Visiting Santa and Friends

Recently, we took a trip to the North Pole... at the mall... in Boise, ID.

And while we were anxiously waiting in line to see **SANTA**, my lil model gave me this lil number....

Too bad the picture on Santa's lap was the complete opposite, thus- not posted on the blog.

I think the reindeer's expression says it all and sums up this picture perfectly!

Ribbit, Ribbit...

I have never been a very big fan of frogs... until I met this one.

Precious.

Feliz Cumpleanos a mi hermano!!

Today- my brother turns the big TWO-ONE!!

Happy Birthday Elder Nauahi! Your nieces wanted to tell you happy birthday too...

 Our "photo shoot" was ... entertaining, to say the least.

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY ELDER!!

WE LOVE YOU!!

The Dress

About a year ago, yes- a year ago, I bought fabric and a pattern for a dress to make for Marley. After buying it, putting it on the shelf, and staring at it month after month in hopes it would magically make itself, I thought it was time I finally get to it. I've made blankets and quilts, but never a piece of clothing. And seeing as how the pattern was for a long sleeved dress, it was perfect timing for the chilly weather.

I couldn't have done it without my mom. She told me of how when she was younger and beginning to sew, her "home economics" teacher was a perfectionist when it came to sewing clothes. The rule was "the inside of the garment must look as good as the outside". Which means- no loose threads, everything hemmed, ironed and completely lined. Maybe this is how you're really supposed to sew- but needless to say- DO NOT LOOK AT THE INSIDE OF THE DRESS I MADE. I had never used a pattern before and I'm pretty sure I asked my mom the same question a million times on how to lay it out and cut it. Who would have thought you have to cut it at a certain angle or on a fold or flip over the pattern so you cant see the writing??? I'm confusing myself all over again just thinking about. Maybe one day I'll build up the endurance to attempt another dress...

But, probably not. One time was enough.

However, I think it turned out really cute, if I do say so myself. And Marley LOVES her new dress.

I should have made a skirt so she could wear it for like 4 years. That way- I wouldn't have to do another for a long time. Dangit.

Pumpkins, Paint... and Homework

It's been far too long since I have blogged. And I'm only doing it now because my sister-in-law has threatened my life if I don't. Love you Court.

This past week, we went to THE PUMPKIN PATCH! Marley had such a fun time with her cousin Claire looking for the perfect pumpkin. However, every single pumpkin we came across was "the perfect pumpkin", I'm glad we managed to make it out of there with only 3 rather than 30.

Marley only wanted "baby" pumpkins, you know the kind you can hold in the palm of your hand, but I convinced her to get a bigger one too. 

I'm not a big fan of carving pumpkins- A) it's exhausting B) it's messy C) they never look as cute as they do on the package of stencils you use to carve them and D) they last for like 4 days and then turn into mush.

No thanks.

So instead, today, we went to the craft store (my new found paradise) and I bought 4 paints- they were only .88 cents each- SCORE- so Marley could paint her pumpkins.

Plus, while Marley was painting, I did homework. Win-win. However, it would have been more of a Win-win if homework wasn't involved. But hey, you win some, you lose some, and I better get an A on my Organic Chemistry test. That's all I have to say.

Marley and Claire in the "seedbox"- similar to a "sandbox" except this one was full of corn kernels and pumpkin seeds. This was one of the several fun things to do at the Pumpkin Patch.

At first, I loaded the cart with like... 16 different colors. Then it dawned on me- if I got the 3 primary colors, I can just mix them to make any color I want. 

... Yes, I AM a college student. Art isn't my thing, okay?

Marley painting her "mommy" pumpkin.

And then her "baby" pumpkin. 

The finished pumpkins. 

My future "Picasso", she's so talented!

Elder Nauahi, mi hermano...

Every Sunday night, everyone in  my family reminds everyone else in my family to write Elder Nauahi. And every Sunday night, I put it off until Monday morning. Well, not this time! This time, rather than just an email, I decided to write a blog post for him and about him. I figured that's the least I can doing seeing as how he has done so much for me and for Marley.

I have THE BEST brothers anyone could ask for.

Elder Nauahi, you are the man. Endure to the end. I know the people of Mexico City are truly blessed to have you serving them and the Lord. 

"A missionary leaves his family for two years... so that the people he teaches can be with theirs for an eternity"

Elder Nauahi after he finished climbing the rock wall. He felt way good about himself. Clearly.

 Elder Nauahi and I back in the day drawing with sidewalk chalk. Little do you know, we still enjoy doing this even in our 20's, however, Elder Nauahi's artistic skills have remained the same as when he was a 3 year old.

Is it weird that we still have his favorite sweatshirt?
Nah.
However, I do think it's weird that even though he's been gone almost 19 months, his sweatshirt is laying on the back of a dining room table chair as if he just took it off 30 minutes ago...

On our cruise, I got an extra copy of his room key just so I could sneak in and play pranks on him when he was gone.
Okay, not really. They just made an extra key on accident. But again, is it weird that I kept this? And it's his room key, not even mine...?

