Singing

Shiners

Poor Girls! Abby took a spill on the tile floor and later that day Gracie was playing ghost (with a blanket over her head) when she tripped and ran into the corner of the coffee table.

Good thing we have hard heads in this family :)

Happy Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving we spent it at Ben's sister Karina's house. It was a small group: us, the Shorts, and the Labrum's. It sure was different not going to Nana and Pop's house, but I think we did a pretty good job pulling off a good feast. Gracie enjoyed playing with her "friends" (cousins) and we enjoyed spending time with family. We feel so blessed, especially at this time of year, and are so grateful for all we have.

...especially each other

8 Months

This has been a big month for sweet little Abigail. She moved up to a size 3 diaper, waves to everyone, crawls (still not perfect on all 4, but geting there), and is at the beginning of pulling herself up. It's so strange for me to go into her room when she wakes up and see her sitting there playing instead of wiggling laying down. She has a very loud, high pitch voice that she loves to vocalize. My sister Nora called her a Velociraptor dinosaur and nicknamed her "The Raptor". She's a very sweet girl, but the older she's getting I'm seeing her eager, curious, and sassy side coming out.

Chicago

We had our first annual Graham Girls Get Away and headed to Chicago. We were sad Jen and Melinda couldn't make it, but there will be many more to come. Grandma, Nora and June, and Me and Abigail went to Chicago for 5 days and had a blast. David, Kenna, and Addie were so nice to host us and show us around the windy city.

The Botanical Gardens were beautiful even though it wasn't the "best" time of year to go. David showed us all around while Kenna was post call that day.

Friday morning we hit up the "Windy City" and stayed from 10am -11:30pm. It was fun taking the train there and back. I loved walking around and was impressed at how clean and well kept the city is. The "Bean" was so cool how it reflected all the buildings. Of course we had Chicago dogs and well as the best deep dish pizza ever. Leave it to Nora to find these cute coats at such a great price that we all 3 had to get one. The babies were troopers being pushed around in strollers all day, but didn't seem to mind one bit. All 3 of them were perfect!

Saturday we took a tour at the Jelly Belly factor then hit up some more shopping.

Thanks Grahams for letting us crash your place and showing us a fun time.

Who's the Mom?

Yesterday Gracie told me two phrases:

"Mom, look at me when I'm talking to you" and

"Please, don't talk to me like that" (of course she used this one when I asked her to do something she didn't want to do)

Oh my Gracie Girl, what are we going to do with you? ...She sure keeps me on my toes :)

Happy Halloween

This Halloween was so fun, especially now that Gracie really understands what it's all about. We went trick or treating with some friends and she was the leader of the pack. She would run from door to door, always first, and knew just what to say "trick or treat" followed by "thank you" followed by "I want more candy".

Ben was very happy to hear that his daughter won the doughnut eating contest at a friends Halloween party.


My sweet butterfly and ladybug

Gracie called the inside of the pumpkin the "cheese" and loved cleaning it out this year.
Abigail just had fun watching

Here's my manly man carving our pumpkin with his drill.
Of course Gracie had to be digging into her bag during trick or treating. When one sucker was finished a new one would appear in her mouth.

Daddy-Daughter Date

Ben has been gone a lot and getting home really late when the girls are already in bed. There were many days last week when they didn't even see him. So, Friday night Ben decided to take Gracie on a date so they could have some time together. They went to the movies to see "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs". Gracie was so exited to go on a date. She picked out her own outfit, needed a purse (with lots of candy inside), and wanted perfume as well as lipstick. I guess she's pretty observant watching me get ready. The movie was in 3D and the glasses were huge on Grace's little face. Since Ben picked up the tickets and glasses earlier that day we were able to come up with a little concoction with a hat and some glue to make the glasses work for her. It was cute seeing the two of them go on a little date, and we'll have to make it happen more often...but I must say, when is it my turn?

7 months

Time is flying. Abigail has mastered sitting up and plays with her toys which is keeping her really busy and entertained. She's done using her swing, mostly because she sits straight up and reaches over the side of it until she about falls out. She finally likes her baby food as well as little biscuits to naw on. Of course she still spits up a lot which is not fun especially now with all the colors of the baby food. She got her first cold this past month as well as her bottom two teeth and loves feeling them with her tongue. It's cute to see her get around by rolling were she wants to get. We really can't get over what a content little baby she is. If you give her any attention she lights up with a smile that just melts your heart. We're looking forward to all of her first holidays coming up. We love you Abigail

Dear Gracie

Dear Gracie Girl,

Today is not your birthday and it is not even a special occasion. I just wanted to write a little note to you letting you know how much I love you! These past couple of months you really have grown up so much and have turned into a "big girl". I love that you are so much more independent, but it has made me realize just how much I loved being the one you counted on so much for everything. I just look at you and feel so blessed to have you in my life. I truly couldn't have asked for a better "oldest child". You are so helpful and a wonderful example. Watching you grow up has been the most rewarding thing for me as your mom. Today as you were dancing around outside I started to cry at how perfect you are for me! You and I really do fit together and I love being your best friend! Thank you for keeping me laughing and grateful for all I have...especially you! I love you Gracie

Love, Mommy

Pumpkin Patch

A couple of weeks ago we went to the Silo Pumpkin Patch and enjoyed a tractor train ride, petting zoo, playing in hay, eating lunch, and picking pumpkins. It was very cold this year (58 degrees), but that didn't stop us from enjoying the Halloween festivities.

One night for "family home evening" we cut a small pumpkin Gracie picked out at the Salado "pumpkin patch story time" with her friends. Grace was fascinated with the seeds inside, but even more interested in eating them after they were baked. The pumpkin patch had a little story time and skit they put on. Of course Grace was more than happy to volunteer to help out.