So much to be thankful for - 2011

The month started off with a great snow day for some sledding.  Her first real experience with sledding was full of laughter and lots of snow eating.  Still her fav.

Let it snow so I can eat it.

Then on the 17th was a big milestone for the little lady: Big Girl Bed.  She was ready to move into a big girl bed, while Mommy wasn't.  That night she did enjoy her only allowed bed jumping, though she tries to sneak a few more jumps when she can.

Big girl bed - That was mommy's from her grandmother

Thanksgiving 2011 - 3 different celebrations

First celebration was in Jacksonville Beach, Florida to officially meet Jeff's kids and family.  Gracie got to know Jeff's kids very well on this trip, and she wouldn't let them go anywhere without her.  She was a champ at waking them up in the morning.  Mimi even painted a beautiful doll for her that she continues to play with.

Warm water pool of fun.

 

Gracie playing while the older folks tried our hand at touch football



The kids, Alex & Amy are the best ever in Gracie's mind.

 

Great photo of the group, Gracie wouldn't let A&A be without her


Second celebration was with the Peters family at Nana and Papa's house.

Always helpful, and always on the cutting edge of technology, Gracie takes time to show Nana some of the feature of her new smart phone.  While she was excited about Thanksgiving, you can tell her heart is set on Christmas, evident by the gingerbread house shirt she wore a month early. 


Gracie had lots of smiles with Daddy and lots of great food.



Hide and go seek, awesome game.

The third and final Thanksgiving was at the farm with Karla's family and the Sandersons.  The kids of course had a ball playing games, bowling until it broke, reading, and just playing.  The adults had a great time being able to actually talk now that the kids can entertain themselves.  Gracie still calls Ian and Abigail her siblings, they love each other so much. 

Family fun at the farm

Bowling broke so we had to read instead

We continued with our family tradition and put our Christmas decorations up right after Thanksgiving. This year we had the three generations of ladies as well as Jeff. My favorite part of putting up the Christmas tree was experiencing all the memories that came flooding back when I look at all the special ornaments.  It was the first year Gracie really got to enjoy the experience.  The whole holiday season she was obsessed with our outdoor lights.  It was something to look forward to when we came home in the dark.



Gigi and her little lady. 

 

Angel on top

Merry Christmas from Santa's little helper with Brandy's antlers

A couple odds and ends...



Beautiful photo of where we spend a lot of time.



Cute girl, trying to be like uncle Brad when he was younger

Showing Bapa & Gigi what she wanted in the American Girl catalog

Boo - Happy Halloween 2011

Prior to the actual day we had some fun with general life: first snow, dress-up with Mommy, and enjoying the Glee music Marry You.

First snow, have to have a clean car

Ready to dance to Glee's Marry You

More fun with a bridesmaid dress


















Prior to Halloween we actually enjoyed some Halloween festivites.  First to Fort Collins where Abigail & Gracie pretended to be witches from the book "Room on the Broom"  Then Gracie and I went to a pumpkin patch to get our pumpkins and enjoy some good old fashion fun.

Iggity, Zaggity, Zoom

Not a real witch

Mommy & Gracie fun!

 Second, we of course, we make some jack-o-lanterns.  Gracie colored her pumpkin first and then we carved them, after getting the seeds out. 

Looking good

Finished product

So Gooey

Halloween was a fun time.  The weather held up and she was able to visit lots of houses which filled her bag full of goodies that lasted for months.  Although is Gracie had her way she would have eaten most of the candy that night!


Pretty as a princess

Mommy made room on the broom

The Little Princess went dressed as, well, a little princess.  Daddy was a king in knights clothing which prompted Gracie to keep asking "daddy, why are you the king?"  She liked her costume, and daddy's too, but she did not like the chainmain which covered daddy's mouth.  She kept pulling it down till eventually it was just worn that way.  Mommy was dressed as an evil witch, what princess story doesn't have some evil witch involved?  Plus I already had the outfit now I only hope she will meet her prince charming in about 20 years.

What's this?

She is ready to roll!!



Girls trip 2011 to St. Augustine

What another great trip to St. Augustine with Violette and Julianne.  Their friendship is something to be cherished and grows every year with our trip.  This year the weather cooperated a bit more, we had a little more time together, and there was even time at Jacksonville Beach. 

Who doesn't like a run at sunset on the beach?

This trip in addition to visiting downtown St. Augustine we took a pirate boat cruise, shopped a lot (including some extra pants for the potty training lady), ate great meals, relaxed at the sunny beach, danced, and had too much laughter to count.


To start Gracie was a huge hit at the airport since she was wearing her purple cowboy boots that she loved, and was a great flier.

Learning the seat belt

Ride'm cowboy

We started the trip in Jacksonville with a little beach time there with Jeff. Gracie wasn't too sure about the ocean at first since we arrived at night she could only hear the crashing waves not seeing what fun the ocean could be.  The next day she changed her mind after some sand time, pony rides up and down the beach on us, and chasing after the birds.  Then we drove down to Vi's place with a pit stop along the way at the carousel.  Gracie couldn't get enough of the ride for her or her baby, you can see it in her lap on the photo. 




In St. Augustine....


Showing Vi the castle book, I love that view

Reading about the sandcastles to build

When we arrived at the condo Gracie needed to think about the sandcastles she wanted to build.  There was a book to give us ideas as to what an impossible sandcastle would look like when it is built by a 3 year old.

 No trip to St. Augustine would complete without something to do with pirates.  This trip we got to actually go on a pirate ship with actual pirates putting on a show.  Of course the highlight of the trip was the mermaid painted on Gracie's face and the sugar-filled lollipop pushed through her usual nap time.   

The ship and new mermaid face paint.

Then we had to continue the sugar high with a trip downtown for some ice cream to help us power through a little window shopping. 

Most days consisted of having our feet in the sand for part of the day at the beach.   Here are our toes enjoying the sand and surf. 

Of course with the four ladies together who wouldn't want to go shopping, okay I have a good idea who wouldn't but we made the best of it.  This is the trip Gracie got a new pair of shorts due to potty training, the ladies got the same dress, and Gracie made friends with Kermit.  The outlet mall people were smart!

Loving the kids time while shopping

The evenings usually consisted of girls time either watching some good chick-flicks, painting nails, gabbing, and of course the fun game night.  This year Gracie introduced Vi & Jules to her love of Glee music videos.  Julianne joined in the fun of Umbrella/Singing in the Rain mix.  

Under my umbrella, ella, ella, eh.

These two photos show how much Gracie has grown in one year as well as the difference in weather.  We actually enjoyed a little sweat this trip not sweatshirts.  The second set of photos show how much she has changed compared to the lack of change to the oldest town in the US.  We also had to show proof of her favorite shoes ever...purple cowboy boots.  Always the talk of the town by anyone who sees them. 

 

2011 photo, note the sun hats

2010 photo, note the jackets



2010 photo

2011 Photo

Now to the fun of 2012 where Gigi will be joining.





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?