The perfect Stocking Stuffer...

It was fun getting a Christmas tree this year with our little helper. I had such perfect visions of how I thought or (dreamed) it would go. We'd frolic happily through all the freshly cut trees looking for that "perfect one" while breathing in the smell of pine. We'd then spend the night decorating as a family listening to carols and talking about baby Jesus and why santa brings us toys, and it would all by captured on video to look back on as a happy memory. Well, most of this happened only instead of a pine forrest, we went to Lowes and it was freezing cold. Mauree was excited for the first 3 minutes but then couldn't feel her hands. The "perfect tree" didn't just jump out on us, so we carefully looked through many and found one to make our perfect tree. When I tried to film Mauree helping she just screamed at the top of her lungs...did I mention she is two?

Sunday night was our family night to decorate. It went pretty much as planned, Mauree had fun helping and it was great to see the excitement in her eyes. She wouldn't let me film, she must get that from her daddy because he hates it when I pull out the camera. So I thought I would be sneaky and set it up to film us all trimming the tree with out them knowing. That was a good idea until I forgot that I was filming us and left it on for forever. All of this would have been fine only the tape was in the wrong spot, and yes I recorded over pretty much ALL of our first Utah trip in over a Year!!!!! Mauree watched it every day. she loved seeing all of her cousins and grandparents and all of the fun things we did. It was seriously one of my favorite tapes ever. I am still sick about it. So by trying to make it a happy memory it will always haunt me as a very frustrating and sad day as well. But what can I do? NOTHING!! Thank goodness I have my sweet little helper who made my night by filling my stocking with the best gift ever! Herself!!! The night wasn't so bad after all!

It's official, I have no idea what I am doing on this darn blog. I'm sure it really is so simple but apparently I am a little too blonde for my own good....or should I say my own bad? Please be patient with my humble little blog as hopefully it will evolve into something grand one day!

Matt had to fo to D.C. for work last week so Mauree and I went with him. I love it there. We always stay in Pentagon City, and I love how convenient everything is. It is a great atmosphere. We are blessed because it is all payed for, so it gives us a chance to go to the temple and be tourists all for free. To make a temple trip other wise would be pretty pricey, so we are very grateful. We always have a good time. The last two times we just totally hung out and relaxed. It was so nice!

Our best friends from Texarkana, Candice and Aaron and their two girls just moved to D.C. It has been over a year since we last saw them, so it was soooo good to hang out with them and let our little ones play! They are the greatest. I sure missed them. Their house is only a few metro stops away from our hotel, so it was easy to go visit. Mauree LOVES the "train" and talks about how we get to ride it in Washington all the time! She also loves going to the temple. We have had wonderful experiences while there and it has been fun to see how she Loves it as well and can tell it is a special place. Last trip we took her in to meet "Heavenly Fathers Helpers" so she could associate that it was more than a pretty building. She always talks about going back. Now any tall building with a pointed roof is a temple...I love how she thinks! Here are a few pics from random trips.

Calling all Doctors

As you all will notice as you look through these pictures, Mauree has some funky little sores on her right eye. It looks horrible I know, but hopefully they will be gone soon. It is a bummer because the Doctor isn't sure what it is. Some sort of skin infection from a bacteria she picked up some where. That grosses me out, especially when I am a hand washing/sanitizing germ freak. I swear I am always cleaning her hands, wiping down shopping carts or whatever it may be. This is all new to me, so just be aware that aparently a cold isn't the only thing we can catch while we are out and about. She has been on two different antibiotics and eye cream since before Halloween. I am so ready for them to go away. I get so protective of her and wonder what people think when they see her. I know it doesn't matter because I know she is adorably perfect no matter what! So if any of you have advice on what you might think it is, i would love to hear because I still haven't got an answer from my doctor. They haven't really seen it before. Now thats comforting huh!

Okay, I just have to talk about my sweet princess Mauree for a minute! She is such a fun little girl. Every day she gets cuter and cuter I swear. She is such a girly girl. She is so obsessed with clothes, shoes, jewelry, and purses. She will spend hours going through piles of clothes shirt by shirt holding each one up saying "OH CUUUTE!" She loves to hold them up to daddy and gets upset if he tries to take them off or if he doesn't acknowledge that each one is "so CUUTE"! I don't know why I even bother folding laundry or cleaning her room anymore! Another thing she loves to say is "Oh I LUV IT". This can be heard as she is accessorizing like it is 1983. Good thing she looks beautiful no matter what she is in! She already asks to go to target. She knows right where the clothes and shoes are. It's fun for a minute but I spend more time cleaning up after her than anything else....Oh well, at least I have a shopping buddy set for life.

Am I a BLOGGER?

So, I guess I will give this thing you all call "blogging" a whirl. My attempts have been pretty interesting to say the least. But thanks to my good friend Amanda, I think I have the basics down. If you notice any mispelled words or funky layouts, just pretend that it looks neat, cuz chances are I will be so proud of myself for posting and probably meant to do it anyway...right! So any way, here we go!! Now that we are living way out on the East coast I feel so out of the loop. I love looking at everyones blogs and catching up on what I can. Hopefully I can keep you up dated on what's going on in our little world! This summer was great with visits from my parents and Matt's.

We are lucky enough to live near the ocean so we spent many days at the beach and boardwalk...or "boodwalk" as Mauree likes to call it! It is one of our favorite places to go. There is nothing like the sound of the ocean, the feel of the breeze, and the smell of funnel cakes and fried oreo's (yes oreo's). It is a wonderful place! Mauree turned 2 this July and we had a Princess party with crowns, jewelry and all. It is so fun having a girly girl! Any way, here are a few of my favorite times this summer. If you know me, you know by now that I am never on time for anything!! So why start with posting pictures of the right season? I feel like I need to do catch up...better late than never right?