Labor Day Weekend 2007

Last year, we spent an amazing weekend at the Princess Resort in Scottsdale.  We enjoyed dive in movies at the pool, Sun Devil Football, and best of all... a visit from Godfather Jim.

 

Jim flew out from his home in Connecticut to enjoy the Arizona sunshine with us.  He spent most of the weekend at the hotel pool using our kids as "Chick Magnets".

  

Just one year ago... Gracie had mastered the art of swimming and Nate's hair was bleached blonde from his second long HOT summer.

I wish that I could go back in time and kiss his sweet little mouth.  I wish that I could remember why he was looking at me with those big brown eyes and such a serious expression...

This year, Donnie and I, and the "Two little Fruits of Our Labor" are off to spend a cool weekend in the Arizona High Country with TT, Mikey Mike and GG (Great-Grandma).

Happy Labor Day Weekend to You!!!

Nie Nie Day

If you have a few extra moments... please visit designmom.com.  DesignMom is hosting over 300 + silent auctions that will run through most of the weekend.  People have donated amazing things... Several times today, I've bid, been out-bid, and bid again.  The response to the auction has been HUGE.

Gracie's costume has been boxed up and is ready for shipment to the NieNie Benefit Sale.  The pirate costume will on sale in the Etsy Benefit Store on September 23 & 24.  I'll keep you posted. 

Pink Polka Dot Aprons

Scored major points with the husband last night... Gracie and I made a very yummy and super easy Bruschetta Chicken Bake Casserole for dinner. For dessert Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars. I love cooking in the kitchen with Chef Gracie! 

I said scored points Shannon... not "SCORED"!!! :-)

**click dish names for recipes**

Nie Nie

Please take a moment to read about this amazing Blogger Mama... Stepha'nie' Nielson is a local mom here in Arizona. Her blog "The NieNie Dialogues" beautifully shares little glimpses into her life ~~ passion for her 4 small children, good cooking, creative decorating, and fabulous red lipstick worn during dates with her sweet husband... She's absolutely INSPIRING in every sense of the word.

Unfortunately, sometimes very bad things happen to good people. On August 16th Stephanie and her husband Christian were in a private plane crash (along with their flight instructor, Doug Kinneard, who died soon after the crash from injuries). Stephanie has burns covering 80% of her body, Christian's burns cover about 1/3 of his.

Their children are being cared for by her sisters.

Although I've never met this family, I feel deeply compelled to help. Her family is expecting a recovery that will take months if not years. A website has been set up to raise money to benefit the family through their recovery.

In honor of The Nielson's we have decided to donate Gracie's pirate Halloween costume from last year, to the NieNie Benefit Sale. Stephanie's favorite month is October and her favorite holiday is Halloween, so we thought that it would be appropriate. Also Stephanie loves handmade goodies... she would love this costume!

Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers. To find out other ways to help as well as updates on the family, please visit her sister Courtney's blog.

Stephanie's Blog: http://www.nieniedialogues.blogspot.com

Updates on the Nielson's - Stephanie's sisters blog: http://www.cjanerun.com

Ways to Help - Nie Recovery: http://www.nierecovery.com

only 4 more days till i get my Sister Fix

My little sister is flying out for a visit... Mikey Mike too.

We can't wait!!!

Fauxhawk

Nate and Daddy went for haircuts today.

There's something about little boy haircuts, I just love them.

Nate used to cry every time he got his haircut. 

(August 2007)

I loved those red shoes ~ wish they still fit!

(August 2007)

Now he finds the experience quite enjoyable, especially since the shop has little tv's playing baseball at each barber chair!

Our handsome boy sportin his Fauxhawk!

my SONshine

I deeply love this little boy.  

I am completely enjoying my special time alone with Nathan.  He is a stinker ~ happy, rambunctious, funny (yesterday he told me he's getting hair on his boobies like Daddy), smart and great to be with (most of the time).  

I think he's enjoying his Mommy Time too, although this morning when we left Gracie at the kindergarten playground he cried (real tears) and repeated "Gracie, come back ~ I want my Gracie back!!!

My time alone with Grace before she started school was different.  While she was perfectly content and happy to shop, cook, go to the mall, have lunch, do girlie things... Nate will have none of that.  He wants to play... all the time.  everyday.

He loves all thing BOY.  Motorcycles, trains, his little buddies, cars, Spiderman, baseball, dirt, messes, jumping, running, tractors...

He knows what he likes.  When we left the children's museum the other day, Nathan said "Mama, I love, love, love the green museum, and the girafeez at the zoo."

Nate is very athletic.  He flies around the house on his trike, scooter and skateboard.

He always has a dinosaur, car or train in his pockets.

Our nicknames for Nate are; Baby Boy, Nate the Great, Nater, Tiny but Mighty, John John, Naper Poon, Nate Dawg

The end.

Psalm 118:24

One of the greatest things about being a Mom is being able share all of the things that I loved as a child with my kids.  This afternoon while Nathan napped, Grace and I snuggled up on the sofa and watched one of my favorite movies, Pollyanna.  I love the movies message of friendship and Gladness.

