Florida - Week One

We've been visiting my parents in Florida for the last week.  Dave flew down with us on Thursday and headed back to MI on Monday.  The weather has been mostly great (except for two of the days that Dave was here).  We've enjoyed lots of walks on the beach, dinners out and a little bit of shopping.  Dave and I even had a few hours alone together in Venice, which was nice. 

A few days ago Grace received a special package from Aunt Sue full of fun stuff.  We've been enjoying playing Memory and Go Fish.  Grace has been running her own store with her own money, scanning items and bagging them.  She'd be content to just stay inside and play all day.  Fortunately she also likes to make sand castles and walk to the park down the beach.  She has also enjoyed our visits with Aunt Kay, Uncle Dick and Treva.

Yesterday we drove to Busch Gardens, and although we were disappointed that many of the activities we had planned required children be 5 years of age or older (which was not on their website), we were still able to find more than enough things to see and do.  Grace particularly enjoyed the Sesame Street area where she got to meet Abbey, Cookie Monster, Elmo, Big Bird and Grover.  She of course loved seeing the animals, too-Cheetahs, Lions, Tigers, Hippos, Giraffes, birds, and the list goes on.

Can't believe how fast our first week has gone by!

Playing in the waves with Daddy

After a stormy night, crab traps washed up on our beach

Lots of Grampa time here

The birds-Dad's favorite part of Busch Gardens

I loved watching these hippos swim

This lioness stared me down the entire time-I was a little scared

This dog and Cheetah have been raised together

Grace said sitting in this safari jeep was her favorite part of B.G.

Christmas 2011

Christmas has become more and more exciting since Grace was born.  This year was definitely the best yet.  Three is such a fun age at Christmastime.  Not sure if it was more fun for her or for me.

Dave, Grace and I enjoyed a Christmas Eve church service together as a family, and then had dinner with my parents and brother.  Grace loved spending more time with her Uncle Seth and Grandma and Grandpa. When we got home that night, I put the finishing touches on everything for Christmas morning while Dave put Grace to bed.  Grace woke up around eight o'clock and had a great time opening gifts, despite the fact that she was a little miffed that she received a purple camera instead of a pink one (she blamed Dave for the screw-up).  But she did get a pink phone and a pink guitar, so I think that made up for the purple camera.

We didn't spend too much time talking about Santa before Christmas, but did read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" a few times and watched the Veggie Tales movie about Saint Nicholas, who was a Christian and would disguise himself when he went out  to give gifts to those less fortunate.  Great movie for kids. 

Christmas afternoon was spent with my family opening gifts and making a rather labor-intensive horseradish encrusted beef tenderloin.  It was very good, though.

Today was spent with Dave's family.  We opened gifts in the morning and then my sister-in-law Lisa and I took Grace and Megan to see We Bought a Zoo (which was very cute).  Then we dined on prime rib and homemade pies.  Grace and Megan put on lots of dance routines for us while we all sat on the sidelines with stuffed bellies and watched.

Tomorrow is our last Christmas with the Lower side.  More food and more fun.  Not sure how much more food I can take, but I'm looking forward to the fun part.  

The Night Before

The face says it all--she loves her "kintar"

This year she loved to open gifts

Love this little shopping cart

At Grandma and Grandpa's house

Getting her stocking

Bitty Baby-Grace's new favorite doll

Love

A purple accordion from Uncle Seth

 A new leotard for gymnastics this winter

Santa House 2011

Last night we braved the elements and went downtown to the Santa House in Midland.  It was freezing and so windy, and we debated (multiple times) throwing in the towel and coming back another night, but we stuck it out and eventually made our way inside.  After just moments inside, we were all sweating with our coats in hand, while poor Santa sat dressed in his coat and hat (and pants, of course), probably close to heat stroke with child after child climbing up on his lap.

After an hour of  waiting, we finally got to meet Santa and he looked so much like the "real thing", he almost made me a believer.  He was, of course, portly and had a real beard and a very gentle spirit. When we were at home Grace told me she was going to kiss Santa's beard.  Iwas so glad she changed her mind by the time we arrived. 

When it was Grace's turn to meet Santa she became pretty upset, saying she did not want to sit on Santa's lap. But she was brave and let Dave hold her while she talked to Santa, and  very quickly she relaxed and started smiling.  She let him know that she wanted  "a phone and a camera."  Santa told her he'd be bringing her some surprises, but that she needed to help out around the house and pick up her toys.  Hopefully she'll take his words to heart.

Jolly Old St. Nick

Candies are a sure way to her heart

Santa's Bells

Getting in the Spirit

As much as I've wanted to, it's been hard for me to get into the Christmas spirit this year.  Because of the holidays, orders are coming in like crazy (which is a good thing), and I don't have time for much else. Grace, who usually is very good at playing independently, has reached her limit, too.  Now when she sees me open my laptop, she wants to sit on my lap and snuggle, and how can I say no to that?

