tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71430474900134372562024-03-06T02:48:09.787-05:00The Adorables!The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.comBlogger136125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143047490013437256.post-28900405444168974192010-06-25T01:30:00.000-04:002010-06-25T01:30:07.026-04:00Out of the Mouths of Not-So-Much-Babes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_35uE3UojmE44C027ByZjs8pBXbPwe4g_-Gtlqn5Y0tkExo1oNFpT3Wg-cvLtN0rPHT75wmz7IrpCp-BrOAah_8Q9DiZ5i_Kz3Ld43tziZs_BNpQmcaR4s96rFfr4dB7rqWFLtdLcCoU/s1600/buschgardens+001a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_35uE3UojmE44C027ByZjs8pBXbPwe4g_-Gtlqn5Y0tkExo1oNFpT3Wg-cvLtN0rPHT75wmz7IrpCp-BrOAah_8Q9DiZ5i_Kz3Ld43tziZs_BNpQmcaR4s96rFfr4dB7rqWFLtdLcCoU/s400/buschgardens+001a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Scene</strong>: <em>Mommy is happily congratulating Rachael on being a big girl</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">because she's going on the potty </span></em><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">and wearing big girl panties all the time. </span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Mommy</strong>: Rachael, do you know what makes you special?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Rachael</strong>: Jesus! Jesus makes me special!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Scene</strong>: <em>Mommy is in the kitchen doing dishes,</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Grace has taken a shower and gotten herself ready for bed. </span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Grace enters the kitchen in tears.</span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Mommy</strong>: What's wrong, honey?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Grace</strong>: I was just thinking that I'm starting to do more on my own,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and I was afraid you were gonna think that I don't need you anymore!</div>The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143047490013437256.post-62744226183587357312010-05-14T23:27:00.000-04:002010-05-14T23:27:13.540-04:00Easter, Mother's Day & Summer, OH MY!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It's been over a month!! So... what has happened?</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>I ran another 5K!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UWH9FPq592nGzIDTxw-KyB7ng4IfFWGj2Pf3LGg39jbhBuUeMzspbaMMLyiS98RLJ_-95dHYAkPITUgJrEW66oTLSIoM4EGmffjuKgIN6jDeaD4_Qddnaj0AfAm-KLanK_gQEldw_mQ/s1600/flamingo5k.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UWH9FPq592nGzIDTxw-KyB7ng4IfFWGj2Pf3LGg39jbhBuUeMzspbaMMLyiS98RLJ_-95dHYAkPITUgJrEW66oTLSIoM4EGmffjuKgIN6jDeaD4_Qddnaj0AfAm-KLanK_gQEldw_mQ/s320/flamingo5k.bmp" width="212" wt="true" /></a></div><div align="justify" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">My actual time was under 36 minutes, so I did better than the Disney one back in March. This one was over a bridge and back for part of it, too, so that has to count for something!!</div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Here are the girls on <strong>Easter Sunday</strong> -- </div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Grace was able to wear the same beautiful dress as last year, </div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">made for her by Chris' Aunt Carol!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgafOG8UE-aJ08xBZKho-DcdvW94qsrJxajsRvrhv1GZZDexDCzA_TO8k5zU0kXcwtwQYgtqBQFXY7TtxRmioPCIvwsKDCNYesc1uDRKfV75dA7goqMA761nZLBTbiFdeQOIUnOXqtb9U/s1600/easter+014a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgafOG8UE-aJ08xBZKho-DcdvW94qsrJxajsRvrhv1GZZDexDCzA_TO8k5zU0kXcwtwQYgtqBQFXY7TtxRmioPCIvwsKDCNYesc1uDRKfV75dA7goqMA761nZLBTbiFdeQOIUnOXqtb9U/s400/easter+014a.jpg" width="307" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Gracie loves our hibiscus trees and wanted her picture in front of one that morning!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkMxEK8xyNkzCmJLDJgIa48MNLp6U4qWaKe8jVCyU4f3aA9pyNte9CGQyVVYzP_nSZSSXqJP82NTgu_z3rjbl1ObT_W6Ch-_LnP9laleW_oIMLRGOrX0wyd23hOwAQtm__874CPlYUkw/s1600/easter+020a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkMxEK8xyNkzCmJLDJgIa48MNLp6U4qWaKe8jVCyU4f3aA9pyNte9CGQyVVYzP_nSZSSXqJP82NTgu_z3rjbl1ObT_W6Ch-_LnP9laleW_oIMLRGOrX0wyd23hOwAQtm__874CPlYUkw/s320/easter+020a.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's Rachael, "goin' shoppin'" with her baby!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75-Vn6_GvsDz-qf8tDzcERZkeZqI1H_BtyhOGZTsXZi2eomwIbOp2DASVWYByqly9HLmjzpzfQXYlymrXqBRnPNAsGZsSbbiXltd_jdw3Occ80J0HPHxHHNn_nO3L1J2EkeSAQcxRXhA/s1600/easter+025a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75-Vn6_GvsDz-qf8tDzcERZkeZqI1H_BtyhOGZTsXZi2eomwIbOp2DASVWYByqly9HLmjzpzfQXYlymrXqBRnPNAsGZsSbbiXltd_jdw3Occ80J0HPHxHHNn_nO3L1J2EkeSAQcxRXhA/s320/easter+025a.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>The highlight of April was a visit from </strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Aunt Kiki, Uncle Jerry, Blake, Savannah & Veronica!</strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Grace & Savannah on our playdate with them!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_BWsdKDKJI-tX_DeDytqc8yn8eetYSfcdvTr08_stMw-fEbAvkU_PP5HpHM8HxL7x1ApKBjs14sLTGxAbgJeb8jFyrWn7IIBJujkgN8WMMxMLX5onT3TJ77mLOzQ9DvZHt9HcNGw0nQ/s1600/easter+037a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_BWsdKDKJI-tX_DeDytqc8yn8eetYSfcdvTr08_stMw-fEbAvkU_PP5HpHM8HxL7x1ApKBjs14sLTGxAbgJeb8jFyrWn7IIBJujkgN8WMMxMLX5onT3TJ77mLOzQ9DvZHt9HcNGw0nQ/s320/easter+037a.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Rachael & Veronica were sharing a banana.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VeQJakJUQl4nGVKuAl6NVFzn2A9-bWYnYiJhUo4fdW4ISZNF4esBdeK81BCwe1ohxiaiHsD0eKM9HGxyJ5qXD9LaZM2RwgRPSyCKP9oq08JaDhxwzpRHaXW6RlSsNNgWr-pdL52oUms/s1600/easter+058a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VeQJakJUQl4nGVKuAl6NVFzn2A9-bWYnYiJhUo4fdW4ISZNF4esBdeK81BCwe1ohxiaiHsD0eKM9HGxyJ5qXD9LaZM2RwgRPSyCKP9oq08JaDhxwzpRHaXW6RlSsNNgWr-pdL52oUms/s320/easter+058a.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpCsEFJGcCBX18oYzNcl_YSBnaG7HiOSeLqegl6UABPvwleyuF6pb6LBfF-loY9yJvq3n9z5hYJzchDGz86CAhJ_X7dOQS3gC8twHg9aBi2XX39rp62ttebawNAoE0fCuDjnnOvs1m3c/s1600/endofyear+013a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLpCsEFJGcCBX18oYzNcl_YSBnaG7HiOSeLqegl6UABPvwleyuF6pb6LBfF-loY9yJvq3n9z5hYJzchDGz86CAhJ_X7dOQS3gC8twHg9aBi2XX39rp62ttebawNAoE0fCuDjnnOvs1m3c/s200/endofyear+013a.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a>Grace's kindergarten class had a Mother's Day Tea last week. The moms waited outside the classroom, and one by one the children came out and presented his or her mommy with a flower and escorted her inside. It was so sweet! It was a good thing there were tissue boxes at each table, because they were definitely pulling out all the emotional stops! After they serenaded us, the teacher read a couple of heartwarming stories, and then we were served snacks by our little hosts and hostesses!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9bTxgaPJiXwQIDZpauOMOjta-djydr8fVWbUHIWj_Lgfp3dvpF7cVYycN0hQwW_QCulAk7TAMuXmwYffvDAx7mPSyoCZbDqWmxpV3rlg7Qziiey3Ibd2AyEXVUDRmCY2TFXUZVmKg5o/s1600/endofyear+044a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9bTxgaPJiXwQIDZpauOMOjta-djydr8fVWbUHIWj_Lgfp3dvpF7cVYycN0hQwW_QCulAk7TAMuXmwYffvDAx7mPSyoCZbDqWmxpV3rlg7Qziiey3Ibd2AyEXVUDRmCY2TFXUZVmKg5o/s200/endofyear+044a.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a>Rachael had her last week of preschool, and we were wondering how she was going to do at the program they had, considering she'd cried through most of the Christmas one! She had a rough start coming to her classroom and I thought we were in trouble, but once she got up on stage, she was fine! Yay! She sang, she smiled, she did hand motions, she tapped sticks -- she was great! We were very proud of her! I don't know if she understands that preschool is over for a little bit, but hopefully I'll be able to keep her entertained!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">Gracie has one more week of school left! We're already looking forward to Vacation Bible School and some playdates with friends throughout the time off! I learned last year that summer "vacation" is kind of misleading -- it's going to be work to keep these girls busy while they're out of school! I'm really blessed because both girls are really amazing at finding things to keep busy, and they (usually) play very well together too!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;">Hope our family and friends reading this are doing well! We're <strong><em>hoping</em></strong> that we might get to see some of Chris' family in Connecticut this summer -- keep your fingers crossed!</div>The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143047490013437256.post-26071359791013582212010-03-31T00:26:00.003-04:002010-03-31T00:42:15.159-04:00Spring has sprung! FINALLY!What has happened in the last month...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqRbbcm2VOGi5bx-kvje5gRl9Vaqp5JP7hiomA0WzQputl7m3VVpRZGeJO_gShaR1ZQs0Pa4_1Z-6FhKW7vDrSBAcnJnWDArick97atSIXGrqq_PeU0baf4vGZnPbBhwkoy6VaYWUqa0/s1600/princess5k-medala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqRbbcm2VOGi5bx-kvje5gRl9Vaqp5JP7hiomA0WzQputl7m3VVpRZGeJO_gShaR1ZQs0Pa4_1Z-6FhKW7vDrSBAcnJnWDArick97atSIXGrqq_PeU0baf4vGZnPbBhwkoy6VaYWUqa0/s400/princess5k-medala.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
That's me (standing, third from the left) with a bunch of friends after we ran the Disney Royal Family 5K at Epcot the first weekend in March. This was my first 5K, and even though I didn't get bit by the running bug, I did have a lot of fun! It probably helped that we were all wearing tutus and boas!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And even though I let the cold weather we had and the time change (too dark in the early morning!) further disrupt my "training," I signed up for another 5K in April. No tutus this time!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJZB4LTzPdaxxOQ6GAbkDCI9tQ7NC8uWaPTCPhyphenhyphencfV1YXcP2soMSRYm5TY25k9g7J8lsKJPdcx3Qah5abwDWvd9USc9GMNUw82iNowCBs1qDOK4ROVqPsmO8oWdBomyF5_lzzLJ7GVBU/s1600/springbreak+038a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJZB4LTzPdaxxOQ6GAbkDCI9tQ7NC8uWaPTCPhyphenhyphencfV1YXcP2soMSRYm5TY25k9g7J8lsKJPdcx3Qah5abwDWvd9USc9GMNUw82iNowCBs1qDOK4ROVqPsmO8oWdBomyF5_lzzLJ7GVBU/s400/springbreak+038a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">That's the girls just this past Sunday, wearing dresses they got for Christmas from their GG -- the weather was finally spring-y enough for them! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnOIY_Gp8KutjzLSpgumsWYIoVMEdITjSs83JqtLSqyaWxRI-e5lwdL1Xkd8TnLf-G2INhdIV8TR8SlT-UoaewmZbMgJMgMd0C36n1u8krc8Zeg4cGncOBHtknRzjaWoMtoig86Na_pc/s1600/springbreak+036a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnOIY_Gp8KutjzLSpgumsWYIoVMEdITjSs83JqtLSqyaWxRI-e5lwdL1Xkd8TnLf-G2INhdIV8TR8SlT-UoaewmZbMgJMgMd0C36n1u8krc8Zeg4cGncOBHtknRzjaWoMtoig86Na_pc/s200/springbreak+036a.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gracie is doing great in school, her teacher has started her in the Accelerated Reader program and she seems to be loving it, and doing well! She hasn't shown an interest in any kind of after-school activity so far (soccer, ballet, etc.), but when I told her about her school's Young Authors Celebration and that she could write a book for it, she was all over it! She wrote three little books in one weekend! We picked one to turn in -- she dictated her words to me since she was having trouble fitting them on the page, and she did all the illustrations and the cover page! She was so excited to turn it in!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tAtBNlHkl4UMkXhsR3uXkSYTA36rNYgb5qBLrhi8_FWVE0QdGux5VbjTxIXXIdIWr1mJv0aPSJfKHYxr3BSZy-nkgOeRh5hikHv_AywPoSYOeIZq3Uy_RRB8zmK2JPoX03KA5gBvFT8/s1600/springbreak+037a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tAtBNlHkl4UMkXhsR3uXkSYTA36rNYgb5qBLrhi8_FWVE0QdGux5VbjTxIXXIdIWr1mJv0aPSJfKHYxr3BSZy-nkgOeRh5hikHv_AywPoSYOeIZq3Uy_RRB8zmK2JPoX03KA5gBvFT8/s200/springbreak+037a.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rachael has turned into a total Chatty Cathy! I love listening to her talk, and she's getting much more conversational with the moms and dads of her friends! I've been told she's pretty much the teacher's little assistant in her preschool class, and that just tickles me! She's also started to sing songs in the car and during movies -- I'm already looking forward to the fall when she starts choir! Of course, we'll see how she does at the end of the year program for preschool in May! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This is our Spring Break, so I've been trying to keep the girls busy -- and we had our 2nd Annual Pajama Day on Tuesday! The girls loved going to the mall in their pajamas with their friends, and I have to admit, it was pretty comfy! Three other moms and their kids joined us this year, it was a lot of fun! We have a big playdate and picnic coming up, then a movie morning, and by next Monday I'll probably need another week to recover!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, for your viewing pleasure... Recently Chris got me a new game for the Wii, Just Dance, and Grace decided she was going to get in on the action. She's already topped my score at a couple of the songs! So here we are "dancing" to Wannabe by The Spice Girls:<br />
