Anna's Photo Blog

We decided to try giving M bangs. When L got to this age and I gave her bangs, it looked so bad on her, I grew them out right away. But M looks pretty good in them.





Here is a picture of her without bangs for comparison:


So, just for fun, let's take a vote. Which do you like best--bangs or no bangs?

L looks so cute and grown up in this picture!




All the girls:


M got bored, and she knows the easiest way to fix that: pick on L! Notice the expression of glee on her face!

My Dad came for a visit on January 1st and 2nd, and what a fantastic two days it was!!! I can't even begin to put into words how wonderful it was for all of us! L and M LOVED having Grandpa here!! L is a bit on the shy side, but it was still pretty obvious. She wanted Grandpa to do things with her every minute. They played so much together: they put a puzzle together, played go fish and memory, painted pictures together, did play-dough, and plenty more. M is a little more outgoing. She was constantly going up to him and sticking her arms in the air, asking to be picked up. She also showered him with very sweet and affectionate random hugs throughout the two days.

Grandpa brought the girls a bunch of presents. M loves her new riding toy!! She thinks it's the coolest thing ever.


These are actually one of M's presents too, but L put it so well at one point while they were opening presents. I can't remember which particular thing that M had just opened, but L was excited about it and said, "M will share with me!" It sounds like a command to me.


Later that first night, Grandpa took us all out to eat. That was super special to L, and 10 days later, she is still talking about it.


And here is L with Aunt Della and Grandpa, having a tea party. L served all kinds of things: strawberry-ramen noodle soup, broccoli, cookies, blackberries, and pancakes.
Notice the nice tea table in the picture. That was also from Grandpa, sent in the mail a while back, along with the tea pot and tea set. (Although a bunch of the pieces are being glued right now-they are well loved and well used.)


On Grandpa's second day here, we had dinner here at home with Grandpa and Della. I had set the table so that Della and L would sit on the long side of the table, and Grandpa would sit on the other side of L on the short side of the table. But that was not good enough. She wanted to sit right next to Grandpa. L moved her chair all the way around to the other side of Grandpa, and had him scoot over a bit. They squished in there together, and both were fine with it, on the tiny little end of the table. And that was when I realized what L wanted-that having the chairs side by side was the important thing. So we moved the two of them to the long side together, and everything was fine after that. It was super cute how badly L wanted to be right next to Grandpa, and how determined she was to get it.

That night, as I was putting the girls to bed, L knew that Grandpa would be leaving soon that night. She was very sad, and she told me, "I don't want Grandpa to go. I love him. ...(Pause while she was thinking)... Maybe he can come back the day after tomorrow!" I think we were all thinking that. It was so very nice to see him, and we all hope that he will be able to visit again soon.

We had a wonderful Christmas! At first I was disappointed to be staying home for Christmas, but it turned out so very perfect. Now I am very glad that we stayed home, and I can't imagine having a better Christmas anywhere else. This is the first year that L is old enough to understand everything, and to get REALLY excited. It was the perfect year to stay home and start our own traditions.

L woke up around 6:30. I was awake as well, and saw her run out of her room, and then hesitate in the hall at the top of the stairs. When she saw me standing there in my room watching her, she grabbed my hand and we both went down together. She went through her stocking, and it was so sweet, because she wanted to give me 3 of her 8 pieces of candy to me. It is incredible how much she shares.

About an hour later, M woke up, and L helped her go through her stocking.
































We had a wonderful, slow Christmas breakfast of aebelskivers, bacon, fruit, and juice (a fabulous Owen tradition) and afterwards, we opened presents. L's favorite present was definitely a 3-inch Cinderella doll with several dresses and pairs of shoes. She took her Cinderella everywhere she went, and helped Cinderella do everything she did.


M's favorite present was probably her barn with a bunch of animals and a farmer. It makes animal noises, and also has a little tune it plays, which L likes to dance to (like in the picture).

M is really good at pulling the elastics out of her hair, and naptime is the perfect opportunity. (There's nothing else to do in the crib!) I never know what she will look like when I go get her. Today, she looked especially great.


Oops! I told her she couldn't have the camera. Those feelings are very fragile right after a nap!


Luckily, books are great. They will fix almost anything.

L is getting to be so grown up! These last few months, she has been starving for knowledge-any and all knowledge she can get. It is so wonderful to see the joy she finds in learning! We do "school" every day, while M takes her nap. It just might be her favorite part of the day. We learn about all kinds of things-Eskimos, honey bees, how the calendar works, etc. And she is learning to read, and can sound out small words right now.


M is also learning and growing so much. She is very proud of herself, because just this last Friday, she figured out how to walk backwards, and has been doing it ever since, especially when she wants to make us laugh. M is a real fun-loving, happy, teasing, stinker, who loves to make us all laugh. Since Thursday, she has been walking around the house singing to herself! It is very cute.

I think M learns best from watching and copying her big sister. For example, she likes to stamp out letters from play dough and color pictures with L. Those are both things L never did at this young of an age, since she didn't have anyone to watch. The wonderful thing is, L likes M to do these things with her. She helps M get into her booseter seat, and shares her paper and pencils or play dough and stamps with her so willingly.


There is nothing sweeter in the world than to see L and M getting along and loving each other-laughing and giggling...it's the best!!

Last Monday, for family home evening, we made a trip to temple square to see all the lights. Both the girls loved it!



This is in front of the reflecting pool. At Christmas time, they put in lots of clear floating balls with artificial candles inside. It is really pretty!

It's hard to believe, but M turned one yesterday!! On Wednesday, we went shopping to get a present for her, and she had a definite opinion about what she wanted. She just about jumped out of the shopping cart trying to get the dolls. So that's what we got. We had a nice little party for her, with cake and sherbet. M thought it was all pretty cool. However, L had a hard time with M getting a present. It seems that the best recipe for disaster is to have a birthday party and give presents to someone OTHER than the three-year-old. WOW, L had a fit! As you may notice, we didn't get a single picture of M with her new doll, and that's because L had it the whole time.




Yeah, that's the way to eat your cake, M. Just pick up the whole thing and snarf it down. Yum!


Mmmm, that was good!




Yay!! A baby doll!! Just what I wanted!