This is me and my assembly partner in Jerusalem. We are at the church of the nativity. You can see the woman behind us with the alter behind her. That is the exact spot (supposedly) where Mary gave birth to the baby Jesus. The column on the right is where Joseph and Mary supposedly layed the baby Jesus to sleep in the Manger. This tiny area is where the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Armenians all share and worship.

Here is day one of our Disneyland trip.  We pulled Mason out of the car seat at 5:00 am after driving all night.  His entire face, neck, back and chest was nothing but rash.  This was why he spent the first day at CHOC (Children's Hospital).  They never will know for sure what it was, my pediatrician seems to believe it was a reaction to his MMR vaccine.  He was worse on day 2, but better on day 3, 4, and 5.  It was amazing to see how his little personality changed once he started to feel better.

I had to chose bright matching clothes for Disneyland so when they wondered off I wouldn't lose them forever.  Melia was so tough and brave, her favorite ride was Tower of Terror, she rode it 4 times.  Mason had a bought with some illness that made us spend the first day in Childrens Hospital of Orange County.  Every vacation has to have some glitch, right?!  We had a wonderful trip anyway.

I am officially finished with school AGAIN.  I  watched my father cry his eyes out all through the ceremony.  My in-laws were just as moved.  Poor Mat had to walk the halls outside the ceremony with a screaming baby.  I watched Melia climb over both sets of grandparents, stand on her head on the chair, and sing Briar Roses' song at the top of her lungs.  I am officially Dr. Timpson-----what will my next challenge be?

When I brought Mason home from the hospital Melia was pretty jealous for the first several months, I guess I assumed she still was or hadn't even thought about it for a while. The other day I took Melia skiing to give her a little "Mom and Me" time. When we went back to my sister-in-laws to pick up Mason, Melia replied, "I can't wait to get Mason, I miss him." Looking at this picture, reminds me that Melia really does love and take care of her baby brother, even if that often includes tackling him, dumping him on his head, stealing his toys, etc. They are the two cutest kids in the world and I'm certain that I'm the luckiest person ever!!!

Melia surprises me every single day. She never appears to be paying attention, I say that because she is usually talking, jumping/falling off her chair, turning circles in her chair, applying make-up, etc. The other day we had a family home evening lesson about Jesus on the cross, why we celebrate Easter, etc., she was able to recall pieces that her primary teacher had told her, all very accurately. How does she listen, pick her nose, and dance in her chair at the same time? Anway, Easter was a fantastic day, we were able to spend most of the day with family and at church.

I haven't decided if this is a fun bonding activity to do together or if this is spoiling and ruining my daughter.  When I was growing up we had enough money to go school shopping once a year and  get 4 pants and 5-6 shirts.  I don't want her to feel privileged, but I love to spend time with her.  I want her to know how to work for her things, to appreciate the small things, to not have expectations that are not going to be met.  Kate Wing (her best friend) is in the back ground, then Melia, and then giant me.