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Now that I've sufficiently made a fool of myself, I'll go! :-) Hope things are warming up where you're at!</div>The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143047490013437256.post-77678106976203765252010-02-24T22:12:00.000-05:002010-02-24T22:12:47.302-05:00We are here! we are here! we are here!<div style="text-align: justify;">Shame on me! I can't believe it's been so long since I last posted here! I could say that I've been really busy, which is pretty true, but it's also because a lot of my time has been spent writing at my other blog, <a href="http://www.baptistness.com/">Much More Than Mommy</a>, and also at <a href="http://www.momwithapen.com/author/undomestic-mom/">Mom With A Pen</a>. And while I know that I'm not passig along earth-shattering information here, it is definitely a good way for ME to be able to come back and see how the girls have grown, etc.! </div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">To be honest, though, not much has happened in the past month! We are all still trucking along our merry ways! I did have a birthday and had a great time celebrating with my family! Here's a picture of the girls before we went out:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05Fufm1qMH20BkHr0zUiFcy3Wt6nY8_jNMbtgWKn6m5NmXAiRRHVqCT9Vc7Nni5ez3syPBxn85HtYnVID2zqQ2JbDSXNRcF-RlaChu1N5Mh5x0bKphj3H-lXrlYQ7MrqVdGfrybTy4kw/s1600-h/bday+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05Fufm1qMH20BkHr0zUiFcy3Wt6nY8_jNMbtgWKn6m5NmXAiRRHVqCT9Vc7Nni5ez3syPBxn85HtYnVID2zqQ2JbDSXNRcF-RlaChu1N5Mh5x0bKphj3H-lXrlYQ7MrqVdGfrybTy4kw/s320/bday+001.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I know many of you are dealing with weather conditions that are way more severe than what we've had, but I can tell you that all of us are definitely over this weather! I don't think my thin Florida blood can handle too much more!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I do have a good story, though, courtesy of Grace! The other night I took the girls to McDonald's for dinner as a treat, and when we walked it all three of us were immediately shivering! It was one of the warmest days we'd had in a while, and apparently those inside decided to crank up the A/C to celebrate! We got our food and sat down, and Gracie and I were especially chilly -- we kept sitting closer and closer and hugging to try to warm up! We started eating, then Grace suddenly stopped and said matter-of-factly, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I'm going to go tell them it's too cold in here."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I looked at her and smiled because I thought she was just joking, but she was dead serious! And that's exactly what she did. She walked up to the counter, said "Excuse me" to the cashier, and then explained that she was very cold and asked if it could be warmer. WOW! I don't even know if I would have had the courage to do that at 16-years-old, let alone 6! Gracie came back to the table and we watched as a manager headed straight to the thermostat. She was very happy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">That's all for now! Hope you're managing to stay warm!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143047490013437256.post-31063390839173621212010-01-16T12:11:00.000-05:002010-01-16T12:11:12.204-05:00Brrrrthday!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlUZxxV3MaWCEohup-I84fW8iPkaKLG8WgwpWr3TgvAFZUegxc21s8i6_Q2FSS8SBL5SQ6WFBOnQQu_vnHd-QJw9cAaN0lxigt9xLmFh0D6vqLyodtCwbAz01oHxAhq3PR5sKqmsmMq8/s1600-h/seaworldpink+013a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlUZxxV3MaWCEohup-I84fW8iPkaKLG8WgwpWr3TgvAFZUegxc21s8i6_Q2FSS8SBL5SQ6WFBOnQQu_vnHd-QJw9cAaN0lxigt9xLmFh0D6vqLyodtCwbAz01oHxAhq3PR5sKqmsmMq8/s200/seaworldpink+013a.jpg" /></a>Just after Christmas we took the girls to Sea World to see their Christmas stuff. They got to visit Santa -- we told him he was taking his vacation in Orlando. ;-) They told him what their favorite gifts were, and we had a great, albeit COLD, time! We were definitely bundled up as we watched their ice show!<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Chris was busy over his "vacation" -- his biggest task was painting the girls' bedroom. We had picked a pink that I thought would look less Pepto Bismol and more dusty rose. I was out while Chris painted, and he called to let me know that he thought it might be a little darker than I expected. I told him to go ahead, there wasn't much we could do about it now! I came home and was greeted by the pinkest pink I'd ever seen! We also put up the toddler bed for Rachael. The girls were SO excited about their room! Here are a couple of pictures of them as they first came in, and you can catch a glimpse of the pink:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Gracie pretends to sleep for her photo op...</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rachael pretends to stretch and yawn...</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNeP-AKReV_rzUXvfLjtbxiJJbfHm4jYFdRoYkBsfDU88cA1Rb-qxyyzr12nlZg5ykOk5PN2rCFChUyMIb0KEgCyPiQdlOvQ8AjELgSG02IajErhx1K1YiCfJuABnUpwXuOSawumyN9g/s1600-h/seaworldpink+026a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNeP-AKReV_rzUXvfLjtbxiJJbfHm4jYFdRoYkBsfDU88cA1Rb-qxyyzr12nlZg5ykOk5PN2rCFChUyMIb0KEgCyPiQdlOvQ8AjELgSG02IajErhx1K1YiCfJuABnUpwXuOSawumyN9g/s320/seaworldpink+026a.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVkDGzyurzJWtINsw5eCZ2UTBimYsaJsuSDCHK7H79-5D33UirEyz64WA7DF0joCzcImYyMraCvW9CLtde1A2uiBmq46kaf2ucyLYg0SrxtvRYsDd4dk2vrMuroW9OEdcsCoTgoshysc/s1600-h/bdayweek+001a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVkDGzyurzJWtINsw5eCZ2UTBimYsaJsuSDCHK7H79-5D33UirEyz64WA7DF0joCzcImYyMraCvW9CLtde1A2uiBmq46kaf2ucyLYg0SrxtvRYsDd4dk2vrMuroW9OEdcsCoTgoshysc/s200/bdayweek+001a.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGF-8wpakOAcXBTmwF_guVBsIFqbEsQr18wRubtBcRFFi_rGZMvR7hY8iX1xTE8bxFlXSLxjVLcbHniP3sl4qXHZ9kHs-6fCq_6Zhfhp-odARaP5X_8iVpTsQoSuB62AvIv03cPkpfWU/s1600-h/bdayweek+002a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGF-8wpakOAcXBTmwF_guVBsIFqbEsQr18wRubtBcRFFi_rGZMvR7hY8iX1xTE8bxFlXSLxjVLcbHniP3sl4qXHZ9kHs-6fCq_6Zhfhp-odARaP5X_8iVpTsQoSuB62AvIv03cPkpfWU/s200/bdayweek+002a.jpg" /></a>January came and brought along MUCH colder weather, so we learned a lot about hats, scarves and gloves! These were taken when the girls were helping their daddy with some work on the back porch early one evening! This was before they had their scarves, which I may have run out to get that very night. I had no idea how much a scarf could help in the cool weather -- but why would I, being a native Floridian?? I was very thankful we were able to get all wrapped up every morning for school! So were the girls! (If you notice in the picture with Rachael, Chris is wearing shorts!! Even on the coldest day we had, he went outside and ran errands in shorts, it's like he never gets cold!!<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSiSPmxCv2LKH9jDdYDDv0gh3_4U4Jp1i2zkb14kk3Dqeb5n7BSr6OvEKplvauBBUmVcFgCJ5biBqn2IbkTFxDvxSwc30l0uVxQsyGZbUkR-XdZ_nO8wWgsz96t8tNH1OXN9NEUvANSMI/s1600-h/bdayweek+012a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSiSPmxCv2LKH9jDdYDDv0gh3_4U4Jp1i2zkb14kk3Dqeb5n7BSr6OvEKplvauBBUmVcFgCJ5biBqn2IbkTFxDvxSwc30l0uVxQsyGZbUkR-XdZ_nO8wWgsz96t8tNH1OXN9NEUvANSMI/s200/bdayweek+012a.jpg" /></a>January also brought Miss Rachael's 3rd birthday! We celebrated with family, and she picked the main dish -- pizza! When asked what kind of cake, without hesitation she replied, "Strawberry!" So strawberry she got! Rachael had a big week -- even though she started off under the weather, she managed to fit in a haircut, a little lunch after moms' group with her friends, her birthday party, bringing cake to school the following day, and then after we picked Gracie up from school on Friday, we headed over to the zoo. WHEW! We did manage to wear the girls out enough that Rachael told us she was ready to go to bed!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAamdRFm4MdxF3xO2KWlPeKGJ62DqbyIvypA2QHUaiQm7OSzc04UN_wV0Y7aeNFuvwcQIWDzvJhyphenhyphenGxh1FFhly6Q2AePZE_quW6JLFUkslbR_wog0VK7EeX208qJSZMRpDy6DRIjOGe2wA/s1600-h/bdayweek+006a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAamdRFm4MdxF3xO2KWlPeKGJ62DqbyIvypA2QHUaiQm7OSzc04UN_wV0Y7aeNFuvwcQIWDzvJhyphenhyphenGxh1FFhly6Q2AePZE_quW6JLFUkslbR_wog0VK7EeX208qJSZMRpDy6DRIjOGe2wA/s200/bdayweek+006a.jpg" /></a>Gracie brought home her second report card -- that's still a little wild! She's doing great in school, and she's really impressing us with how well she's reading! There is no point in spelling out words in front of her anymore, she'll figure it out! Chris and I are going to have to figure out a new kind of code! Grace loves coming home and telling us what she's learned, and I LOVE that!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiME3FFgofwZKwXXI2eoinC_Y0j_uFfTZi9eWutVki1cGIwbVvMO_VK1zy_du8e7sfYCVLUncUY5L6YSQDtkuJm91oceRElmKZXAxFaYo13q7NPigJSq3zHUSJn4Tnz-rjdoqR979xs2R8/s1600-h/bdayweek+028a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiME3FFgofwZKwXXI2eoinC_Y0j_uFfTZi9eWutVki1cGIwbVvMO_VK1zy_du8e7sfYCVLUncUY5L6YSQDtkuJm91oceRElmKZXAxFaYo13q7NPigJSq3zHUSJn4Tnz-rjdoqR979xs2R8/s200/bdayweek+028a.jpg" /></a>Rachael is also still a huge fan of school! For a little while there, she was acting like she was going to bolt after me when I dropped her off, but all it took was her sweet teacher offering to let her paint, and usually she'd be fine! :-) After the break, she was back to walking herself in and barely sparing me a wave! She is definitely talking clear enough for strangers to understand, and the funniest thing is when she gets her hands going! We are still working on the potty training thing -- and I do mean <em><strong>WE</strong></em>, it definitely takes parental involvement! She knows what to do, I think it's just going to take me being willing to give up the diapers and Pull-Ups during the day altogether, and I'm not there yet! Soon, though!<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The girls are so much fun, especially when they play together, which they do fairly well! Lately Rachael has become a little bit more affectionate with Grace, coming over and sitting in her lap or randomly giving her hugs. Gracie will usually holler out, "Mama! Look!" so I don't miss it. Love them!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Things are warming up here, hope that you and your family are staying warm as well!<br />
</div>The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143047490013437256.post-53078485269164112062009-12-26T01:28:00.000-05:002009-12-26T01:28:15.204-05:00An Adorable Christmas<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvghvXqcKs5ZBN6xt-qXfYji7my2sQMDw0YrY9UxlsGqvNzKBMKceKNXgEXBxLkPcJ8IUb5J6SnbLx5T_rz2xbo55ZUJs8xCB0UF8AzbH_-vlVlVXhDMrkNWFAcDwUeICmAR8J8jMkcKQ/s1600-h/CONCERTS+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvghvXqcKs5ZBN6xt-qXfYji7my2sQMDw0YrY9UxlsGqvNzKBMKceKNXgEXBxLkPcJ8IUb5J6SnbLx5T_rz2xbo55ZUJs8xCB0UF8AzbH_-vlVlVXhDMrkNWFAcDwUeICmAR8J8jMkcKQ/s200/CONCERTS+001.jpg" /></a>After the decorating was done, we started the rest of our Christmas festivities with Rachael's preschool Christmas concert. As you can see, she got a little case of stage fright! She was quickly rescued by her teacher and thankfully her tears dried up! She stayed in her teacher's lap for the rest of the concert, and afterwards was just fine and dandy! <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">The very next day, the kindergarten classes at Gracie's school had their Christmas concert, and each class had their own song to sing. Gracie's group sang "Santa Bingo" -- that's Gracie proudly holding up the second 'A'. If you aren't familiar with this tune, think B-I-N-G-O, only with S-A-N-T-A. <em>There was a man with a long white beard, and Santa was his name-o!</em> All of the music was very cute!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63Bv3m9WnyJrcELrqaoUTI0x7pwtxQmmGnATa5piuMvdOzsdNCx4kEZMKx5nWlUEsTj9MJM8A7nqmGBKm6orFcW7eDduqxKipJmMW3vDrfSIM_3_tAUUdwXLWbr45pVllasjzVvZHOO0/s1600-h/DAY+002a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63Bv3m9WnyJrcELrqaoUTI0x7pwtxQmmGnATa5piuMvdOzsdNCx4kEZMKx5nWlUEsTj9MJM8A7nqmGBKm6orFcW7eDduqxKipJmMW3vDrfSIM_3_tAUUdwXLWbr45pVllasjzVvZHOO0/s200/DAY+002a.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Daddy got to come home early on Christmas Eve, and not long after he got in we had a visit from Papa. Later, after the church services were over, we spent the rest of Christmas Eve with Chris' parents, and Christmas morning we got to experience the joy of the girls waking up and making their run to the tree to see what Santa brought! (My favorite part was after <em>all</em> the gifts had been opened, Rachael pulled out a tub of blocks that they've had forever and started playing with them!) After that, we went to Grandma and Grandpa's for a delicious Christmas dinner, made it home for naptime, and then had a visit from Nana and Grandpa Ken!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This was the first year we actually <strong>really</strong> did Santa with the girls (even Grace), so we're still learning! <em>Santa</em> forgot batteries for the little Dirt Devil that Rachael got, and Grace is wondering how <em>I'm</em> going to be able to go to Target and exchange the princess tent that <em>Santa</em> brought them... What can I say? I'm a novice!<br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We have been blessed every year as a family, but this year did feel a little extra special as we celebrated in our home! <br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We hope you enjoyed your Christmas, especially those of you who were able to have a white one!! <br />
