just a regular morning

...you know, talking with your daughter about the Passover foods she tried last night, listening to your hubby sing in the shower and watching your other daughter climb up and down the rocking chair--and then tumble.  Enjoy this little snapshot of our morning...

playing with Papa

I discovered this video on my phone this afternoon of the girls playing with Matt this morning (while I was getting ready).  I enjoyed it very much.

the resident roamer

I started taking this video this afternoon to try and capture Miriam and Abbie giggling together, but (as it usually happens), they stopped shortly after I started filming.  Instead, I decided to follow Abbie around (who was following Miriam around) to show why Matt has begun calling her our "resident roamer."

{sorry my fingers are in the way for over half the video.  I guess I am still learning how to take video on my iPhone}

Berenstain Bears

Miriam has taken quite a liking to the Berenstain Bears lately. I love this because these books are classics to me! I have so many wonderful memories of reading them when I was younger. So, in a stop to the library last week, we found some Berenstain Bears movies that Miriam loves equally as much as the books. I took a video of her the other day singing the theme song and wanted to share it. It probably is even more fun to listen to if you listen to the real theme song before you see Miriam sing it. Otherwise, follow along with the lyrics below. She only sings part of it and makes up a lot of it, but we love it. Enjoy!

Somewhere deep in Bear Country

Lives the Berenstain Bear family

They're kind of furry around the torso

They're a lot like people, only more so

The bear fact is that

They're just like you and me

The only difference

Is they live in a tree

The Berenstain Bears

When things go wrong as things might do

The Berenstain Bears will find a way through

Mama, Papa, Sister and Brother

They'll always be there for each other

The bear fact is that

They can be sweet as honey

Sometimes you'll find

They might be just plain funny

The Berenstain Bears

The Berenstain Bears

a moment in our lives.

This video is a snapshot of a completely normal moment for us all... Miriam reading (which involves using tidbits from all of the stories she currently likes), Abbie grabbing things Miriam is using, Miriam being annoyed that Abbie wants what she has, Abbie chewing and smiling and generally being enthralled with her sister, and me just intervening when necessary. Enjoy.

an atomic warhead

Miriam wanted to try a Warhead last week and Matt took a video of what happened. If you don't know what a Warhead is, you can watch to find out!

Abbie's words of wisdom

Abbie has clearly discovered her voice and is practicing all of the things she can do with it. I took a little video of her the other night just chatting away. She also loves it when we hold her up and she can look out the front window --then she talks to whatever she sees out there. I'm sure the grandpas and grandmas will appreciate this video the most, but feel free to enjoy even if you're not related!

laughing is contagious

Don't you agree?

Out and about today...

It was my [partial] day off today. We ran to Wal-Mart earlier in the afternoon and then we ran over to Red Robin for supper. Here are some pictures from those places:

Here Miriam is once again enjoying her sundae (or Friday, as she calls it)!

Boy was she excited to see it!

This is what the Friday looked like before we devoured it!

Miriam's being a big girl and drinking her milk from a straw.

Miriam and her Mac 'n Cheese and apple slices.

This was Miriam playing with the firetruck by the cash registers at Wal-Mart.

She just loves playing with these!

She's finally paying attention to the road. She knows not to text while driving!

Miriam is talking to Mickey while they're waiting at a really long stoplight.

Miriam sings the ABC's

Miriam sang the ABC's tonight while she was taking a bath... it was the first time I've heard her make it all the way through without getting distracted with something else! :) Thanks to Auntie Samantha for recording it!

Reading with Papa.... a movie

Cleaning House

This evening after dinner, I grabbed a paper towel because I needed to clean up a few drops of milk. I went to throw the paper towel away, and Miriam reached out because she wanted it. So, I gave it to her. What she did after that surprised both of us... she walked around the living room and kitchen and began "cleaning" everything. She cleaned the bench at the table, the living room chair, the walls, her truck, the floor, the fridge.... everything. It was so precious. She did it for at least 20 minutes! So, here is one minute of it when she was scrubbing her truck.

Dance, dance, dance!

Miriam loves to dance... anytime there is music... and anywhere! Here she was dancing to some Christmas music (yes, I know it's before Thanksgiving), but it made me laugh. Plus, she also says her version of "please" in it. Enjoy!

Piggy Bank

Miriam got this piggy bank for her birthday but has just now figured out how to get the coins in the very little slot! She has fun playing with it. Sorry for the random last few seconds at the end :)

Our First Video

It's my (Matt) first blog post, and we are finally catching up to the Jones' with technology. Tonight we figured out how to post videos on our blog. I hope you're just as excited as we are to see this wonderful video of Miriam figuring out how to close the door and open it. (Of course she's not tall enough to reach the handle, so we assist her.) Enjoy!