Another one on the way!!

I just glanced at the last few posts and realized that last I posted about the girls, D was only 3 months old. Now she is 14 months old and everywhere. We are 3 months away from having baby #3 with a twist since they are getting a Brother. Felicity Couldn't be happier since that is what she asked for and Danarra has no idea what is coming!

Our curly headed Danarra is into everything and loves Books-she brings them to anyone she thinks might know how to read them to her, Stuffed animals and dolls- she'll grin and give them big hugs- often she categorizes smalled children in this group as well and Mommy has to save the other child from smothering or being knocked over!

Beautiful energetic Felicity has started Joy School (Mommy and two other ladies are the teachers). She is proud of all her pictures and loves to tell everyone about her school. She is a big girl!!!

Mommy is teaching Joy school next week for the first time and is a bit nervous- probably should just make sure she reads and prepares her lessons. It is also a challenge to be prepared for a new little one but I can't wait until he comes- December 18 is the due date and we'll be thrilled to meet him!

Thanks to Ben!

Well, as you can see Ben has helped me out with the technical details of the blog and has posted some wonderful pictures of our darling little ones! Danarra is working hard to grow big and strong and is eating constantly! Felicity is overjoyed to hold her "baby sister" even when she shouldn't be! We had some struggles today with trying to convince Felicity that she was NOT allowed to PULL Danarra into her lap when she wanted to hold her.

It's a GIRL!!!!!!

We are pleased to announce the arrival of our second Daughter, Danarra Clair Marvin. She joined our family at 5:40pm July 9, 2008. Danarra was 7 lb 9 oz and 20 inches long. She has a beautiful head of dark hair and is absolutely beautiful!

Felicity is thrilled to be a big sister and is often found commanding Danarra that she wake up! When Danarra does wake up or end a feeding, Felicity dances and shouts to everyone that "Danarra Wake, Danarra wake!!!!!"

Daddy is helping Mommy to recover by making sure she doesn't move much. Which is driving Mommy crazy- there are only so many times you can read the same book and it is awful just sitting and thinking of all that I could be doing!!!!
Relief is on it's way though! Ben has agreed to go to the library for me and get me some books to read!!! Poor Ben is having to work quite a bit too even though they had agreed to give him leave. They are in the middle of a big project and apparently he is indispensable. He may even be going up to Fairbanks and down to Juneau in the next couple of months. Both places need the same work done as he just finished in Kenai!

We'll get some pictures on soon!

My latest culinary creation was inspired by tring to use what was in the fridge.
We had a bunch of veggie tray vegetables leftover and weren't munching on them.

Crunchy Vegetable Salad

Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrots, Snap peas
Dried Cranberries
Lime juice
Mayonnaise
Sugar
Dill weed
Salt and Pepper
Feta Cheese
Diced ham

Cut veggies up into small bite sized pieces, carrots into thin slices, toss in a handful or two of cranberries (I like quite a bit, makes it sweeter and chewy!) Mix 5-6 squirts lime juice with a couple of spoonfuls of mayo, a teaspoon or two of sugar, a dash of dill, and a big sprinkle of salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning. Pour over veggies and adjust as needed. I had to add a couple more spoonfuls of mayo to get it the right consistency. Covering the veggies lightly but fully. Toss in some Feta and ham to make it even better!!!
Ben and Jeremiah both liked this and it is quite filling and Very healthy!!!

Growth Estimates

So Johanna today got very excited about a growth estimate for children she found online somewhere. She quickly typed in her height, and my height, and then Felicity's height and weight. The results? At age 18, Felicity can expect to be a paltry 5 foot 3. Here I was hoping for giant children to look up to, and put me in my place. Instead I get midgets. Sheesh!

Of course only time will tell, and we'll love her just the same. Honest.

A funny story!

So I finally sent out a notice to family and friends that this place exists. I hope that you are all enjoying it, and leaving your comments for all to read. A friend of ours sent me a little story about Felicity and his daughter's adventures at church. We are currently meeting at a High School while our building is repaired from a roof fire which happened last spring. The Auditeria is the theater/ cafeteria where we meet for our main meetings. The seats in that room are the kind of bleachers that can fold up into themselves and form a single wall. They continue all the way up to a second story and are always out while we are there. The room was mostly empty except for our 10-15 choir members. Felicity usually plays between Ben(Bass section) and I (soprano) talking to people in between and having fun.
Here is the Story!
Last week at choir practice after church, Felicity and my 2 year old stole away to the very top of the stairs in the Auditeria. I went up to get them and there they both were sitting in the peanut gallery watching what was going on. I asked her what they were doing and Felicity looked me square in the eye and said..."I pooped". She was just looking for some privacy.

Cooking Up Fun

Felicity Loves to "halp kook"(help cook). She is enjoys bringing a dining room chair over and climbing up so that she can see what is happening on the counter and asking Mommy if she can help cook. Stirring is very fun and so is washing dishes, both projects get quite messy with her help! She is so cute about helping her momma that I just have her help clean up the mess as well! This picture is of her helping to make bread sometime in December. She loves to eat good home cooked bread. Momma is getting better at her once over glances and grabs the knives before Felicity gets all the way up! Every time she approaches the stove she'll holds her hand back and will say "hot, Hot?" just to check about where she can put her hands. I really encourage her caution. Thankfully she is and always has been quite analytical and seems to think through an action before doing it. I am so grateful for this and am worried that this next child is going to be the complete opposite and go charging into anything and everything!
This is of Momma and Felicity in our chef's uniforms! A friend of mine bought this darling outfit for Felicity and it is quite a favorite! She has it in her play kitchen's cupboard and pulls it out from time to time to help Momma or just do some cooking on her own! Momma is in the Culinary Arts program at University of Alaska Anchorage and is working hard to get her associates degree by December!

Having A BALL!!!!

Another day! Felicity had some fun at my cousin Kara's home. Kara has three children. Bentley is two days younger than Felicity and the twins are about 7 months old. The two year olds had fun running and screaming through the house while the twins took a nap. Then Aunt Julia, Kara's mom, pulled out the inflatable jumping pen. We tossed the toddlers in there with several dozen balls. They had tons of fun throwing the balls at those of us who were outside the pen. We, being the adults, went ahead and threw the balls back at them. All in all it was a VERY enjoyable day!

I have arrived!!

Ok, I have finally joined the online world. Now Everyone can know me and I can post any random thought or greatness and foist it on the unassuming public. So, here I am!
I am 24 years old. Married to the most wonderful man in the world, Ben. For all those realists, Yes he is wonderful, usually, and he is perfect for ME. Which is really all you can expect from a guy, seeing as I'm not perfect either. We have an amazing two year old daughter, Felicity, and she will be joined in mid July by a new sibling. I am going to school for a culinary degree and should be done in December if all goes well. Ben is completing his Management Information Systems(MIS)(computer stuff) degree this May.
So with school, family, church, and home, I keep quite busy! Felicity keeps me running and her daddy tries to keep me sane. Both of our families live in town which is very nice and can be a bit of a challenge, all at the same time. We love living in Alaska, and that is saying something if you can say that in the middle of the winter when it is -4 degrees F outside. It is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. It is incomparable in its beauty and opportunity to be and do outside.