</div>The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143047490013437256.post-36427501721544564402009-12-06T00:12:00.015-05:002009-12-06T00:49:51.581-05:00Home for the Holidays<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhx1IXZB59Yr_AUgsPIDFXOXhzrUpqWYXnmlFMlGMVHqDy75D5CuTI5w5wvSAcAre-EtH-PUf6QEFvqq5ESgm5c5YxigX3heTR153rvzZdCVfupk8o78reCqon6GxpjC7dGXlSAh2O_Qw/s1600-h/decorations+001a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411993534368349682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhx1IXZB59Yr_AUgsPIDFXOXhzrUpqWYXnmlFMlGMVHqDy75D5CuTI5w5wvSAcAre-EtH-PUf6QEFvqq5ESgm5c5YxigX3heTR153rvzZdCVfupk8o78reCqon6GxpjC7dGXlSAh2O_Qw/s200/decorations+001a.jpg" /></a>See that? It's our first Christmas tree in our new home! The day after he got back from his latest trip to Texas, Chris put it up with Rachael while I was at a doctor's appointment! Before we picked up Gracie at school, we took a trip with Rachael to get some decorations, then after getting Grace, we had the girls pick out which star we would put on top. (They picked the same one!) Then while Rachael was napping, Chris and Grace did some decorating!<br /><br /><p>Today, after the rain finally stopped, Chris was busy outside. Not mowing this time, though! We have deer courtesy of his parents, and Gracie and her friend, Noah, named them all...</p><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Meet Princess, Austin, Rudolph and Kiki!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411988854251234450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03dqo5mRGMwn6gDCVVKZKvIGItTF5yfgCFdw-qc4tphICjhyCJirpwCB324pfMd6rsMEcwiTx_ufPKghcaNcgBpXl1y7VD4vw-GjBiI4UqXJLtnPnmtfABGfDFtSLig4XQ_rKu0PrQOU/s320/decorations+018a.jpg" /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">The girls are big fans of their Frosty, greeting folks as they come to our door!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 247px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411988857827673442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijP1wXa-aJNSek9s1UzsIuu5Hxkt4Ksxq4KCH-oQ2JtV-PToXZZ86gGd-tIRt5QxI3PjFytBxk1yX5ywPMy2eoaY4tmYH40V8hVFRaFtykZPdqo_ZSJJ0lr9dghTsOglI0xglStpYC3E0/s320/decorations+017a.jpg" /></span></div><div>Earlier this week, the girls cooperated just long enough for one of our friends to take some <em>amazing</em> pictures of them! He did an excellent job with them, and I can't wait to put these up, give them to Chris to put up at work, use them for gifts, etc., etc.! <br /></div></div></div></div></div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411991747347906514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDW53WjWhahT2aZMClLZzHzBhLY6suLE4zD2RRXRSw7JsdCjO9TJSm_8VLmBqKTfDXGWMMjz5rmTCaCZvbc1GUF9chnLlePzoKydA9WiHmZztRXFq9MDA0gmtv5W3_UuzSqLLsdpS7uA/s320/bnewby06a.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411992248876696450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0n4CYmBudTtVoC-UqkZKFBx5abcriQLc-l6Bx_9cPSvHDNQdZlJkzwyX9QJKpk9z6yUjOgmEbRzsOxCvs2rbS9UUby4S2oKa6oub5Hd6QJb4lJ2CWxI_t8Twcti3nbgVfycAXpuOK4Y/s320/bnewby12a.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 229px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411992250784416658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMjLv7LjtP_ASiWH9e8NM2eBbL6znwnR4xQI-hCYZKKUjBTQtflSQm47lwIwmzJpb0oM6JuGH552BcitnyC0qEsOka4xJ581Z7FMiZ9Tzi8xDNuN8Ph90ito-SQSWq7YwwKMpM8WNaip8/s320/bnewby23a.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411992237604944066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbG6Fh_NUoGtm7-Iv8lcZnEFCMbhUFCL0JrRnOIvjJDUReteRreSiJcm002OTYQaAumfkK39CgwiyiGnJYj3dAmEbLVAI0L4KHXI9Jx5OjOS_LdPJKmNNVHGZb-8YAEhwTZc8gaDnvQY/s320/bnewby17a.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 179px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411992256957890146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8J1IOGCT37GSXk51WJzQskmYzAJBSzU3a-mXJHbSwYJ95hJx0yQj33rEw98f2LeKu4YZDA4LJHjWRIAYqVbp1umqOK43YzRbSFB5VXVIHiIBswFVAA7LzJtW2K6NN5_I38NaSsQptzF4/s320/bnewby30a.jpg" />Hope your holidays are starting out happy!<br /><br /><br /><p></p></div></div></div></div></div>The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143047490013437256.post-32744998288737591782009-11-30T16:39:00.013-05:002009-11-30T16:59:56.434-05:00Turkey Time 2009Thanksgiving is no longer something we celebrate for just one day, it's an EVENT! With Katrina and her family spending the entire week with us, it is filled with family -- and we love every minute of it! This year we had a very special treat in going to Disney World on the first day of the week -- it was Mommy, Gracie, Rachael, Aunt Kiki, Uncle Jerry, Blake, Savannah, Veronica, Nana and Papa! The little ones had a wonderful time, meeting fairies, riding rides, and being pushed or carried all the livelong day! <br /><br />It was so good to spend that much time with everyone, and we definitely have to get those girls together more!<br /><br />Here are some pictures of our time together...<br /><br /><div align="center">Savannah & Gracie ready for their Disney Day!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 219px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410016584290030642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqz05qyGjzqANirHD4-FrP3DgdFiKXPsqYFU9N6ojW8tRuugKIiVB-RwNlaMdiji-MsKzYl-aD5RNr4zpDyqK8JG1N_C_E9nfReQuIcaE9DDEaRQJHpFnU-irkiFqD3TOtLCoGXc7hMI/s320/singdisneygirls+018a.jpg" /></div><p align="center">Aunt Neener & Veronica in line to meet the fairies!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 254px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410016668798555474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmd0ZNzXXUwiiVcm4Zvy-sSTYozF2-7HGywvvZqy7zm6P58anSzGhOOjPWlwsbqqOZkdJLtGCluaPMBqYHRPfkL7KdcC3eTkhiZ7e0sDz40ZKWeRlWmhVeF5W3wCYVPjNHmJI_kFeesIU/s320/singdisneygirls+024a.jpg" /></p><p align="center">All the girls together, getting ready to watch a movie!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410016818968231490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EwuAdXTeZjXYgxICtCfoigsXC33wgnYeSCiaqzJGhxqv0Ep_aA-bYHJPiphWj_VuJwr_IyIDePmy0xjN1_o8LxPO_d-_DitqOXz6fMRJb5gvFMe1JkNMqwOSc0poP6-_nwH1ugvDf1o/s320/singdisneygirls+031.jpg" /></p><p align="center">Rachael with her cousin, Blake at Nana's house.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 274px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410017128537748338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCXf0dR5pApxhwPaYLp8_5K1GZi7dMnXia-Nk6vgK56m_B43Trh8J2I4yTvdX1sLnbSUVP0amgHXtXM-4FS9ppgYa6ZHSZfjY0iuvsfSE_Bg4-nxNFDnkSLfVSB9CJUVqyKbWBYLP50M/s320/family+036a.jpg" /></p><p align="center">Rachael, Gracie & Savannah, playing while Veronica was sleeping on Uncle Chris, then Nana.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 243px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410017123520152754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7pnngblPjGQPVsL25rAKHwyt4rn7jFdTIkah-2ofaRRCu0yDG-SEkIDczvHTCdsbdOZV1JXqu6cPFY5Nvq2VwDwUL7Pa9AtiOeLd8C_Njpn5tEyyXbnncoVDncsnizdWwvCj2cF7mHM/s320/family+034a.jpg" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZL9q80Xz0W2KLrMzeaXQ0q87B-bWLe1jmgnvq82lKm6_E4XwP0Lfc6fg1BgK3Os2lVpQ-hZQI-sw6dhjLkSd2fLpEbuYx8FNb5VCIAHo17OPwpl57FCbqeIvozEtREHwIzkFdCSiujtA/s1600/family+045a.jpg"></a></p><p align="center">One of my absolute favorite pictures ever!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410018025238632306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEahWqEBEYfnA3cSGeNiVOzxrfXTDmqdcTbhZ4xTLAWg04g6hdy4n5aiKx1CJDTX9Brpwy538HipjyJz5-lc9B69eBy-_DAuGv7wssVIu-OioCP9YnGcFJhyKEwB5AqodFNAgLCESPqXY/s400/family+045a.jpg" /></p>The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143047490013437256.post-32457884534803330542009-10-31T23:36:00.008-04:002009-10-31T23:54:19.989-04:00Incognito<div><div><div><div>Halloween isn't a huge deal to us, but this year Chris and I got into it a little more than usual thanks to a costume night that our friends had on the 30th! If you ever watch NCIS, you might recognize...</div><div><br /> </div><div align="center">Abby & McGee!</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 224px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398977390850906082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPus8ERID8eXCpxeQPulTUtU8yvMUU5cdER9G83cXL7zHnWkSghQTTE_IUmZ8aWA_DfXWhyphenhyphentt7hfypvammJLesHR1cJPbc1tchPfiWxgq9k-4a6iVKn9ZS216TK2WlrMiR81I8mXjeRU/s320/reeshparty+017a.jpg" /> <div> </div><div>We braved the heat for a really fun fall festival today. Gracie was originally supposed to be Belle from Beauty and the Beast, but she said the dress was just "too itchy." (That's Mommy's fault for not trying it on earlier -- it was a dress-up outfit that she's worn several times at a friend's house, but she always has her regular clothes on underneath!) She was bothered enough by it that she was willing to not dress up at all, but thankfully we had a quick fix, so she was...<br /></div><div align="center">Country Girl!</div><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 229px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398977392155935746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEUsCteAa5PB6DMPGOYb0M6ESPu-lJgTnxKtfiMPoicya29D5EOuloo84MKzyRyt_YaTx2rw9C70vSSXfRlH8Ov2AuF03nrI6aTSK8gm9HmOJ6n6pSCFsonFhDUZEAdYJEP-MmS8s7yY/s320/fallfestival+001a.jpg" /><br /><div>Rachael was the prettiest little pirate! She wasn't as cooperative in front of the camera, but she held still long enough for this one after getting her face painted!</div><div> </div><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 281px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398977398470077426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasUnZ_bzG7dOObHV8NKisSKEYUEXRZAJWeFiUiUIMhAfGrRze8vMkjpmGAc_x2ARum5Hm9i5RWgLNYFiE6LpSZKz3dnICBTTAcLvpc7SgCXmmtivdMj2Xd2X5UqjkXs0HJ2qkrs4yz4g/s320/fallfestival+018a.jpg" /><br /><div>Earlier this week, Gracie made a little card for Rachael, and she told me it was for Rachael's birthday in January -- but she wanted to give it to her right then! Of course they have their times when they fuss and fight with each other, but I cherish moments like these!!</div><div> </div><div><br /> </div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398977397015963186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvHNl_Kcad9Xg1xH29pMB4y10GMBmxvkkcWBlKLi2tgZPZ_QJinvxody1PpFSH8KR6tCwesk6HV8M_raKnZG0QxkixAETvbETTyoOBP1feJKuWNvkwVqp1moYwZtPs6iJWYDWZaVHywg/s320/reeshparty+001a.jpg" /></div><div></div><div></div></div></div></div>The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143047490013437256.post-67872503207494945202009-10-20T15:14:00.010-04:002009-10-20T15:57:26.849-04:00Steady as she goes...<div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0AYq4usJ-ZiKXfbonaR-K5Yc6_E6NZWKk3zqpP0cPEYqBmft67Eu3QBGQJ0t0KR4NwvDVw7kppv0CTEc_LnF7NlcGe1HSIL0gEojvhPdYfBZbNFe4XxMCKrBVvN9dBageY_KGkdTGMM/s1600-h/backyard+012a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 210px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394763447376744114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0AYq4usJ-ZiKXfbonaR-K5Yc6_E6NZWKk3zqpP0cPEYqBmft67Eu3QBGQJ0t0KR4NwvDVw7kppv0CTEc_LnF7NlcGe1HSIL0gEojvhPdYfBZbNFe4XxMCKrBVvN9dBageY_KGkdTGMM/s320/backyard+012a.jpg" /></a><br /><div>The Adorables have hit a lull. A lovely, lovely lull. It's kind of nice to just go with the flow for a little while! Between the house hunt and the girls both starting school, I think it's safe to say that there was a little stress floating around the household. Now that we've all found our little grooves, the breathing is a little easier.