Dooie. . .

What is better than getting a new puppy? Having your parents get one! I'd like to introduce "Dooie" the Labradoodle. She has the sweetest disposition ever and is so mellow. I know she and Gracie will be the best of friends! Welcome to the family sweet pup. . .Cousin Beaux can't wait to meet you:) HeHeHe!

It's official. . .

Well, after almost 3 month, Gracie's room is now fit for the big girl she has become! We spent the day cleaning out the drawers, closet and. . .THE CRIB! I'm sure you would have thought that it came down weeks ago, but I just could not bring myself to do it. A few weeks ago she actually decided she wanted to go back, so of course I obliged:) We were playing in her room today and I asked if she wanted me to take it down and she replied "Yes, because I am a big girl!" I explained that she would NEVER sleep in it again (halfway hoping she would say just one more night) and she was certain it should come down. Lots of memories, but no tears. I guess that is just another example of enjoying this precious child, oops, I mean big girl.

The Big Girl's room. . .

The fort in her "new" closet. . .

How long do you think we can stay this organized?

Masterpiece. . .

This is a really strange feeling. I am at home. . .alone! Gracie went to the Masterpiece class today at her ballet school which runs from 8 to 12p.m.! She was actually really excited. We loaded up a little backpack with snacks and pull-ups and headed out for a morning of "Artistic Play". They do theater (a.k.a. puppet shows) and crafts and of course, dance! I feel like I should be a little sad or at least nostalgic, being that this is her first real day of pre-school, but I am not. . .I am downright giddy! What ever will I do with myself for 3 hours? What's that? Oh, I think I hear a closet calling. . .

I probably shouldn't post this, but. . .

I probably shouldn't post this, but it's way too funny. . .Gracie's new favorite phrase is "OH YEAH, BABY!" She says it every time we open up a stinky diaper!

Weather Girl. . .

This morning Gracie laid out a blanket in front of the glass doors so she and her puppy could "look at the weather". A few moments later she turned to me and said "Momma, there is frosting on the trees!" Oh what a magical world that would be. . .and maybe the pine cones could be made of chocolate, too!

The Barbie Birthday Bash. . .

I can't believe my baby is 3 years old! This has been such a fun and busy week celebrating my precious little princess that I forgot to stop and reflect. It is the first time 2:46 p.m. passed without mention and the first time I have not looked back through the weekly photos from her first year (although the night is not over:)). Why? Why would I forget? Surely, I still cherish those memories. The only thing I can rationalize is that my baby is not a baby anymore. We have complete conversations (and arguments). We play, sing and have make believe. We do crafts and play dress up; and now we take pictures. . . lots and lots of pictures! I will post again this week with a sampling of Gracie's newest love ~ photography, on her Fisher Price Camera! I think I am so consumed with the spectacular person she has become that it's hard to remember her any other way. I tell her all of the time "I couldn't love you anymore. . .but I will tomorrow!" That is such an understatement. She truly is amazing. She is so smart and her vocabulary is amazing. She is very nurturing (just watch her hold her babies or pet Denver). She loves to be involved in anything Mommy and Daddy are doing, but is just starting to enjoy playing by herself. As an only child, her ability to share and her giving nature surprise me every time we play with other kids. She is super silly but quite reserved ~ she still refuses to go in a "Playland" and will probably never return to Chuckie Cheese! She is a very good listener (when she wants) and remembers everything. She loves to pick out her own clothes and always surprises me with how well they match (even if it is ALWAYS shorts, tank tops and flip flops)! She knows she is becoming a "big girl" and likes her Independence ("I can do it!"), but still loves to be rocked to sleep at night. Lala will always be #1 in her heart, but she has at least 20 stuffed animals in her bed and can tell you specifics about each one! Yellow blankie has not missed a night, but now she loves to sleep under her "Frosty" blanket. Her favorite song is Joy to the World; and can this girl carry a tune! She still loves to watch television with her favorites shows being Angelina Ballerina, Max and Ruby, Finding Nemo and ANYTHING BARBIE! She will pick grilled cheese, mac-n-cheese, or chicken nuggets when she has a say, but her new favorite food is STEAK ~ yes, she is a daddy's girl! Speaking of Daddy. . .She adores him! She gets so excited at night when he gets home from work that she runs and hides! They play outside together (she loves to help him with the bird/squirrel food), take walks around the property and of course, they still run! She loves it when he tickles her until she can scream for help. At the dinner table she has to have her chair touching his so they can "eat together". He is better at getting her to sleep than I am, which makes her look forward to my Tuesday night Bible Studies. He is extraordinarily patient and loving with her but is also the disciplinarian when things escalate. . .she tries very hard to please him. On the other hand, she knows how to push buttons, especially Momma's! We are constantly discussing and negotiating. Days can be long since she is only napping 30-45 minutes, but each second of the day is priceless. I am so blessed to have this child and I thank God every day for the opportunity to love and raise this precious girl. Everyone knows that she is Daddy's Girl, but I know she will always be my baby! Tonight she called me into her room to tell me that I am the best Mommy ever! I don't know about that, but I do know that I am the luckiest! Thank you sweet child for the most wonderful three years! I can not wait to see how you change and who you become in the next 365 days!
Here are a few photos from the big Barbie Birthday Bash and our lunch at "Red Wobbins" today.

Love at first site. . .

The special furry kitty dress. . .

Blowing bubbles with Alyssa. . .

Barbie Diamond Castle ring toss. . .

"Pass the Barbie" since Momma forgot to read all of the instructions for "Pass the Parcel". . .

Most of the gang. . .

Does this even need an explanation?

She really wanted a globe (to see everywhere Daddy travels)! Thanks, Nana!

