Marching forward

The month started out with a couple new experiences.  While we were downtown one night we thought it would be fun to take Gracie to a Denver institution "the Old Spaghetti Factory." As luck would have it we actually got seated in the train car.  Gracie loved being in the unique car as well as looking down on other people from above.  I totally forgot that you get three courses included to Gracie's excitement she got ice cream at the end of the meal.  Another trip will be in our future I can see.

Old Spaghetti Factory car

Gracie and Mommy enjoyed a Disney Network event at the Colorado Convention Center.  Nana introduced Gracie to the wonderful world of Disney via their movies so of course she was so exited to see all the Disney Princess items.  She also was able to partake of her face painting obsession and have a pony ride.  What a magical day.



What a beautiful princess



Princess and her pony with a purple butterfly



To get into the Easter spirit we decorated the house.  Grandma Maurine, Gigi's mom, loved to decorate tastefully for holidays.  One of her decorations was a tree with Easter figurines that the three generations put up together this year.

So much fun

3 generations remembering a 4th.

This is the month of ladies birthdays...Mommy's and Nana's.  We celebrated Mommy's birthday with a quiet dinner at home with her favorite dessert, homemade fresh strawberry pie.  Yum!  Mommy got to enjoy a night on the town with her friends.

Candles we all blow out

Happy Birthday to Mommy

Gracie does like to be safe and help vacuum, here is proof she takes it to the extreme.   This also shows that Gracie doesn't care about getting food in her mouth as much as her face.



Safety first

Month of Love

February was another fairly quiet month.  This being the month of love we did celebrate Valentine's day multiple times.  Whole Foods is a staple in Gracie's life for many reasons: samples, healthy snacks when shopping, playing with bouncy balls, eating at the restaurant, and the fun neighborhood activities.  One of those events was a cupcake decorating celebration for Valentine's day.



We love Whole Foods

 While Daddy was on vacation with Nana and Papa in Hawaii we celebrated Valentine's Day in Denver with Gigi, Bapa, and Jeff.  After a yummy dinner we had some fun with chocolate fondue.  Gracie sure loved getting as much chocolate as possible on the marsh mellows and herself.

Family Fondue

 

Smores are yummy



The package is just as fun as the gift.

Gracie, Madison, and Aaron were invited to a birthday party at Home Depot. 

What good listeners



Handy little lady

Gracie still gets to spend time with the Grandmothers every other Friday.  Gracie still enjoyed Little Gym on Fridays with them. 

2012 A New Year

After the very busy December January was pretty quiet for Gracie.  She was able to enjoy some extra time with Gigi and Daddy while Mommy was at a friend's wedding.  January does have have a great event, Daddy's birthday.  Gracie got to celebrate Daddy's birthday with her cousins but also had to say goodbye to Keira the dog.  She lived a good life though got so sick and the only one who could heal her was God, as we have explained to Gracie.  Here are some birthday photos and goodbye photos with Keira.

Fun with cousins

Happy Birthday Daddy

Goodbye Keira

We also had a month filled with family visits.  Gracie was lucky to see all her Great-Uncles and a Great-Aunt.  Gracie got to experience the reunion of the Petersen brothers, it was about 25 years in the making.



Aunt Joyce and Uncle Joe Anderson, Gigi's sister



Uncle Brad

Bapa, Uncle Keith, Uncle Clyde

Finally here are a couple photos from some fun during the month.  When Gracie is at Beth's Monday - Thursday she enjoys playing dress-up, games, painting, and of course her swimming lessons.  She is getting so good in a couple months she will be able to swim the length of the pool.

Gracie used some money she had from her piggy bank to buy herself a Dora tent.  She loved eating and reading in the tent.


Dress up with Madison



Fun in the Dora tent



2011 - Christmas Majesty

Nothing starts the holiday season like the Annual Cookie Day with Julianne and Violette.  We spend the day cooking, decorating, and eating lots of cookies.  This year Gracie decorated about as many cookies as she ate.  Every year before there was a nap, this year she was on such a sugar high that there was no sleeping to be had.


Three Generations





Picking an apron that Julianne made








Another generation starts



The 2011 group

December had a couple other fun things happen:

Baby Cailey born



Disney on Ice with Stalters




Breakfast with Santa at SGCC

As a way to celebrate Christmas we were treated to our first Disney on Ice performance.  Gracie of course loved the Barbie section of the Toy Store themed show.  Then we went to have breakfast with Santa with the Stalters.  Gracie wasn't affraid of Santa at all.  Then shortly after Cailey joined the Stalter clan.  She was just adorable. 

Then on December 11th Gracie had her first dance performance to the song "Rockin Robin"  She loved being on stage and we liked the free costumes and low ticket costs.  Then on December 18th Gracie had her preschool Christmas pagent that the whole family attended, including Lois.  It might not have been the best idea to have Gracie wear her headband for the first time though it did lead to some fun photos.



The dance, running with bird wings.



Belly Laugh



Getting ready for the show











Preschool show

 

Headband fun



We love Lois

On December 17th KU had an event at Zoo Lights. The night was just beautiful to be walking around the zoo seeing all the lights. We were so lucky to also have an "In" with Baby Jay who was there, my sorority sister can still be an awesome Baby Jay. Gracie got to pet many different animals, we got to visit wtih Jody, Mike, and Drew. 

Fun lights all around

 

A great ride, but still cold as you can see by the red nose





Baby Jay

Christmas Eve was spent celebrating Christmas with the Peters, what a wonderful family tradition.  Gracie loves to open presents and share the evening with her cousins.  It was the holdiday of Rapunzel with gifts of a castle tent and table with chairs. 

Merry Christmas

 

Presents, presents, presents



Uncle Bri, love him!





Rapunzel Castle tent, all three were in there at one time

 












Santa and his elves were busy this year!  Gracie awoke to a Christmas tree littered with gifts, gadgets, games and gallore...most with her little name on them. Santa even took the time to put together her Polar Express trainset equipped with a remote control. He also brought a hippy-hop and a few other items.  She enjoyed the morning with Mommy, Daddy, Gigi, Bapa, Jeff, and uncle Brad. 

Stockings, stockings, stockings



Santa's loot







Look at the train



Candy before noon, of course it was from santa

Great delivery

Hello Kitty hat ready to open a big present



Matching dresses

Before we ate dessert we had to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and we even used Gracie's 3 birthday candle. 


Christmas dinner




Gracie loved Santa

Before the end of the year Gracie got to spend a little more time with Amy and Alex when they were here for a ski trip.  Then she was a little helper to Mommy after she sprained her ankle before spending New Year's Eve with Daddy.