Gracie's turning two

and where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday I was trying to decide on a name for my first girl and now she's a "toddler." Well she's really becoming quite the independent kid now. She tries to dress herself and put on her shoes. She loves to wear anything pink! When you try to help her she will quickly answer with "my" or "mine."

She's my sidekick and I don't mind it one bit. It's nice to have someone who thinks you "ROCK!" I love the fact that she usually wants to do what I do...cooking, babies, shopping... I guess I didn't really ever think about having a mom/daughter relationship since I lost my mom so young but I cannot wait to share all the "little" things with her as she gets older.

Her favorite food would have to be "rice" which she asks for at almost every meal. As far as a treat...that would be "num nums" which is m&m's. She has another language. "E's" are shoes, "diggidas" are princesses, a "nana" is a pacy and"boya" is Samuel (dont' ask me how she came up with that...we have no idea!). We all love the fact that instead of saying "yes," she says "uh huh!"She has an opinion on EVERYTHING! I guess that's a girl thing...oh and she loves the phone and talking to anyone on it...guess that's a girl thing too!

She loves those two brothers. She is going to be heartbroken in about two weeks when they both head off for school. I am looking forward to the time alone with her but it makes me sad to think how horribly she will miss them. She plays right along with them all the time. In fact I think most times she keeps them in line. They would do ANYTHING for her. My last experience with this very thing was at a birthday party recently. It was a BOYS birthday party but Gracie happened to be there with the boys. She wanted to do the slip n slide but was a bit timid to venture down it alone. My sweet Samuel took her by the hand and walked her down. I think he's smitten with her.

Although... quess who is smitten the most...her daddy! Just the other day when Daddy got home he gave me a kiss just like always. Guess Gracie couldn't be left out...she gave Daddy a big hug, and kiss on the lips with a loud "mummmaaaa." He was beaming! Daddy's little girl!

She's our baby girl. We all call her that and she will be just that I guess for a long time. Wouldn't trade anything in the world for her and feel blessed God chose to give her to us. Happy Birthday to our sweet Gracie!

Gracie's turning two...

Just thoughts

Well...I am torn about the idea that my little Samuel may go to "BIG" school next year. We have been holding out on making the decision and kept "junior kingergarten" as an option for placement. Lately he is becoming such a big boy I am thinking that if we hold him off it only delays the inevitable for me. Losing another kid! He is very excited and told me the other day he didn't want to go to "baby" school anymore and wanted to go to "big" school. Guess he is ready to test his wings. Don't know if momma bird is quite so ready. It took most of this year for me to adjust to the idea that Bubs was gone all day. Now I am going to have to try to get ready for this...guess I better buy lots of boxes of tissue.

My little Gracie is growing bigger by the day. She now puts on her pants by herself and refuses to have let me feed me her most days. She is such a girl girl with all her purses and shoes and pink but yet will jump on Daddy and try to wrestle him anytime she sees fit. Most folks think she rules the roost. I think there is a chance of that but I hope to keep her from being too spoiled. Her brothers adore her (most of the time) and little did I know how this little angel would "complete" our family.

Bubs has had some horrible allergies to all this pollen lately. His eyes almost swell shut and then he rubs his nose so hard he looks like Rudolph. Breaks my heart! But of course he is so tolerant you hardly see a complaint out of him. He is talking a little more. Every now and then he lets go and we hear a two word sentence. I love those times. Gives me faith again that God can always do what seems like an impossible task!

My beautiful family would not be complete without my wonderful husband. It will be his birthday this week. I can't think of anything better to celebrate. I thank God so many times for bringing him into my life. What in the world would I do without him as my other (better) half. I couldn't have asked for a better husband for my kids. I think he is better at this whole parenting thing than I am.

Well... that's it for now...more thoughts later (whenever I get a little time to myself!)

Spring Break/ Easter

Here are some pictures of Spring Break and Easter. We did have a great time even though we didn't really take a long trip. We did take a trip to Charlottesville for the day. We ate at Mellow Mushroom one of our favorite pizza spots we miss from ATL. We also went to a Children's Museum there where the kids had a blast. Gracie and Benjamin enjoyed running through this big tunnel. Samuel really enjoyed all the educational games and activities there. It was a fun family day. We spent Easter afternoon with some good friends, eating and hanging out and the kids had an egg hunt. It was a wonderful day. I hope you enjoy the pics.

Soccer

Well we are officially a soccer family now. Both boys are playing this season and Dad is the coach. I would say both boys have given it their best. I think Samuel might actually continue next season but Benjamin seems to only like playing in spurts. He plays for about 3/4 of the time and then is ready to run and sit in my lap and watch. Samuel is really making friends on the team and seem to enjoy it socially and we are really proud of that. Here are some pictures.

Some pictures of our snow fun!

SNOW

Well...after three years of living up "north" we finally got the snow we had long been hoping for. We measured up to eight inches in the front yard. The schools were closed for three days and we had plenty of time for some snow fun. I would Samuel was by far the most excited about it. He was dressed and ready bright and early on the first morning, ready to head out and make snowballs. I think his most fun was having snowball fights with mom and dad. Samuel has been asking all winter for us to show him how to make one. He also was interested in all the icicles. We saved a couple of them in the freezer. I don't know how long that will stay there. Benjamin was a little less excited. Bubs isn't really that fond of being cold so the thought of trudging through the snow just to make some snowballs and snow angels didn't really sound like much fun to him. He would go out in small doses and after the second day, never went out in the snow. He did have fun watching Samuel outside playing in it though. Poor Gracie had the most trouble with the snow. She looked like a little marshmallow in her snow suit and was distressed when the snow stuck to her pretty pink snow boots. She was most content to sit in the stroller and watch. It was easier than trying to walk through the snow I think. All in all it was quite a fun time and we have quite a lot of pictures to prove it.