</div><br /><div>To the left you see the girls playing in the yard one evening a few weeks ago. They had the best time just chasing each other around, sometimes even daring to go barefoot. :-) We've had some interesting weather the past few days -- last Friday we spent a good part of the day at a friend's pool, and by Sunday I was scrambling to find the girls some long sleeves and TIGHTS! And today, Grace wore a sweater to school but by the end of the day she was very comfortable in her t-shirt and shorts!</div><br /><div>Gracie and kindergarten are like peas and carrots. :-) Today she brought home her library book<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgKlDKab84JhyphenhyphenDThey1V66YU9rAJOHCszrdWVUoRrNTOvZwuYz85wCpXIkXHAfn3-yI-wKJI9P7p5J7_6OqOtaMYsa694gcMK47-Smz7ECcSldZNuwLx2nAiB2UXVSb34iAK5f25n8Nk/s1600-h/backyard+015a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394773241701588594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgKlDKab84JhyphenhyphenDThey1V66YU9rAJOHCszrdWVUoRrNTOvZwuYz85wCpXIkXHAfn3-yI-wKJI9P7p5J7_6OqOtaMYsa694gcMK47-Smz7ECcSldZNuwLx2nAiB2UXVSb34iAK5f25n8Nk/s200/backyard+015a.jpg" /></a> and her <a href="http://www.bookitprogram.com/Parents/about.asp">Book-It</a> book, and she read her Book-It book to me without <strong>any</strong> help at all. I will admit that I was a little relieved that she still needed me to read her library book to her! Report cards come out on Thursday, and we have our first parent-teacher conference next week. So far, the only difficulty I've found with kindergarten is figuring out what to pack for her lunch -- she confessed to me this morning that often much of her lunch ends up in the trash. ACK! Although, I helped in her classroom today and then stuck around for lunch, and it was obvious that I'm not the only parent with this issue! Those kids threw out SO MUCH FOOD! So if you have mastered the art of packing a lunch that your kids do not waste, clue me in!</div><div></div><br /><div>Gracie's favorite activities during the week at school are P.E. and art, and her favorite daily activity is coloring at the literacy center.</div><br /><div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSzpvxZnps-r0UE1YmFDDYrIkbxgvgLt_Gh5BP25p89FK5yoNSiwhQmiWTRbNGLQMTLwnNZZMoThX5z2IPtHsrETtMi8rMDli2ur4-7F1QFoecYxqoztL8I1gHEll3AmrIPGQHPlMp0g/s1600-h/carriepool+006a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 146px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394772019149697826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSzpvxZnps-r0UE1YmFDDYrIkbxgvgLt_Gh5BP25p89FK5yoNSiwhQmiWTRbNGLQMTLwnNZZMoThX5z2IPtHsrETtMi8rMDli2ur4-7F1QFoecYxqoztL8I1gHEll3AmrIPGQHPlMp0g/s200/carriepool+006a.jpg" /></a>Right now the big deal with Rachael is <strong>potty training</strong>. After the (mostly self-inflicted) fiasco I had with Grace and potty training, I made the very honest statement that I would rather go through labor and delivery with BOTH GIRLS than have another potty training experience like that. But Rachael, of course, is a do-it-yourselfer. Not long after we moved, she initiated the training. She was doing very, very well, but then I think we may have had a setback after everyone got sick (Gracie came down with the flu and Rachael had bronchitis, then all of us -- Grace included -- picked up the bronchitis). Now it's hit or miss -- but I have learned from my mistakes, and I'm not pushing. She's still showing interest and doing it on her own, and I think soon we'll institute a rewards system and that might give her the extra encouragement she needs!</div><br /><div></div><div>Rachael is still loving school, she loves any and all art that she gets to do, and she is happy to talk about what she did during the day. She talks about her friends and her teacher the rest of the week. I love how much she loves it! We have no problems getting her up and ready on her school days, that's for sure!<br /><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 173px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394772347744690594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5FlQXGKN6hyphenhyphen0VmVqhwHBgx1SdL1VLtNJifhq4iAh_4GbyA9ZGBcx7XRCkPi6w9ps7EL0YJNDLUfFgIWObGSqVEtcYV9XplQRQ_QQwdhRzZtT5FpnSXX1c3lsYWKrsYfManBWuvFiSb5I/s200/datenight+001a.jpg" /><br />Nothing really new under the sun for Mommy and Daddy. :-) Well, Chris just had to do a little traveling for work -- they sent him on a very brief trip to California... <strong><em>first class</em></strong>. I could not even try to hide my jealousy! But truthfully, he works so hard, and I think he's more than earned a little upgrade like that!! They are going to be sending him out a couple more times for longer trips, but it's a good thing -- he learned their new software well and trained those in his department, and they're sending him off to do the same elsewhere! As for me, I've started walking regularly, and soon I am going to attempt running. Please note I said <strong><em>attempt</em></strong>. :-) I am still teaching Sunday school every other week at church (3-year-olds), I work in childcare, and I'm beginning to think that having a house may be bringing out the housewife in me -- and I like it! :-)</div><div></div><br /><div>Hope you're enjoying some beautiful fall weather where you are!</div></div></div></div></div>The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143047490013437256.post-16704360833026076062009-09-30T16:26:00.015-04:002009-09-30T16:58:04.038-04:00Florida Fall<div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxPalgSCxhdA50qSpMR0-jFNs3NTeU_yjfoTdN24Xo9pbj-p31BTtPC0lB4L9mlddy_xGbxWG9DOrQoYrZpbE9eK3gQw41k4w7a6eu42JTty8HhQX4NVIYBDgr6AlBySqaeIDYdPzY8o/s1600-h/seaworld+052a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 181px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387359798479258018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxPalgSCxhdA50qSpMR0-jFNs3NTeU_yjfoTdN24Xo9pbj-p31BTtPC0lB4L9mlddy_xGbxWG9DOrQoYrZpbE9eK3gQw41k4w7a6eu42JTty8HhQX4NVIYBDgr6AlBySqaeIDYdPzY8o/s200/seaworld+052a.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirb-EC1OoNaL6emvldmf3OyeO03PKbRdBBmN8iSpoWgGqvN0uwdC-yawA32FYyGec4lfOwyQg0IW-dJ9rKcwZ9HoJj5U8a3Lf23bonMAuIHeCe9AUjSPlBS0x4jC5KBHSo0XMnCfc-YhU/s1600-h/seaworld+052a.jpg"></a>I know some people scoff, but I think Floridians appreciate our autumn as much as anyone else. I think we might appreciate it more, considering we don't have as many leaves to rake. ;-) Anyway, today was our first day of cooler weather! Before the girls even went outside, they were asking for their sweaters! So there they are, my little Florida Girls, ready to brave the icy temperature of SEVENTY DEGREES!!!<br /><br /></div><div> </div><div>And just over the weekend we were in tank tops and shorts at Sea World!</div><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 139px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387361625004934242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5IPbcLUbjirWhacwYRQ0kx8HzgFCoFP0YvMBTZfLZwUf0fr8RYIW_DxvtAK0uyfVcSPFk436Ln0NNi6duyqV-xvF-PqRy1-oUQ3DcKRQ7ODGGoKWDMcd3gFR0NqnkRjFHyUxf9qTKQU/s400/hotday.jpg" /> <div> </div><div>A couple of weeks ago, Gracie celebrated her 6th birthday. Early that week, we had a few friends over for a birthday playdate. Gracie and I worked together that afternoon to put the stage up for her friends:<br /><br /></div><div> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387362249082368354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSrnRYU8f3CEQk1i9SmYpNwRsHWpbB_z3kh2NedOrh6cxOu_V9FAqGc6Eno7yr8GtmKDJbGrp6WiqmewmTlYbsk6-dUuEackmTP5mHD6aDO0_cvMC5Iu9Vb16VSuL83YTOrNmDnKL8tTQ/s320/tvstage2.jpg" /></div></div></div></div><p>The girls had a great time dressing up, and a few times the runway got some use! (It's got a sensor so that when they head out on the runway, you hear music and applause! Thanks, Papa!) One friend brought over a particular dress that Gracie tends to wear when she goes over to their house to play. We will label this "Daddy's Worst Nightmare":</p><p> </p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 130px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387362969999949026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwD6HKdugHxKR10yOKnfGGR68-SJeeA_XWTjy_un6n3Dk7_o-ezmCfjeMx_IRwTVJ5Fve_OgBmB1K9GLQ7Kb1Q2ruRyNMQbl-b7OX0z40tTYtoDBdoT3cDPkNWdDljU4B6CPhq5sEJdAk/s200/gracebday09+009a.jpg" /></p><p>Rachael found another use for the stage when the rest of the girls were back in the bedroom being different variations of princesses...<br /></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387363486911551842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7a4r3uLL4xJD3d7ng6xIK5gIvZ3fAWbTmgMagbihfzP1fS9HHTouAizKuzAKwDd4c1Urbc8QdJ93k9xOv3OGARcn6DjCswczBwaBBuvmqiihiKVc9CaH3fB_UXcmY4Jdyil-wmVf6ws/s320/gracebday09+029a.jpg" /> <div>On her actual birthday, we just had family over at the house (it's so nice to be able to fit everyone!), and Gracie got to celebrate again! Publix made the cake for the gathering with friends, but since I'd bought two packages of Funfetti mix, we were able to have a cake that night as well!<br /><br /></div><div> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 298px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387364469111368754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AKYkqlpPI3gd6_AXD-oG4FvjF4vrZH15NwFrtPuc3DoK31qXZzJEQkw5eZ7StNMJykX30ijLyZkT3lEr64m9zlGISZ1afQnn7927HsfnIdfIG8EfhQLx-L42kRjtzjApbD0rsjQYxhM/s320/gracebday09+034a.jpg" /> <div> </div><div align="center">Rachael loved it too!<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 242px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387364470120798354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiM8RrPl0fCLg-W-3vr71KEqJ_vpEL6AoQw6V46iSPuXT5pwV8weOVsC5IBE3DCVng4BcemyNxY1mtpizdUo3Gjj6mEkSHUIrocSo8CG0E7X-yYF3CE8f3cxFZhH1em_CrXFSv3dHNzOQ/s320/gracebday09+005a.jpg" /><br /><p>The girls are still enjoying school, Gracie got the Student of the Week honor last week so we were proud of her for that! (Each child gets a chance to be it, but I was still pleased!) When Rachael gets to her preschool class now, she barely spares me a wave! She just puts her little bag in her cubby, and off she goes! So far, I haven't cried over this! :-) It's actually kind of fun to see her so comfortable and enjoying herself like that, and definitely better than the alternative!</p><p>The house is ALMOST done! I am hoping that when Rachael is at preschool, I can come home and tackle the office -- maybe not get it entirely done, but at least make a decent dent! We still have a few boxes that I'm ready to sort through and get rid of -- it'll be nice to not have to keep the door closed when we have company! ;-)</p><p>All in all, things are going well! Hope you're enjoying the beginning of fall where you are!</p>The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143047490013437256.post-23616201316538336952009-09-16T23:22:00.003-04:002009-09-16T23:39:04.862-04:00Happy Birthday, Gracie!<div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382271709602917778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt76GNDnAxBqfWW_9XRdrwE-nycfIUfSdIP-K4D0BFFrfE6r_8-wMZDX5oOQRIlgBg9WbecAq6eRMvePckwiBV4lIfDRi1IM01_C2XSSn3DwS0CM4TnfWecy4cXPXDoLvgd2x9Oa2wJ9w/s400/AA+Sept+17+03.jpg" /><br /><div>Six years ago, this little angel with ruby red lips and a headful of thick, dark brown hair came into the world. In a year that had brought a lot of difficult change for our family, she was a bright spot of love and laughter that we needed so much. </div><br /><div>She's a little lady, most definitely -- 110% GIRL! She is also precious and sweet, strong-willed and kind. She has a pure, sensitive heart. She is polite, fun to be around, and we are so proud of her and so thankful she is ours.</div><br /><div>Happy Birthday, Gracie! YOU are one of God's best gifts to us!<br /><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382275486880037330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOsenmzGTdPJrfPHEG9fRmtXpxT1dxw3KevwYpRR9-0NZuY-5FVCx5LmX_KaGMhQI46TqqWR0-Y9IlaeQ605SfjVDDAZ5tLdHZNuuHgF4HWluWLqx0vZRVgPhDrWGFmK5Yqmo4JIlghQ/s400/daddydaughter0605+006a.jpg" /></div>The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143047490013437256.post-59044078001628814432009-09-05T10:43:00.005-04:002009-09-05T10:48:20.451-04:00Country Girls<div><div><div><div><div><div><div>Grace was studying the farm this week, and as part of that they read about the country mouse and the city mouse. On Friday, they were able to dress like a country kid or a city kid, and Gracie chose to go country! She flat out REFUSED to wear overalls, but this dress worked just fine. As you can see, Rachael wanted to be a little bit country herself!