Swinging Time

Today we hooked up Grace's swing that she got from Dado and she absolutely loved it!!  I am so glad that this is what she got for her birthday because now she can swing without needing to be pushed, but of course, she still likes to be pushed :)  That's ok, though.  It's fun to take the kids downstairs and play because they trade off with one another.  It is so darn cute because she'll swing for a while and then Levi will jump on the trampoline, and after a few minutes they trade with one another.  He likes to lay on the swing and run for takeoff and then pick up his feet and SWING like crazy!  I so wish I would have gotten a picture but I only got some video of them playing down there.  I'm so excited for them!!

Amanda

Just Hanging out :)

Sometimes it's so nice to just sit around in your pajamas and not have to worry about doing anything, and Saturdays are great for that.  So here are the kiddos, sitting around and not doing much of anything.

Amanda

Horseback Riding

WE LOVE HORSEBACK RIDING!!!

I live vicariously through Grace each week she goes horseback riding.  And I hear her squeals and giggles and laughter as she rides and works hard and just am so darn happy for her.  This week she did something huge and turned around on the horse and rode backwards.  Last week this was a very hard thing to do...in fact, she went so ballistic that they had to stop riding!  So she did so absolutely great!

I love watching you, Grace!

Amanda

A Fun Day!

Today was a fun day...out of the norm, that's for sure.  We used to do a lot of fun activities and things like that, but for quite some time now, I've been too tired to even come up with things for the kiddos to do.  But today we got to paint AND make cookies with her birthday present!  Hurray!  It was a bit boring for Grace and her favorite part was eating the cookies after, but she enjoyed watching Chuggington while I finished cooking the cookies for her :)

One thing that was TOTALLY different this time with Grace painting....she was clean!  She didn't smear it all over her hands, her arms, and everywhere else!  I was so incredibly happy and proud of this girl.  I've not wanted to have her paint because of the mess that always comes with it but oh my gosh!  Great job, Grace!

Amanda

Lower Palisades Hike

So we haven't gotten out much this past summer and so I thought it would be good to go for a hike before the weather got to where it was too cold to go out.  So we decided to go on a hike since Grace only has kindergarten for half days.  I didn't quite realize it would be so long, though!  It said online it was only 2 miles (4 miles total) so we headed out.  But then we realized it was 4.5 miles in (9 miles total) but decided to go for it anyways because we are crazy!  It was an insane afternoon, it took us so darn long and we were all so tired but we did it!  Grace walked most of the way in and out so that was absolutely amazing, and I was so happy to see how sure footed she was on the trail even though it was uneven with roots, rocks and washouts in it.  Levi also walked a lot of the way but we had the carrier for him so that was nice.  Grace loved riding on Daddy's shoulders when she needed a break and it was fun to see her have fun with him.  When we finally made it to the lake there was so much more to be desired but we made it fun by having popcorn, a freeze dried meal and other snacks.  

SO much fun!!!!

Love you so much kiddos!

Amanda

Grace's Birthday Party at the Cabin!

This is probably the funnest time for Grace because it is all about Grace.  Which at times isn't the best thing but it was good for her.  Here is her birthday day menu....

Breakfast:

Pancakes

Eggs

Bacon

Chocolate Milk

Lunch:

Sandwiches  (When I asked her what she wanted to eat all she wanted was Salami--she and I LOVE eating salami slices together, but I don't think eating JUST salami is a good enough meal)

Pasta Salad

Chips

Juice/Milk

Birthday Dessert---chocolate cake with frosting and vanilla ice cream

Dinner:

Pizza!

Salad

Fruit

Juice

Apple/Snicker Salad for dessert

This day was so great!  She enjoyed playing with the kids and I was able to relax and let her have her freedom with the kids for the most part, and it was just a great day.  She was a bit overwhelmed with the singing and she was so nervous, but that's ok.  She did great!  And she definitely loved opening presents!!  Haha...for so long we had to tell her how to open presents and all that but I'm so glad she's finally understanding the excitement of it all!  Another thing I love is that she was so willing to share opening presents with the kids.  I have such a sweet kid and she's just so darn loving and wants everyone to feel that love that's around her.  Here are some pictures of the wonderful day!

Look at this beautiful cake!!  Levi picked out the frosting :)  It was between this color and neon pink, so I'm so glad he picked purple!  And that finger swipe in the frosting?  Grace girl got to the cake!!  HAHA

Happy birthday Grace!  MOMMY AND DADDY AND LEVI LOVES YOU!

Mommy

Grace's 7th BIRTHDAY!!!

How absolutely exciting!  Grace turned 7 years old!  I am so so happy for my girly and all of her accomplishments :)  She had a great time at school in her new dress and super cool boots, and brought cookies that she had picked out from Broulims the day before.  I ended up also bringing juice because what's cookies without juice?!  She loved the attention and the kids are so sweet with her :)  She got to pick out a book from the Birthday Box and it was so funny because she opened the box and BAM!  She picked out the book really fast.  Here is the girly with her class birthday celebration!

What a big girl you are, Grace!!  I LOVE YOU!!!  But the fun wasn't over because we got to go to the cabin for Labor Day weekend and celebrate her birthday there!  Hurray!

Amanda