A Package From a Special Friend

09/12/12

We were so surprised to see a package in the mail for Grace's birthday!!!  It's always fun getting packages, but now that she knows how to unwrap, it's so much more fun for her!!

We were so surprised to see the package on the front step :)  Grace saw it and said, "birtday?" and got SO excited!

She was checking out who it came from, and she especially liked the balloons drawn on the package :)

Look how cute her name was written!  Isn't that just adorable?

WOW!!  This is what was inside!  She was so excited to see that it was something that she was able to tear into, since she's figured out that she gets something fun beneath the wrapping!

She gets to start at last!  I had to, of course, take so many pictures that she was being impatient!



WOW!!  So beautiful.  When she saw her present at this point, she lightly touched the sweater, pulled her hand over the tutu, and said...."soft...soft..."

"So pitty!"  She thought it was supposed to go on her arms.  Isn't that cute?

Here is the whole outfit!  I can't wait for her to wear this to church, as well as out and about.  "Grandma" Chapman really knows how to pick a cute tutu for sure!

And here is another awesome toy that she plays with all the time.

"Hello?  Hello?  Otay, bye!"

Checking out her perfect face.  She absolutely loves mirrors!

Cute decorations on the envelope!

And a secret message on the back.

ELMO!!!!!  I can't believe we she found a card like this!

Happy birthday with a special message :)

And wow!!!  Grace got $20 for her IPad fundraiser!

Thank you so much for all of the fun presents that Grace got for her birthday.  Though we are so far away from one another, and we don't get to see each other much, we think about you all the time, and hope you are doing well.  And to see a special gift in the mail from you lets us know you think about us too!

We love you and thank you for Grace's birthday present!


Amanda

First Day of Preschool

09/18/12

This technically wasn't the first day for her classmates, but since she'd been sick for so long, she started a week later.  So it was HER first day of preschool!

Grace was waiting ever so patiently for breakfast.  She had an adult portion of special caramel oatmeal and ate the WHOLE THING!!!

Grace is sharing with us her preschool sign!  I found these cute signs on pinterest, and so I downloaded each one through 12th grade!  This is definitely going to be a tradition!

And here's a super cute one of her standing by the door.  I just can't wait to see next year so we can see how much more she's grown.

She is telling us with her body..."LET'S GO!!!"

In the car and on the way to school!  I was worried Elmo would have to go in with us, but she did great in letting him "save her seat" in the truck.

Walking down the halls to her classroom!

This is the door that separates the preschool from the elementary school.

Standing in front of her class.  At this point she got SO excited because she knew from coming here before for orientation that this place was FUN!

She had to hang up her jacket and backpack before she got to play.

And then she put her name on the magnetic board for "who's here?"

She had a great day!  She played in the moon sand, and after that (I was peeking in the window) all I know is that she was the only one in reading/circle time to listen the whole time!  She was on a cleanout at the time so they had to change two diapers in the two hours she was there, but oh well :)

On the way home!  Happy as can be!

Here she is showing my 5.  They must have worked on numbers because next was...

2!  Of course it looks like three but that's ok.  Since this pictures she's gotten a lot better :)

And last but not least the sign for flower :)  She LOVES doing this sign :)


Great job sweet girl :)


Amanda

So sorry Grace

Grace, 

I'm so sorry that I've gotten so bad at writing on your blog journal!  School has started, and there are so many things going on, especially since you have been sick with bronchitis for the second time this month and then a double ear infection...We went to Mysha and Garon's horses yesterday :)  Mommy got to ride for about 1/2 an hour, but you were so sad because you didn't have a nap, and I stopped riding because I didn't want you to be sad anymore.  Right when Daddy put you in the truck, you fell right to sleep!  But it was time to head home anyways.  Another time we go I'll put you on the saddle in front of me and ride with you!  You and I will be saddle pals. 

