I just finished the birthday cake for today's party. Sprinkles and tootsie rolls. What do you think? 

Happy 3rd Birthday Mara!!

Again, I was too lazy to plan these pictures top down, so scroll down and work your way up if you want them in order. More birthday pictures to come!




Look, I made Mommie! (Yup, that's me, alright!)

Fun chalk coloring. (Thanks, Flor!) 

Big present! 

So much fun! Grammie continues the tradition of buying legos, first for grandson Cade, and now for great-granddaughter Mara.

Legos! Thanks, Grammie! 

View masters come in 3-D now. (They also come with sound effects, but I didn't think that'd make as good of a church toy.) 

Tearing into presents 

Mara's Camera--expect pictures soon. Not good pictures, mind you, but nice, fuzzy ones that artfully depict a finger. 

Hula Girl: I know how to work it, Mommie. See, I'm jumping!

Mara's jumping rope! Horray! (You and I know it's a hula hoop, but she prefers the "jumping rope" designation.) 

Opening up cards--"Oh, wow!" 

Mara's birthday presents 

Nana's Cookout--August 19, 2005

Nana invited us, Aunt Judy, Uncle Al, Jeremy, Timothy, Aunt Cindy, Bethany, Popeye and GGma over for a cookout. The pictures are in reverse order, so scroll down and work your way up.

Two piano prodigies 

I'm Three! 

And she knows it! 

Mara's flirting with her Popeye 

Do you see him eyeing that chocolate cake? We're such a temptation for him. He's easy prey, though. 

These two engaged in deep conversation all night. They barely ate anything. When they did, we made a place for them at the table so they could keep on chatting away. 

Cousin Jeremy--slimmin' down! 

Cousin Tim--Good picture! 

Everybody, welcome my Aunt Judy to Tamara's Camera--this is her first appearance! 

Ah, that's better! 

I guess tensions were running high--everybody's throwing slaps and punches. 

So it's come to blows, already?