Picture Help

Ok, so I need a little help.  This might sound silly but I know there are plenty of people that read this who can help.  I am redoing the pictures on my mantel, it was boring before but I cannot decide what I want to do.  Is if better with more or less.  If you are willing to help I would take any suggestions.  If you don't want to write anything you can fill out the poll to the left.  I would appreciate any help that is offered.

here is the over view of our mantel I am updating

Here are the Frame Set up Options:

Option #1: Just the 2 frames leaning

Option #2:    3 frames

Option #3: multi frames

 Here are the actual Picture Options:

Option #1: Family picture in the center 

and Gracie pictures on each side?

Option #2:  the center picture would be of trees 

incorporating the colors of our down

 stairs with family pictures on both sides?

Option #3: If I do hang the top two 

pictures I was going to do letter's, good idea?

Thanks for all the help:)
I know my drawings are lacking....a lot but you get the point, I hope.

Bubbles with Grandpa

A couple of weekends ago my dad had to do some work in Cleveland & on his way home he was able to stop thru and see Gracie.  The big event of the night were the bubbles in the sink they were playing with, she had lots of fun.

Trinity Weekend

Last weekend Troy, Gracie and I headed to Chicago for a long weekend.  We got in super late but the drive went well.  Friday, morning a took stroll thru my alma mater, Trinity (TIU), and that although most of the campus has changed significantly some of it was still the same.  I also did not feel so bad the about the years between my visits when I found that most people that are 45 minutes to an hour had been there for years either.  Life is busy no matter where you are.  Friday, had lunch with my friend Lisa, spent some time with the Long Family and then headed the the Hoesch's.  Saturday, I met up with my girls from the college days, Julie, Lily and there families for lunch & then headed to the game.  Although, I did not watch much of the game we had a great time letting the kids play and the girls got to catch up. Malone had a the victory over Trinity and I was glad to see Malone put another win on the board.

The Student Center aka The Lew, where 

Troy &  I met up for Dr. Pepper Dates;)

This is where Melton use to be the Cafeteria, this is 

now called the Waybright Center & it looks much better

My 2 teams praying together, what a cool sight

I love this

Play time!

Gracie playing mother hen & trying to 

put Marina's hat back on, over & over again

Stevie, Gracie, Marina, Eli

Gracie has a thing for babies or kids younger then her, 

she loves to help them & lead them around

and drag them around, jk

Gracie bear

This little peanut is Marina

The best shot of the 3 of them I could get

this was not safe but they were having fun

 for the short time they were playing in it

Me, Lily & Julie

While in Chicago we stayed with the Hoesch's, one of Troy very 

good friends from College.  It was very nice to be able to spend 

time with them.  Haley & Gracie seemed to have blast playing 

together.  Gracie took her first double bath Saturday night 

with Haley.  She loved.  I think she thought is was the best 

thing ever.  She really does need a sister.

Haley & Gracie

Gracie is such a ham I am not sure Haley knew what to think.

Guess Who's Turning 2?

Yes, that is right Gracie will be 2 tomorrow.  It can't believe I have a toddler.  We went for a stroll and I decided to get in a couple of pictures of my girl enjoying the fall.

miss independent

I just loved them all...

Apple Picking

I have lived in Canton for a long time, well it is the longest I have lived anywhere since I lived at home with my parents in high school.  Anyway, I have always wanted to go apple picking and every year it seemed to slip by me and I would forget.  But this year I planned a weekend that the three of us would go and have a family day picking apples and then baking the day away.  We headed to the orchard and picked our apples.  I thought the time would go by quickly but it seemed Troy and I became rather picky about which apples to pick, how they looked and how to reach the best of the best.  Finally, we had plenty of apples.  Yum!  I spent the rest of the day making apple pie, apple sauce and more apple sauce which was so easy.  I have an apple, pealer, corer slicer that my mom gave me from Pampered Chef and it was the greatest thing ever.  I know I have used it before but years ago.  The whole thing with making the apple sauce took about 30 minutes.  So easy and so good. 

Short Story:  My freshman year in college, I headed to my friend Lisa's house.  It was the first farm I had ever been too.  Her mom picked the apples from there tree and made the best apple sauce I had ever tasted.  Since I have wanted to own my own apple trees but then relized how hard that would be with moving and it really does attract the bees.  The orchard was perfect and my apple sauce tasted pretty good, my memory seemed to think it was just the same.

Gracie picking apples

our little family

which one should I eat?

mommy & gracie bear

a sticky kiss

loves

I thought this was hilarious ;)

ready to go home