Cool Dudes

It was our turn to host Cool Dudes today.  Once again the boys were great!  They love to play outside with the dogs in the garden and backyard.  

Josh and Nate also discovered today that playing inside can be fun too.  The boys disappeared so I went to look for them, I could hear them giggling and laughing behind Nathan's closed bedroom door.  When I opened the door, I found two little monkeys jumping on the bed.  They had thrown every pillow off of Nate's bed and were belly laughing, jumping and having the greatest time together.  

At the end of the playdate, when Chalie and Josh had to go home, Nathan was heartbroken that they were leaving and way beyond tired!!!

 

FIVE

Gracie's Five Favorite Things

1. TT

2. Pink

3. Horses ~ and running like a horse

4. Friends

5. The Ranchers (the name of Mrs. Tuckers preschool class)

Five things Mommy loves about Gracie

1. She's a great cuddler

2. She reminds me of my sister

3. She loves to be my little helper

4. She loves to be "on the go" like me.  Every morning when she wakes up she says "What are we going to do today?"

5.  She's my pedicure buddy, I never have to go alone...

Five things Daddy loves about Gracie

1.  Her big blue eyes ~ because they are blue like mine and remind me of my Grandma Smith

2.  She's athletic and loves to run

3.  She sings all the time, everywhere we go she makes up little songs

4.  She made me a daddy ~ and she's my only girl

5.  She like's to hang out and keep me company in the backyard

Gracie's Birthday Celebration at Preschool

Gracie's Teachers and Pastor Jeremy made Gracie feel so very special today.  They made her a pink crown to wear at school all day.  During Chapel, Pastor Jeremy called Gracie up to the front of the whole school and led the school in singing happy birthday to Gracie.  She loved every moment.

After chapel we returned to Gracie's classroom and her class once again sang happy birthday to her. Afterwards,  Gracie was able to pass out pink cupcakes (with horses on them, of course) to all of her friends and teachers.

Birthday Cake for Breakfast

The kids were all in agreement that chocolate ice cream cake made a very healthy and well balanced breakfast.  

My proudest moment of the day came after almost everyone had gone home. Gracie asked me "Mom, why didn't I get any presents?"  I explained to Gracie that this year was a special year for her to be thankful for all of the love that she has from her friends and family and the fun of a special morning all about her.  She said "ok, you're right I have everything I need", turned around gave me a hug and ran outside to play.

It was not exactly the party that we had planned to give her for her 5th birthday.  My injury prevented me from doing that.  But somehow, it was even better then anything we could have ever planned, because it was about love, friends that will be there for you at the last minute and ice cream cake for breakfast.

Gracie Mae's Surprise 5th Birthday Breakfast

Donnie and I had planned to give Grace a big Aloha Pony Party for her 5th birthday.  When I hurt my back, plans stalled and all of the sudden Gracie's birthday was upon us.  

Thank goodness for our amazing friends.  With less then 24 hours notice, they helped me pull together the sweetest surprise birthday breakfast for our girl.  Gracie was so suprised when she woke up.  The house was decorated with balloons and streamers everywhere and her friends started arriving with big hugs and homemade cards.  Logan and Cole surprised Gracie with a bouquet of lollipops and Ella gave Gracie a bouquet of  Pinkalicious Flowers.  When I tried to set the flowers from Ella on the counter in the kitchen, Gracie said "Mom, those are for me, they belong in my room".  Oops my mistake...  she took them in her room and put them on her dresser.

The girls played dress-up, the boys ran around the backyard and everyone ate yummy pink cake (and waffles, fruit and sausage) for breakfast.

Logan, Cole and Grace

Gracie, Ella and Kyra (I'm not sure what the veil was all about???)

The Gang

Gracie's 5th Birthday Celebration Kicks off!

Gracie's birthday celebration lasted for several days this year.  Today, Mimi and Papa were in town to visit and help Gracie kick off her birthday week.  

Every year the kids have their very own birthday cake that they get to bake and decorate. Gracie wanted her cake to be DOUBLE PINK this year.  Nate helped decorate with the candies and i'm pretty sure that there were more candies on the floor and in their bellies then there were on the cake.

Birthday Cake Time

Gracie loved her cake.  She was upset with her brother because he tried to blow her candle out after we sang happy birthday to her.  Mimi and Papa spoiled her with many nice things... her favorite is the matching blue and white dresses for Gracie and her American Girl doll.  Nathan couldn't keep his fingers out of the cake... he's just like his Mom.

Preschool Fieldtrip to the farm

Gracie's preschool went on a fieldtrip to Tomalchoff Farm today.  The farmers taught the kids about farming the fields and then allowed them pick their own vegetables.  The kids were SO excited and MUDDY.  

The farm also had farm animals, a train ride, and rubber duck races but Gracie and Nate's favorite part of the day was holding the baby chicks.  When we got home from the farm, we washed all of the vegetables and Gracie and I made homemade vegetable soup.  

MMM MMM GOOD!!!

More Farm Pictures

There were sooo many good pictures from the farm.  I just have to show them all off!

A few more farm pictures...

I couldn't resist adding these... Charlie and Nate looked so cute together in their little red hats and I had to post a picture of beautiful Sophie Mae.  And Finally Nate found his tractor and Gracie her pony.  Sometimes I really do think that my kids should have been born on a farm.

Spiderman and Dirt

Nate loves Spiderman!  We are not sure how he even knows who Spiderman is because he has never seen the movies or cartoons.  Several months ago, he started pointing Spiderman out to us whenever he spotted him.

Every Saturday morning, Nathan gathers up all of his Spiderman dolls and toys and brings them to Donnie to play with him.  Besides digging in the dirt, (one of his other favorite things) this is something that he looks forward to doing with his Dad on Saturday mornings.

Happy Valentines Day

Gracie Mae and our Prince Charming Nathan loved the candy and Valentine cards from Mommy and Daddy.  Gracie also had a "love filled" day at school, exchanging Valentines with her teachers and friends.