Aquarium

To ward off the winter blues we took a mini vacation to Mall of America in Minneapolis.  It was huge!  The Aquarium was the highlight of the trip.  







It was really hard to get good pictures, but we got a few that turned out.  We loved watching the sharks and rays swim over us! 























 Sam couldn't get Marlee to try on the pink hat.  I don't know why...Dad looks so good in his! 








 
















Since it was so dark in the Aquarium, we took quite a few videos.  Here are a few. 




Marlee's favorite were the Jellyfish.  She is quoting Finding Nemo. 




 In the Mall, we visited the Lego store.  Sam really liked the giant lego Optimus Prime.   

 We also visited the Mirror Maze in the Mall.  Marlee loved seeing 6 of herself at once.  We also played a game where Daddy hid and we found the real him.  Then mommy hid.  Marlee kind of freaked out that mom was gone.  She pick a mom and ran right to it.  Unfortunately, it wasn't the real mom and she ran right into the mirror.  We didn't play that game any more.  :)  Marlee was alright and from then on she put her hand out to make sure it wasn't a mirror. 
 
 












 

Snow!

It seems like it snowed all of January and most of February.  For real I think we just had a couple of good storms.  Marlee loved playing in the snow.  Every time it snowed Marlee was begging to go outside.  

Our biggest storm left us with really good snowman snow.  With the good snow and Daddy's muscles, we were able to make a really big snowman.  

 Some day we will have a back yard, but for now the balcony will have to do :)  

Christmas 2014

Wow I'm really slow this year...posting Christmas in March!!  Better late than never, right?!
We spent Christmas in Davenport this year.  Our first Christmas with just our little family.  It was strange to not be with family, but we had fun trying out new traditions that could become our own traditions! 

Marlee got really excited about putting up the Christmas tree.  She was really good at putting ornaments on the tree. 

Gingerbread houses turned out to be a lot of fun.  Marlee ate more decoration candies then she put on the houses!  In the time Marlee and I decorated three houses, Sam made one really cool looking gingerbread house.  




























We met Santa at the ward Christmas party.  Marlee was brave and didn't cry until Santa asked her what she wanted for Christmas.  Then, on the verge of tears, she looked at me with a look that said get me out of here! 

 Marlee really got the hang of opening presents this year.   It took a while but she opened them all by herself!  She also got Cheetos in her stocking so first breakfast was Cheetos.  Second breakfast was Sourdough Pancakes.  I tried my Dad's recipe.  They tasted almost as good as his! 
 

















Marlee loved all her gifts but her absolute favorite were the three Minion buddies!   

 

Marlee loved having Dad home for the break!  I caught her and Sam playing video games, both with their mouths open! 

I loved my putting together my new nativity puzzle.  Putting this together is going to be one of my Christmas traditions.  

We also looked at some fun Christmas decorations.  Marlee's favorite by far was the sky walk.  She could chase the colors!