Two Story House

As most of you know we are trying to close on a house. It is a short sale though and keeps getting pushed back. I think "Why do they call it a short sale if they always take a long time?"

Anyway, when we went to see the house we decided immediately that we would have to replace the flooring - it is gross.

So one day Mara said "Those people at the tooth fairy house didn't take care of it."

I said "What? Tooth fairy house?"

She said "Yes, the people at the tooth fairy house didn't take care of the carpet but we will."

Then it dawned on me - she meant two-story house!

Attitude

Mara came in our room and told us "We need to go outside. Can't we just go outside? We just need extra time by our selves." So I start typing it on her blog and she says "That is not even how you spell it." She is almost four and can't read yet - what an attitude. So when Nathan asked her how she knows that it is not spelled like that she stomped out of the room saying "You don't even know what I am talking about." Yesterday she showed me the dress she wants to wear for her princess party. I asked her if she was going to wear a princess dress because on the invitation we told all the girls to wear princess dresses. She said "Well, it is my party and I can wear whatever I want." What a stinker. Is she turning four or fourteen?

Halloween Party

We have been talking about doing a Halloween party instead of trick or treating. So we were in the truck today and saw a police officer pull someone over. Mara said "We should invite the fire fighters and police officers to our Halloween party since we know their number." I asked "We know there number? What is it?" She said "Can you help me with the first one?" I said "Nine". She said "Yes, 9-1-1! You know like Daddy would call if something happened to you. We can call and invite them." Too cute! But I did have to explain that we could only use 9-1-1 for an emergency. She is very thoughtful though.

Bowling

Mara asked if we could go bowling sometime. Daddy told her that we might be able to but last time we went he hurt his back and said “Do you remember that?” Mara said “no”. Then Daddy said “Don’t you remember when Grandpa Hoffmann was here and..” Mara cut in and said “Oh, Grandpa Hoffmann was here and Mommy had to take you to the Hospital and Grandpa had to pick up the kids from school.” Daddy said “Yes, do you remember that?” Mara said “No”!

Target

Mara is a trip today. While checking out at Target I hear Mara in a very grown up customer service voice saying "Thank you for shopping at Target."

Look at me

Mara walks into our room dressed like this and says "Now I look like a mom."

Taking pictures

Today we were sitting around and Mara was taking pictures on her play phone with a camera. She kept saying "Say cheese." Then she said "Say chicker treat."

A true blogger

Nathan has his homepage set to LDS.org. Mara was next to him when he brought up the internet and she said "Oh, I know that site - that is Jesus' website." As Nathan talked with her about it a little more and said that he isn't sure if Jesus posts stuff on it but the prophet does. She said "Okay, it is Jesus' website and the Prophet's blog." A true blogger at heart.

Mara is out sitting on Papa's lap as he works on the computer. She pointed to the older computer next to him and said "That is your old computer, isn't it?" Papa said, "Yes". Then Mara said, pointing to the computer he was working on "And this is Grandma's computer, but you paid for it, so you can use it." What a crack up - the girl is not even four yet.

The dogs

Grandma and Papa came home today and they were bringing stuff in the house. I mentioned to Anderson not to open the door so the dogs wouldn't get out. Mara said "Yes, because they can't go out without their hooks." What an interesting way of describing a leash.

Beauty School Here She Comes

Between sessions of General Conference today Brooklynn fixed her sister's hair. I think she used every barrette we own!

I love you more than...

In our game of I love you more than ... Mara is getting a little crazy. So I thought I would share some of the things that she loves me more than:

a cat

a jet

a mouse

a guitar

an ear

a cow

a phone

and my personal favorite - I love you more than toothpaste

I am beginning to think she just says whatever she can see around the room or wherever we are.

regardless I am so glad that I am loved!

Drama

Today on the way to a friend's party Mara and I were talking about who might be at the party. She mentioned one boy and commented about how he behaved in Primary today. She said "He was ruining his mom's life." Talk about drama. Then when I laughed her reaction was "No seriously, he was ruining her life." So when I told the Mom about it she thought it was the funniest thing ever.

Here is Mara playing on the computer. It takes her awhile to get the mouse where she wants it and then to click the mouse - she is just tickled pink when it really happens. She is quite excitable!

