Week of birthdays

It seems like this week is just full of birthdays – both in our families and with Mara's friends.

Monday, January 18

For some reason, Puck is enthralled with our ice maker and comes running anytime we get ice out of it. We're not sure what the fascination is since he doesn't eat any of the ice we give him.

Today is John's mom's birthday, and we want to wish her a very happy birthday.

Tuesday, January 19

We have less than two months until the baby is here, and we haven't done much to his room yet aside from basically kicking the cats out. It's still a junk room, though, and one of John's projects during his vacation this week is to get the junk out. Maybe we'll be ready to actually paint the room when he has another week of vacation next month. This is how we were with Mara. I think both of us work better under a deadline. :)

We found one of our old cell phones while cleaning out the room, and Mara had a lot of fun playing with it and wearing it on her waistband.

Wednesday, January 20

Today would have been my mom's 72nd birthday, and we honored that by going to eat at her favorite restaurant – Olive Garden. When I was telling Mara about what today is, she asks, "How did she become alive again?" So, we had to explain to her that she didn't and that we're just honoring her. It still amazes me how well Mara handles the circle of life and doesn't really bat an eye when we explain things to her.

Thursday, January 21

Each year, I make a picture card for Mara to include with presents when she goes to birthday parties for her friends. Since the first birthday party of the year is tomorrow night, we had a little photo session so I could have a more recent picture of her to include on the birthday card.

And a happy birthday to my sister-in-law Myra!

Friday, January 22

Mara went to the first of two birthday parties this weekend for her friends. It's hard to believe that this will be the last birthday party she goes to for most of the kids since they'll all be going off to different schools next year for kindergarten.

Saturday, January 23

Diane went on a sewing retreat this weekend, and she asked Mara to go and check on her cats, Manny and Tatiana. Mara had a lot of fun feeding the kitties ham and playing with them.