Hey Elder, who else sleeps with a barricade of pillows surrounding their entire body as if they are going to be ambushed by something or someone, in the middle of the night, who can't get passed a solid, sturdy "pillow barrier" and feels that if they build one before going to bed, they will be perfectly safe?
Oh ya, YOU.

As I write this blog post, this is what I'm watching. Don't worry, I have all 7 seasons ready for you when you get home.
Jim: "Ok, just so I understand it, in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil?"
Dwight: "Yes, but I haven't told you my salary yet."
Jim: "Go."
Dwight: "Eighty-thousand dollars a year!"

 And finally, here is Marberry, as Elder Nauahi so loving calls her, eating clementines- both of their favorites. We'll save you some, Elder.


I hope you have a good week and work hard. We love you and miss you, Elder Nauahi.
Love, Meghan

sweet dreams, swimsuits & socks

came home tonight, and i find this lil girl in my bed wearing this lil get up...

swimming suit and socks. only Marley.

one sock right side out and one sock inside out. she most definitely dressed herself for bed tonight.

but come on. really, when you look this precious, who cares what you wear, right?

 sweet dreams, Marley.

Uncle Ryan and Aunty Courtney

well, never thought this day would come. but alas, it has. i'm bummed, my mom is bummed, my dad is... bummed. 

 But Marley. 

 Marley is on a whole nother level of bummed. bummed is an understatement. bummed doesn't even begin to cover it.

Her Uncle Ryan and Aunty Courtney are off to Hawai'i. We love you guys.

We already miss you... but not as much as this little girl does...

 I love you Uncle Ryan and Aunty Courtney!
Have fun!

Happy Birthday Madre!!

today, some years ago, the most beautiful, caring, kind hearted woman was born-

...my mom...

and its no coincidence that today is also Beyonce's birthday; little do you know they have A LOT in common.

i love you mom.

you do so much for marley and i and we are so thankful to have you in our lives.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NONA!

i know my mom loves her some pumpkin pie, so i decided to make an extra special birthday treat. rather than the boring ol' birthday cake, i found a recipe on pintrest.com (my new-found obsession thanks to my sister-in-law courtney) for pumpkin pie cupcakes with whipped cream on top. i'm the world's best daughter, seriously.

look how cute the birthday girl is. i put 5 cupcakes on a plate and put a candle in each one. it literally took her 3 full breaths to blow FIVE candles out. and not only that- i've never seen such a spray of saliva come out of someones mouth when blowing out birthday candles. even though i was sitting across the table and down 2 chairs, i swear i felt the spit hit me. you go mom.

for her birthday gift, i made, yes- made her an adorable craft i found on pintrest.com (dang you, court).

i bought the glass container, the vinyl sticker with the saying "welcome fall", the lights inside which are brown, yellow and orange colored, fake leaves, and raffia for the bow on the outside. it didn't take long at all to make the final product. needless to say- my mom loved it!

i hope you had a wonderful birthday, mom! the big 2-9!!

itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow pol ... ok, no polka dots

BUT STILL!! you get the idea... and man does she look good! check. her. out!!

2 weekends ago, marley and i went to black canyon lake for a little fishing, swimming and tanning. we did little of the fishing, she did a lot of the swimming, and i did all of the tanning. we make a good team.

 why can't we all look this cute with chubby leg rolls and saggy bikini bottoms??

life isn't fair.

 

 "Babies don't need a vacation but I still see them at the beach. I'll go over to them and say, 'What are you doing here, you've never worked a day in your life!'."

-Stephen Wright

a fun af"fair"

i have heat stroke, my feet hurt, there's a sticky, sweaty film on my entire body, and i smell of cows. worth it? yes. why? marley had THE BEST day today at the western idaho fair. this was marley's first official trip to the fair and man did she have a blast. mainly because she was able to spend it with her cousin claire (whom marley fondly, sweetly calls "clairebell"). we went late in the afternoon, which was not so smart seeing as how today i failed to listen to the weather forecast in which i'm positive the weatherman would have said "today- it will be AFRICA hot". we stayed a few hours, ate a few more things than we should have, but made some lasting memories. it was definitely a day both marley and i needed seeing as how school started back up for the both of us. so, i look at it as a reward! i can't think of a better reward to receive than being able to play with my baby girl all day at the fair.

*on a side note- one trip on a yearly basis is enough for me. unless the weatherman says "snow storm" in his upcoming 7 day forecast, the fair will wait until next year to see our sunburned faces again.*

marley riding a shetland pony named "courtney". (kid you not court, i'm not trying to hate or make a fool of you, being that you and the horse have the same name and all...)

you're eyes aren't fooling you! that is my baby girl milking a cow!!

 

 marley, claire, and uncle austin about to be buckled in for a ride. i don't remember how many times the ride operator yelled to austin as it was swinging back and forth "DON'T DRAG YOUR FEET!" ... just to have austin intentionally drag his feet again within the following 10 seconds.

 

 marley on her favorite ride- the dragon coaster. she chose to sit in the very back, alone. however, i highly doubt she will ever choose that seat again seeing as how she was whipped back and forth on the turns like a rag doll. at one point, she was so scared, she sunk to the floor with just her head popping up so she would stop sliding back and forth. remind me again why the second she got off the ride... she wanted to go again?