Happy Birthday Gracie

Oh my sweet beautiful girl, I can't believe you are 4 years old today! How quickly time flies when you are having so much fun. You continue to be such a constant joy for your dad and me and a great big sister to Gracie. You are so smart and I mean really, really smart! You never cease to amaze us with how you figure things out, your advanced vocabulary and speech and your talents! All your teachers tell us how great you do at school and how sweet you are which we love to hear.

Things you love: arts and "projects", ballet and tap class and gymnastics (acrobatics), going to choir and singing, playing with your friends, going to Mrs. Donna's class. You love icing off cakes, cupcakes and cookies, but not the main part. You would drink chocolatte's by the gallon if I would let you. Macaroni and cheese is your favorite food (besides the sweet stuff). You love making your own breakfast which is toaster strudels. You love your magic still and love Magic candles in your room too. You love to help me cook and be my assistant. You are always willing to hold the mixer and stir!

Things you don't love: vegetables!, white milk, and sleeping. You stay up until 9/10 and are up at no later than 8 most days with no naps. It doesn't seem to affect you so we just let it be.


You are such a wonderful little girl and we could not be more proud of you!!! We love you so so much!!!

Disney on Ice

Last Sunday kicked off Gracie's week of birthday festivities! We met our sweet friend Anne Rae and Jones at CPK for some yummy lunch, then it was off to downtown (in their van - which Gracie thoroughly enjoyed riding in!) for some Disney on Ice! Jones and Gracie each got one over-priced, plastic toy adorned snack to enjoy - cotton candy for Jones and sno-cone for Gracie in a princess cup. They loved the show, all the characters and the skating. Gracie's favorite was seeing all the princesses but Aurora. She loves sleeping beauty! It was a fun afternoon!

So did you notice?

Gracie's haircut? On Wednesday the 28th, Gracie decided she needed a little trim. I was working on birthday invitations and cutting out a "sample" to print before I ran the actual ones and at some point she took the scissors from me when she was running in and out to check on the invites.

Well she came in the kitchen and said look mom and like to have DIED...I mean not a little trim, but half of her head was cut so short, her partially pulled back ponytail half gone too. All I am thinking is OMG OMG OMG we're going to have to go boy short to fix this. My stylist was on maternity leave, but I called up to the salon and said someone has got to take us NOW! The sweet girls worked us in immediately.

Luckily, I had pulled more hair than normal up so it was thick enough and long enough to cover what she had done on the one side. I can't pull it up for awhile b/c it's so short underneath. The back definately has some uneven layers on the one side, but all the stylists suggested I am better off leaving it uneven and having the "bob" hair cut and getting it cut every few weeks to even it than going boyshort to make it even now. I agreed and was so thankful for their talent b/c I would have never thought about that.

"The Haircut"

This is what I pulled out of the couch cushions.
Yes, she hid it all!

Getting it fixed!

Happy Halloween!

Minnie and the Flower Fairy

Finally - a whole month of parties, festivals, pumpkins all lead up to the big day! We were so grateful to our sweet friends who hosted a great halloween party and then off to trick or treat with Abby, Hudson and Wade.

Gracie and Abby took off like old pros. Mallary tagged along to the doors but was glad to ride in the stroller and the little boys just looked cute in their costumes! The girls would yell "LIGHTS" and run to the door and say Trick or Treat. Mallary wanted to keep taking all the candy out.

Afterwards we came home to dump out all our candy and check out all the great treats they got. Gracie is allowed to have 2 pieces a day and Mallary - just a bite of whatever mom is eating : )

Group shot with all the friends
at the Halloween Party

Time to Trick or Treat
(and yes this is the best pic i got all night)

Wade and his mommy

Hudson Tiger attacking Mallary's stroller.

checking out all the yummy treats!

Pumpkin Carving

We let Dada handle this job. He's pretty good at it and better with the knives and tools. We tell him the faces we want and he goes to work!

Gracie's Halloween Party

Gracie's class party was on Friday. Ashley and I were party moms this time. The kids all had a special snack and then played on the playground.

Gracie's Friends

Sister got to share with Gracie and join the party
Gracie loves icing!

Having snack

Trunk-or-Treat

Wednesday Night we had a fall festival and trunk or treat at our church. We all ate dinner and then the youth put on a great night of fun. We got lots of candy, played lots of games and Gracie even won cupcakes at the cakewalk (the cupcakes I made I might add...she couldn't stand seeing them in our house and not being able to eat them so when she won and had the option of all the cakes and goodies she immediately said those cupcakes!) Gracie wanted to go to the gym and see the haunted house (which was not recommended for the little ones) but she said I know it's pretend TAKE ME NOW! Well the fire alarms were going off in the church and the firemen wouldn't let her up to the 3rd floor.

Getting ready for a group picture

All the kids

Mallary had to inspect everything
that went into her pumpkin. She got tired of
Trunk or Treat and went to hang out with
Dada and give out candy.

The Cake Walk

Face painted - she got a witch's broom on one cheek
and AU for Auburn on the other.

Bowling with pumpkins