I just finished my homework sweet girl, and now I'm going to decompress while watching a tv show.  You enjoyed having "Uncle" Garon over this evening :)  You gave him great big hugs and kisses.  He said he would come over two times a week on work on some speech therapy with you since you are so far behind.  I'm hoping that works out.

Alright, my darling, I'm getting tired, so I better sign off :)  Sometime this week I will find time to post your pictures that are stacking up!

Love you sweet pea, 

Mommy

IPad donation!

We got another 20$ increase in Grace's IPad fund!  A very very special friend of ours sent it in Grace's birthday box we found on our porch!  I'm so excited because now we are at $91!  AH!!  Of course there's so much more to collect, but seriously, already at $91!

Amanda

Time Outside

9/11/12

It was such a beautiful day that I just had to go outside with Miss Sweet Pea!!  She had tons of fun!  Swinging on the side of the trampoline and having fun doing a bunch of other fun things!

 This is the ball that she got from her birthday!  So cute!!

 Grace pulled her arm out of her sleeve and was very surprised to see that it was coming out from the bottom of her sweater.

 And I just loved this picture!  The sun on the side of her face is so beautiful.

 Swing swing!!  I like that she loves to swing!  And she's so strong and holds herself up for so long!

 And then we found something sweet and yummy!

 And she worked...and worked...and worked...

 and worked...and worked...

 and worked...

 Until success!!!  A giant raspberry!  And there were so many more where that came from :)

 YUMMY!

 And then Grace wanted to help Daddy take the trash to the garbage can.  It was so darn cute to see her helping Daddy.

 A job well done!  Great job Daddy :)

  

We also checked out the garden!  We have 4 watermelons, with one huge one in particular, 3 tiny broccoli sprouts coming on (about the size of a quarter but still!), zucchini of course, tomatoes, onions, giant cabbage, small purple cabbage, and a tiny artichoke that we are going to let flower.

So fun!

Amanda

Being Lazy

So I know I haven't posted about Grace's birthday yet, but here comes the excuse...the pictures are all on Daddy's account, and Mommy is used to signing into Mommy's account, and so I haven't posted the pictures yet!

Anyways!

Grace and I had a super lazy day on the 10th, and of course I got some cute pictures of my girly!!

 This is the ball she got for her birthday from her cousin Donna and her son Lane :)  They are such special friends!

She is so super cute!!!  I love my sweet girl.

Amanda

Short and Sweet

So, Grace had her first Wonka Shocker today :)  It was so cute!!!  She didn't really know what to think, and for the most part she would just swallow the little chunk whole that I had given her.  It's so fun to see all her firsts.

Amanda

So Long...

I can't believe it's been so long since I last wrote!  Things have been kinda crazy with us watching our friends kids for a week, school starting, Grace being sick going on 2 weeks, and just tons of other stuff.  But here I am, grabbing a few minutes right after I got home from work and right before I go wake up Grace.  I think I will make it a goal to write something every day, even if it's just a few sentences.  So.  Yesterday we went on a date.  Not me, Grace and Daddy...just me and Daddy!  Let me tell you it was SO WEIRD!  I am so used to taking Grace with us because she's my love bug and I like having her with us, but I had to break the seal from our hips and give Hubby a chance to have some attention all by ourselves.  We went to Gringos, which is a SUPER AWESOME mexican restaurant right across the street from the theaters.  I had 3 enchiladas, and they were steak, pulled pork and cream cheese/crab!  The third one is definitely my favorite.  Brad had the same but in burritoes, which ended up being a lot bigger so I know what I'm going to get the next time!  We had just a couple bites before I realized the movie was going to start (we had 10 minutes but still...I like being early!), and so we packed up our food, hurried out the door, and took the extremely long walk...across the street!  It was $2 movie day, so our total was all of $4!  We saw Brave, which was a super cute movie :)  Brad bought a lot of candy and a large icee, which I was extremely happy about!!  After that we came home and Grace was fussing in bed, so we took her downstairs with us and let her watch Parenthood with us!  At 9:30 she went to bed, and at 10:40 we went to bed :)

Today I had my first Elementary Field experience class!  I am in a class as an aide to a first year 2nd grade teacher with 25 students!  I definitely have my hands full as her aide!  A lot of rambunctious kids with one in particular that is #1 on the attention puller list, and not the good attention!