Playing in the rain - Tropical Storm Fay

Who is responsible?

Mara is struggling with accountability. First cupcakes turned up with no frosting. With frosting on her face she put her blanket over her face and hid in the corner. I wonder who was responsible?

Then this is my favorite --- "someone" colored on the toy bed, but Mara has no idea who did it. I laughed - if you look closely Mara has actually written her name on it! If you are going to pass it off on someone else - next time don't use your own name.

Remote Control

Mara is used to seeing the patrols at school helping the kids. Well, we were walking the other day and she saw the crossing guard walking and said "Look Mommy, there is the remote control." I guess she thinks he is the head patrol or something. So yesterday I told him that as we waited for the kids and he laughed - he said he has been called many things, but never the remote control!

Mara reading the Book of Mormon

The kids are reading the Book of Mormon out loud on the way to school. Well, when we went to pick up the kids Mara wanted to get her turn. So she opens the Book of Mormon and starts to tell me the story. She started with "Laman and Lemon..." It was so cute I couldn't pay that much attention to anything else she said. I started thinking about what a cutie she is and how she is growing up so fast. At least she knows who Laman and Lemuel are! Way to go, Mara!

I am a sweet pea

Today Mommy and Anderson and I had to run a few errands. Anderson was really tired and threw a fit leaving the first store. He did great at the second store, but as we were checking out he dropped his lollipop from the pharmacy on the floor. I quickly took a bite off the top and gave the rest of mine to Anderson. I am peaceful and without prompting.

Room Mom

I got a note today from Dallen's Room Moms and they are both moms of kids that are in Chloe's class. I told her about one of them and then later found out the name of the other child. When I went to tell her the name of the girl I said "Chloe' guess who Dallen's other room mom is? ___ Mom!" Chloe' said "No way! " She was all excited. As I left the room I heard Mara faintly say "Who is Dallen's new mom?"

After Scriptures

Well, as most of you know we are getting over a tropical storm that has caused endless rain and cabin fever in the worst way possible. I finally gathered the wild animals together last night to read some scriptures and it was like it took forever. We read from the Book of Mormon Reader so it is not like it was even the detailed scriptures in scripture language, but one would think it was going on for an eternity.

When I closed the book one of the children asked very enthusiastically "Are we done?" Very tired and having suffered from a migraine all day, I said "Yes." Then out of nowhere Mara said " Yea! Now we can go wild!"

I just chuckled and said "No, now you get to get ready for bed." Nice try.

Birdie

Mara was over on my bed and started talking about feathers. She told me last night she heard a birdie singing. Then she said "I think the birdie flew in here into your pillow." I replied "No sweetie that is a feather pillow - they put feathers in them to make them soft."

Reading

Mara asked me to help her read a book about colors, so I showed her that the words were the colors on the page. She was so excited when she read the whole book that she ran out to show the kids. A couple minutes later I could hear her say "Anderson can read! I teachded him!" She was so excited.

Dream

As we tucked Mara into bed she very enthusiastically told us about her dream last night. In her dream she was a baby and she "scareded five little baby ghostes" (two syllables). She said they were evil. She said it was such a fun dream.

Scrapbooking

Grandma and I have been scrapbooking a lot lately trying to get some of Grandma's pictures done. Mara picked up a picture of herself and so non-chalantly said "Why I am the cutest in the family?"

Random Shots

I love you

I asked Mara if she had anything to put on her blog and she sais "Yes, I love you, Grandma Curtis. " So there it is - she loves you, Grandma Curtis!

Busy

Nathan was getting ready to leave for work when Mara asked him to read a book. Nathan told her that he couldn't because he had to leave but told her he would read it to her later. She replied "I'm busy later." So grown up, I tell you.

Sarah and Mara

Instant love!

Sweet Dreams

We have been busy this summer. It is beginning to show - one day Mara came into my room, jumped up on the bed and went right to sleep. Sweet dreams!

Mara and Evan

This is me and Evan my other best friend (and cousin).

My best friend

This is Shayla, my best friend and I play with her all the time. I love Emilee too. And Michelle too.

Mara at Chloe's end of the year party

This is Mara at Chloe's end of the year luau. We had a blast.