Friday, September 16, 2011

Fall is Here!

Fall seems to have arrived out of the blue.
As in one day it was HOT and the next day it dropped 25 degrees and fall arrived.  
Why hello there fleece jackets.  I was not expecting to see you so soon---Waaaaaaaaa.

Since fall is upon us and my older photos are finally giving in and allowing me to upload them onto my blog, here you go.....a summer photo catch up from about a month ago.


We needed a babysitter.
One of Loren's Starbucks customers said she's babysit (not just a random customer, someone he's gotten to know over the last year).
BEST -SITTER- EVER.
She arrived with a bag full of baking goods.  They spent the entire time we were gone baking, decorating cupcakes and playing.  Incredible. And, she would not let us pay her anything.....although we were able to slip her a pound of coffee.  




Over the summer, we made a point to eat outdoors for dinner as much as possible.
I love my little family!





We wanted to start a garden this year but since we've never gardened before we opted for a Topsy Turvy to get us started.  Thanks to a cool summer and late start we ended up with only two teeny tomatoes.  And, Grace gobbled them both up so I am assuming they were good.  However, I am slightly disappointed as the instructions on the TT promised buckets of delicious tomatoes.  Thinking we might go a different route next year.


Have I mentioned lately that my girl child has super powers.
Yea, she can fly


Teaching Grace to ride her bike with training wheels has been fun to watch.
It seems to be bringing out the kid in Loren, although I don't think the kid ever left.
He drew different paths (colored coded) on our drive way to help her learn.
It went form easy to hard.
Genius. 



pink training wheels.
Thanks Loren

 I am going to embarrass myself here for just a minute and show you some photos of our incredibly messy bedroom.  Mind you our bedroom is super tiny. The closet you see is all the storage space we have.  The rest of the house is usually tidy and clean but for some reason, my whole life, my bedroom has been my down fall.  One day we said Enough is Enough (well, not that dramatic) and emptied the closet and reorganized the bedroom.  I feel so much more peaceful when I have a clean room.

We just need some over night guests to help us keep our room tidy ALL the time.

BEFORE
Messy closet, with clothes that we need to give away piling up on the floor

Ummmm....Kindergarten readiness.....maybe


When people come over, if we don't have time to organize everything, piles end up on the floor of our room.
Hanging head in shame. 
 AFTER
Yea!  Clean closet.
See the Easy Bake Ovens at the top!
Hello, Christmas.  They were on clearance.
One for my Grace and one for G's BFF and little brother!


That's pretty much all the floor space we have in our room.
Like I said, itsy bitsy room.  



One of the best days we had this summer:
Carey Lake with the Y- Family!
Our kiddos get along brilliantly.
They could have played all day.  And, we almost did.
Thank you Rachel for the invite!




Good Friends!



And, a girls day for Grace & I!

A totally unhealthy breakfast but it only happens once
in a blue moon so it's ok!

Fancy Nancy Game

The game she's always wanted!

Setting up her MLP for movie time


Nail and Make Up time



The treasures we found at the library

And, we ended our Girls Day with story time at the hospital rose garden across the street from our house.  





Well, Summer, I hope you sneak back in for a few more weeks.
I am not sure I'm ready to give up tank tops and flip flops for jackets and hats yet.
But if not, I know we will find more fun adventures to journey on in the cool of fall.


Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Last Day.....

....before my baby becomes a big school girl. A kindergartner.
One day until we have to work things around holidays and summer vacations.
One more day of her home with me all day long.  One more day of drawn out mornings where we play in Gracie's room in our PJs for one or two hours before we even leave her room to get breakfast.  One more day....

I always get sentimental during these big events in our lives.
1.  She's our first.
2.  She's our only
So all these firsts will only happen once for us.

It's good though.
It really makes me slow down and appreciate all that we have going on & all the milestones.  I helps me to be grateful for growth and change, even the little things that can tend to go unnoticed.


As this is Gracie's last day before her school career begins I let her decided what our day looked like.
I love when she gets to choose.  It's always way more creative than anything I would come up with.

We threw a massive birthday party for five of her lovies that involved dancing, cake, tricks and about 50+ guests.


Grace practiced her drawing skills while I got breakfast ready & we read a card from a dear friend in Puyallup sending love and hugs to Gracie.


And, we spent two hours at Carey Lake collecting shells.




Then home for showers, lunch and a little Winnie The Pooh: A Very Merry Pooh Year
Later today Grace will have her 1st dance class the of year. And, she has a new leo and tights to go along with her new class.  Girlfriend just won't stop growing upward.

It's been a super way to spend our last full  day together.
18.45 hours to go.  The count down begins.




Here are a few photos (from my phone-sorry for the terrible quality) from our last two days.

 Produce from our friends garden and our neighbors garden.
And, some fruit from the trees in our back yard.
Yum.



 L-Man
The new little guy I watch twice a week.

A Sunday stop at the library.
Books + Stuffed Animals = Joy for Grace





We will be back tomorrow to share photos from the BIG event!
And, I just got a knock on the door from UPS.  My new charger is here!!!
I can use my real camera.  Oh Glory Glory Hallelujah.
I'm back in business.