maren in the snow

We're way, way behind on posting - and we have a lot of photos to catch up with! - but, since it's nearly bedtime here, just a quick video of our winter adventures in Spokane.

(You will probably notice an interest in the bodily functions of the dog which were visible in the snow. Trust us when we say that the video only gives you a glimpse of how very, very fascinating Maren found that whole phenomenon.)

a birthday song

Enjoy a little music from Maren, who has been singing her version of "Happy Birthday" for quite awhile. (Please note the move from, "happy baby" to, "happy Maren to you." A little personalized night music.)

Elmopalooza! Birthday #2.

Although her actual birthday isn't for a few days yet, Maren celebrated her "happy" on Saturday with an Elmo-themed party. Elmo was everywhere. Maren had a great time with family and friends and emerged with a serious sugar high and lots of new, fun toys.

Mommy was inordinately proud of this cake.

Stick the nose on Elmo.

"Here, Zoe, let me help you."

Success!

Two candles!

Mmmm....cake.

Cake joy for Wyatt...

...and for Zoe.

"Mom, my face is covered in frosting. This is embarrassing."

Hanging with Sofia, waiting to open presents.

Presents,

presents,

and more presents.

Everybody enjoyed the Sesame Street playhouse.

Elmo slippers!

And a beautiful outfit from Grams and Gramps.

Zoe gets in on the present gig.

The doctor's kit was a big hit...

...although we may need to work on the placement of the blood pressure cuff.

"No, mama. MINE."

What do some 2-year olds need after cake? Cookies. Naturally.

Fia, Maren's one true love.

All that partying really wears a girl out, you know.

cookie monster

Maren helped make cookies today.

Maren also helped eat a lot of cookie dough today. Cook's prerogative, after all.

more new words

New words every day! It's hard to keep track of them all...

doosh (juice)
Fiday (Friday)
baseball
football
bashball (basketball)
sorry (that one should come in handy)
fend (friend)
fama (grandma)
bapa (grandpa)
cayshun (vacation)
weed (read: as in, "weed, mama," many times daily)
DOP (stop) (always said with great force, "NO, DOP!")
funny
happy (usually in reference to a birthday, sometimes in song form)
big (usually in reference to "big poop poop." Self-explanatory.)
boo (blue)
yewow (yellow)
paapaa (purple)
mosyo (motorcycle)
mumpy (monkey)
song

And who can end a post without some photos? Not me.

an update from maren

Hi, everybody.

I don't know what is wrong with my parents - they are not updating this blog very often! Why? I'm not sure. I mean, I am pretty busy and I do a lot of stuff, so there's lots of things they could tell you, but sometimes after I go to bed I hear them talking about how they are so tired and how I am "very cute" but also "a lot of work," whatever that means.

Also, they keep telling me I am going to be two. But when they ask me how old I am, I say that I am four. (I say it like this; "fo.") So I don't think they know what they are talking about.

I have learned a lot of new words, though. Now I can say, "thank you, mama," and, "thank you daddy," which I say about a hundred times every day. My parents really seem to like this. Today I went to see some animals at a farm and every time I saw one, I would say, "Hi! How are you doing?" Like this:

Maren: Hi, tookee! How doooing? (I was talking to the turkey at the time.)
Turkey: (silence)

The turkey is not a very good conversationalist.

But I also rode a choo-choo train, which was very exciting. Choo-choos are one of my very favorite things. I also like to put all my dolls to sleep and change their diapers. This makes a big mess in my room, but this is okay. I can tell my parents that I want to play in my room and they think that is great. "I woom!" I say, and then I can go upstairs by myself, but it is more fun if mom or dad comes with me. Although if they let me go alone, I do like to see the looks on their faces when they come upstairs and see the whole dresser full of clothes I have neatly strewn all over the floor. That is pretty hilarious.

The other day I put on my mom's shoes and said that I was going to work. "I wook!" I said, and she and cousin Katie thought that was so funny. I don't know why. It's hard work being 23 months.

I know that mommy works at "shursh" and daddy works at "shool." I like to go to church with daddy and I like to talk about going to the "nursee," but then when I get close to the nursery I usually change my mind.

Would you like to see some photos? I thought so. I will try to make my parents post more often.

See you soon!
Love,
Maren.

Hi!

This is me with my mom at church. She wears funny clothes there.

My dad and my grandma and grandpa and my aunt and uncle and cousin Wyatt took the train to the baseball game and WE RODE ON THE CHOO-CHOO AND IT WAS THE BEST DAY EVER.

Also, I loved the Mariner Moose so much that when we came home, I wanted to take the Christmas sweater off my moose and put Mariners' clothes on him. Luckily we had some!

One day I went to the zoo and saw penguins! That was great.

When grams and gramps visit me I really like to read stories with them.

I also really like these apples from Aunt Brenda and Uncle Bob. I have eaten a lot of them.

And I am really, really good at picking tomatoes.

Also eating them.

Daddy showed me how to pick the red ones.

I do like my daddy a lot.

Also my mama.

They took me on another train!

And they taught me to look one way...

...and then the other...

...before you pose.

Hi, chicken! How are you doing?

Hi, pig! How are you doing?

Hi, bunny! How are you doing?

Ride 'em, cowgirl.