I love it when the kids entertain each other!

So Monday night, Jim was in Portland and I was on my own with the kids - not a fun prospect these days with Aidan being...well...3 1/2.

Dinner started off well and Aidan decided to do anything to make Makena laugh.

Here is a video from dinner - is there anything better than the laugh of a toddler?
(reminder to those of you receiving this update via email, you will need to go into the blog to see the video)



Of course, it all fell to pieces after this when Aidan started his normal snarkyness and ended up in bed without being able to watch a show.

Good times!

Fun on a crappy weather day

This past Sunday we had the strangest weather here - woke up to unexpected snow that turned to rain that turned to hail and wind on and off all day. So what do you do with kids on a day like that? JUMP HOUSE!

Luckily our bonus room is big enough to put up the jump house inside. So we got it going and threw the kids in. Makena would just sit there while Aidan jumped and made her bounce. I got better shots on the video camera than the still.

Later that day we had our neighbor Sasha over to play as well. The kids had a great time! Of course Aidan had to wear his Spiderman "suit" and Sasha was in her tutu. What other attire to jump? Aidan was also the perfect gentleman helping Sasha up the slide to get in.

Then we had a bit of a scare when the kids left the stair gate open and Makena fell down the stairs. All is well, she only has a little bump on her lip but boy was I in a panic and shaking for at least a half hour! Lesson learned to make sure all visiting kids remember to shut the gate and that Aidan remembers as well. '

All on a Sunday!

Blog Giveaway for Hannah and Gaucher Awareness!

Please visit for details on how to enter and win some great prizes!

http://littlemisshannah.com/2009/03/hannahs-first-giveaway/

Please watch, and share - Hannah's video

I know most of you have seen my posts about Hannah - so could you please watch this video, and if you have a blog, website, community board, FB or MySpace account, please post the link so your friends, family and blog followers can hear about Hannah and her story. And then if they could post to their blogs, etc!

This disease needs as much exposure as possible in order get more funding for research and a cure. Networking and word of mouth is key. Thank you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKEQHHNcBn8

And if you care to donate (any amount no matter how small) to the Children's Gaucher Research Fund (the only research currently being done for Gaucher Type 2/3 at this time) please go to:
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/fundraising_pledges/50402?m=f274b976

I personally have a goal of $500 to help raise by Hannah's 1st birthday in July and would love to overachieve that goal.

If any of you or anyone you know has experience with fundraisers and or PR, please let me know!

"You don't have a name for it yet here on earth"

My mom bought Makena a very fitting print from the Story People that says:

"Are you a princess? I said. And she said, I'm much more than a princess but you don't have a name for it yet here on earth."

EXACTLY!

I am late in blogging - since this post is about Makena's birthday weekend (Feb 13-16). My mom came up from So Cal Friday night and stayed until Monday afternoon - that was great! So Friday night after picking my mom up at the airport, Aidan, my mom and I met my sister Cyndi for dinner. Then Saturday was gymnastics (see Aidan's awesome pike jump below) and cake baking. Cyndi then drove down Saturday afternoon for dinner, cake and presents.

Makena didn't love getting her fingers dirty with frosting - not like Aidan who dove in on his first birthday! Or maybe she just didn't like my cake!

Makena actually had no idea what to make of Cyndi's little dogs Emily and Milo. Our dogs are big, not these little furry, wet faced things! She was a bit timid at first to touch them!

Then Makena opened her presents and got a big hug from her Power Ranger brother. I am sure it was not his choice.

And this picture - well I have NO idea what they were doing when I took this but think it is so funny!

Got a little video of Makena and her awesome dance moves - hard to get on camera these days! (those of you getting via email will need to log in to view)

My mom and I took Aidan to see "Hotel For Dogs" on Sunday afternoon, then met Cyndi for lunch before my mom had to head back to the airport.

Busy but good weekend! Makena loved all the gifts she received from everyone! I still cannot believe she is a year old and Aidan is on his way to 4!

Would you buy one to help raise money for research?

http://littlemisshannah.com/2009/02/would-you-consider/

Happy 1st Birthday Makena!

What a year this has been...I really can't believe that Makena is already a year old, but also it seems like forever ago that I was waiting in the O.R. for her to make her way into this world.

Makena is doing wonderful today - she is walking, babbling, loves music and dancing, starting to sing (I think), loves her brother and daddy like crazy, and can say "Dada", "Aidan" (sort of) and "dog". If you ask her "where is Makena?" she will pat her chest like a gorilla.

Makena loves books - especially "Animal Babies" and "10 Tiny Tickles". She is perpetually attached to her lovies and has a smile that will light up a room.

She loves looking at pictures of herself and Aidan, and has already learned that the camera has pictures so hard to get a photo or video lately because she wants to see herself in the screen (hence the many close up shots). She is learning how to sword fight so she can play with her big brother.

Makena has learned some signs (sort of) such as "more", "all done", and "down". She is starting to learn how to say "no no bark dogs" with the pump of a fist. She can shake her head "no" and nod "yes" but doesn't always get when she should do each so she does them both to cover all her bases. We also have taught her to say "ah" after she takes a sip of juice. She doesn't say it but opens her mouth as wide as she can.

We are excited to have Grandma Carol coming up this weekend to celebrate. I will be making her cake so she can have chocolate for the first time! Aunt Cyndi will be coming over as well.

I can't wait to experience all the new things she will learn in this next year!

Happy Birthday my sweet Makena - we love you!