Another Present in the Mail!

09/04/12

We got another present in the mail!!  How fun!!  This is from another very special friend of ours :)  We miss these friends so much, but think about them often.  And we like to send special things in the mail to one another too!  Like this!

 I had to pretty much drag Grace away from her drum set that was given to her by Aunt Lisa and Uncle Brian at her family birthday :)  That will definitely be coming in a post soon, don't worry!

 She did really well playing with it!

 I had a picture of her holding the package, but then I realized that our address was on it, and so I had to keep the picture out of the post.  But of course, it was decorated beautifully!  She was so excited to see that packages all ready for her to tear open!

 Oh, how cute!!!  She LOVED the fabric, and it definitely caught her attention.

 So cute!! Pajama bottoms that were home made!

 Here's another one!

 Oh wow!  They are super cute purses!  She is so into grabbing her purse or backpack and saying "bye" as she heads for the door, blowing kisses and running back for hugs and kisses!

 And then..what Mommy and Grace like to be doing together...books!!!!!

 She was already so excited that she started reading right then!  I'm so glad I have a girly that loves to read :)

 WOW!!  Look at how many books she got!  Awesome!

 There was also a package of stick on earrings and a few rings that were all Cinderella!  She those things on the bottom?  Next to her feet?  Those are crayon rings!!!

 And then here is a super beautiful, home decorated apron!  We will be using this so much!!!

And there are some small pajamas for her dolls!!!  This was such a wonderful gift box!!  Thank you so much Keri and Jonathan!  We love you guys so much!

Amanda

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?