Becky and Jon and Mary

Mary is now standing

She is into everything. While up at Julie's she loved getting up and playing the piano. She also loved to army scoot into Abby's room and play her guitar. I think she might have some of her father's musical tallent. Being able to pul to standing has made life with Mary a little bit harder. Know almost nothing is out of her reach. She is still a very curious baby.

Get together with Nicole and Michelle!

Finally I'm posting some of these photos. Over the break Nicole and Michelle and I got to together and hung out with our babies. It was a lot of fun to talk and go out to lunch. I remember my life without a baby. I remember one time in particular I had a sister call me and talk for a while. When I got off the phone one of my roommates asked, "who was that?-- they talked forever!" I replied, "It's my sister, I think she gets bored of just talking to babies all day so she decided to call me." I must agree that since I've had a baby I starve for communication with the outside world. I now love when my sisters call and I love getting together with friends. Especially friends with babies. Because I might not always appreciate talking to Mary, but I do love talking about Mary.I'm sure that I've bored many a stranger, family, and friends by doing this. But it is especially fun to talk to Nicole and Michelle because our babies are so close in age--and we all love to talk about our babies! Nicole and Michelle have the cutest little boys! It's fun to see the babies interact with each other. It was so nice to go out and have a good time.

Great Blog

My sister is a wonderful cook, and because I'm struggleing she has created a blog just for me. Not everyone can make bread that a toaster can't pop up, but I can! Jon says he likes it because, "It doesn't get smooshed in my backpack" He's going to make a great lawyer one day! The blog has step by step instructional photos for the reading impaired--me.

http://recipiequeen.blogspot.com/

Oh, Goodness!

Mary has learned to open cupboards. I would write more but I have to go clean up some pots and pans....videos...and whatever cupboard she has opened while I'm busy cleaning up her other messes!

Mary's New Years Resolution is.....

To sleep through the night.

She had it down once, but with traveling and teething it has become a thing of the past. Wish her luck, I'm going to need it.

Christmas!

We had a white Christmas down in St. George with my parents. Mary loves opening presents...I think she mostly loves eating paper. She also loved getting into the tree and derailing Grandma's train and pulling off the ornaments. Other than these few naughty things Mary has been very good girl this year so Santa brought her some blocks, My Little Ponies, and some chew toys. Grandma Ravenberg gave Mary the cutest little quite book that she made. Jon's parents gave her some little story books. She loves all her gifts! And pulls them out daily for me to put back away. Jon and I got a wii and a wii fit. We have loved playing it and had a blast with it up in Bennington. Jon's syblings have created a lot of high scores that I may never live up to. I will write more later. For now enjoy these photos from our Christmas day.

Trip to see Santa

We took Mary to see Santa. After 45 min of waiting for Santa to feed his Raindeer Santa finally showed up at the mall. Santa and I have the same camera. So I decided I would just use mine. Mary was super cute and smiled for me. Although, I do wonder what she told Santa she wanted. But I bet I could guess..she said, "I want this awfully uncomfortable bow off my head." Because it only stayed on for as long as it took this photo to be taken.

Coolest Birthday Candle Ever

Kelly's Birthday cake with the candle. The candle is the bright light in the middle.

I have to say I am more excited about this candle than I am about most things. When I think of this candle I smile. I'm serious. It's the coolest candle ever! And I found one for Jon's birthday.We are going to light it next Friday at his family birthday party. I know all the kids will love it as much as I do. And I want to video tape it to put up on this blog. I first saw one of these candles in China. My friend Kelly had a birthday and she invited me out to the country to celebrate with her family. Her family bought this beautiful cake and in the center had this candle. I had never seen a candle like it before. It was a blooming flower. In the center it had a firecracker that as it blew sparks a foot high in the air also lit several candles that were on each petals of the flower. As it did this it also played Happy Birthday to you. It continued to play happy birthday to you all night long. I LOVED it. My eyes widened and I told Kelly, "that is the coolest Birthday candle ever." I had never seen anything like it before. Kelly's mom, in true Chinese tradition, saw my love for the candle and went to the local bakery and bought one for me. I thought they must be a fire hazard and would never be allowed to be sold in America. In fact I was a little hesitant to take my firecracker birthday candle home on the airplane...I'm pretty sure you aren't suppose to take firecracker/explosive items on planes. We used the candle I had received from Kelly for my father's birthday. My mom invited around fifteen people and all in attendance loved the candle. Flash back to this year. I am bored waiting for some photos to finish at Smiths. I was talking to a friend from my ward who was debating what chocolate chips to buy. As I talked I lean on the isle across from the chocolate chips. And hanging there is THIS CANDLE. Right there at my local Smiths Market Place. I stopped mid sentence and started telling everybody who would listen how cool they were.

Here is a link so you can see one in action

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQSwiDcNN1E&feature=related

On the back of the package it had a website. So here you go in case you want to buy one too. http://www.magicalbirthdaycandle.com/

Mary of the Month Club

I decided for Christmas I would do a "Mary of the Month Club" and send photos and updates to her grandparents. If you are not a grandparent and would like to be a member of the Mary of the Month Club just send us 12 easy payments of $9.99 plus shipping and handling. All proceeds go to feed and clothe Mary. It's the gift that keeps on giving. But wait order now on this blog and you can be a member for only six easy payments of $9.99. That's all the Mary at half the price! Nothings says you care better than this little sweetheart. Just check out this month's photo.

Mary's first snow day

It was fun to get out an enjoy the snow today. We took Mary out sledding. She wasn't as impressed as I had hoped she would be. We kept telling her, "If you aren't having a good time we'll just have to stop doing fun things with you." Kids today just don't understand the meaning of having a good time. Jon and I had a blast. It was like Jon was ten again. He even didn't like to share with the other kids on the hill-since he had taken the time to make his path just perfect and in the optimal location. We also pulled Mary around in the sled. She mostly just lied there like a little rag doll. But we thought it looked like fun.