Easter...Saturday and Sunday

We had Easter for my family on Saturday at my house. I made a really awesome pork loin and potatoes to go along with some salads and other stuff. Steve, Jennifer, Haley, Raina, Derek, Jack and Linda were there to enjoy the day.
Grace and Raina having a little snack

My mom hiding an egg :)

Grace hunting

Raina finding the first one!

We even made Derek hunt for eggs too!

Haley & Raina

Aunt Jen and Uncle Steve bought the girls these chocolate eggs with candy inside!

On Sunday Brooks, Grace and I went to early services and breakfast at church. After an early morning nap we headed over to Grandma Martha's for dinner and another egg hunt.

Grace stashing her find at Grandma Martha's

Grace, Lexie and I headed over to our cousin Beth Ann's for Easter Dessert later in the afternoon Sunday. It was so much fun to see everyone. The kids had a great time finding all the eggs and getting to play with each other. Grace told me on the way home her favorite part of her day was "Going to Beth's Lake!!!" Beth has a small pond in her front "yard" that she took all the kids to.

Sutton and Grace chillin in the chair

Riley, Jody, Kendall, Beth Ann, Grace, Eddie, Sutton, and Courtney getting ready to find some eggs!

Grace, Sutton and Kendall...man we make some cute kids!!!

BR: Riley, Sutton, Blake

MR: Kendall, Grace, Lexie, Emily

BR: Mackenzie, Lindsay, Sutton

Christmas (All five rolled into one post)

This is THE DOLLHOUSE that Grace asked Santa for Christmas, as you can see she received it Christmas morning. She was very happy about it. It came with a mom, a dad, a big sister and twin babies a boy and a girl. The bonus of the house is the stove makes noises and the oven has a light in it. The phone rings too! The nursery has a changing table that when pressed lights a lamp and plays a little lullaby. Very cute and she and mom have gotten much enjoyment playing with it :)

Our Christmas actually started Christmas Eve at Grandma Martha's house. We went there and ate chicken noodle soup and other things of course. Brooks, Grace and I stole away for an hour to attend Christmas Eve services at church then back to Grandma's for presents.

Sam, Chelsea, Tyson, and Zac at Grandma Martha's

Grace, Diana (her back), Chelsea, Brooks, Grandma Martha, and Aunt Mary (her back too)

Grace opening presents at her Great Grandma Martha's

Grandma Martha checking out the calendar I made for her for Christmas.

After Grandma Martha's we went home to open our traditional Christmas Eve presents. They are of course every year pajamas. This is something my mom and dad always did so I have just continued it with my own kid and my sister does the same.

Mom and Grace in their Christmas Eve pajamas

Dad and Grace in their Christmas Eve pajamas

Grace took this picture, so I had to add it. She is doing better with making sure there are people in the little square before she snaps the photo!

After we opened our pajamas, we set out cookies and milk for Santa. Grace wanted to put out all two dozen cookies for him but we quickly told her he wouldn't eat them all because he got cookies at everyone else's house too. We read This is the Stable, Twas the Night Before Christmas, and the Christmas story from her Children's Bible. This also raised a very serious question from our little three year old. I was not prepared for it, thank goodness Brooks is a fast thinker. She caught the part that Joseph is Mary's husband. Grace says, "no, Mommy, God is, because he is Jesus' daddy." I was at a COMPLETE loss for words. How do you explain a Virgin Birth to a three year old??? Well you don't. Brooks told her that God is Jesus' Heavenly Father and Joseph is his earthly father. For right now our darling girl is happy with that explanation. Whew!

Christmas morning started about 7:00 a.m. I had to go wake Grace up and tell her that Santa had visited us when we were sleeping. She replied with " I know, I heard him on the roof last night!" Ok lets go. She ran in the living room and exclaimed "Oh my goodness" then as with last year threw herself on the couch and buried her head in the pillow? I don't know why but she just did. We then went out front to see if the reindeer were messing eaters and they were. We found out last year that the reindeer eat with their mouths open and if you leave them carrots, little chunks of carrots will be on the deck in the morning! Those silly reindeer!

