enjoy . . .

Proverbs 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine HEART keep my commandments.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine HEART; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Proverbs 3:12 For whom the Lord LOVETH he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Obadiah 1:15 As thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.
(A good incentive to love one another ay?)

and here's one that is a bit PG-13 . . .
Proverbs 5:18-19 Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.

I like that one. My mother is probably scandalized right now . . . : )

Cute Cousins

Yesterday we visited Jeff's brother's family. Mary had a wonderful time. She spent the first 1/2 hr screaming high pitched screams in excitement of their dog. And of course it is always fun to play with new toys and people.

I'm so glad Mary has a little cousin just four months younger than she is. I hope they will be good friends as I was with my cousin growing up that was close to my age
Cousin H is such a cutie.


And here is another of Mary.

Snow much fun!

I'm really a summer girl. I don't like the cold, dreariness of winter. But lately, I've enjoyed it. Mostly because the snow is so pretty and peaceful and I can be cozy inside. I'm sure I'd feel differently if I was commuting in it though. Lately, it just adds to the romanticism of Valentine's Day. And in case you don't know - I LOVE Valentine's Day. I pretty much love all the holidays. But I do love Valentine's Day. Anyway, I digress.
The point is that the snow has provided some different fun for Mary and cute layering opportunities for me in which to dress her. : )

Here are some recent pics . . . (some are cell pics, so they aren't the best quality)


Had to add another from yesterday just to illustrate the "fun layering opportunities" I spoke of above. BTW, this is Mary's new car seat.

Today.
My friend Shelly knitted this sweater/jacket. Isn't is so fun and Valentiney?

These next pics are from Sunday. Church was canceled because of the weather. So we went outside to keep Daddy company while he shoveled. We had fun with lots of the neighbors and I just have to add that my neighbor Angie's 5 year old boy was so cute in helping Jeff shovel. (I have some pics, but didn't want to post w/o her permission).
Before we went out, I had to take this cute Mary/Daddy pic.






Mary with neighbor and her dog.


You probably know that Pottery Barn kids has storytime on Tuesdays at 11. What I didn't know is that each time you go, you get your booklet stamped and after 5 times, you get a $10 credit to spend in the store. Neato eh? We've gone now the last two weeks, but couldn't go today. I figure Mary needs an outing every day and she loves story time. So now we go once a week to the library and once a week to PBK!

One thing she LOVES about PBK's storytime are the chairs. She sits contentedly in hers until storytime is over (or plays at the cool table where they have a puzzle and paper/crayons with which to draw) and then afterward - moves back and forth in the different chairs. She squeals with delight! It is so cute. I need to talk to Jeff about ordering one for her ; ).

She also loves all the other play areas of course. We stayed for like an extra half an hour afterward last time just so she could play with these dishes. (Isn't that pretend cake adorable?)


And lastly, today I had an eye appointment all the way down in CastleRock. So afterward, I figured Mary and I would go to the nearby ChickfilA that had a play place and eat some lunch. She really needed some exercise.
She couldn't have been happier! She was so happy in the treehouse and tunnelslide. Oh she was not happy when I finally said we had to go. But the balloon we got on the way out eased her pain. : )



Wishing all of you warmth and loving memories during this cold time.

"Truly Scrumptious"

For GrammE

Something neat happened this morning. I was reorganizing a closet - moving the pictures and picture frames from one space to another. Mary was keeping me company of course. At one point I had the pictures on the ground and Mary started signing and talking. She was looking at the picture of Jeff and me at Disney World with his parents. She signed "grandma" and I swear she said "grum". I was so pleasantly surprised that she recognized her GrammE (Grandma Ellen) from a picture and was able to tell me so.

Also just had to include this cutie cute picture of Mary yesterday. Doesn't she look so sweet in this outfit? It is funny what strikes a chord in you, yes? I love this outfit because it reminds me of the wrapping paper for the gift of one of the first birthday parties I ever went to.

Can I share a compliment?

Today I got a really nice compliment and I hope that it will be okay if I share it.

My Mom came over to babysit Mary for awhile and upon returning she told me that she really felt the Spirit in my home. Isn't that cool? Course she is my Mom, but I have actually gotten that comment one time before - from one of our former home teachers.

Probably helps that I only have one little one running around and she is a happy girl by nature. But it still made me feel nice.