I don't always get to go....

Josh "had" to go to St. Maarten for a lawyer convention with his firm, and since he was gone so long and the flight was a little on the expensive side, I decided to opt out of this trip. So he went with some of the other associates in the firm. (Here are Hicks and Boherer.)



Seriously, this could be from the Corona commercial.



They also made a stop in St. Louis for the AC/DC concert. Check out their 2nd row view. Why do I find Angus, in his traditional school boy outfit, so sexy?





On the plus side, we did get to go to Geisha's, where Maddie was enthralled with "the real cooker."

Mother Daughter Moment

Maddie just came up to me, with all seriousness, and said, "Mommy, I think you should tell me all the words that are bad to say."

Uh, yeah right....

Two pictures that are so adorable I just had to share

Our first visitors to Newport

Stephanie, Jessica & Kelsey came to play with Maddie and Me for a few days:



We went to the beach:





Kelsey was the only one brave (stupid?) enough to get in the hottub with Maddie. (It was freezing this last weekend.)



And we got our nails done:



We also did yoga, rode miles and miles on our bikes, watched chick flicks, played Rock Band, ate delicious food, and read good books. It was a great girls weekend. Thanks girls!

This is a standing offer for visitors!

Bring in the New Year Like a Rock Star!

We went to Josh's cousins' house for New Years Eve, and you were supposed to come dressed as a rockstar. Josh's costume is a perfect costume of Kurt Cobain, and I was going for Courtney Love. Of course, my wig and outfit weren't quite right, so I don't know if everybody knew exactly who I was. Which made me nervous because they probably thought I just didn't realize my lipstick and eye makeup were smeared all over.



We played rock band.



And celebrated 2009!!!



Thanks Ryan & Leanne! (I didn't get a picture of Leanne, but I will try to steal one from her blog soon.)

Newpeezy

Maddie got her first library card and was so excited to sign her name on it:



Every Tuesday at 10:30, they have a kid's story time:



and craft time. (How cute is that?)



Tell me these two are not related:





This is the adorable house we rented for a year, just to see how it goes. Come and visit!



Maddie's favorite thing to do in Newport is paint:



And there is a little door down the street that she is convinced Darby lives in. (That is the little girl on the Winnie the Pooh show on Disney). She gets disappointed everyday when Darby doesn't answer the door.



We found the birdman again, and Maddie was so excited to hold the bird again:



There is a new area at Newport Pier that is so cute, and guess what!?



We helped contribute to it and so they engraved our name in the granite. $5 to anyone who can find it!



We taught Maddie how to skate on her new rollerblades:



She only fell once. I was so proud!

Snow in Vegas!!

Josh & Maddie's first snowman:



Maddie's Snow Angel:



Poor Little Maddie was the target:



Of this guy who was excited to throw snowballs: (This was during work hours. Josh was so excited about the snow, that he let his entire staff go home early to play in the snow.)

Christmas - Harris Style

It was our first year of having outdoor Christmas lights on our house, and Maddie was excited about it:



And it was Maddie's first year of being old enough to really decorate the tree all by herself. She did a really good job too! (I was proud!)



We carried on the tradition of four generation Harris gingerbread houses:



Maddie helped me make banana bread for the ward Christmas party:



Before Christmas, we got to visit Gpa Stucki in Utah and my dad was lucky enough to get to sit by Maddie and play Barbies with her for two hours on the plane (we were really delayed):



Maddie got to perform at her school Christmas program, and it was freaking cute:



With Elena and Aunt Julie at the Harris' Mt. Charleston cabin:



Josh had to shovel snow for HOURS and the only hat he had was Maddie's:



My cute little family on Christmas Eve:



Visiting Gma & Gpa Judd for Christmas Eve:

Christmas at Sea World

This is our fun little train ride from Newport Beach to San Diego.




Maddie had that magic look in her eye. It is the look that brings me complete joy as a mother.




The Shamu show was my favorite.




Maddie was so happy to be with her cousin Elena again.




Here is Aunt Juli with Ruby. Can someone tell those obnoxious people behind her that that scandalous behavior is inappropriate at a park for children! Geez.




And Maddie was lucky enough to go to Disneyland with her Aunt Juli. They ate more than enough churros and went on the Pirates ride SIX TIMES. Maddie was so tired after a day of fun that she fell asleep within 30 seconds of being back in the car. Here she is half asleep but having the time of her life.

A Tag

I am: losing my voice. My husband thinks it is a Christmas miracle.
I want: a robot vacuum that vacuums while I sleep.
I have: a beautiful little family that I love.
I dislike: how much junk mail I receive every single freaking day.
I miss: Evan.
I fear: the fact that I can't control or plan my life. Things happen unexpectedly.
I feel: my sore throat and cold toes.
I hear: the construction down the street and Maddie's cartoons.
I crave: a warm bowl of oatmeal and a warm slice of my homemade banana bread. I desperately need to go grocery shopping.
I usually: get giddy when I pick up Madster from school. It is the moment I most look forward to every day.
I search: for truth and wisdom and kindness wherever I can find it.
I wonder: if Maddie will still adore me in ten years, at the scary age of 14.
I regret: saying things when my emotions are fresh and strong. I have learned a lot of restraint in my 27 years!
I love: Josh's stability, similar sense of adventure, and sense of humor.
I care: deeply about other people's difficult trials. My own have taught me empathy, which can haunt me for days.
I always: wake up happy and ready to work and be efficient. It is a blessing.
I worry: about if we will ever have another child. Why does it have to be so difficult!?!?!
I remember: Christmases as a kid were so magical and happy. I love recreating that feeling for Maddie now.
I believe: in eternal families.
I sing: for Maddie every night when I put her to bed, after the bedtime story. I love this time with her.
I try not to: let what other people say bother me.
I don't always: look at the mail the day it comes. Sometimes it sits for days.
I argue: anything and everything, from both points of view. A gift for a future lawyer, but it exhausts my husband. :o)
I write: in my journal often, but not often enough. It is a joy to sit and think about what I want to write.
I win: at lots of card games and board games.
I lose: at every athletic sport or event. Apparently my competitive nature in games doesn't transfer over to athletics. I could care less. (Which is good, because I don't have any natural athletic ability.)
I wish: that I will have a new addition to our family by next Christmas, however that is meant to happen.
I listen: to everything everyone says. If I have any sliver of intelligence or wisdom, it is because I pay attention.
I don't understand: how computers or the internet work. I don't want to know either (I only have so much space in my brain), but I am grateful for it.
I can usually be found: at my desk right here. I love this space.
I forget: to call people and be social. I get distracted easily by living my own little life.
I am happy: Period.

Roll Over!!

Apparently, Maddie wanted one of the pretzels that Poppy Rick was giving to their dog as a treat for doing tricks. So when she asked for a pretzel, she had to do a trick too! (Luckily they caught it on tape for me to enjoy later!) I wonder if this parenting technique would have worked with potty training and bedtime?