Green beans

We were eating dinner when Mara noticed the little beans in her green beans.

Mara: there's a little pea inside!!
Me: yes, there are tiny beans. Eat the whole thing!!
Mara: I love green beans- they're my favorite treat!!

I had to confirm that she meant treat, and she assures me that they are. Makes me smile :) keep that perspective little one!!

Oops!!

I forgot!! In February, we celebrated 5 years together!! With Grace's help (and her roommate) we were able to spend a night at the local Marriott ALONE!! Our first night without kids in three and a half years!!!! It was so amazing we forgot to take pictures :) but trust me, it was so worth it!!

Last one!!

February began with hope of some warmth, sunshine, and better breathing air.

Also, my kids are obsessed with balloons.  Even this picture set Levi off on a "B" babble.  

As she gets older and more exciting, Mara has begun to try fun acrobatic moves.  Levi is determined to be just like her.  Always.  In everything she does.  Its quite hilarious.

Levi turned 18 months mid-February and has begun the mischievous stage of the terrible twos. Everything from eating lipgloss with a "my little ponies" comb, to brushing the kitty (or trying to brush my hair with that nasty kitty brush), to trying to delay bedtime by bringing the pillows to the front room.  He also fell off the bathroom counter this morning.....but thats another story.  (I just hope he learned his lesson!)

February also had a few firsts.

 Ian's work gave him Jazz tickets so Ian and I went to our first Jazz game, with decent seats.  We weren't even in the lower bowl (the second to bottom row in the top bowl though), but I'll tell you this much, neither of us enjoyed it enough to spend as much as those tickets were worth!! I'm so glad I married someone NOT obsessed with sports! 

Mara used a vending machine for the first time and LOVED it.  She just kept pushing the buttons and hoping for more.  

As the kids get older and begin to play together a bit more, I am thoroughly enjoying their troublemaking antics.

They asked me if I could get them breakfast.  Mara: Special K red berries.  Levi: Mini-marshmallows.  

They go on shopping trips together.  

They repurpose furniture.

One day I heard Levi wake up from his nap and then he went silent.  This is what I found.

I tell you, these kids.  Spending so much time inside makes them quite inventive and self-entertaining!

 Of course, Mara still needs her snow walks occasionally.

Only one trip for Ian in February!!  But one day he was taking forever getting home so I asked what    was taking so long...

Sometimes you just have to be patient!

March, although only 8 days in, has been entertaining already!

It began with a breakfast experiment- Cinnamon Roll Pancakes with cream cheese syrup.  Amazing! Seriously! You need to try these!!

We had a friend come over for a few days and the kids enjoyed imagining with him. 

Rocket ship! To the moon!

Mara tried her hand at Mr. Potato Head....She's a bit mixed up, but she likes it! (also has been wearing her Belle dress all week...That girl is hooked!)

Ian had said he wanted to let Mara's bangs grow, so I haven't been cutting them... But a few nights ago, I couldn't take the shaggy dog look anymore!  So I just trimmed a thinner layer.  Sorry Mara, can't let 'em go quite yet!

So there you have it! A fully, completely, up to date blog!! Hooray!

Catch-Up Continued

In January we continued to have fun with family in town.  Grace likes sweets...so I couldn't help but encourage the sugar overload, even if it didn't help with the "new year weight loss" ideas I had.  We made red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and cream puffs (among other things).  They were all soooo good!!

Mara got a little thirsty and turned vampire on us, but she's back to normal now :) 

The red velvet cupcakes were especially for Daniel and Ashley's return since they are her favorite cake...though we are not Alabamian nor do we make it as good as grandma(granny?)....but, she still smiled and licked her lips :)  

While they were here, the kids had dance parties and had a blast hanging out together.  

During another trip they exercised together.  I tell you, these kids know how to bond :)

The first part of the year brought an awesome snowfall.  Levi was napping so I decided to shovel the driveway while Mara romped happily in the snow. 

It was pretty deep and she eventually ended up in a ball of tears when she fell down in waist deep snow, lost her glove, and realized how cold she was.

 Ian took a few more business trips in January.

During one of the flights he was able to get a picture of the nasty inversion that kept us all in stuffy heads and drippy noses for the better part of the month.

Staying inside wasn't always fun, but we made the most of it. 

 Levi discovered the best way to watch Sesame Street.

Mara spent much of the time teasing her brother.  Here she put the step stools (which he needed to climb onto the couch) on the back of the couch, intensifying his distress. 

On one day she begged and begged to go outside.  She put all her jewelry on and then retrieved her boots from the garage and told me she was ready.  How could I say no!?  So I let her walk around on the 4x4 deck until she got cold.  It was a perfect solution and totally satisfied her.

January ended with another good snow storm and the kids and I played while Ian shoveled.  The snow piles were awesomely high and the kids made the pictures of it much more exciting.  

And just before going inside we made snow angels.  Just about the only thing I like to do in the snow.  I blame my brothers' many, many, whitewashes for solidifying my dislike of truly playing in the snow :) I guess with young kids, I'm going to have to get over it, at least for a little while, and January gave me plenty of opportunity!