The last string. . .

Pinata pick up. . .

Benjamin and Evan looking so dapper. . .

Toot, toot!

"Oh how I wish I could just touch Beaux!"

The Barbie cake. . .

The little princesses. . .

A real Barbie Diamond Castle Princess. . .

Post party play. . .look at those eyes:)

Can anyone say "tude"?

Daddy, Gracie and "the bird". . .

Complete shock (which was followed by burying her head in Daddy's lap)!

O.k., an ice cream sundae will make up for that humiliation!

Genetics?

I should start by saying that I NEVER peek at presents. . .I don't want to ruin the surprise. I love to look at a wrapped present for as many days as possible; somehow, it makes the event last longer. My sister-in-law. . .not so much! Sweet Aunt Heidi can not have a wrapped gift with in eye site. When she comes for a visit she always brings presents. Before we can even get the luggage unloaded she is standing in front of us saying "Open it, open it!" Please don't get me wrong, I LOVE this part of her personality! She has a amazing way of making you feel incredibly special. I say all of this as a lead in to last night. UPS delivered a package for Gracie about 4p.m. At 4:01 she began asking to open the gift. I explained that it was for her birthday and that we would open it at the party. It became clear that Gracie has this same gene as her Aunt Heidi. Asking turned to begging and begging turned to crying. I finally used the "We'll ask Daddy when he gets home" line. The second he walked in she started on him, so here is a snip from the beginning of Gracie's Birthday celebration (Side note: she picked out this outfit all by herself ~ she wanted to look nice for daddy!) Sorry for the choppy video, I ran out of memory:) Doesn't that just about sum it up! Again, press pause (II) on the Playlist at the bottom to mute the music. Follow up: I can't get the second video to load. . .sorry. It was really cute ~ she was telling Meme and Pappy thank you and "I love you" while she was wearing her precious new swimsuit and flip flops. She wants to wear it all the time. Hopefully she will be this excited to wear it to swim lessons. . .

Stock Show. . .

What a great day at the National Western Stock Show! Gracie was in rare form. . .she even rode a real Texas Longhorn! Just click this link http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=7e2d1ec4d1c401013a2a80&skin_id=1702&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=email to view the montage. . .

Business Trip?

Daddy's home! Brey's trip was an amazing blessing for us both! I will tell you there is something so spiritual, powerful and alive in this place that you can feel it in the pictures and hear it in the stories. I find it interesting that the country is 98% Muslim, yet filled with the presence of God. On several occasions, the photos actually brought me to tears. Oh how I long to go. . .I wish you could hear Brey talk about each picture and what it meant to him. For now we will have to make do with the photos. Here are a select few. . .I hope you enjoy!

The City of Petra ~ one of the 7 "new" wonders: The view from the Siq (a mile long channel that leads you into the city) as you are about to enter Petra. This building is the Treasury (and yes, this is where Indiana Jones was filmed).

Full view of the Treasury. Notice the detail. This was built over 2000 years ago!

Tombs along the Street of Facades. . .

Mount Nebo which is located outside of Amman:

Deuteronomy 34:1-4 "Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the LORD showed him the whole land--from Gilead to Dan, all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. Then the LORD said to him, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it."

The view of the Promised Land from Mount Nebo. . .

On a clear day you can also see Jerusalem, Jericho and the Dead Sea. . .

Brey at the Citadel in Amman, Jordan. . .

THE Dead Sea Scrolls. . .

The Jordan River where John baptized Jesus. . .

After much research and excavation, the actual baptism site. . .

Brey getting water from the Jordan ~ a gift for mommy:) When he gave me the bottle it literally took my breath away.

The current Jordan River is only 15 feet wide. Israel is only a stones throw away. . .Praise God for the peace treaty; when this photo was taken they were fighting with Palestine.

O.k., did I mention this was a business trip? Brey and his boss "working". . .

The lowest point on earth. . .The Dead Sea, which is said to be on top of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Brey ~ just after he sunk up to his knees in "mud". . .

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!

We are so glad to have him home, especially with the term-oil in the middle east. However, this trip has changed us both, for the better. I pray that the "reality" of the Bible stays fresh in our hearts and continues to create a hunger for more. It is obvious that you would feel closer to Jesus when you are standing where He stood. I can just imagine Him coming up out of the water ~ His power and majesty in all of its glory. . .it makes my heart race just thinking of it! Oh how I want to see Him this clearly in my life. Won't you join me in looking for Him in the ordinary moments of our daily routine? I would love to hear where you find Him.

A Plethora of Pictures. . .

Why haven't I been blogging? OVERLOAD! Here are MANY photos from our Christmas season. These are more for me than anyone else, but I hope you enjoy, too!

Practicing Joy to the World!

Mommy's Birthday in Beaver Creek. . .

Just too darn cute!

Wrapping presents. . .

Christmas Eve at Amma and Poppy's. . .

Oh how she loves dress-up!

Ready for a spend the night. . .

Christmas morning. . .(obviously it was a late night)!

Christmas Brunch with the Lee's, Papa, Grammy, Lindsey and Mike. . .

Thanks for playing dollhouse Uncle Mike!

My Itty, Bitty baby. . .

Itty, bitty baby playing piano. . .

Can anyone say "HAM"? This mic even comes with its own applause!

Santa's big delivery. . .

New Year's Day. . .

Helpin' Dad smoke a brisket. . .

My best friend, Benjamin. . .

I've created a monster. . .She staged this scene and is telling everyone to say cheese. Then she makes me review the "photos" with her. I think it's time for a real camera. . .

Gracie's first tea party with Mommy and Amma. . .

Oh, how I love her new favorite pastime!