Well, now I hear Grace whining in her room, so I better get going.  We also got a package, so I'm hoping (fingers crossed) that it's for me!!

Ta Ta for now!

Amanda

Gosh the Days go By Fast

I can't believe it's already Friday...this week is just flying by and I can't remember where it all went :)  I went school shopping today...didn't get much.  Grace gets to start Burton Preschool (T TH) on the 11th, while BYU-I preschool (M W F) doesn't start until the 26th.  I am super excited!  I am so glad that I get to take Grace to Burton preschool, which is actual pubic special education school!  This is the real deal preschool!!!  This is where she's going to go for the next few years of her life.  School here is different than Elementary, Middle, and High school.  Elementary is K-4, Jr. High is 5-6, Middle school is 7-9, and High school is 10-12.  Weird, right?  Anyways, it's going to be so exciting!!

By the way...today will be Grace's first day of having a Kid's meal!!  I mean, I know it sounds funny, but I am totally excited about it.  I will definitely be taking pictures.  

Well, that's all for now :)

Amanda

Oh Grace, Sweet Grace

The days have just been flying by.  We went to your preschool orientation today, and that was just so beautiful to see.  You were nervous for the first minute or two, which is weird because you aren't normally like that!!  But you were great after that!  You had so much fun.  There is a bully in your class, but I talked to the preschool teacher and she said the girl has an aide that will be there, along with 2 other class aides, and so you will do great!

There is a reading house there that you can sit in and read.  You loved exploring it so much!  It has two windows with valances, a green see through curtain with sparkles, and the house is purple.  

I know you are going to have fun, but it's going to be hard for me to let you go there!  There isn't an observation booth!!  There are fieldtrips, and I can come into your class and be a volunteer!  You know I will be doing that with you, as long as it doesn't bother you while you are in class.  We will be sending a notebook to class with you in your "pack pack" and it is light pink with puppies on the front.  Your teacher will write notes on it about how you did, and I will write notes back letting them know anything about home that might help them know how you are doing :)

You are growing up.  You are blossoming into a beautiful child, and I am so glad that I can give you the nurishment that you need to do this growing :)

I love you forever and eternity.

Mommy

Grace's Special Weekend

We are finally home from Grace's wonderful weekend.  It was so fun to take our friends with us up to Montana, and I'm so glad that they went.  She loved celebrating her birthday, and laughed so much through the "Happy Birthday" song!!  Lots of pictures and videos will be coming as soon as my Father-in-Law sends them to me :)

Amanda

Can you believe she's already three?

She's Sick

So we had taken her to the doctor's office on Tuesday, and they told us she had a common virus that would go away on it's own.  Now, after she's been up for 4 hours (it's 4:22 am), I've come to the conclusion on my own (you did know I was a doctor, right?....just kidding) that she's got bronchitis.  Symptoms?  Fever, cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, runny nose, along with leftover diarrhea, and REALLY pink cheeks.  It's pretty upsetting to say because we are supposed to be headed to Montana for a family get together for Labor day weekend...as WELL AS HER BIRTHDAY PARTY.  36 hours from now.  I want to take her in to the ER right now just to get her started on treatment.  But I know what Brad will say..."Just relax, she's fine at this point, not doing bad enough to rush her in.  The doctors office will be open in 3.5 hours."  And he's right.  But I just worry SO MUCH!

So here I am.  I just put her to bed, and now I'm waiting to make sure she falls asleep and doesn't just sit in there talking/playing/banging the wall.  

