3rd Birthday celebration

Happy 3rd Birthday to our little lady!  We celebrated her special day on September 17th with a dance party theme.  To set the stage (so to speak) the party ended up being on a rainy colder day, with a little loud tree trimming at the neighbors, and a visit to the Dr in the morning due to Gracie's stye. You can see the stye in most photos, though it didn't stop her having lost of fun. 

None of this seemed to make a difference to the party girl or her guests. 

That is my gift from the family, my own play set?

I can slide in the rain or shine.  It is still fun!

When the guests started to arrive they decorated disks to add to the stage that was set.  Bapa was asked to paint some styrofome to make a stage, he of course did one better and build a stage that he painted black.  We couldn't have asked for anything better for this entertainer!

Which stickers to decorate the discs to be hung around the stage?

A photo together, one of the few times we were busy with friends or family.

Outfits to add to the occasion.

The stage

 We added a few games to entertain everyone, adults included.  Musical chairs, ish, the limbo and some jump rope.  This all continued while kids music played to get everyone up and dancing.  Gracie sang so much her lips were covered with all the glitter from her microphone.

 

 Aunt Michelle made another great cake that fit into the dance party theme so well.  We are lucky to have her in our life to help make celebrates even more special. 

 

The stage was used often by many.

Happy Birthday to You!

Let's celebrate

Another great cake from Aunt Michelle.

Much like her first birthday weather did impact the night, though we made the best of it.  Uncle Brad and Lois had prime seats for the present opening.  She loved the shoes!!!

At the end of the party Bapa had a surprise for the kids, a 3 legged toad.  Gracie had to kiss to the toad to find her prince charming.  When he didn't arrive she decided the next best thing would be to ride her pony without pants in her new Disney shoes.  Who shouldn't experience this fun?

Are you a prince yet?

Happy Trails to you

Gracie's actual birthday included her requested dinner, chicken shawarma and rice, and then her left over cake.  After opening her Dr. kit she had many patients until bed time.  Where does the time go?

September 2011 - Fun

The month was full of new experiences. 

Gracie officially started her dancing career with a fun creative movement/ballet class at the rec center.  It took her a bit of time to warm up to the teacher, though she of course loved the class after she got comfortable with the teacher.

Labor Day weekend was filled with fun in the sun with family and friends.  Bapa bought some new paddle boats to further explore Gracie's pond and beyond.  After searching for, capturing, and swinging with the many toads we further enjoyed time with our friends Juliann, Alvin, Violette, Tom, and Jeff.  So much fun!!

Here toady, toady, toady





Look Ma, I have a toad.





The Coopers on ATVs are pretty funny.

 A funny moment is when Gracie found some join in shaving cream, though she doesn't know that she will use it on her legs and not her face.

Shaving cream is fun!

On the 11th Uncle Brad got us amazing tickets to a winning Rockies game, 10 years after the Sept 11th tragedy that Brad and I were together again for that day.  I remember telling him to turn on the news since planes struck the World Trade Center Building.  Back to the fun of the game, the seats were on the aisle, in the shade, and near so many different food vendors that Uncle Brad kept trying to get Gracie to ask for.  We really had an amazing time with Uncle Brad, we are lucky ladies!

 Another first for the little lady was a trip to the dentist on the 15th.  All of the talking about the good things the dentist does for us made the trip very easy.  She loved the people, the movies the showed, the chocolate flavored cleaner, and especially the two gifts she got since it was close to her birthday.  Our brave little lady.



You are going to have to give this a kiss.



The only time she was minorly scared.  Still did great!

After the birthday party, which will be in the next post, Daddy took Gracie to see Thomas the Train.  She loved the 



Daddy and Gracie fun!



Trains are so much fun!

"Honey please stop dancing on that pole"





August 20111 School starts

August we started to get Gracie ready for school. The potty-trained cutie was so excited to be going to the same school that she had been picking Aaron up at for a year.

One the 14th was a new adventure with something Gracie and I love, thanks to the gift her daddy got us, Gracie's first movie was Glee in 3D with Bapa.  It was amazing to see her experience a movie in the theatre for the first time.  The 3D glasses added a new challenge that wasn't a problem since there was popcorn!  The movie was a great choice too because the constant change in songs helped to keep the attention of the soon to be 3 year old.

 Photos to come:

August 17th was a big day, the first day of preschool! Gracie was such a big girl on the new adventure...school. Her comfort level in the school, wonderful teachers (esp Ms. Olsen), and great classmates that she doesn't have any issues with us leaving her for the day. Bitter sweet for Mommy and Daddy since our little girl is growing up.





Boots are made for walking, sideways

Cam warmed her up to Rams, her preschool mascot

Ready to start the day

Then we took a nice long weekend up at the farm with a side trip to Estes Park. Gracie enjoyed her first ride on a pony named Duke that she wanted to rename "ABIGAIL"

3 Amigos

Duke / Abigail

Fun in the Sun, June Style

The month was full of fun around the house, at the pool, with friends, and some relaxing.

One place she will ask to visit almost every day is the pet store. I was glad we got this photo of the super shopper before they got rid of the tiny carts. Her love of pets also extends to our attempt to play the game Life, she always wants her career to be the be the vet.

Gracie sure does love to try to ride a bike and is big into safety. Now shirts can be questionable when she rides the bike in the back yard.

This summer was full of all different fun in the sun with water. Bapa bought Gracie a pool for the backyard with room to move and toys to play with. There were some bugs in the yard that she worked really hard to scare away. She loves to get dirty while enjoying bugs or making friends with a worm. There were many trips to the pool playing with noodles and having picnics. The Streets of Southglenn fountains continue to be such a big hit that we have to keep towels, toys, and clothes in the back of the car for quick trips. When we weren't in the fountains we were able to enjoy the play sets they had for the summer.

Here are some photos from her friend Brayden's birthday party with Abigail.

Daddy and Papa also rode in the MS150 this year to support our family and friends. They sure like to ride bikes for a great cause. Their private cheerleader.

While at Murdoch's we saw some fun boots that didn't fit. Luckily I found a killer deal online for purple John Deere cowgirl boots. These boots are always a topic of conversation since everyone loves them, especially Gracie.

 

May Mayhem

May did have a little mayhem including the MS walk, building a garden, Mommy's work trip to Mexico with Auntie Shawna, Gracie enjoying some markers, Dora backpack, and the farm.

To begin the month we supported Uncle Brian and Beth by walking in the MS walk. Gracie walked and rode in the wagon around while Mommy actually ran part of it. It is just amazing so see the support for so many people.

Could they be any cuter together? Green is for the Moneybags team supporting Brian.

Family Fun!

Gracie having some fun as we started talking about taking a backpack to preschool in the fall. Luckily she wore clothes with the backpack at school.

Gracie sure did have fun while mommy was getting ready. Thank goodness for washable markers!

As a family project we built a garden for some fresh veggies. Daddy helped dig up the grass, Bapa cut and got the wood, and mommy helped to fill the dirt and put the final screws in place.

Gracie got additional visits with family too this month. A trip over to see Papa J at his VA home and Uncle Joe and Aunt Joyce from Ohio. Gracie loved Uncle Joe's stories that don't match the book's words at all.

While celebrating Mommy's reward trip for work, which Auntie Shawna got to enjoy too, Mommy was thinking about Gracie.

Looking good and ready to celebrate at an amazing resort. Sadly it's an adult only resort.