May Birthdays

We are lucky to have multiple May birthdays in our family to celebrate in addition to Mother's day. After spending some time with Shawna & family for Mother's day, thanks Phil for taking on another mother for the day. Here is our three generation photo for Mother's day in front of Gracie's pond.

To celebrate Gigi, not only did we wear our Gigi's princess dress we painted a coffee cup that said "My Gigi Rocks" Gracie loved to paint and wanted to keep going after we were done.

Since we were with Gigi on her actual birthday she had two celebrations. Gracie has gotten really good at helping to blow out candles and share the moment with the special person. Lois even came over for some yummy desserts.

Then we went to the farm to have the usual family birthday celebration for those in May. Gracie sure loved to cuddle and spend time with Uncle Brad. Sure looks like he enjoyed the time as well. To branch out we enjoyed some Nothing Bundt Cakes.

Easter celebrations

This year was full of so many fun Easter events. Being Colorado, many events included a warm jacket due to the cold weather. We started with an egg hunt at Southglenn Country Club. Gracie at first was a bit scared of the bunny though after the hunt she was so excited to show him what she found. It still makes me laugh when I think about my foreign exchange student from Japan, Noriki, wanting to know why a bunny brought eggs. Who knows?!!?!
Gracie did learn quickly that the eggs had yummy candy inside. She even shared the candy with us.

Next was finally learning from our family friend an neighbor Lois how to die eggs using silk ties. I don't know who had more fun, Gracie or Lois. So many laughs and no broken eggs only beautiful eggs with wonderful memories.

Gracie unrolling her creations.

Next was dying eggs with Nana & Papa's house.

The ladies smiling as we got started.

Daddy did a great job writing on the eggs while watching Gracie dye hers.

Next was actually Easter. Here is a great photo taken by Bapa showing Gracie's personal paparazzi as she searched for eggs. She is use to it by now, since she says cheese any time a camera comes out. The monster has been created.

She looked all over the backyard for her eggs, it was so much fun as you can see in her smile.

Happy Easter!!! An event the whole family enjoyed, including Brandy. Gracie got a bowling set, garden set, and other fun items from the Easter Bunny.

April 10 & 11th, more birthdays

Happy Birthday Grandpas! April is a month of wonderful birthday celebrations, some could say superpowerful. Gracie sure enjoyed dressing up with her cousins at Papa's birthday celebration.
We quickly made a sign for Bapa before he came home from work. He was so excited to see his girls there to celebrate his birthday. Gracie had so much fun decorating the sign.

The big birthday celebration for Bapa & Mama happened at the farm. All activities were stopped though any time she heard a train horn. She made sure that Uncle Brad came with her to look for the train.

Here is Gracie helping Bapa open his present, after she got to open and play with her present the farm you can see on the table. The farm will be a big hit for months and months.

Here is Uncle Brad teaching Gracie how to raise pheasants so Uncle Brad and Bapa can hunt them. The photos of the birds were something she liked but having Uncle Brad read to her was more important.

Here is Gracie holding a family friend's son, Grady. She is going to be ready to help Beth with their new addition. The practice with her baby does help her with real babies. She is so cute with them.

Birthdays in the family are celebrated together, so here we are with our desserts. Brad made Bapa his favorite pie, sour cream raisin. Mmm. Happy Birthday!!

April 2, Ian's birthday (birthdays, birthdays, birthdays)

Ian's birthday was such a wonderful time for Gracie to spend with some of her two favorite people, Ian & Abigail, though Aaron & Madison are right there too. The birthday was at a park near Ian's house. Gracie got to enjoy the swings, her favorite activity at the park with Abigail...her favorite person in the whole world.
Ian had a pinata at the park. As you can see from her excited face, it was her turn!! Ian watched the fun for a bit.

The girl can swing, we just have to work on her her grip. No matter what, she enjoyed the candy that came down after Phil got out his frustrations on the basketball.

Finally it was the most important time of the party, singing, candles & cupcakes!!!!

After the birthday celebrations were done, Adam took the kids out for a little court time. Many that girl can dunk. After picking Ian & Gracie up for many, many, many dunks, Adam didn't have to go to the gym that night. They have skills!

Go Jayhawks

Gracie has learned to love both Cam the Ram and the Kansas Jayhawks. This year she got to cheer on the Jayhawks for so many different KU basketball games. Here she is cheering them on.



Rock Chalk Jayhawk go KU

March 24th, Mommy's birthday

It is about 10 days from Gracie's third birthday and I am just now updating the blog with my birthday. Most of these posts are going to be full of photos with a few updates.

My birthday celebration included some great family time at dinner and then my favorite strawberry shortcake for dessert. Mmmm.

Beth was very sweet and helped Gracie to make me a Jayhawks banner, since it was basketball season. That was big since her husband is a huge Illinois fan.

Gracie was so very excited to blow our the candles, we had to light them multiple times.

Her expression is priceless here. She is the queen of expressions.

Gracie made me a wonderful frame that is up on the fridge :) Bapa gave me a card in for my birthday that was really for Gracie, it of course played a song.

Where does the time go?!?! I am not ready to celebrate any more birthdays...she is going to be driving soon.

March 22 - Finally the first hair cut

It took two years and 6 months to finally have Gracie's first official hair cut. We went to Lollilocks one day after work to have a fun first cut. Gracie had allowed me to trim her bangs and she often asks for an trim. She did amazing for so many reasons.

Here she is trying to "help" the stylist by looking up to see what was happening.

She sat still the whole time because of being in an adorable pink car while watching Monkey George on the tv. She is always so happy to try new experiences and meet new people. We are so lucky!

Of course the girl was ready with a killer smile at the end of a fun experience. I know she is ready for another visit soon.