About Me/Contact

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

13.


Tomorrow she officially becomes a teenager.
I'm coming to realize I love this age.
She is still fresh and innocent and sweet.
Yet she is dipping her toes in all things big girl.
{Sigh...}




Let me tell you a few things about my girl...

She always wakes on the right side of the bed.  Always.

She is one of the most cheerful and enthusiastic people I know.
She won an award in kindergarten to show for it :)

She is also one of the hardest workers you will ever find and her GPA proves it.

There is nothing she loves more than to spend
an evening watching a movie while polishing her nails.



She loves to curl her hair and put on make up
and is just as happy to bump around in daddy's truck wearing mucky boots.

She can laugh like Minnie Mouse and often does.

She chooses the high road every time. 
 Even when her heart's been broken.

She's willing to try anything once - food, activities, you name it.

She is the typical middle child - always the peacemaker,
often setting aside her own preferences for the sake of peace and harmony.




She is an athletic stud...
basketball, volleyball, soccer or gymnastics,
She loves them all.

She adores artichokes.

She loves Boone.  A whole lot.

She will do laundry and empty the dishwasher without being asked. 
{ Love that!}

She is obedient, kind, and always thinks of others first.

She sings in the shower at the top of her lungs.

She is a happy child.

Happy, happy 13th birthday, Gracie!

I love you so!!






Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Oh, I Have a Blog??

Hello?  Hello... is this thing working??

Well.  Did you think I was gone forever?  Me too!!

 A great big thanks to all of you who have sent notes of inquiry or encouragement.  I never set out to take this long of a break, but life, being what it is, has a way of consuming all my time!  Rest assured I thought of you all often and have missed blogging terribly.  I am doing my best to keep all my plates spinning... fortunately Mother Nature helped me out today by providing a snow storm that allowed a day of unexpected free time.  God bless the snow day!!

Since so much time has passed since I last posted, I'll just let you know that Christmas was lovely, Valentine's was sweet, and Spring Break was a very welcome... break.  With that being said, I will just show you our Easter celebration in an {egg} shell...

Believe it or not we had to wake our kids up at 8:30 on Ester morning.  I guess that is the reality of having older kids - some of the enthusiasm wears off when the 'magic' is gone.  Even though our older two play along for Daniel's sake, something changes. :0(

It was our year to spend the holiday with Todd's family, so after baskets were found and eggs hunted here, we headed to my in-laws.

A great day was had by all.  My in-laws know how to do a holiday up!  There was an all family egg dyeing party Friday night where more than 60 eggs were dyed and tons of pizza was consumed.  On Easter Sunday there were baskets for everyone and a traditional meal fit for a king.

I tried to tell my mother-in-law that she didn't need to go to all that work. The adults don't need baskets, we can bring more for the meal, etc.  She wouldn't hear of it. Not a bit.  Both my in-laws insist that the memories that all the kids are making right now are priceless and will be the ties that bind them long after they have grown and are living their own lives.  And I have to say, I think they are right.

I am amazed that all 13 cousins, from age 17 to 18 months get along fabulously.  There is never a fight or a fuss - ever!  The older ones are always helping the younger ones - whether it is hunting eggs, playing soccer or washing hands for dinner.  I've never seen anything like it!!

We are blessed and I am so thankful!!



Easter morning 2013


Her favorite egg - a Minion

Why yes, we get really creative with our eggs!





Getting SO tall!  Almost 6'2"!!


He found our basket


Enjoying time to sit in the sun

Cousin Lexi

Even Uncle Kenny even got in on the soccer game!

Gracie and cousin Emily made cupcakes for the big egg dyeing party
Daniel's Sea Monkeys hatched right before Easter - he declared it a miracle!