You want to hear the funniest thing?  *(SO NOT THE FUNNY THOUGH)*  She's not been sick in months, and you want to know why?  She's not been going to nursery!  She went this past Sunday...AND BAM!!!  She's sick!  That's obviously saying something...

Amanda

Getting Ready

We are almost ready to head to Montana for the family Labor Day get together!  I am happy to say that we are having our friends come with us!  All 6 of them!! (Mom/Dad, 4 kids).  And maybe 2 horses and another 4 wheeler too!  The time is flying by, and in 4 days Grace will be 3!!!  At 2:09 am on Sunday she will have turned over the clock to another year of life.  I have been preparing everything we need for her party, for my day of meal cooking, for her decorations, and for everything else you can imagine, and it's getting kinda tense!  I want to be sure I have everything I need, so I go through lists over and over!  All her presents are wrapped in the cutest Elmo wrapping, her hair pretties are made, the table decor and "Happy Birthday" sign are all in a bag, the food is stacking up next to that, just a few more things need to be bought for the trip...and little miss needs to get better.  She has a gastrointestinal bug bothering her, which presents itself as low grade fevers and diarrhea.  The second one is gone, but she woke with a fever of 99.6.  Not much to be worried about though, so that's good.  Brad and his friend (the dad) might be leaving Thursday night (LUCKY!) and me, Grace, and the rest of the gang will leave the following Day after all the kids get out of school.

What are we doing today?  I have no idea.  Daddy and Grace are snuggling up in the recliner reading a book together, I'm here enjoying the morning breeze while typing, and I am wondering what the heck we will do today!  Walmart for sure to grab the last few things, and then making sure I have all the clothes we will need for the weekend.  

Well, I better get going.  I have 8 sister partners that I need to get visiting teaching reports from before I leave...I hope the call me!

Amanda

Grace's 3rd Birthday Early Present!

We got a fun package in the mail today from Me Ma!!!  It was pretty fun to get a package since we haven't gotten one in so long :)  So, without further adieu, here's the goodies!

We were opening the present, and then I realized...

AHHH!!  It had a bunch of the sparkly confetti strings in it!!

So I put my hands down on it super fast so Grace couldn't get to it.  Seeing that that only fueled her excitement for it more, I closed the box and had Brad hold it closed while I ran for a plastic bag to put the stuff into.

Here is Grace running back to the box while I chase her!

Ok.  Shew!  Now we can open the box.  There were lots of random (and good) things for Brad and I, and then Grace's stuff was on the bottom :)

First we read the card, which had a lovely note in it from Me Ma.

I had to close the box to get her attention :)  She's SO Excited because she saw what was actually in the box.

WOW!!  BOOK!!!  But it was with a T and the end...whatever :)  Anyways, she absolutely loved her book! 

And as I checked out my "school Days" book from mom, Grace had fun flipping through the pages of her "First 100 Words" book!

See how much she's studying it?  She's getting smarter by the second!

And here I am contemplating how I'm going to fill this book up with goodness!  Oh!  And it's an awesome book because you can record her voice every year!  That's what those buttons are on the side :)  That's SUCH a great idea!

And last but not least...all the goodies for Brad and I.  See the "Breathe Right" strips and pink earplugs?  Can you guess who gets what of that?!

All in all, a wonderful gift from Me Ma!  "tant u Me Ma!"

Thanks Mom.  Super cute :)

Amanda

Busy Saturday

Wow, today was a great day!  This morning we went on our walk, and then played inside for a little.  Then we went on another walk and ended up playing in the court beside us with a bunch of little friends!!  Around 11 we went home for lunch, then naptime, then another walk, Sesame Street, and then from 5-8 we went to a church barbeque!  She had such a great time!  A cheeseburger, baked beans, noodle salad, watermelon, and lemonade :)  There was a rock wall, a bounce house, and a SUPER LONG slip n slide.  We watched the slip n slide for quite a while, then watched the rock wall, and after wandering four about an hour, we hoped the bounce house was empty...but it wasn't.  But the bishop saw us check it for being empty, and turning around because it wasn't, and so he said, "Does Grace want to jump?"  And I said, "for sure!"  And so he took us over there, whistled super loud into the bounce house, and told all the kids to sit on the sides so Grace can jump :)  A nice teenager helped her jump for just a few minutes, but she was so happy!