In the movie, Pollyanna discovers that rainbow prisms can be made from crystals.  When the movie ended, I showed Gracie how to use crystals to create her very own rainbows.

I also told her about my grandparents stained glass windows.  When I was growing up, my grandpa and grandma had crystals in their living room windows that made rainbows all over the room every afternoon.  The rainbows are one of my favorite memories of their house.

This is the day that the Lord has made; 

let us rejoice and be GLAD in it.

Birthday Cakes and Swimming Pools

We had a very busy weekend....

Our favorite twins, Sophie and Chloe turned six!  Their Sixth Birthday Surprise Sundae Swim Party was Super!  The kids got to make their own sundaes.  When I called the kids to smile for the camera in this picture, Gracie was worried that she was in trouble ~ she thought that she was "busted" for pouring half the bottle of chocolate syrup on her sundae.  She's a chocolate lover, just like her Mama!

Our niece Rachel also turned six.  We travelled up to Tonto Basin for the party on Saturday.

The girls giggled from the minute we arrived till the second we left.

CannonBall!

Cousins

Donnie, PaPa and Uncle Jimmy taught Nate how to shoot the BB Gun.  Their target was a big cardboard box.

All the kids enjoyed being spoiled by Great Grandma.

My cousin Jimmy is a highway patrolman.  Uncle Jimmy was very excited to show Nate the lights and siren on his patrol car.

The view from Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Sara's porch.  

Breathtaking.

Leaps of Faith

Nate jumped off the side of the pool for the very first time.. all by himself.  We are so proud of his determination, listen to the video... as he repeats "I Can, I Can make it!"

And not to be outdone by her baby brother... silly Gracie demonstrating her jumping skills.

Dog Days of Summer

The weatherman is forecasting another day of 100+ degree temperatures.  The excitement of the pool has worn off and yesterday the kids said "no, thank you", when I asked if they would like popsicles.  This morning I decided to "chill out" and take a look back at a few crisp cool weather days in our backyard... 

January 15, 2007

This little guy was 13 months old.  He still hadn't had his first haircut and just mastered the art of walking.  He was a climber.  Since he knew how to climb UP ~ but not back DOWN, we were constantly removing him from the top of the kitchen table, play structures, countertops and walls in the backyard.  

January 27,2007

Much to her Mom's dismay, this chocolate milk faced little girl, had recently decided to take a pair of scissors to her very slow growing hair.   She loved (and still does) digging for worms and planting seeds in our garden.

I cannot wait for Fall.

Just like Daddy

Daddy's hat, Daddy's flip flops, Daddy's favorite place... 

Large Elephant Trunk... hmmm???

Yes Nathan, you're Just like Daddy.

Bowling

Today was our early release day.  We are excited about early release because it gives us one day each week to go on afternoon adventures with Gracie.  Today our big adventure was bowling with Charlie and Ella.  It was hilarious to watch the kids celebrate after each turn.

Countdown to the Ball

Several nights ago, Donnie asked Gracie if she would join him next month at her very first dance.  To say that she is excited would be an understatement...  Gracie cannot wait!  Several times each day, she says to me, "How many more days till Daddy and I go to the Ball?  After school today, taking inspiration from our friends Countdown to NYC chart, Gracie and I made a Countdown to the Ball with Dad Chart.

 

Since it's official, I am a Blogger, not a Scapbooker.  We used some of the paper and stickers from my plethora of scrapbook supplies that I've collected but never used.  

We're not sure what Gracie's more excited about, the Father/Daughter Dance or wearing her new Pinkalicious dress!

Let the countdown begin...

I hope I never forget...

the days when all it took to make them happy was: each other a water-hose and a plastic swimming pool.

Nate's 1st Major League Baseball Game

Tonight we took the kids"out to the ballgame" to see Nate's very first Big League game.  The Arizona Diamondbacks vs. the Atlanta Braves.  Unfortunately the D-Backs lost, but it didn't matter, because we had an unforgettable evening at the ballpark.

We've been looking forward to this day for a long time!

One of the kids favorite things were the food vendors.  Each time the vendors walked by, selling beer, peanuts, cotton candy, etc., the kids would raise their hands up and shout "me!"

This picture was taken at Gracie's very 1st MLB ~ Arizona Diamondbacks game in August 2003.

The D-Backs are special to us.  We've been fans since their first year in Arizona ten years ago.  Donnie and I were lucky enough to be at Game 7 in 2001, when they won the World Series!

Baxter signed Nate's t-ball glove and autographs for the kids.

After the 7th Inning Stretch, I took the kids to the Sandlot Playground.  Imagine our surprise when we discovered our friends the adorable Venezia girls and their Daddy were at the ballpark too!  

The kids were exhausted.  The game was amazing and seeing our friends was the greatest ending to our night.

After the game we took the kids to see our brick in the ballpark courtyard.  The brick was a wedding gift and it was neat to see it for the very first time as a family of four.