</div><div><br /> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377995028190923938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6qwJwyb0Fu5BRd-_HtsPPj4FH_HMjstI87ZgDo1fXIMOhVSElX6KZ0a_J7layIHF95q4lAhNn5EaT7F3tJgmrdTKslOEPPk1cd__xUif6in2VDeuVK_Zdx77RIlbQIQSz9HAU3Cg8tE/s400/countrygirls+001a.jpg" /></div></div></div></div></div></div>The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143047490013437256.post-29623293977472597222009-09-02T14:52:00.006-04:002009-09-02T15:32:55.624-04:00School's CoolSo far, so good! Both girls are loving every minute of their school days! <div><div><div><div></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwEnJUHPw_O71GukQrvRRxzg3UsdxSoSxDJSwiZpV6VGeByr1mgL0XrJu_UgzwvqhCyZuvqe2UjEEHcF8ziMGgGmufnIT1jv2FE7_Rj0cTgF_XDb2uyXiF36mdPB3-JKfH3O06j-izis/s1600-h/faces+001a.jpg"></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6a8RWrd6ahijTG1CX_F3PD1mgr0jiijKTilmn8OHJ68FjY3S0AcUI-b3uaxulC60tQ6uWLZWcbg75amSRLRpqMerDki_0o0V3E7kKrVJkFGVNf966It6sUI427tpMUlIUq8J05gNSwg/s1600-h/faces+001a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 144px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376954839776088578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6a8RWrd6ahijTG1CX_F3PD1mgr0jiijKTilmn8OHJ68FjY3S0AcUI-b3uaxulC60tQ6uWLZWcbg75amSRLRpqMerDki_0o0V3E7kKrVJkFGVNf966It6sUI427tpMUlIUq8J05gNSwg/s200/faces+001a.jpg" /></a>Gracie has adapted to kindergarten as well as she has to any other change in her life, like it's all a breeze! (She gets that from her daddy!) Loves her teacher, loves her activities, and if you ask her what she likes about school, her answer is: <strong><em>EVERYTHING!</em></strong> She's already made some friends, and she actually did me a huge favor by being buddy-buddy with a little girl with sweet parents and a little sister that's close to Rachael's age! As an added bonus, they don't live far from us! </div><div><br /> </div><div>She has already come home and asked to show us a science experiment (we sprinkled pepper in a cup of water, then she put a drop of dish detergent on her fingertip and set it on the top -- she and Rachael were fascinated), she is thrilled that she gets to go to the library (er, <em>media center</em>, sorry) one day a week, and she adores the P.E. teacher! He is in the car loop directing traffic each day, and Grace has asked for me to park and walk her in because that way we get to drive by him! It's like a celebrity sighting every morning! </div><div></div><br /><div>The other day she told me that two boys had asked her to marry them. She told them no. I was happy to hear that, until she told me it was because she was already going to marry her friend, Noah. And then today she asked me if I knew one of her classmates' last names. I didn't, so she caught up with him and asked him herself. He answered, and as we walked away she told me she was going to marry <em>him</em>. (It may have been because his last name starts with an <em>M</em>, I'm not sure.) After we got home and Rachael went down for her nap, I explained that it would be a while before she got married. She wanted to know how long, and I told her she'd probably be around 25 or so, because she had to finish college first. (I was giving her a couple of extra years in case she wanted to get her Master's right away or go to law school or something...)</div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzY1MaT6C4srIXN9NitMYxbDKnA5WGuPU_ClZqIk_pulRZhOdSdNvMiRCcdE6il6VzlkEMonw7eTiKMnhyphenhyphenGzIbaiveJObdQoWu3HCWadiLXBjQM0mmKLojz_w4ExCMzMvMFFJff5c8TGQ/s1600-h/landscapefinale+003c.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 130px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376954832417860178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzY1MaT6C4srIXN9NitMYxbDKnA5WGuPU_ClZqIk_pulRZhOdSdNvMiRCcdE6il6VzlkEMonw7eTiKMnhyphenhyphenGzIbaiveJObdQoWu3HCWadiLXBjQM0mmKLojz_w4ExCMzMvMFFJff5c8TGQ/s200/landscapefinale+003c.jpg" /></a>Rachael is in heaven at preschool! She gets to paint! Play with Play-Doh! Play with stickers! She gets to PAINT! Today when we were dropping Gracie off, she said that she missed her teacher -- it was so cute! If you ask Rachael what her favorite part of school is, she will answer <em><strong>"Snack time!" </strong></em></div><br /><div><strong><em></em></strong></div><div>I am so blessed to have two girls that can entertain themselves so well! Rachael is really great when we're at home together. One of her favorite activities is actually helping me with the laundry! She even <em>asks</em> to help with it -- asking if she can put clothes in the "washing clean." (I'm sure she is trying to say <em>machine</em>, but it's so cute that it sounds like that!) With the front loaders being lower to the ground, it is very easy for her to put the dirty clothes in and transfer the wet clothes to the dryer, and I think my back appreciates that!</div><div></div><br /><div>Today we spent the morning at home, and before lunch I was treated to a concert (Rachael the Musician sitting on a chair using unsharpened pencils as drumsticks while music played), went to the doctor (Dr. Rachael listened to my heart and declared, "It's working!" -- good to know!), and got a haircut (Rachael the Stylist said, "Looks good!").</div><div></div><br /><div>Soon we'll be celebrating Grace's 6th birthday! Time definitely does fly by, but I think that's only a bad thing if you're not paying attention as you go! </div></div></div></div>The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143047490013437256.post-49058701106466687402009-08-28T17:50:00.003-04:002009-08-28T17:55:06.745-04:00Before and After, Part II<div align="center">So Chris and I spent last Saturday clearing this:</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375136006200539074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjD7AENyB2e_mWWu76fjum1PAfa5EemS6UEjEb1A8YtsZYE0qdn-C9KjxOUixiMbbgHuhagZvrtE-r4lK8zuuR5mxZAZWIJo39Thpnt__2ylj6OEdvSYkJ0Tym7vvUoneg5e26LuaHa6Q/s320/landscape081509+011a.jpg" /><br /><div align="center">Until it looked like this:</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375136021747973186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJMrhO99PxMu7cyY-tdwHfqbob69F_lGko27y8BVfPkzgd8vJkKEa-FI2KQ75QTKYwdD0dksMgnSpa_TUlCcEJzqhvwT6gliK_euYOBYCOzdTK3-KoGli4yyOOoiIymP8h7eT52-vs64/s320/landscapefinale+001a.jpg" /><br /><div align="center">And then Chris spent all of today making it look like this:</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 237px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375136032923722754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREpYgl7x7Uv0J-NmVS7s1mHwoybTILtbKJA9NiN-6YCZbZOjde609gPb-8rT8lMRhIUcA3pkrR7f0CSVxE5_5LrKUC_aTRxB-FhRLAk-uaSYqblhXuV0k3wa-ZQAwyM02lWMV2iw4SVs/s320/landscapefinale+017a.jpg" /> What a difference! He did a great job!!The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143047490013437256.post-36053437610722725442009-08-18T11:16:00.010-04:002009-08-18T14:42:56.887-04:00First Day #2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0_ENWToPAV6zrtiMIzqYtGlTRqOOiFIcUjqxoUkxEO_HV_VeIxW9o1sQVoKVImXGfnQXHThWW7rCA3kveqAJet8j8Su0WkbTgqbbjMdLz-iperREzHRH_tD7adJfuBCSJzsjJFwtxAY/s1600-h/rachpreschool+005a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371324372142081250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA0_ENWToPAV6zrtiMIzqYtGlTRqOOiFIcUjqxoUkxEO_HV_VeIxW9o1sQVoKVImXGfnQXHThWW7rCA3kveqAJet8j8Su0WkbTgqbbjMdLz-iperREzHRH_tD7adJfuBCSJzsjJFwtxAY/s320/rachpreschool+005a.jpg" /></a>Little Miss Rachael has been so excited about school! Last night we went to Target, and for some reason she thought we were going to take her to school <em>then</em>. When we told her we were just going to a store, she started wailing! This morning, she was all excited! She was practicing saying her teacher's name, she was talking about seeing her friends -- she was thrilled!<br /><br />When we got to the classroom, she immediately headed for a table with crayons and paper. There were a couple of kids who started crying (and one who bolted out the door after her mommy left!), but Rachael wasn't one of them!<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Rachael was checking out one of her new friends, who was crying.</span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371324600599127666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdm0P1Hkc0UMdqtTFYaYdRFTyUmG7nTQBHJ2e9QhJPEWSfH1t1aiksIvhBneDkOxumOAlu46ilrBsc_E81Yo_ZiFZUJBrrxuAFuTWd4_LX4TCXIOrPNCm0VHGnLsrGF1D6zNQr2qVdLhA/s200/rachpreschool+009a.jpg" /></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Enough of that -- back to coloring!</span><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371325441963928738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvlZiuNizKkR2hkv_7M4AL28h5Yd0ELni0KGtHo0M7yJUbiX3hpe_JlSkEYT0XLl5alrIqjhjjqoQB42mVu9aOeI-bida4gmzc1lrzW0j_wyll38_C1YZgZ-WN8C2giGjyrMOpI28koQ/s200/rachpreschool+010a.jpg" /><br />I gave her a high five as I left, and then she rushed around to give me a hug. Well, I <em>thought</em> she was coming to give me a hug. I thought she said, "Mommy! Wait!" So I stopped and knelt down to hug her, and then she looked at me and said, "Mommy! <em>PAINT!</em>" I had told her a long time ago that they might paint sometimes in her class -- apparently she remembered that! I told her maybe she could go ask her teacher, and as she headed towards her, I made my exit. I waited in the hall for a little bit, trying to stay out of sight. I didn't hear my girl crying, so I left.<br /><br />Then <em>I</em> cried. Just a little! After I ran a couple of errands, coming back to the house with no one here except Snickers was a little strange! I look forward to picking her up (in just a little bit actually) and hearing all about her first day!<br /><br /><strong>UPDATE</strong>: Rachael came out the door from preschool with a note from her teacher saying she went potty TWO TIMES, and she was "a great helper"! :-) As if that wasn't enough, when we brought Gracie home, she showed us how she can tie her shoes all by herself!The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143047490013437256.post-4640421795297614122009-08-15T22:31:00.006-04:002009-08-15T22:44:45.226-04:00Before and After, Part I<div><div>Chris is very fortunate to have every other Friday off from work. It is very rare that he actually takes a day <em>OFF</em>, though. The man is always working on something. And now, of course, with the new house, there are plenty of projects to keep him busy. The first thing on his list was the landscaping in the front yard. I posted a picture of the house before, <a href="http://ouradorables.blogspot.com/2009/07/just-keep-swimming.html">here</a> (scroll to the bottom). Looks nice, doesn't it? Although the tenants took excellent care of the inside of the house (it was basically immaculate), this is what the area in front of the left window looked like when we got here (I took this yesterday):<br /></div><div> </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370385388783954802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwN3B9uO51ySCc9s02MpAmFhAXirA4SyfQKUz-IU14MLvL-_ZXAVrol9M2lZC0NtzWlLmwYOM22P5kXbT1GFt1Twj-cZu29YQRpyMGicKIDaQDK2c5DtyuAb-o80k2S0t60k3hEFUIDFk/s320/landscape081509+002a.jpg" /> <div></div><div></div><div><br />After a half day (of his "off" Friday) and basically a full day of work, here is Chris' finished product, and this was taken earlier this afternoon:<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 221px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370385392734827074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsLDtuEC9KO5bEF2nKP2NnoiOR4zURBwdeRK-RCmdxQm2PXvlBLZSqPHhOVGMubQBH-LcSXiDvMqDar2OwZu8WsD2AjZOrdTikaoAyG07ZKMBeRicmnAeAMButOzOfSPfwYxuKLvK-7o/s320/landscape081509+033a.jpg" /></div><div><br />Chris is my hero!</div><div> </div><div><br />As for next weekend?</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370385401259388866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVIaYG4r8XrcC52_Dw04jxSF2BaV-OfEXy5Xjlkpckdc8BNeEQic1WGdss8UY2WMH_7A8j8Rst9KHt2BdibDEa4Q77-flFXBF7C-feX_E1T8UPGZE4sIj2li6S70gD19DenHZoIwUGgA/s320/landscape081509+011a.jpg" /> <div> </div></div>The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143047490013437256.post-71277397914205314242009-08-13T13:26:00.011-04:002009-08-13T13:45:41.742-04:00First Day #1<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUl5XA7d2cIxqstIW4iCSLWUEA9HTQiClgLpmavhIe5ZTlwiVSrowrqqEGkruOx_EQMgSogPBoiNeWnR4eEC50hWAeWfpTzEPQ_x5JMpfGzlLfbQqX_CEYuIzC3TgONZAAb9CaliOEqiA/s1600-h/graciek+022a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 167px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369502196867612994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUl5XA7d2cIxqstIW4iCSLWUEA9HTQiClgLpmavhIe5ZTlwiVSrowrqqEGkruOx_EQMgSogPBoiNeWnR4eEC50hWAeWfpTzEPQ_x5JMpfGzlLfbQqX_CEYuIzC3TgONZAAb9CaliOEqiA/s200/graciek+022a.jpg" /></a>Amazingly enough, nobody cried on Grace's first day of kindergarten! I'm kind of surprised at myself since I got a little misty-eyed when I was making her lunch last night, but today at the school everyone had dry eyes! Daddy was able to join us, and of course Rachael came along for the ride -- asking if she could go to her school pretty much all morning! Tuesday apparently can't come fast enough! <div><div><br /><div></div><br /><div>We have heard nothing but great things about Gracie's teacher, and she was comfortable with her right away when she went in for her assessment on Wednesday. That was such a relief! </div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4iiCqj9fu4the4_K0fC6SBlbgvK_STKA-rm071CfL7SpG-SR-qe32dLKA4uDd-EVl1h5MCJtSjbPHJKzjtWsLcU4-T7kfz0tFHdJCeNBse6JAbbiwMtPpT5Ew6oLHxHkOfByrnfpSaAg/s1600-h/graciek+027a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 130px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369504983502773922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4iiCqj9fu4the4_K0fC6SBlbgvK_STKA-rm071CfL7SpG-SR-qe32dLKA4uDd-EVl1h5MCJtSjbPHJKzjtWsLcU4-T7kfz0tFHdJCeNBse6JAbbiwMtPpT5Ew6oLHxHkOfByrnfpSaAg/s200/graciek+027a.jpg" /></a> <div>Here is Grace going into her classroom, with her teacher greeting her. The teacher wears an apron with four different greeting options that they point to and choose: a hug (heart), a smile (smiley face), fist bump (fists) or a "good morning" (sunshine). Upon meeting her teacher yesterday, and again today, Gracie chose the hug. :-)</div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>We do it all again on Tuesday! I'm hoping for a repeat when it comes to the tears -- but sometimes Rachael can surprise us!