Germs! There is a song about everything in my house...

In our house there is a song for just about anything!  Between Grandparents, Barney, and Daniel Tiger Minka knows more songs than I ever could have imagined.

Here is one about those yucky germs!

Kitchen Remodel? Sure!

Jareth and I decided to jump right in with redoing our kitchen.  We had our work cut out for us and we dove in.  We are still in progress but have a usable kitchen now.  After pics will be posted when we are ready!

Sisterly Love

Watching Minka and Nora grow and play through each stage has been fun.  Minka is a great big sister and Nora is watching and learning SO much from her.  I am excited to see what each new phase/stage/year brings!

Uh oh!

Miss Nora "the Destroyer" just doin' her thing...

500!

This is my 500th post!  500!  WOW!  Thanks for sticking around to see my family grow, learn, play and share our story!  I am so excited to have such a fun "diary" to share with our girls.

On Top of Spaghetti!

Nora's 1st Birthday

We had a Dr. Seuss theme birthday party for Miss Nora to celebrate her first birthday.  I cannot believe how much she has accomplished in just one year. She is running, playing, mimicking as much as she can and I am eager to hear her cute little voice start saying more words than "Hi!" or "Uh oh!".

This is gonna be SO MUCH fun!

It is a typical weekend/holiday morning when Minka and I get dressed, do hair, and put on make up together.

On this one particular morning in December, she asked if she could do make up.  I said yes.  For some reason this was special on this day and she went running around screaming This is gonna be SO MUCH FUN!!!

Christmas Joys

Some pictures from the Christmas festivities.

Santa pancakes

Nora loves to eat. She has a great appetite and one of her favorite gifts was a stocking stuffer of mixed fruit. 

Dr. Minka riding her new scooter - we can't wait to get outside this spring!

 Our Elf on the Shelf!

 Sister hugs on Daddy's lap!

Dr Minka making cupcakes for everyone.

Grandma time!

 Minka was a good helper for all presents that needed opening!

Martinez family all together 

Minka got her "Gray, medium-sized" teddy bear! Santa worked hard to find this little gem.  Welcome 'Teddy' to the family.

  All the fun is exhausting!

Sunday school - thoughts of a three year old

I started bringing Minka to church and she is just old enough to go to sunday school.  Here is what she thought of the first day she stayed all by herself.

Nora's Monster Face

Does every baby like this to make this face?  Check out Minkas monster face here.

Catch Up: Off to the dentist

In December Minka went to her first dentist appointment.  The hygienist was fantastic at her job. She made Minka feel so comfortable.  She showed her all of her 'princess' tools and let her pick out her 'diva' sunglasses.  They played the movie UP on the ceiling and Minka was quite the trooper.  They counted an extra 21st tooth and after xrays we found she will have an extra adult tooth as well.  She was rewarded with a new toothbrush, stickers, and toys.  I was one proud momma!

Rum River Designs

Check out this cool site on Facebook or Etsy!

Play Play Play

Sometimes I feel like I don't have much to blog about.  We just play.  Here is a video that is just a typical day playing at our house.

Catch Up: Minnesota State Fair

We went to the Minnesota state fair on Labor day and while we were taking a break from hiking around we stopped to watch a lumberjack show.  Minka was chosen from the crowd to receive a live hand made chainsawed chair!

Same Outfit, About the same age

Do they look like sisters? 

Little Girl. Big Possibilities.

Minka colored me a picture one day and asked that I hang it at work.  I obliged and later realized how fitting the drawing is.  It says "Little girl. Big possibilities."

My natural tendency is to be a follower and obey as the leaders ask.  I am typically quiet.  Content.  Status quo? Ok.

But not at work.  I recently got a promotion and I try to push myself to voice my ideas and challenge the status quo for the better.  In my new role I have to influence Cargill business leaders in their procurement and payment processes.  That sentence seems small. Simple.  These leaders manage and run multi million dollar businesses and much of that is controlled in how much you spend and how/when you pay your vendors. "Little girl.  Big possibilities."  I think so.

Diva? I think so

Most photos by Janaye Johnson Photography.  Scarves by DS Designs.