This time it wasn't all my fault

So we have moved into our lovely apartment in the basement of my grandma's house.  We didn't have internet for awhile and that is why I could not post anything.  The apartment is really nice--it has brand new pretty much everything--paint, carpet, tile.  We are very fortunate to be here.  Mary and Anna have adjusted fairly well.  I say fairly because I'm not completely sure about Mary yet.  She seems fine most of the time, but she has had a few mega-tantrums and I have to wonder if all of this craziness hasn't affected her more than we think.  She's a good girl though.  Soccer has it's ups and downs.  One time she was just standing in the middle of everyone--they all trying to get at the ball and she just standing there staring at something.  The ball came right up to her and hit her feet.  She didn't notice.  She started to take a step and actually tripped over the ball and fell down.  Then another time it was her turn to kick off.  She kicked it very carefully and gently so it wouldn't go to anyone else and she tried to keep control of it, but of course somebody stole it.  She then ran after them and tried to get it back for a moment.  After the game she told me that she got mad when they took the ball and went to get it back.  I was so glad because that's what we've been trying to get her to do.  Not scream cry and throw a fit, but go and try to get it back.
Mary recently started going poop in the toilet.  She wouldn't do it up until now.  She's completely potty trained--never has accidents--but when she has to go she just said she needed a diaper.  She said it hurt to go on the potty.  Anyway, I made her try it in the new house and she was so excited, said it didn't hurt and has been going ever since.  But now she has remembered something I said once at least 3, maybe 4, months ago.  I basically promised her anything if she would just use the toilet.  She asked for a pet and I told her we could get a fish if she would do it.  She seemed to forget about it after that...until yesterday.  "Mom, now that I go poop on the potty we can get a pet!"  So I guess we are going fish shopping on Saturday.
Little Anna gets cuter every day.  She has the sweetest little face and smile.  Whenever she sees me her little nose scrunches up and she get so excited she moves her arms and legs so fast.  I already mentioned the story of her grabbing the sacrament tray.  Well this last Sunday was even better.  I thought it was out of her reach, but she is lightning fast.  Before I knew what had happened she shot her hand to the tray and grabbed 2 or 3 cups spilling the water all over.  She makes the funniest noises--I swear sometimes she sounds just like a cat purring.  I just hope it's not because of her acid reflux!
We got read into our new ward on Sunday, but before they even read us in I got sustained in a new calling.  The first counselor in our ward is a man from Lander, Wyoming, where I was born and my family lived for 11 years.  My mom is of course very musical and he seemed to remember that and called me to be the ward choir director.  I put that I can lead music on the paper they gave us, but geez.  I guess we'll see how that goes.
John continues to be very busy with law school, but seems to enjoy it despite how tired and busy he is.  I  am learning a lot about the legal system as well, which is fine because I find it a lot more interesting than trading.  That's what I used to hear about all the time.

Catching Up

Finally going to add some pictures here.  First, a few tidbits...things I've remembered that were funny.  A couple of weeks ago in church, the boy passed the sacrament to me and I took it, but he wasn't taking it away.  I looked up at him and he was looking down at the tray so I looked down and Anna had a death grip on the tray.  She really had a good hold on it--it took me more than one try to pry her little hand off of it.  She is s so aware of everything.  She notices things quickly and goes after them.  You cannot get a drink while holding her--she will grab it, swat it, anything to try and get it to her mouth.
For the most part, Mary is the happiest little girl.  She goes about singing and humming.  She lives her life to the soundtrack of Dumbo--humming the tunes as she goes about whatever she is doing.  Unfortunately this didn't carry on to the soccer field.  Her first game was this last weekend and it was worse than I ever imagined.  I thought she might just lay on the grass and pick dandelions or something...that would have been great.  The game started and for the first few moments she just stood there looking around.  The next few moments she ran with the pack.  I was feeling proud.  She even kicked the ball.  But then she started getting mad that she wasn't able to kick the ball more.  Anger turned to overwhelming sadness.  The tears started.  The wailing came.  It didn't stop for the rest of the game.  The other team would score and she would run off the field crying.  She would sit for a few minutes and we would talk her into going back in.  Then her team would score.  The same thing happened.   Then it was her turn to kick off...she kicked it then got knocked down and someone stepped on her hand.  Once she got up--same thing happened.  This happened over and over again until the end of the game.  Nobody else cried or ran off the field.  Then when the treats came out she burst into tears again.  They had brought Cars fruit snacks which is a "boy snack" not a "girl snack."  Needless to say it was pretty rough.  But we will go back on Wednesday because we aren't quitters!

