Lil Chef Helper

OK, so I have created a monster! I don't have a stool yet for Mailee to stand on where she can see what I am doing on the counter and she is getting too old to want to stay in her highchair (the place lovingly referred to as "food jail")So, I put her sitting on the counter to help me make chocolate chip cookies. She loved the place of honor (of course!) and now we argue a couple times a day because she thinks that is where she belongs.

Oh well, she looked cute and was a pretty good helper, pouring things etc. It also gave me a reason to get the cleansers and clutter off the kitchen counter. (Yes, I did realize after snapping pics that my darling was posing in front of bleach and carpet cleanser- Now in the Laundry Room!)

Now I just have to get that stool for my Lil Chef!!!

The Teacher in me...

OK, so the teacher in me really thought that Mailee was ready for magnetic letters. I didn't expect her to be making words or anything, I am not THAT off-base, but I thought she's like to move them around...


HOWEVER... The Mom in me did not enjoy playing 26+ letter pick-up a few times. Fun game! But these letters will be making another refrigerator debut in a few months!!!

Christmas in July!

Our church celebrated Christmas in July, complete with a "snow storm" in the parking lot. Nothing like a snowball fight in the summer! And, yes, that is a Christmas Cookie in Mini Miss' hand. That was her favorite part. It was a huge gingerbread man. She was working on it for about 45 minutes and it never left her hand, even when Cousins Laney and DB were having a snowball fight around her! (I love the shot of Laney getting tagged in the back with a snowball!)
Seriously though, it was a nice opportunity to reflect on the birth of Jesus without the hectic mess of the "Christmas Season."

Merry Christmas!!!

Hermosa Beach Family Vacation!

Hermosa 2008- Family Vacation

We had so much fun!!!

Mailee's First Bike! Thank you Abbey!

Our good friends Christi and Abbey Wyrrick are heading off for a year in China. They leave tomorrow and as we wish them love and blessings on their journey, they left us with presents too. Abbey was kind enough to give Mailee a bike, a potty seat (we're not quite ready yet, but it is coming!) and some clothes and stuff.

As you can see, Mailee LOVES her bike!!!

Thank you Abbey and Christi! We will miss you and pray for you. Enjoy your adventures back in China!!! Have a great time! - Love, MMM X 2 (and Johnny)

Clean Queen!

Simi Water Park

Yesterday we went to the Simi Valley Water Park with Kate, Maddie, and Preston. We had a lot of fun and it was the first time Mailee mixed herself in with the millions of other kids running through the hoses and sprinklers. It was so fun to watch her! She even nudged herself by an older girl to get close to a sprinkler to fill up her cup. That's Daddy's Girl!

In these pictures you can see what a ham Kate's 4 year-old, Maddie, is and what a good "big sister" she can be! She took good care of Mailee, playing in the water. Love her!