Weird look but wanting to show off the clothes mom & dad got for her

We finally made it to my mom and dad's house. We ate breakfast that Jennifer had made and then opened presents. Grace got awesome things from her Aunt Jen & Uncle Ryan, Uncle Steve and Grandma Linda & Grandpa Jack.

Showing Derek her hat Aunt Jen got her and the ugly ISU hoodie Grandpa Jack & Grandma Linda got her...lol

Uncle Steve got Grace an awesome McDonald's Drive thru play set. She loves everything McDonald's.

Pretty Dress Up clothes Aunt Jen & Uncle Ryan gave her

After my mom and dad's we headed to Knoxville. Brooks' Grandparents Sox & Shirley's house. We ate dinner here and opened presents. We draw names for the kids and have a grab bag for the adults. We all had a really nice time.

These are the Great Grandchildren, Grace 3 and Lexi 4.

FR: Grace, Kaden, Kirsti, Cole, Lexi. BR: Brooks, Tonya, Dylan, Sara, and Tara

Ok, so we are all really really tired. So we went home and took naps and about 6:30 woke up and headed over to Brooks' parents. We exchanged gifts there with his mom and dad and Uncle Dylan and Ashley. Dylan got Grace a pink camo fleece jacket that she loves! Grandma Diana got her Disney Princess bedding for her room.

Uncle Dylan and Ashley

Grace opening something?

Well that was our very busy two days. I am very thankful to have spent them with all our family. We are all truly blessed to have all the Grandparents, Great Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and many cousins to celebrate the holidays with. I hope that yours was Merry and Bright! Have a Happy and Prosperous New Year!!!

Halloween Part Two

We of course went Trick or Treating tonight. Grace dressed as a fairy. Very interesting! I ratted her hair and put lots of little barrettes of dragon flies and butterflies in it. I then sprayed "fairy dust" a.k.a. glitter spray in her hair. Needless to say we will all be having glitter on us for awhile now:)

The highlight of the night was Snow White showed up to go with us. Since Grace could talk she has always said the Haley (my niece) looks like Snow White. It was priceless seeing Grace's face when she answered the door. Haley looked beautiful! We had Grace convinced for about an hour that it really was Snow White and that Haley was babysitting the dwarfs! We finally gave up the charade when the three adults in the car were out smarted and Grace said, "Hey Snow White, when we get back to my house you can change your clothes and be Haley again!" She is so funny.

Grace made out great in the treat department too. She got a new toothbrush, which most kids were complaining about but not Grace since she brushes her teeth every two hours. She also got a box of Macaroni and Cheese and a packet of Ramen Noodles as Uncle Steve forgot to get treats! How funny, and Grace was very happy with that loot!

I had to share this picture of Brooks and I. First off I wanted to show everyone what a great dad he is and a good sport. Grace asked him to wear her crown about half way through the night and he did! Second, it was too cute not to share with little Gracie's face popped up in the background.

Halloween Part One

Anything to please my daughter!!!

Yes, this is me, Princess Mommy. I went with Grace to school today for the Halloween Party. It was a lot of fun getting to meet all of her new friends. Now I have an idea of who these kids are and have a face to with the name. However, I did not meet the mysterious "other Grace" that she sits with on the bus. I have a feeling this is a girl she either made up or a girl she gave the name to since she doesn't know her name. In either case I have to remember she is my daughter and she is strange!

I also got to show the kids how to make "Frogs". These are a snack I learned to make when I was doing daycare. All the kids really liked making them and eating them. Most of the kids couldn't wait to get home to tell mom and dad that they ate frogs at school! I am sure there were some strange looks and very curious parents today.

All of the kids got to wear their costumes to school today. We had four Spidermen, two pirates, two bumblebee transformers, a couple princesses, a bear, a monkey complete with banana, and a dragon to protect the princesses. Grace went in her double cheeseburger costume from last year. She didn't wear it very long as it is restricting in movement. I didn't get a pic of her in it, so I posted the one from last year.

The "Frogs"

Grace and Noah playing the bat fishing game


Double Cheeseburger