First Snow of the Season!

I'm pretty sure this was the best snowfall I've ever experienced! I love having a little one to remind me of the joy of such things :-)

Grace graduated from her toddler sled...which was too boring and used one that I received for my 25th birthday...she totally rocked "scootching" to make herself go down the hill!

We also built a snowman that she enjoyed torturing by eating its nose. Haha.

Birthday Post (um..a bit belated)

This is so long overdue.  But here are some picture recaps of Grace's birthday.  We (um, me, mostly) like birthdays, and we, as a family have pretty much been doing little mini celebrations over a week or two).   Below, we have Brian's family's celebration from July 15th, her actual birthday where we took her and her good friend, Luke (you might remember him from here) to Zoo America in Hershey, and then her birthday party with my family in Williamsport.  I also enclosed a pic with her and my dad, "Grumps," whom we saw saw after the party. Enjoy!! (P.s. I have at least two more posts coming with lots more pics, including our vacation to Assetegue Island). I also have a letter I started, with updates...not posting yet (very sad, btw...too many people telling me she is such a big girl!!!)

with Grandma Barb and Grandpa Fred, and opening a card at the Maddy's house (blogger wouldn't let me separate the pics)

A cupcake!!!!

so excited...look at her tongue sticking out!! LOL.

birthday princess, the day before, ready to go to church

Proof (sort of) that he talks. A LOT. He sang the whole way to Hershey Zoo!!

Luke and Grace holding hands;OP

cuties

with Daddy

Looking at a Alligators with Mr. Brian

Petting a lizard.

Best part of the trip.....the bear zone , with a fish area

They stood here, laughing and watching for sooo long!!!

   

Master candle blower!!!

another cupcake!! YAY!!

the cute super hero at the Maddy party

the Maddy birthday crew...such a blessing to spend time with friends and celebrate with them!!

re-meeting cousin Elizabeth for the first time since they were about 6 months old (caught on camera Grace pushing her...a common theme at the birthday party.....:o/)

doing better now that she has food...

pic 1 of getting money for birthday...so excited, sadly

tired out at the end of a fun party

Great Grammy and Pappy

pic 2...money for Birthday, how fun!!

Grumps....gave her grape Crush...sigh....she is now smitten, I am sure;oP

Future job....? P.s. A post for the mamas only!!

Grace has been spending her sleeping time in our room for the past couple of days. Its been going well, except that due to the limited space in our bedroom, her pack 'n play is nestled in a corner that needs to be up close to our desk and bookcase (and subsequently, pens, pins, etc.) OR my dresser (which has jewelry, hair product, makeup, etc, not to mention clothing.) Well, we opted for the dresser, and just stacked everything to one side so that the otherwise bare side could hold her books and a toy for the morning. 

I had heard her in there, talking for longer than usual, but I was on the phone and couldn't tell her to lay down and go to sleep. Once my phone call was completed, I snuck in to check on her.....turned out she was doing more than talking to herself.....

What you are looking at is 2 pair of my underwear and one of my bras tangled up around her body (she puts them on around her neck, particularly when I am doing laundry).  Anyway, this is what you can see. What I actually found when I took everything off was 2 bras and 4 pairs of my prettiest underwear (*at least she has good taste for pretty things!!), along with a 3rd bra and all of her books. Oh, and a hanger.  Maybe she has a future at Vanity Fair? We hope not, but it makes for good laughter now!!

snuzzling....

she's still my favorite snuzzling partner:o)  Love it when she says, "I Snuzzle you!!"

My little snugglebug

For Hope and Aunt Donna!

Last week, I made Brian's cousin (Hope)'s cheeseburger soup- which is actually Aunt Donna's.  It was quite tasty, and Gracie certainly enjoyed it!!  I made a few changes/additions, although it also tasted great on its own- added ketchup, dry mustard and some horseradish. I also did not have sour cream, so just used a little plain yogurt.

 For your viewing pleasure, there are, of course, pictures of Grace for you!  I have also included pictures of "Princess Grace". I read on Hope's Facebook status a month ago (April 26??) that it was National Princess Day, or something to that effect, so I asked Gracie if she wanted to dress like a princess today, to which she declared, "uuhhh, yup!!" SO...I showed her what some of the options for dressing up were and then tried to get a few princessy pics:o)

On her throne!

Being silly

Oh! That's how it goes!

Tired out but looking pretty

Memorial Weekend Fun

We had a very fun weekend...we picked strawberries with our dear friends, the Harveys, and made strawberry jam (we have not yet let Grace help us make it...maybe next year....). This was our second weekend and we picked 22 lbs. Gracie did well both days that we had gone, although she really like to eat the berries more than pick them. I love when she screams "I NEED MORE STRAWBERRIES!!"

 We celebrated Memorial Day at a little shindig down the street from us at our friend and neighbors, the Cares. We crash so many of their parties:o)  Grace is constantly remembering people and their names. Of the Care's, she is especially good at remembering Jona, Wally, and "Party" (Artie..LOL!!). She really loves to hang out with them. We all had a blast. and Gracie really liked the the frozon watermelon and the grilled chix.  She also dressed in the pretty patriotic dress that Nana and Pappy bought her for Easter.









 






Later, we decided to fill our pool (which took a little Jimmy-rigging since we lost the air valve stoppers last year:o/), and Grace refused to sit in the cold water, but enjoyed playing with her measuring cup and pouring water on daddy, who was not playing much since it was so cold!

Hope you all have a great memorial day and remember those who serve and have served our country.

 P.s...here is a fun pic I took of Grace. The one on the right is the original, and the one on the left is after playing around with Windows Live Photo Viewer...doesn't it look a really old picture of a great great grandma or something (minus all the plastic in the background, of course!! Hehe)