</div></div></div>The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143047490013437256.post-50966461177887742092009-08-11T14:20:00.011-04:002009-08-11T15:02:11.137-04:00First Post from THE NEW HOUSE!<div><div><div><div><div><div>Oh, how I wish I had some pictures to offer you! I tried to take some photos the other day, but I just don't have a gift for getting the right perspectives and everything! I hope to get some though, especially some before-and-after shots of the work in the yard that Chris will be doing! He's already made some vast improvements! The yard is in great shape, but there are a bunch of weeds in the landscaping, and he wants to make some more changes. He'll be great at it!</div><div></div><br /><div>The week before last, I had a bunch of wonderful friends that watched Rachael during the mornings (while Grace was at a VBS at the church where she'd gone to VPK), and I packed away! The next week, Grace was at dance camp and I was helping with the arts camp (helping lead the drama class, what a shock!) at our church. That FRIDAY was closing and that weekend we had our plans to move!<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-nkRTCDkKlA2etCdm-dNvHO62d9UBRxO4pUPmJExOPR82XSxRMAFZeKk2i86s6OrUP7kFPrdMDIdNSivhsNd4pFTyi77dIHJbKlRARr81FiuSOzuyIEbnRlXZfPncK1Y9kQ6rqmCUkY/s1600-h/home+001a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 171px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368778723245675298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-nkRTCDkKlA2etCdm-dNvHO62d9UBRxO4pUPmJExOPR82XSxRMAFZeKk2i86s6OrUP7kFPrdMDIdNSivhsNd4pFTyi77dIHJbKlRARr81FiuSOzuyIEbnRlXZfPncK1Y9kQ6rqmCUkY/s200/home+001a.jpg" /></a>Friday morning at 8:30 a.m., Chris and I went to sign a bunch of papers (that's us right after with our keys -- can you tell we're happy??), while his mom took Grace to dance camp and watched Rachael. Right after closing, I headed to the church for the last day of the arts camp. The performance for their families was at 11:30 a.m. While I was there, Chris and his mom started moving a ton of stuff over to the house! We took some more stuff over when I got back, and Chris took the first shower in the new house (without hot water, the breaker for the a/c and hot water heater was turned off!), <em>then</em> we rushed over to the dance studio for Grace's performance. WHEW!<br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br />All weekend I was in awe of the help we had, it was incredible! So many people came to lend a hand, and we were so appreciative!!<br /><br /></div><div>We still have a long way to go, of course, but we can take our time! IT'S OUR HOUSE! Yay!!<br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguN5qWfNhxNXT0Tb-0MZfxK4LW4AqSVPpii6Tjum8KHj87MLgb_Hp6hyphenhyphen5omSWYyR_qzQX9ZEnxSGqXhroCIfnjNUiXXKpMcSrdPpmfxoC9Fn8Nb-rqAdZQHPbEwIwr0ZNk7mQDbAqNkD8/s1600-h/home+006a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 182px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368780934578053906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguN5qWfNhxNXT0Tb-0MZfxK4LW4AqSVPpii6Tjum8KHj87MLgb_Hp6hyphenhyphen5omSWYyR_qzQX9ZEnxSGqXhroCIfnjNUiXXKpMcSrdPpmfxoC9Fn8Nb-rqAdZQHPbEwIwr0ZNk7mQDbAqNkD8/s200/home+006a.jpg" /></a>Grace has made herself right at home, she loves it! <em>(Check her out </em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6kwn65Nzxvke-nwn47N5Oi3YdFEKmTkYkNVzRn2BOpKey0dFhPO1AC3z7Fz2f5MMVvC17wX63zytcUdFtWoErvj4TtjSq8smzxd5PpPjb7UTyHlAct5e5btLtdBbwqfqC9vvHcrscvo/s1600-h/home+006a.jpg"></a><em>playing her current favorite, Mario Kart.)</em> Rachael took a little <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjW95fPcf8g_KFHoXkt2jG68SHd5w1y7S712Mw3akdxebFgp6A42TiKR28XRIiRjRCS3kFnPXCqPU12kccCcxebNzmQoZeGiGozlYutdYDqnWc7qZ2I760OUUNktaAve0EtQ-CHmiVgo/s1600-h/home+009a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 184px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368781421319206050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjW95fPcf8g_KFHoXkt2jG68SHd5w1y7S712Mw3akdxebFgp6A42TiKR28XRIiRjRCS3kFnPXCqPU12kccCcxebNzmQoZeGiGozlYutdYDqnWc7qZ2I760OUUNktaAve0EtQ-CHmiVgo/s200/home+009a.jpg" /></a>more time getting used to it, for a few days she kept asking when we were going to "the different house." <em>(She's checking out a bagworm that was right outside the front door.)</em> They both LOVE the space they have! We've already had a couple of their friends over for a visit, and it makes such a huge difference! I think Snickers is still getting adjusted -- she is definitely not acting like herself, but hopefully she'll realize that this is HOME, and she can get quite a workout speeding around the house! I really want to take her for a walk around the neighborhood, but she quits before I do in this heat! However, I will have more time soon since...</div><div> </div><div><br /> </div><div><strong>THE GIRLS GO BACK TO SCHOOL! </strong> Well, Grace goes back, Rachael is starting! Grace's first day of kindergarten is this Thursday (we meet her teacher and she has her assessment tomorrow), and Rachael begins preschool at the church two days a week next Tuesday! (We will also go to <em>her</em> open house tomorrow, right after we leave Grace's school.) I am praying that Grace will adapt this year as well as she did last year -- her first day of VPK, she didn't know anyone at all. Even though some familiar faces will be at the same school, so far I haven't talked to anyone that has the same teacher. I am excited for her, though! Rachael is READY! She has been asking to go to school! I know she's going to have so much fun!</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br />So many changes in such a short amount of time! But so many positive changes, and so many blessings!</div></div></div></div></div></div>The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143047490013437256.post-25641575215996735602009-07-21T23:26:00.012-04:002009-07-22T00:20:06.972-04:00Lovin' Summer<div>Swim lessons finished up the first week of July, but here are some pictures from the last lessons that I love: </div><div><div><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Grace and Rachael, poolside.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 245px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361130419570271442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOrHB9XNoilDVBo6f9EMncLZBMVrSkuXuGtFGHTT61utjIe_N5JQSkbadEXDC7NXCjGbvbnzZdlTzNvT_thIGpBsmjqOm5NIv75qxPu5678tzB1bMTtQnQbT30ahREjhbzfUpOdwdD84/s400/summerfun+002a.jpg" /></span></div><div> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Faith and Grace, cutest friends!</span> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 263px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361129958885347410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjju3d73yJR4UmDwu5Lx8_G-Px2JToKzReSvd8F1ffnbe5yShdxAC9E6BlPTwBoPLuaZLDDyZfehxe-pOmWRzgvDhiKNRHPM1QWA3lnOV8wLPwbeU57skIcKCuZjREiZfzGFB95MSdBgbA/s320/summerfun+003a.jpg" /><br /></div><div></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Rachael gives Miss Annamarie "smooches"<br />(especially nice since she cried during most of the lessons!)</span></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 184px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361128644499524498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCGKXnQqsdgq0bQVeetUB5kgZX4aBWaJJYDAMQStyKFwRVmr_zWtieW4MUzoN23MWk8vG-j5_mPjORyq0lyl9dopmdnb9wPpYLllWveZXo3aioBwKjOvI9GG2iD_4BC21PYHW57cHWJY/s320/summerfun+048a.jpg" /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">My OWN proud moment!<br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;">Being able to swim across the pool, keeping Rachael's head (and mine) above water!</span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 190px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361128652260972882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEp5nFlicf3Fq2w_ttPZbGd8jYffrED-itBOM1Z8Hldts7O9DzaLavBk40dcP2dzf44UZWqgA-UJXKDNMH8Y-gjlRSSd5uaeIcvg6Y-hqZ3oF1E2nPDBNWbItlstXo9qAXfEFMGcefuV8/s320/summerfun+062a.jpg" /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUGn3v0NBSZmcjCGdOwrS3nM8Z_qT-F92GdX5fF0iyUAZeTaAQvJ84sy3VERdQxWhVsjxWZSlmyERvoaekUgSn8EzF138OEjNh4N17BEQFNGYur381LElCl-cerihWZk6ELI6l47sRyc/s1600-h/zoo0714+103a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 156px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361129343359336994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUGn3v0NBSZmcjCGdOwrS3nM8Z_qT-F92GdX5fF0iyUAZeTaAQvJ84sy3VERdQxWhVsjxWZSlmyERvoaekUgSn8EzF138OEjNh4N17BEQFNGYur381LElCl-cerihWZk6ELI6l47sRyc/s200/zoo0714+103a.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div><div>Last week we braved the hot, sticky weather and ventured to the zoo with some friends! Thankfully, not all that long ago our zoo improved their just-for-kids area, so now there's a place for the kids to cool off and splash around. I'm told that there's also a play area and a petting zoo, but we've never made it past the water! Once the girls get there, we're done!</div><br /><div></div><div>This week Grace has been enjoying VBS at the church where her VPK was, so she's been able to spend some time with kids from her class and of course loves that! I have been SO blessed because during this time, Rachael has had playdates so I can PACK!!! Everything is still looking good for a closing at the end of the month! The home inspection went very well -- one thing that was found turned out to be a precaution that was taken by the owner to prevent damage, and another issue was resolved the day the owner was notified of it! And it was even a minor thing that Chris was willing to fix himself! </div><div><br /> </div><div>We were at the house for the home inspection, and I just couldn't help myself...</div><div><br /> </div><div> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Hugs for the beautiful refrigerator!</span></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 286px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361130862097484322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhyphenhyphenG22561oLCXPlRmH_u7PyaP_umD_IXXTscF8d0jE5q05pZCY0xpjttBztoSP7wnMjJ3oy-OolXtBAyXQYmdSEJ1Gc5S7zo81rAdHNXumGQQhRXf_PZcsuzlb9sS6Tfel4fdHQa2k4nE/s320/summerfun+097a.jpg" /> <div></div><div>Maybe I can do some before-and-after shots once we're moved in! I took some pictures when we walked through, but I don't think I was able to get the right angles and everything. We'll see! It's so exciting though!! Nearly 7 years in the making, and God clearly had a plan!</div></div>The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143047490013437256.post-51061854819888052172009-07-05T15:58:00.016-04:002009-07-05T16:34:29.455-04:00Just keep swimming!There was one week between VBS ending and our swim lessons beginning! We kept busy during those few days by having friends over so their moms could get to appointments, and I even managed to survive a couple of days with my personal worst nightmare: <strong>PLAY-DOH!</strong> As much as kids love Play-Doh, I fear it! The texture, the smell, everything! I wash my hands everytime I touch it! But Rachael had never played with it before, and I wanted to give them something fun and creative to do, so out it came. (As did the wax paper to put over the dining room table.) Amazingly, there was hardly any on the floor, and none of it went in anybody's mouth. Even when Rachael's idea of playing with it turned into this:<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355074298665545858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2dtCTNUI5xd9Q9XH7BgIkenneY8w8RZStBHJYIkqFYAdFYOG-aM1ZSWQ5_FIx8dU9JWlmwbJvRAh1bttPriEAaRIvP8cT2Ev-ENS5NSygx0tAJCRiLG91Kvzi7xkcCv5NQZDmgt05Eo/s320/swim+003a.jpg" /> Swim lessons began, and Grace is still a little fish! She has some technical issues to work on (blowing bubbles while she's under water, mostly), and Rachael... Well, Rachael has to work on not screaming, crying and basically having the biggest fits EVER during lessons. She's happy as a clam when she can play on her own in the shallow part, but the minute we bring her in further to actually learn something, she goes nuts! And it's not that she's scared -- she just doesn't have control, and she hates that! (Oh, how I look forward to the teenage years!)