Grace's Birthday

Grace's Birthday was pretty low key. I really don't see the need to do extravagant parties for a 2 year old. Is this bad? We still had fun and I still went all out for her, I just didn't want to host a big birthday party.

We woke up on her birthday and immedietly went right to the presents. Between Mom and Dad, Grandparents, and missionaries this girl was spoiled rotten!!! I couldn't believe how many gifts she got!! This year we (as in Ron and I and grandparents) gave her a Magnatiles set (invest in them now if you don't have them. They are the only toys really played with at our house) She also received a ton of new puzzles and books. Really the only toys she has any interest in.This year I also took a different approach to decorating her presents. I decided instead of spending money on gift bows, that I would decorate them with really hair bows! A girl can never have enough right? I also didn't feel like I was throwing our money down the drain.

After presents I made her and Hayden's favorite breakfast: Pana-cakes (italian for cream cakes... thinking crepes but thicker and on steroids. yes they are that good!) with strawberries and real fresh whipped cream. I shaped them into a 2 and a 4. They are on cloud nine and gobbled them right up!

That afternoon after naps, the missionaries came over to celebrate with us. They adore both Grace and Hayden, and couldn't pass up the opportunity to garner party it up. We ate cake and Ice cream... which I didn't get a picture of?!!! How on earth did this happen? She requested a Minnie mouse (her favorite) The missionaries were so sweet and brought her a couple of gifts as well. They knew her so well. Elder Nyman and Elder Rowe bought her a Disney puzzle pack: Including a Tinkerbell puzzle, Minnie mouse puzzle, and Disney princesses puzzle. She was on cloud nine to see all of her favorite characters in one gift. Sister Place and Sister Munoz got her a stuffed badger. We all about died on that one, cause that is what they called her. We partied up for a while, and then headed over to a friend's house for a ward party that night.

That evening we roasted hot dogs, smore's and played outside at our friends house. It was so great and such a fun way for grace to celebrate her birthday. She loved it.

Over all I believe Grace's birthday was a success. She tells everyone how she had a Minnie mouse birthday and how she is two. It was so fun, and exactly what my little badger needed. Happy Birthday Little Miss!

July

July was really a blur. It went so fast! I babysat for the first part of the month, and then the last part was filled with tons of house projects in order to get ready for baby girl. We knew with me being on limited bed rest that we needed to get pretty much all of it done before Ron started school.

We spent the fourth at home. We are good friends with the missionaries and decided to have a BBQ with them and fireworks at home rather than brave the firework crowds down at the river. We had lots of fun even though our fireworks turned out to be totally lame! The kids loved it and that is really all that matters.

1: Hayden was awesome and wanted a picture after I cut his hair (this never happens). I have seriously never met a kid with more hair than him. He stalls my clippers!!

2: My little snuggle bear. She would have me rock her to sleep every day if I would.

3: Enjoying and afternoon filled with the Indy Zoo and Ice Cream.

4-5: Dress like a cow day at chi-fil-a. Seriously we will be doing this every year! The kids LOVED it! We signed up to the  feed the missionaries, luckily they were pretty good sports and  dressed up like cows with us so we all  got  our meals for free. That was 3 adult meals, 2 kids meals.

6 &8: Enjoying our passes to the Indy Zoo... We seriously love going there!

7: Grace is an actress. You'd never know but in this photo she was totally fake sleeping. She does it all the time, and its a crack up. She is really good at it!

1: Sibling Cuddle Time

2: We went on lots of bike rides

3: Played with our slip and slide and kiddy pool in our underwear of course.

4: I rarely let them get the car carts at the grocery store (seriously they are a pain!) They were so excited and happy I had to get a picture.

4: Ron painting the kid's bunk beds.

6: Mommy and Grace selfie. She was so excited for a target Slurpee.

7: Grace has been trying to dress her self. She almost succeeded here.

8-11: Enjoying many walks and bike rides on the trails by our house.

 These I just took on some of the many walks we took. Seriously isn't Indiana Beautiful? I can't get enough of it.  It is stunning. PS no filter on any of these.

Ron and I finally finished refurbishing the the kid's bunk beds. We also transitioned Grace from the crib to a twin bed.  It turned out so cute! I love how clean and airy their bedroom feels with out the crib and the clutter that came with it! Grace loves sleeping in a big girl bed, and has done so well with the transition.

Grace got a hot pink bird and flower bed (she is obsessed with owls lately). Hayden got a navy blue pirate bed. I love how it turned out. The colors turned out so well together, but I still was able to add their personality to it. I also didn't have to really change anything else out of their room cause everything still matched!

2!!

2 years

730 days

17,520 hours

1,051,200 minutes

63,072,000 seconds

That is how long this little miss has graced us with presence. She has made life such a thrill and so fun. We can't imagine what life would be like with out our little firecracker baby. She is a pure joy to have around. We love our little Gracie baby.

A little bit about her from mommy's perspective.

She is total mommy's girl.  She loves daddy for playing but everything else she comes to me.

She loves stuffed animals

She is a wicked genius at puzzles. Not kidding she can put 35 piece puzzle together by herself with out even thinking about it.

She is a definite homebody. She just loves to be home.

She loves to sing and play the piano

She holds a mean grudge. Seriously don't make the girl mad if you want her to keep talking to you for the rest of the week.

She loves nursery

She has already kissed a boy and has her first crush. It's funny!

She is a daredevil!!! She isn't scared of much, and it scares me!

She has a mind if her own. She is a very determined little girl and hates being told what to do. (We have lots of battles).

I decided to interview her and let her tell you about herself at 2 years old.

How old are you?  Mmmmmm 1........2!

What is your favorite color? Peet (pink)

What is your favorite food? Dwapes (grapes)

What is your favorite movie? Mmmmmm.... Rio

What is Favorite thing to do? My Mama

What is your Favorite thing to play: toys

What is your Favorite toy?  Peet (pink)

Grace what is your favorite to to play with. Pussles!!! (Puzzles)

Favorite movie character ? Tastle

Where do you sleep? I sleep in a twib (crib) (we actually just switched to a big girl bed)

What do you want to be when you grow up? Mmmmmm Haynen! (Hayden)

What is your favorite animal? Mmmmmm.... Titties and doggies!!! I like toshta!!!!  (Kitties and doggies, I like koshka!!!! ) (who is our cat btw)

Happy Birthday Gracie Girl!!!!! This mana lives you with all her heart!!

Grace's 1 year photos

I really want to invest in a really nice camera. I just feel like I can't justify paying someone a ton of money to take photos of my kids, but I feel like they are necessary!  Luckily for Grace's 1 year photos my sister was kind enough to let me steal her camera to take photos of my little miss. Grace was a little touchy. She hadn't and refused to nap. Typical. I did manage to get some photos that I just gush over though!

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