Before the game--she was playing but excellent foreshadowing.

2 Days in a Row...

Today wasn't all that eventful.  We went to the Children's Gardens at Thanksgiving Point with Micah, Mary's friend, his mom and baby sister.  They played in the water and ran around together.  Since we have moved they don't get to see each other quite as much, but still seem to enjoy playing together.  When John came home we went for a run with our new to us double jogging stroller and then John took Mary swimming.  She is doing really well and is able to tread water for a little bit, staying afloat on her own.  Baby Anna has started eating rice with vegetables mixed in and seeming to like it.
So this is our story right now.  We are living with my very gracious grandma while the apartment we are moving to is finished being renovated.  It is a basement apartment in a home belonging to my other very gracious grandma.  It's really nice and we are very excited to have our own place again.  Mary is getting somewhat confused, understandably and is anxiously waiting to play with her own toys.  It will be a transition for her not to play with Grandma every day though.  Grandma has the best story lines and plays the best at "animals," "princesses," "dollies," and whatever else.  Anyway, the reason we are doing all of this is because John is going to law school.  He started a few weeks ago and is really enjoying it.
This last weekend we had a surprise party for my dad's 60th birthday.  All of my brothers and their families were there, as well as several aunts, uncles and cousins.  I hope he could see how much he is loved and appreciated.

I Know It's Been Awhile...

So, much has happened since I last posted more than 8 months ago.  We had a baby girl, Anna, on March 5th, to name the biggest thing.  At some point I might go back a little more in depth, but I mostly just want to start putting in bits and pieces of our daily life.  Mary says some pretty funny things and I have already forgotten most of them.  Anna is already 6 months old and as cute as can possibly be.  She has started saying mama when whining, but only then.  She started sitting up without help about 2 weeks ago.  She is definintely a mama's girl, but Mary might be her favorite person of all.  She lights up with big smiles and laughter whenever she sees Mary.  Mary will just jump up and down and Anna will laugh so hard.  Then Mary thinks that is funny and tries to get her to laugh by saying random things like "teeth!" or "feet!"  So, pretty much everyone quotes the nursery rhyme, Mary Mary quite contrary to Mary--but she doesn't get it yet that that is what it is.  So she has started saying contrary all the time and calling the baby contrary. 
Mary had her first socce practice today.  I didn't think it went very well, but when we got home Mary said, "Soccer is great!"  The coach quickly learned her name as she had to repeat it 12,000 times trying to get her to take her turn, stop throwing the grass, stop trying to stand on the ball, kick the ball to her partner, not pick up the ball with her hands, and then put her hand in the circle to say "Go Blue Team!"  I was pretty frustrated as it didn't seem like any of the other kids were doing this, but I have to remember that she is 3.  Anyway, when we got home and John got home he wanted to play with Mary.  (We have been staying with my grandma waiting for our apartment to get finished).  Mary was sitting with my grandma reading the newspaper and looking at catalogs when John was trying to get her to play with him.  (Some background--we have to tell Mary that Grandma is resting so that she doesn't have to play with her 24 hours a day.  She is always asking if Grandma is going to rest or play with her).  So when John went in to get her she said (quite defiantly) "I am resting.  I will play with you when I am done resting." 
So there are just a few things, but so many more occur.  I am already sad about what I know I have forgotten, but can only go forward from here.