<br /><br />Here is Grace under the water (she's pretty fast!), and then Rachael, who's pouting. She wasn't allowed to play with some of the toys until she tried to blow some bubbles, or at least kick from the side of the pool. She managed to kick a few times in order to play!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 189px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355074303882102626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9iszxAbLUKw3ojcCWqJb57iGbVGHy_BPOO7L6lkIEsaChtlce5tOp8t62ot-aX_PlXBA1tv9NFu8XFlyw4v735EG4EZxcnp6E52l3beRalADfRI9jCCvyyECnZo0-3glLoMceKpJD-Y/s320/swim+025a.jpg" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355074298980446738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2ez1WZEuqJV3erG765DzFO0j6VJs_MG0tjYrAv54NxQBE1Gor3kSA6ckj1QHqhhbWVHaMq5JDKVNhQ_AyL1BX9CspRIWMO0v-EYtfreiI2j8tkd7JAnXOmzbpL0F6SJxxx4UM3U2dvM/s320/swim+021a.jpg" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwW6gjTVhiFHXEjUDMYSE0zfmnKXTTs7PWETpXJegvMufyoE4V7-yGbyYSpByW7cdzvDmOMRNfZHUVoLvi_sGINNokruzuxb21-ACi-olhiuyEXfw-AmioOtRWOzC8LX4XXrR8_MdauV4/s1600-h/swim+045a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 144px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355074728945602914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwW6gjTVhiFHXEjUDMYSE0zfmnKXTTs7PWETpXJegvMufyoE4V7-yGbyYSpByW7cdzvDmOMRNfZHUVoLvi_sGINNokruzuxb21-ACi-olhiuyEXfw-AmioOtRWOzC8LX4XXrR8_MdauV4/s200/swim+045a.jpg" /></a>Aren't these towels adorable? The girls got them for Christmas from Grandma and Grandpa and I waited until now to break them out! They love them! Grace's is The Little Mermaid, and Rachael is obviously a princess! ;-)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaKDFhWUNlRfT43gbmgQyDm5cyQf9ozeRqrQi5ofPaW1LMGBjAo-kRFfZlpfud-ofKa5DjQxE7DI-8-NHueXWUONpMjGlMChpHRllk_q-L1UDrhilkiEJbLVTU4EOVlQ8xaI-QwTM92Y/s1600-h/swim+068a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 164px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355074884106168706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaKDFhWUNlRfT43gbmgQyDm5cyQf9ozeRqrQi5ofPaW1LMGBjAo-kRFfZlpfud-ofKa5DjQxE7DI-8-NHueXWUONpMjGlMChpHRllk_q-L1UDrhilkiEJbLVTU4EOVlQ8xaI-QwTM92Y/s200/swim+068a.jpg" /></a><br /><br />We have two lessons left, then another week that we've already got some activities planned, and then Grace will go to another VBS, followed by a dance camp! That's going to be a good little practice for school (for both of us!), because she'll be there from about 9:30 am - 3:30 pm!<br /><br />I can't believe how fast the summer has gone by already, and how much we've actually had going on! It's been so much fun, and I've really enjoyed my time with the girls! I know we still have a little over a month left, but I honestly thought I would be longing for August to come around and that's definitely not the case! I'm so excited for them to start school, but I think I'm going to miss them a little more after this summer!<br /><br />Oh, and one more thing... Grace and Rachael aren't the only ones keeping busy this summer! We ask that you keep praying for us as we prepare for...<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 290px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 218px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355075488587685330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG21WGfxivX4aqRrmrLLP7zqx4S7sjurZaBlZCI9gZ3I53dSOHcmIGGhKVUttWHQIT2BDC03k4nx78cYN28tRc1WWXSX97abzMl4CoJSVfe5UuYf-qo1UmHR5Ycy_3AytHBfgNYP1D7Eg/s320/OURHOUSE!.jpg" /> Our move into <strong><em>OUR NEW HOME!!!</em></strong> Our closing date is set for July 31st, and we are definitely asking for prayers that as we come to the end of this process everything will go smoothly! Including packing!!<br /><br />Thanks to those of you that have been praying as we've been looking -- it's been a learning and growing experience, and I wouldn't trade any of it! Well, I'd probably go back to fix my attitude in the beginning, but otherwise I wouldn't change a thing! ;-) Thank you so much for lifting us up, we have felt your prayers!<br /><br />Obviously there will be more to come! We'll keep you posted!The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143047490013437256.post-65237608572361006802009-06-13T15:44:00.011-04:002009-06-13T16:06:47.648-04:00Daddy-Daughter Days<div>Today Chris and his dad headed over to the Bass Pro Shop in Orlando -- and they took the girls! From what I saw on their website, it seemed like they had a lot to look at and even some activities for kids this weekend, so I hope they're having a good time! Chris is fearless when it comes to taking the girls places, and they love to do pretty much anything with him!<br /><br /><div><div>Last Friday, Chris and Grace went to a Daddy-Daughter Dance hosted by a church. The girls made cards for their dads, they got their picture taken, they got to make cupcakes, and there was dancing! We didn't think Rachael would be up for it this time around, so she hung out with me -- but Chris said later that she probably would've gotten out on the dance floor! Here's a picture of Chris and Grace before they left...</div><div><br /></div><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 245px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346901590936236386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9mkvw0EXI52Ro1LMnOqUJrJ6pVw5bNClD9YF8zxvUtF2q9T4BrB3LNItyw7KmwQ6BGQFHT4qFaCGfxa0SUFPGfx1SMqbFvX04xPPqbEjXGpMIJ7m0FFh9xbNNWNEWCoMvztb5jabLS4/s320/daddydaughter0605+004a.jpg" />Last night as I was putting the girls to bed, I stepped out of the room for a moment and heard Grace calling me. <em>"Mom, Rachael's doin' something!"</em> Lately, it's usually, <em>"Mom, Rachael's naked again!"</em> Sometimes it's because she wants to try to go potty or her diaper needs changing -- either way, it could mean that potty training is on the horizon for her. But last night, it was just Rachael being mischievous. I came into the room and she had pulled herself up on their little kitchen counter and was standing up behind it. Check out her little face -- the picture of innocence, right?</div><div><br /></div><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346902932536933266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPCuQREGJ9ISPO0HWE3ejEq40Pi2gYCP-B_d_Jep3DZ2GWD0ASShO3wBcOtqiEg27uq8sQqM7jAyF7RVxShENGb5NJ0NZYk7r2kNO-Qa_3sgckK_PM6HS3Vriw3Bq7HP9LZHDPdE1e0U/s320/bedtime+005a.jpg" />VBS was last week, and everyone had a great time! Grace had a class filled with her friends, Rachael was wonderful in childcare (once again I was told how helpful she is when it comes to cleaning up!), and I had the opportunity to lead the children's (1st-6th graders') Bible story time each day. It was a lot of work, but it was so much fun -- my favorite part was reenacting a storm by turning on a box fan and squirting the kids with a water bottle! (It was their favorite part too -- every day after that, they asked me to squirt them!) </div><div><br /> </div><div>It seems like the calendar keeps filling up -- swim lessons will start soon, and Grace has activities through the church that she gets to attend this year! I think to be safe I may just schedule dates where we make a point to not plan anything!!<br /><br />Hope you're continuing to enjoy your summer! </div>The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143047490013437256.post-70097399113400344512009-06-03T21:40:00.007-04:002009-06-03T22:01:30.678-04:00End of the Year - Beginning of Summer!<div><div><div>Grace's last week of school brought us...<br /><br /><div align="center">Water Day!</div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 146px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343281669480466002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDY64HQv8-grtSnkCYYp3CMVTfHf3usXAjCCBgjbIk3aLM6OomRLE85_iI9m539PmCLBvbcVQTJ4RUUEE9-hKezFtltcjv7LNbWuizF_GsipMMFAJhq_WVn30wBHUF1jB2NNDsrKp1vVY/s200/graduation+001a.jpg" /></div><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">A little bit of (cute) attitude!<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343281673372799810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Q0alZnAeTfV6P45NH_tzycrTGemv3MRX5_RgcOOvP3XuZbPyA3Cu9T5GIbtfYAAybpx9eXeNkwRgMP3AU1ZdKzMi6SMvNVt_QbvEQ786OYBrWAZ0WNa8ZjH8sPjUQ-RYFU-cLt1oXwQ/s200/graduation+003a.jpg" /></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Rachael's first haircut with Kathy!</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPG8FwIteXNzdix_SqO_BE6nj8AIMr8E5uILUCgAQhR5brb7OXlTqyoeTcWzgwON3x4B9SspPnZ7lvP4JddLOuVLfpRkNt6MbAYfQz7KqA1FosZpVbpLTyw2A4Zu-YAkoZsCCAB3YQar0/s1600-h/graduation+007a.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343281678032464514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPG8FwIteXNzdix_SqO_BE6nj8AIMr8E5uILUCgAQhR5brb7OXlTqyoeTcWzgwON3x4B9SspPnZ7lvP4JddLOuVLfpRkNt6MbAYfQz7KqA1FosZpVbpLTyw2A4Zu-YAkoZsCCAB3YQar0/s200/graduation+007a.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Pajama Day! (Nope, I didn't join her!) <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343281679807569810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczgrAcZqx5espEe2XuCI6oA5lqHzj_JuoTAngbQveTMhvsu8YBVifnb9zMjg1NQ-B1qjczyFvUopchNglaQkTvU_DYbk26JvTxbBFhqbNFiEbDg3YcrZkEMcjdvPhkErkHjZJ0RRO0hs/s200/graduation+008a.jpg" /><br />And, of course, Graduation Day!<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343282387871249042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3vsbKZiLIZ-eksQSp90Beien6VEhLLrwqZ2NBZd4sBdxPIcmQxZQG6os94LY_yjefcqbKRYCaLvanJw0SjOd88Ugot2-NRySp8Bmsrx51Rh9qPHhZNel1gO6-i9lHmfwlH3D6MKfgfA/s320/graduation+017a.jpg" /></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">The girls got to go to the pool with their babysitter on Friday, a birthday party for a friend of Grace's at a community pool on Saturday, and then Sunday night was Grace's end-of-the year program at church! She sang every word to every song, she has come so far!<br /><br />Today was a big day for us -- it was the girls' first real trip to the beach! Yep, you read that right -- born and raised in Florida and, at 5 and 2, today was their first time to really have a beach day! Grace went when she was 2, but it was in December and it was only so her Uncle Jerry could take some great pictures of her. The girls had a BLAST! Surprisingly, Grace was a lot braver than Rachael, bounding into the water with her buddy, Faith! Rachael wanted to hang back at first. After a while she realized it wasn't so bad and let me and Faith's mom bring her further into the water, with us helping her jump when the little waves broke!</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center">Splishing and splashing!!<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 218px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343284435449781170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpg1Xh_MAJtQl_MzxHm8YozqPzn6APDpAjuWwy7LtuvZi0jPwwowTHQOJYQFA0V32ymYLlzHj0cThrWWe-zhrhyphenhyphenQ0v5UTCDPT0hJQFjqc4Hv2L_zbsvYOrWf0YHLJp_12LuUAQKDDK2Dg/s320/beachday+005a.jpg" /> </div><div align="center">Rachael heads towards the water -- you can see the hesitancy!</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 227px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343285340147262514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGno78YEuQ1Fq8H49W1JHut3lJwynHEGbnWlObozg2yY9yhSAWHddkNzrgcqmC5RLQ9-0WrIPjRaoSc3nrt3JkhymDhUZDIv3Pt9nz_rFFdqtqmJjw8qLmaIfUY0kACYCyIoMph9Afz4/s320/beachday+011a.jpg" /><br />Hope your summer is off to a great start too!</div></div></div>The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143047490013437256.post-74205066440427564432009-05-25T23:08:00.016-04:002009-05-25T23:58:59.613-04:00To Know Them Is To Love Them<div><div><div>May has been an eventful month, and we're not even finished yet! Mother's Day, Chris' birthday, Grace's "graduation" coming up, as well as her end of the year program at church! Busy, busy! This week at school Grace gets to have water day (wearing her swimsuit to school, she's so excited!), pizza and pajama day (and yes, I'm thinking about just bringing her to school while wearing mine, ha!), and then her graduation. WOW! Then it's June and the second week of that month brings Vacation Bible School! Amazing!