Pretty Girl

My sweet sassy Gracie Girl is growing up so fast.  I know as life miles stones come and go I will be reminded how fast it's going and how tight I am trying to hold on to all the moments as hard as I can. I love this time of learning and how much she pays attention to everything around her and then has questions about things that are a little too early for me to hear and her daddy is just in shock over conversations that he is having.  She asks often about how we dated, what we did on our dates, and what we talked about.  She talks about being a mom someday and at the same time talks about being a big sister.  How she can't wait to babysit and ride the bus all by herself.
Our most recent conversation about dating was hilarious as Troy told her she could not date until she was 25,  we were married at that age, and then Troy continued to explain how there are lots of guys out their like Hans(from Frozen).  They come off as very nice at the beginning but inside they are not good guys.  This made sense to her and we now use this example for her to understand people in general.  It's hard for little kids to grasp that there are people out there that will hurt us and how to be cautious so this has been a great example that she completely gets.

One day my daughter got into my tinted burt's bee Chapstick and put a little on.  She then asked if I would curl her hair.  I took a few pics for daddy to see how grown up she looked and thought I would share here as well.  This growing up thing is going to be hard on him.

Family Time

In the cold of our spring the family as you can see are still sporting there winter pj's.

daddy and nolan just hanging out

gracie and i planting flowers, trying to bring a little spring 

inside.  it is a little hard to get a normal face pic, see below

my gracie loves to be silly

Art for a Week

We had lots of rain days and we were more then ready for spring that was really nonexistent.  We had an art week.  We made paintings, painted bird houses, gracie helped me with my canvas for my room, and lots of play dough.

Fire Truck Party

Recently, I made cupcakes for a sprinkle shower and the word got out I made them.  It has been a baking frenzy since.  I was asked to make a fire truck cake for a cute little friend of ours and 100 cupcakes for a birthday party.  This was the first fire truck cake I have ever made.  It was pretty easy with the help of my hubby.  I asked him if he could draw everything up for me with exact measurements so it could be as perfect as possible and of course I took lots of pictures.  Sadly all the tutorials on Pinterest were very hard or ugly so I put one together that anyone could do.  But Check these out I am very proud of our hard work I was very scarred it would come out terrible.

completed fire truck

lined up listening to the fireman

Nolan & Griffin (aka birthday boy)

my little poser

a very serious ballon artist

my sweet very pregnant friend lauren serving up a birthday cake

cupcakes I made as well

Gracies mermaid balloon

and nolans going away gift from the party...a water gun

Our Sweet & Sour Super Hero

You know those weird kids at Walmart or Target wearing the strangest combinations of clothes, that of course they picked out and you wonder how did the parents let their kids out of the house looking like that???  Well, I am one of those parents and Nolan is absolutely that kid.  In fact he thinks he looks awesome and is probably pretty sad you are not wearing a cape.

Let me introduce you to Nolan's favorite super hero.  

He wears a pirate around his head, a cape to make him fly, John Deere symbol because tractors are the best, and of course his fireman rain boots.  You must run fast, make shooting sounds with your mouth, and give death stares at on lookers.  He is 100% sure he is just like spider man although he has never seen a single show with him in it but checks him out at the store every time we go.  If you have a great name for this super hero getup let me know.

My Nolan is in the 75% for height and 50% for weight.  He loves all rocks, sticks, or anything that can be turned into a sword.  He loves guns, trucks that make big noises, wants to kill every bug he finds.  He will eat dirt, sand, crayons, you name it sadly he has tried no matter how much in trouble he gets he will try it...seriously I am not joking.  When at the store he is enamored with all things boy and I mean half of these things he has no idea what or who they are and has never seen them on a show but he loves them and wants them.  From Ninja Turtles, to Batman, Spiderman, and thing that looks cool he wants it.  

The best way Troy and I have found to describe our Nolan is like this...

Seriously, he is a sour patch kid from the time he wakes until he goes to bed.  

Mother's Day

We had a nice relaxing Mother's Day.  Gracie must have been well informed by a wonderful teach what this day meant because she was all over it.  Gracie made her bed picked up and picked up her room.  Gracie and Troy were showing me love all day with their servant hearts.  We went for breakfast my favorite meal of the day and then had naps time at home with the family.  I had started my Mother's Day Celebration early with friends hanging out Friday and then girls night at the movies Saturday so I was a little spoiled the whole weekend with playtime.  Before Gracie went to bed I hugged Gracie and told her thank you for a wonderful mother's day.  She then told me you should no have to do anything on mother's day but relax.  Oh how I am those teachers at church a big thank you!

This is how our little family pictures play out...

 1 decent picture

not complete without one picture of Nolan being silly 

 Nolan's annoyed with picture looks and Gracie worried about bee's

best of the lot 

I am so blessed to have these two kids who love me like crazy.

Just around

These are just a little look into our little life...come see our fun.

 all boy ready for errands with his boots and plaid shirt

 Gracie and i drove through a very bad hail storm

it was terrible and Gracie was terrified

 my son decided to color his face with permanent marker, nice

 nolan trying out the John Deere named Troy, check out the side of the tractor

 who are you....get out of my car

we met up with friends about 2 hours away and the weather 

was nasty so we played ant the mall and then a play land so the moms could talk

 this is what happens when he does not listen..powdered sugar everywhere....he loved the taste

i don't think he learned a lesson from this one

 our spring football scrimmage started off early with 4 coaches and 2 wives 

shopping for all the football players and there families to feed after the game

 it was pretty chilly so all the kids ate in my car we are even missing 2 of the girls

 Nolan recently went to the GI doctor.  The talked to him and pressed on his tummy. 

Once the doctor was done and talking with me they climbed up onto the table and Nolan

proceeded to check Gracie's stomach the exact same was they checked him including the taping part.

nolan even asked her if she had been having lots of poops.

 nolan stealing another kids motorcycle

 grumpy look always

 this is just perfect for my dad who works for Metlife

this happened.  it might be sunny but it was not warm.  Football guys were over for a lunch and one of the guys and his family were doing some fundraiser where they dare each other to do something crazy that they don't think someone will do.  If they do it then the family has to donate money, something like that anyway he was dared to jump in a body of water some where in Chicago so why not at our house.  CRAZY!