A wonderful day and night.  And now she's tucked into bed.

Amanda

Mean Girls

Children are such mean creatures. Grace isn't even 3 and she's already being taunted and finger jabbed. A stupid little girl was jabbing her and pushing her saying, "you're not cute. Get away from us." I became mama bear, and after barking at her "she's cute AND YOU'RE MEAN" I had to restrain myself from doing anything else. Thank Heavenly Father for my knowledge that she doesn't understand or comprehend. How come children have to be so mean?

 

 

Amanda

Little Girl Growing Up

I took some random pictures of Grace on the 20th and I can't believe how old my little girl looks!  I will have to take more pictures to capture the moments that she gets more sophisticated, because I MUST be missing something!

 She found this stick and was twisting it around like a sword.  She had some pretty good moves too!

 She hit the tip on the ground and was checking to see if it broke or anything!

 Isn't this the most cutest profile picture?!

 All smiles with my little girl.

 And petting the kitty.  She's learning to be softer with her.  Can you tell the kitty is ticked?

Now it's a little better.  She was stroking her rather than grabbing her paw, so the cat agreed that it was ok.

My sweet girl.  The sweater she's wearing is a 4T.  And the pants are a big 2T.  Big sigh...she's growing up.  I can't wait to see what's going to unfold in her life, but I'm glad she's taking it one day at a time!  

Amanda

Grace's Hairbows

I made some Elmo hairbows for Grace's birthday!  My plan?  Two back pigtails with the bows on either one!!  I'm sure hoping she will keep them in.  Here they are below!

Cute right?

Amanda

Countdown to her birthday: 11 DAYS!

Celebrating Youth!

I can't wait because today is going to be a great day!  There is a fair going on to celebrate all the students going back to school, and it's all FREE!  It goes from 2-9, with game and prizes at booths, entertainment, dinner from 4-6, and raffles!  Can you believe that it's all free!  What an awesome fair to have.  Another reason I'm so glad to live here!

Let me tell you what...there will be tons of pictures!

Amanda

Sick

I am hoping that she's not sick!  I haven't seen a runny nose for 2 days, so my fingers are crossed that she's doing great without any problems.  She has therapy today, and if I don't see a runny nose or temperature, she will be going for sure.  Right now she's outside going for a walk with Daddy so I can check all my internet stuff without her trying to type her own messages!

Amanda

Is she Sick?

Well, we are on watch for sickness.  Grace has a bad runny nose, and I'm hoping it's nothing.  I would love for her to remain sick free for as long as possible.  I think it's been almost 2 months!  And I'm also hoping that IF she does get sick, we take care of it pronto so we don't miss out on our Montana trip coming up for her birthday!!  That would be so sad to miss it!!! 

Amanda

Montana!

 8/10/12-8/11/12

Some day, I will get to writing a blog about our awesome trip to Montana with a friend of ours...but until then...here's a sneak peek!

It was so fun!!!


Amanda

Cutie Patootie!

Today we found a box that had tons of clothes in it that fit...right...now!!!  It was in the garage.  And then we started cleaning out the closet, and what else did we find?  Another giant box of clothes that are too big.  I mean...were too big!!  AH!  So now she's got about 7 new dresses (everything is used/donated), 20-25 shirts, 4-9 pairs of pants/skirts/shorts!!  Here's one of the outfits that she has.  It was too cute NOT to take a picture of!

I know.  I've got a super duper cute kid!!!!

Love you Grace!

Mommy