<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCi_hmq_qpLbOLArQJM8vs1_cLP-kGtNlVycmY-CSuQMtceyrdS5GPZuh-tnRfh5omAlZNMG0XHmnFY4SL45o8MJjd4ApQf_JVVrzuqWPiypY5jG-7A4APoE6PCaG_Q_azb25fDzqcpI/s1600-h/bloggatg0516+123a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 165px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339967944340741666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXCi_hmq_qpLbOLArQJM8vs1_cLP-kGtNlVycmY-CSuQMtceyrdS5GPZuh-tnRfh5omAlZNMG0XHmnFY4SL45o8MJjd4ApQf_JVVrzuqWPiypY5jG-7A4APoE6PCaG_Q_azb25fDzqcpI/s200/bloggatg0516+123a.jpg" /></a>For Chris' birthday a couple of weekends ago, we went to Busch Gardens in Tampa. It just so happened that they were having their first annual Glory At The Gardens event, so we not only got to enjoy a day at the park, but we also were able to hear and see a <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqToeEjBO7m4Z-KRlytS5m-ja1e5gQlRg0qesDqQ0LYCLUgGfppjUu9HK1Pg2gsU2tUVRkQluN0m4Xgs6yja2AQ1CZJliTdJjd3qSZ4W-PCcegPVu7L_4ZV2fyyaGlMITl54IudK_cn2c/s1600-h/bloggatg0516+108a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 175px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339968114787259586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqToeEjBO7m4Z-KRlytS5m-ja1e5gQlRg0qesDqQ0LYCLUgGfppjUu9HK1Pg2gsU2tUVRkQluN0m4Xgs6yja2AQ1CZJliTdJjd3qSZ4W-PCcegPVu7L_4ZV2fyyaGlMITl54IudK_cn2c/s200/bloggatg0516+108a.jpg" /></a>few concerts -- including Steven Curtis Chapman and Matthew West!<br /></div><div><br /> </div><div>Originally, the plan was that Chris and I would go on our own and leave the girls with the grandparents. However, their grandparents have busy schedules too! I'll admit that I was really looking forward to spending the day alone with Chris, but I quickly warmed up to the idea of having the girls along -- and we had such a wonderful time! We hadn't been to Busch Gardens with Rachael since she was about 2 months old, so taking her was a real treat! We were able to get up close and personal views of many of the animals this time around, and the girls loved it!</div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 222px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339969054407238898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWVu_7bYdyB0udhrMRhfeGqffjzREZKiKJAb4B5rqvcRjTeh7uqJV4LS0VCiajuaZ5zoI8h5cExOc_2cG5erQB78LOCZ4QpyVDpVqfqc9lHyMuwgxgMRCLHKChA3-W8fEWIO_gwcKsnY/s320/bloggatg0516+069a.jpg" />The kids' section at Busch Gardens is really great -- Rachael was able to ride all but one ride, and they didn't need an adult on anything! It totally and completely warmed my heart that they chose to ride everything together, they never split up even when it was an option!<br /><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339969841153493474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZMaQKr3Fo8uuU6CAxBxRSrykO8RPY315efoyYEswkeUtJNUijNG9UWAdTtP9XcdoAKKfHy9wr5P3-cd_eb8EfZJ3DSMz8Ftwn-SkhTnQA14EPNUg2nmpctSIK2U92k2s08V2TV9Cjfc/s320/bloggatg0516+090.jpg" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p>Last year, I was intimidated by the summer months approaching -- at the time, Grace was only going to school 3 days out of the week, and I didn't know what I was going to do with both girls home! This year, I am looking forward to spending all that extra time with them! I am sure that there will be days when I will be begging to fast forward to August, but really and truly, the older they get, the more fun they are!</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTgiUwayTjrfNVK1kW95_2-n2RnoPWGDTFODhrjw-iIw_HPVfCdkAocPZoo01gUrsqXZm5tmgdJKhT2VDdm-mPqz9Yy0uiVbLTyKNwlV6rD4bliMdstUafxitlK5oU7pOTZZzt8TZ2og/s1600-h/bloggatg0516+099a.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 131px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339975664415327042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTgiUwayTjrfNVK1kW95_2-n2RnoPWGDTFODhrjw-iIw_HPVfCdkAocPZoo01gUrsqXZm5tmgdJKhT2VDdm-mPqz9Yy0uiVbLTyKNwlV6rD4bliMdstUafxitlK5oU7pOTZZzt8TZ2og/s200/bloggatg0516+099a.jpg" /></a>Grace is just growing, physically and emotionally. She seems to have a really sensitive heart, reacting strongly when she sees someone hurting. She loves to draw, and anytime she does she includes her friends and family members in her pictures and tells a story about what's going on. She never wants to keep her artwork, she always wants to give it to someone -- usually me or Chris! Grace is most often given compliments regarding her excellent manners! I'm really hoping and praying that she continues with that -- it is a blessing to be around people, especially children, with great manners!</p><p>Rachael is still quite a handful, but these days <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ThNkeF9cYvnpsFYcpuXZ45gnRwiSUU08r6uxN6Wueon4NPi9qiYjFUJ2-18MJXsN_-vQmMb_DCtyYs_KM7zgbtVt_hRPi8JcAqwAQm-Zqw7xodQIIYl5EwQLrPElAmvn3SDNdtJzlEw/s1600-h/bloggatg0516+002.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 194px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339976031359874882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ThNkeF9cYvnpsFYcpuXZ45gnRwiSUU08r6uxN6Wueon4NPi9qiYjFUJ2-18MJXsN_-vQmMb_DCtyYs_KM7zgbtVt_hRPi8JcAqwAQm-Zqw7xodQIIYl5EwQLrPElAmvn3SDNdtJzlEw/s200/bloggatg0516+002.jpg" /></a>it's in a more playful, fun way than a screaming, fitful way! :-) She loves to make us laugh -- and if she gets a laugh, she'll repeat what she's done over and over again! Apparently she's something of a chatterbox, but she saves that for when Chris and I aren't around! Sure, she talks at home, but I'm told she'll talk the childcare workers' ears off at church! She's definitely getting easier to understand, and she's picking up a lot from her best teacher -- Grace! It will be so fun to see how she grows when she starts preschool in the fall! I am so excited about her teacher, I know it'll be a great year!</p><p>More to come later this week -- I'm hoping that Grace will agree to wear her little cap and gown so I can snag a picture or two! Right now she's saying that she doesn't want to wear it, she said she's afraid she won't look cute!! I told her that just wasn't possible!</p><p>Hope that your family is doing well and getting ready to enjoy a fun summer!</p></div></div>The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7143047490013437256.post-38259831460501832452009-05-11T16:26:00.012-04:002009-05-11T16:57:03.389-04:00Mother's DayS<div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAk_irWOaQAW1A7qHnknn6sMUZGH_V8Go4HywehinHy5xed11-v8zT9CfKeCHKirQ9Y-ZfeA2RzS75Vdva50JxOazzsP1Zmn8TSXnVvj3vZQJj71C7o9kKQBKTUNfaCYVXcBWARH3Rzbs/s1600-h/mommydaysw+009a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334667508414938242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAk_irWOaQAW1A7qHnknn6sMUZGH_V8Go4HywehinHy5xed11-v8zT9CfKeCHKirQ9Y-ZfeA2RzS75Vdva50JxOazzsP1Zmn8TSXnVvj3vZQJj71C7o9kKQBKTUNfaCYVXcBWARH3Rzbs/s200/mommydaysw+009a.jpg" border="0" /></a>It all started last Thursday, when Gracie's class had a Mother's Day banquet in the morning! A very sweet friend let Rachael spend some time with her kiddos and I took Grace to school for the festivities -- she was so excited! We went to chapel together, and then headed back to the classroom for breakfast, which was served to the moms by their kids, and then they gave us hand massages with lotion the teachers had set out! It was precious!<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURUgSdaXRnpmdkFpEC-jO6BFKzIfyyY-9whyKXwUUrVKkwp-kXUgZ4u5muchf_F5GrqklEEz3RNlis4Yh6IoPjRMiR2BBkc0_1MphpLd-IDlDZylEvv15ZhjWytANRIU-c4v2WK505nw/s1600-h/mommydaysw+022a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334667393709412130" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 155px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURUgSdaXRnpmdkFpEC-jO6BFKzIfyyY-9whyKXwUUrVKkwp-kXUgZ4u5muchf_F5GrqklEEz3RNlis4Yh6IoPjRMiR2BBkc0_1MphpLd-IDlDZylEvv15ZhjWytANRIU-c4v2WK505nw/s200/mommydaysw+022a.jpg" border="0" /></a>On Saturday we took the girls to Sea World and just had a blast! They got to enjoy the water fun in the kids' area this time -- which was definitely needed since it was 95 degrees outside! (And it's only May!!)</div><div align="center"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Rachael playing at the smallest fountains.</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334667965113777874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 231px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJsSX3ds5HM1arPZPpfTwSR05s0T7z4dMIQmzt7RFXKe0rE7M8dyVo3HnNAkVtHWvNnFrEULS3ijY1ynluDYbNlZXWiNrKJZn7QzI4tDoQ93TD1uMA1WjX2tWREpqUx0dHE46M2zzR4g/s320/mommydaysw+028a.jpg" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Grace waited a long time for her turn with this!</span></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334667964701622578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqkiQtNNPNu9RY83GkpSseXOGtqqaFdbt4APXxCiDOsqxYgmVt_6rTeojYVEbPxELpKoLzjwZkl8mnh_OUKCUqwmT6tERdLP2unq4KcvOZdLoTqBjhP9Wyqs9EQUrCkrzIL1Ti0F8WeM/s320/mommydaysw+038a.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Chris taking a little break! :-)</span> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334667967827686786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFYPTb4juWlLcT1FYw_KGIm_HvESYvWEdsFRJ914fjZkT0GHQGm__MAUcdQYOUbb-b-WyRVebBhlWBTUgdjMTh6puREM8r-aHE63eZ9JMJhCEuvyS3OdKAmnDBiJrahPrtGw5isWawT9c/s320/mommydaysw+080a.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>We went to church on Sunday morning and then headed over to GG's to spend the afternoon with her, Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunt Carol. The girls had so much fun playing with Aunt Carol, she really gave them a run for their money! </div><div></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Some fun faces from Rachael!</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYpGUp6JameIaPYwBnWvEUVanynIPT308ja6rG4D10voAZXoSzYzmFr63f7A7bsjLarlzfylS98gLg1hqGPmw8f3HridWaAeg81Q4qSHn-qFKO3u2hzl4llKHLMLJLIb3efFfY6Qd9cs/s1600-h/mothersday051009+002a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334668850903919810" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYpGUp6JameIaPYwBnWvEUVanynIPT308ja6rG4D10voAZXoSzYzmFr63f7A7bsjLarlzfylS98gLg1hqGPmw8f3HridWaAeg81Q4qSHn-qFKO3u2hzl4llKHLMLJLIb3efFfY6Qd9cs/s200/mothersday051009+002a.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqD0d_JuMq2v2EpiVUuPtppXKiz1HTQx-PJ-hNK7xlStbcUu8VvcQRLxVUe0XPk-yF4R9aF_KjkiXE3GVO-oZrpFFK9alqZZ5-PYRF-Xa0gs_5Wcgi_uXELxgG85HEuxuyXBtHG80RwOo/s1600-h/mothersday051009+006a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334668856703210226" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqD0d_JuMq2v2EpiVUuPtppXKiz1HTQx-PJ-hNK7xlStbcUu8VvcQRLxVUe0XPk-yF4R9aF_KjkiXE3GVO-oZrpFFK9alqZZ5-PYRF-Xa0gs_5Wcgi_uXELxgG85HEuxuyXBtHG80RwOo/s200/mothersday051009+006a.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDLkEUaThyz7g-Uae3U5DlXE2R_2HSHsXUxY7oQP0cljckvXRJwiGNro7jfsp8NvQ6zDyLeXRIw0g5Wnao4tL8erTPtTXwjJOmPyyeq5AnY8c67yc_8LUei6tgt_0bMhPeGHLXTkMDoU/s1600-h/mothersday051009+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334668859840599682" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDLkEUaThyz7g-Uae3U5DlXE2R_2HSHsXUxY7oQP0cljckvXRJwiGNro7jfsp8NvQ6zDyLeXRIw0g5Wnao4tL8erTPtTXwjJOmPyyeq5AnY8c67yc_8LUei6tgt_0bMhPeGHLXTkMDoU/s200/mothersday051009+003.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Me and my girls on Mother's Day!<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YE9a4lNobD1XlgELRT21xtB12Srz8oHhrgOIJja0g9DRU2chpcPlfaZtb1R_3TlMl5-ZIBWu_nibblUtSw31DULaYUQqN8zr70Rb15pRwMfoXLzgH4oyQZoWPSzNFppbZEVbRrn7JPo/s1600-h/mothersday051009+008a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334669973469474514" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 136px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YE9a4lNobD1XlgELRT21xtB12Srz8oHhrgOIJja0g9DRU2chpcPlfaZtb1R_3TlMl5-ZIBWu_nibblUtSw31DULaYUQqN8zr70Rb15pRwMfoXLzgH4oyQZoWPSzNFppbZEVbRrn7JPo/s200/mothersday051009+008a.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcYMxyoLgYbZ7_0G2GkwbG7UqqM9ZeS_8PG-ARn6PL_rreHaPlUFcryDv1xgsreMbaGIfhsZKLSw3pq-f4rPiYf1-SPmEHnCbefkGXl6fHIqFHAAOAVIYmrkkhAQNBiIbGoIvn110S6o/s1600-h/mothersday051009+010a.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334669976066064690" style="WIDTH: 199px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 136px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcYMxyoLgYbZ7_0G2GkwbG7UqqM9ZeS_8PG-ARn6PL_rreHaPlUFcryDv1xgsreMbaGIfhsZKLSw3pq-f4rPiYf1-SPmEHnCbefkGXl6fHIqFHAAOAVIYmrkkhAQNBiIbGoIvn110S6o/s200/mothersday051009+010a.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><br />Soon enough we will be watching Grace "graduate" from VPK and start our summer activities! Grace is already excited about Vacation Bible School (she'll get to go to two this year)! I hope the girls and I will find a lot of fun things to do this summer, since in just three months Grace will be starting kindergarten and Rachael will start preschool!! I'm excited about Rachael heading to school, though, because I know she's ready for it! I stopped walking Grace to her class during the week because Rachael never wanted to leave! :-) She'll be so excited to be able to go to a class of her own!</div><div><br /> </div><div>Hope the moms among my friends and family reading this enjoyed your day!</div><div></div></div>The Adorables!http://www.blogger.com/profile/04225356767816640903noreply@blogger.com2