We have managed to sneak in a few Christmastime activities here and there.  During the last hour of the last day of this year's collection, we dropped off our shoe box for Operation Christmas Child.  I can't recommend doing this enough-it has made a real difference in Grace.  It's helped her to understand that there are children in the world that don't have families or homes or food, and who don't receive gifts for Christmas. It's a very tangible way of showing that we care about others and want to help.

We let Grace pick the gender and age of the child we would give a box to and she chose a three year old girl. The three of us went shopping to fill our box, but let Grace pick out most of the items.  She never cried or made a fuss because she couldn't keep things for herself.  She was excited for the little girl to receive her gifts, which made my heart  happy. The best part is we get to track where the box goes and possibly have contact with the little girl who receives our box.
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Since I had two photo sessions on Saturday and the weather looked terrible for Sunday, we decided to get our Christmas tree Friday afternoon.  We met my parents at Doumel's Tree Farm.  While we waited for Dave, Dad cut down their tree.  I ended up going back to the pre-cut section and buying an 8 foot Fraser Fir that looked nicer than anything I could find in the field.  Grace enjoyed trudging around in the snow and watching the dogs at the farm chase each other around.  After the men folk loaded up the trees, we headed off to Bennigans for dinner. 

Decorating our tree has been a three day process.  Friday we bought the tree, Saturday Dave hung the lights, and this morning Grace and I decorated the tree together.  I can't count how many times I heard Grace say, "Wow, it's so beautiful!"

Last week Grace remarked that she wanted to write a letter to Santa.  She has been saying that she wants a camera, a phone and a green puppy, and apparently Santa needed to be made aware of this.  So, while Grace told me what she wanted to say, I wrote the words down for her.  She was pretty excited!

I'm hoping that I can get the majority of my work done in the next few days and that I can really enjoy the weeks to come. Three is going to be such a fun age for Christmas.  I can't wait!

First Snow Day

Tuesday night we got over six inches of snow and fortunately for Dave, he had his first snow day of the year.  Grace was super excited about the chance to play outside, but didn't last long after repeatedly taking off her mittens, trying to make snowballs with bare hands and then crying about how cold her hands were.  Not sure it was worth the hour it took to get both Grace and Graceyn ready for what seemed like five minutes spent outside.  But I'm on the hunt for some 3/4 length mittens and determined that next time will be way more fun.

The Muppets

It's no secret that Grace LOVES The Muppets.  She's been watching their DVDs for years now.  When she turned two, she requested to have Miss Piggy on her birthday cake.  She ended up looking more like Mr. Piggy, though.  At that time there was absolutely no Muppet paraphernalia out there to buy for her.  Now fortunately (or unfortunately) they are everywhere because of the new Muppets movie.

The three of us went last Wednesday to the first show of The Muppets on opening day.  Grace was so excited and loved it.  She actually sat through the whole thing-a first for her at the movies.  Dave and I thought it was pretty cute and entertaining, too.

Grace brought her new favorite baby to watch the movie

Saying Goodbye

We lost Grandma Lower last week.  It was hard watching her slip away.  I wish I had spent more time with her.  God had really put it on my heart in the last month to reach out to her more.  As usual, I didn't listen very well. I thought I had more time.  I'm glad I was able to be there at the end, though, holding her hand.  I'm glad she's at peace now.

Her funeral service was yesterday.  I loved hearing Kellie read the stories from all of us grand kids and looking at all of the photos on the memory boards.  Lots of good memories.
 

Grandma, Thanksgiving 2010

Things will be very different without you, Grandma.  You will be missed.  I love you.

Catch-Up

It has been a busy past few weeks around here.  I've actually had clients every week for the last month or so, and have kept pretty busy editing photos as well as trying to figure out some things in Photoshop that have stumped me for a while now.

Upper respiratory infections have been making their way through our family--first me, now Grace.  On our few overlapping healthy days, we managed to do a couple of fun family outings.  One, to the baby animal farm in Freeland, and the other, to Annie with my Mom at the Midland Center for the Arts.

Annie, the movie, was a gift from Grandma and Grandpa a while ago.  Grace loves it, particularly the music, and I was so excited for her to see it come to life on the big stage.  She was pretty excited sitting in the theater when the music finally started and the curtains rose.  I got a bit teary watching her.   She even got to meet Annie and Sandy after the show and got a picture and an autograph.

Still not crazy about goats

 Out to pasture

Here comes her ride

Nervous, but excited!

 Annie!

Looking at her autograph

 Pretty excited!