Harker Family Christmas Party - Gingerbread Trains

We've started a new Christmas tradition with Grandma and Grandpa...Gingerbread Trains...like the Polar Express!  We had a lot of fun making them and we will definitely continue the tradition for years to come!  Marisa liked to taste the candy as she made them!  Mikayla just liked to eat the candy and look at them
all put together!  Maliya slept through most of it!  Grandma, Grandpa, and Mommy worked very long and hard on making sure they looked fabulous!  Did Daddy even make one or was he just taking pictures??? 
Well, he did a good job because the pictures are great!

Harker Family Christmas Party - Present Time!

Present Time!  Present Time!  Open a present and see what's inside!

(from Mikayla's favorite show...Blue's Clues)

  The girls were so excited to open their first Christmas presents of the season!  Grandma and Grandpa spoiled them! The BIG gifts were the darling homemade Snuggies...Cars for Mikayla...Littlest Pet Shop for Marisa!  And of course you can't forget all the toys...Cars toy, DVDs, games, Strawberry Shortcake dolls, and Glo-Doodles!  Maliya got a few little toys and clothes too! 

Mommy and Daddy got some much needed dishwasher soap to go along with their early Christmas present....a new dishwasher!  Grandma and Grandpa even got presents.  Daddy had fun wrapping Grandma's tiny gift in a HUGE box with lots of duct tape!  It took her forever to open it!  It was a little ring to add to her necklace with Maliya's birthstone.  Grandpa got some wood and trinkets to use in his new hobby...turning wood!  We all definitely got spoiled!  Overall we had a wonderful time together!

Polar Express - "All Aboard!"

Polar Express has become a Christmas tradition with Grandma and Grandpa! We boarded the Heber Creeper (aka Polar Express) and set off on a ride to the North Pole! On our way there we read the story (Mikayla's favorite part as long as she had her DVD player in her other hand), had waiters bring us hot cocoa and cookies, sang Christmas songs, and told jokes with the elves (Marisa's favorite part)! Marisa always has to get up and tell a joke in the microphone! This year's joke: "Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side!" We laughed so hard (at the joke of course!) Mikayla also loved cleaning the windows with a little help from Marisa! We soon arrived at the North Pole and saw Santa Claus!

Santa and Mrs. Claus soon boarded the train and gave the girls each a bell (like in the story)! Once we arrived back in Heber Valley the conductor punched our tickets. We had such a fun time!
Thank you Grandma and Grandpa!

Marvel Christmas Party

The Marvel family got together for yummy "Christmas Tacos" at Aunt Keeli's and Uncle Lee's house. We had a little gift exchange also. Marisa was very excited about this and picked out her gifts all by herself (maybe with a little help from Mommy)! She gave Aunt Keeli a mini kit to dig fossils because "she likes to dig outside." She gave Uncle Lee a thumb war arena because "he likes to play games." She gave Memaw a prism because "she likes to look at the stars in the sky." She gave Auntie Raybug a funny pen because "she likes to write" and Aunt Patsy got a thumbprint drawing pad because "she likes to draw." Overall everybody had a really great time!

Secret Santa

Our little family has had some difficult obstacles this past year with Mikayla's medical bills and we never thought we would be blessed with such an amazing gift of love from the SLCPD. Mommy & Daddy were overwhelmed with emotions when we received this Secret Santa delivery. Marisa had so much fun separating the presents out into piles by name. Mikayla just wanted to open anything with her name on it so Marisa made a little game out of putting all the presents under the tree.

It is at this time of year our little family is reminded of how many blessings we truly have. We are so blessed that we have Mikayla's special spirit in our home to remind us how close to heaven we really are. We are so blessed to have our little angel, Kaitlyn, always there to comfort and watch over us. We are so blessed to have Marisa in our family to keep us smiling and remind us to enjoy our life and not let it pass us by. We are so blessed to have Maliya with us, reminding us of how many prayers have been answered and how many more will be heard. And finally, we are so very blessed to have such amazing friends and family surrounding us who show their love and support in so many ways. Thank you to all of you who help us remember how lucky we really have it and for being our strength when we just can't seem to do it on our own.

Marisa's Christmas Programs

Marisa was very excited for her Christmas programs this year. She had a special part in her Learning Dynamics Preschool Program where she played Rudolph. She practiced her part over and over for weeks and knew every word by heart! She was very excited about this program because she was performing at "Grandpa's BYU" and he was going to come and see her (Mommy, Daddy, and Maliya were in attendance too but Marisa wasn't as concerned about that)! She also had a little parent program in her dance class but insisted that Mommy put the camera away. Mommy did get one quick picture, but was caught in the act!

Marisa's Santa Letter

Marisa was very excited for Santa to come this year so for Family Home Evening we made Santa picture collages (letters). It turned out being a really fun activity! Then later we went to the library to send them off to the North Pole in Santa's "Special" Mailbox. A few days later the girls recieved a personalized letter in the mail from the North Pole (signed by Santa himself)!

Maliya's First Month

We've had Maliya home an entire month!  Boy, does time fly by when you are having fun!  She is fitting in with our family just perfectly!  Marisa is turning out to be quite a "little mommy" who is always wanting to help take care of her baby sister (the same way she likes to help take care of her big sister).  Maliya had her 2-week pediatrician visit this month and is already up to 8 lb. 13 oz.  She's growing up so fast!!!

Welcome Home, Maliya!

We are so excited to have Maliya home!  Marisa (and Grandpa) worked very hard on a sign for her new baby sister!  She is so proud to be a BIG sister!

MALIYA...Our NEW Little Marvel

Maliya Marvel
September 1, 2009 @ 9:15 a.m.
University Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah
Weight:  6 lb. 13 oz.
Length:  21 inches