Out of Her Shell

Since Marmee and Grandpa have been here visiting, Gracie has really come out of her shell. She's more vibrant, more dramatic, and LOUD. She mimics every sound she hears, dives into every new challenge with gusto. She's climbing, dancing, and giggling non-stop! Can she turn up the cuteness anymore?! I think so, for Marmee and Grandpa!

Gracie Sandwhich

Jonah's big day

Can it be? Jonah is FOUR years old?! I'm still in denial, despite the evidence...

(Another fantastic creation by Anabel at Sweet Life Bakery. The cake was amazing!)

Little man, you are one smart cookie. A little too smart for your own good. I cannot believe what a negotiator you've become, and often your reasoning is beyond dispute. You are going to be a force to reckon with when you grow up, but maybe let's dial it down a bit for pre-school. Kay? Ms. Tiffany had no idea she would be negotiating with you on how much wiggling is allowed in time-out.

I know turning four was a little scary. You thought you'd wake up on your birthday and be a foot taller. That your Nannie Blanket would poof into oblivion. That your precious stuffed puppy would be put away on the high, high shelf, and there would be no more stories before bed or Happy Meal toys ever again. But, now I'm watching you play with your new Thomas the Train friends, and you're having so much fun on your second day as a four year old. I'm sure the anxiety has passed and it's going to be an excellent year.

I think I'll let you get taller, grow out of playing with trains, get crushes on girls, and maybe even roll your eyes at me once in a while. But please. Please! Keep giving me zerberts on the cheek, and whispering secrets in my ear, and belly laughing when we tickle your ribs.

Love you buddy,

Mama

Basket Boo

Jonah was having a blast playing with the laundry basket earlier this month. (I took these photos on July 2nd, but never got around to posting them!) He was "trapping the baby", making forts out of the basket, using it as a ramp for his monster trucks, and finally, sitting in it to watch TV. At the moment I took these pictures, Jonah had not noticed that Gracie was sitting quietly on the other side of the basket. This series of pictures turned out funny, particularly because of Jonah's expressions.

Let's Talk

On the way to school the other day, I slapped a mosquito off my arm. When I looked up, Jonah was wide-eyed and curious. Later that day...

Jonah: Oooh! *slap* Oh! *slap, slap* Ouch! *more dramatic slapping*
Me: Buddy, what's wrong?
Jonah: Toquitos are bitin' me!

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While driving to pick up Gracie's birthday cake...

Me: Jonah, let's use our soft voices. We don't want to teach Gracie to be loud, do we?
Jonah: I NOT LOUD!!!! I'm zuberant.

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While watching Storm Chasers on Discovery channel...

Jonah: Mama what's a po-taymo?
Me: A tornado? It's what happens when hot air and cold air crash together and make strong storms. The hot air and cold air turn in circles and make the tornado. It's really fast wind spinning around.
Jonah: Why'sit suckin' phings up, that po-mado?
Me: The tornado? I don't think it's really sucking things up. The wind is just really strong, so the trees are getting pushed over and then thrown around.
Jonah: Tomato?
Me: Tornado
Jonah: Tormato
Me: Torn-ado
Jonah: yeah

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After reading about Jesus in our Bible Storybook...

Jonah: Will Daddy have to go on a cross?
Me: No, Buddy. Daddy, and Mama, and Jonah...all of us, are saved from the cross because Jesus did it for us.
Jonah: An' Daddy wears dat cross to keep the power goin'
Me: Daddy wears that cross to remind him what Jesus did for us
Jonah: An' the cross keeps the power goin' so the TV can work

Party Girl

Here are some favorite snapshots of Gracie's 1st birthday party. (There were ONLY 250+ to choose from). The guests of honor were Papaw, Meemaw, Aunt Angie, Daddy, Mama, and Jonah. The cake is from Sweet Life Bakery in Mesa. We were thrilled that they made us a complimentary smash cake! Gracie had a TON of fun demolishing it.

Next week, it's Jonah's turn :)
We love our July sparklers!

Happy Birthday, Gracie Girl!

1 second old



1 minute old


1 hour old



1 day old

1 week old



1 month old


11/01/08 - 3 months old (I know, it's cheating a little)

01/01/09 - 5 months old (yep, still cheating)

1 year old!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY sweet Gracie! You have added such joy to our lives!

Love,

Mama, Daddy, and Bubba

note: thanks to Katherine at "Expressions from the Expressway" for this cute idea :)

Hot Footin' It

It's 113 degrees right now. It's been so hot this week that the plants we keep along the fence are COOKING. We always plant drought and heat resistant plants, but the only one that's still doing well is our jade (a succulent).

Despite the backyard's resemblance to an oven, Jonah managed to play out there for over an hour this afternoon. He found the shady spot he's been playing in ever since he could walk, plopped down in the dirt, and proceeded to dirty up all his Hotwheels, then run them through his toy carwash, over and over and over.

I finally brought a cup of ice water to the backdoor and he hot-footed it over the flagstone patio muttering, "ouch, ooh, ah, ouch".

He drank the entire 20 ounces without coming up for air.

Hard to believe this is our 7th Arizona summer.

Also hard to believe Gracie turns ONE in two days!

Heart Palpitations

Jonah decided to play *said in booming game-show host voice* "Let's Give Your Mother Heart Palpitations". Mothers, try not to be horrified. And please do not turn me in to social services.



Seriously. Gracie was having the time of her life, but we will NEVER. DO THAT. AGAIN.

Warm Rain

Last week, we had a wonderful warm rain shower around 7pm. Jonah had already gone to sleep for the night, but Gracie was still bright-eyed and bushy tailed, so we took her outside to enjoy the rain. She played until she was soaked through, and loved every second of it. (If you zoom in on the last pic, you can see just how soaked she was!)

A Boy and His Beetle

Jonah loves these little beetles. I heard from someone that they're stink bugs, but they've never "stanked" Jonah, so I'm not freaking out yet.

Twinkle Toes

Twinkle romper, FIRST time around (photo taken 20-something years ago, edited a bit...rock on, Kak):

Twinkle romper, SECOND time around:

Feed the Bird

Jonah refers to Rice Crispies as "bird seed". He likes to sprinkle the cereal on our table, then eat it "like a bird" (he licks them up). A couple of days ago, he told me he wanted to feed the baby birds, so I gave him some Rice Crispies. I didn't realize until later that the baby bird was Gracie.