Matt & Karisa: January 2011 (second half)

Ohhhhh, Mattaya.

This was her RESTAURANT. She is happiest when she is busy feeding her animals. Breakfast, lunch, tea parties, birthday parties, restaurants--you name it.

Silly, Kenna!

It seems not to matter how many times I show her that the button in the middle is what makes the music play and the lights flash--she is forever trying to press the LIGHT!

Ingesting some trail mix whilst absorbing some Sesame Street.

Her hippo impression.

Painting with watercolors. Very seriously.

Ducky gets a new 'do @ Mattaya's Hair Salon.

Painting with REAL paint (which she was referring to as "paint in a can"...which took me a WHILE to interpret as "jars of fingerpaint").

Skidders! Makenna didn't know what to do with all that traction!

Well if Little Sister is trying on HER new shoes, Big Sister must need to model hers as well...

Why a picture of a giant green bag [wearing a hat]? Let me tell you. This is Matt's A3 bag (for work--it has all his cold weather gear in it). He left that monstrosity parked in the entryway by the main bathroom for about a week. Naturally, Mattaya NAMED it. The bag was first called "Mrs. Husband" (which cracked me up since I was sorely tempted to nag MY husband every time I passed it). This was at the beginning of her Toy Story obsession, and it was later revealed that she was attempting to call it "Mrs. NESBIT"...although she was then calling it "Mrs. Huzbit". Whatever. ANYWAY...so Matt FINALLY went to put it away, and Mattaya could not BEAR the thought. Matt, of course, humored Mattaya and let her keep Mrs. Huzbit in the playroom where they could enjoy frequent tea parties. Mattaya placed the sunhat on Mrs. Huzbit, because in Toy Story, Mrs. Nesbit (played by Buzz Lightyear) wears a hat with a flower.

Breakfast for Mrs. Huzbit.

Cooperative Creative Expression

Makenna has begun skipping most of her morning naps, so she has been present for morning project time. This day we were making cards for Uncle Larry, who suffered a massive heart attack but is doing remarkably well for what he endured--Praise God!

Mommy: (who had stepped away to grab a scissors) Makenna, did you put the marker in your mouth?

Makenna: Huh?????

Mommy: Makenna, open your mouth...

Makenna: Ahhhhhhh! (grin)

Mommy: No markers in your mouth--no no no no no.

Makenna: Ummmm...you didn't say anything about markers on my face.

They grow up SO FAST. People always say that. I've heard it a million times. But it never ceases to surprise me how quickly they grow and change.

I know what day this was. This was the day of the sewage back up in the basement (it was the first time she wore this new shirt...I think that's why I remember). So not fun. Sooooooo ICKY.

The sewage backup led to the purchase of ANOTHER shop vac (because Matt and 2 coworkers were going at it with 3 of them and weren't getting on top of it). New shop vac = new BIG BOX. Mattaya immediately filled it with stuffed animals, and the girls thought that seemed like a cozy place to play.

Now Makenna not only loves on her baby dolls, she shushes them--it's just too cute!

Bedhead in a Box

"What am I wearing?!"

An outfit Auntie Cindy and Uncle Larry gave Mattaya a long time ago!

Matt disapppeared for a few days to attend a conference in MN. Mattaya has been such a big girl and such a good helper I thought I'd give this a go. I thought maybe I could finish getting lunch ready in peace if the ankle-biter was trapped and being fed. Bonus: if Mattaya's tied up doing the feeding, that's one less person to worry about. It went surprisingly well (with very little mess)! I thought it was hilarious to see Mattaya doing the mouth motions. ;)