Happy Birthday Gracie Girl

Grandma L took Gracie to build-a-bear to get her first teddy bear. She loves to take Ellie's away from her so it was time she got one of her own. It was so funny because me and my mom were trying to talk her into a few different bears, but her mind was set on this pink one. She really didn't even want to make her own, she had her heart set on the display bear and wouldn't put it down. (I ended up switching it when she wasn't looking:)






Gracie had a fun party with family and friends this year. The year has flown by so fast. It seems like yesterday that I was posting about her second birthday. Happy #3 Gracie!!



The kids love breaking a pinata!! Gracie wasn't too sure about putting the pillow case over her head,


Has anyone broke this thing yet?? I want some bubble gum! (I think Matthew was the one who finally broke it.)



It's become a tradition to play water balloon volleyball on Gracie's birthday. It ends up turning in to a water fight:)


I flaked out this year and purchased a store botten cake. She didn't seem to mind since it came with some more dress-up accessories.


She got spoiled by friends and family with so many fun presents. I didn't take pictures of everything she got but below is a picture of her all dolled up in her jewelery and sunglasses. She loves to dress-up so the tutu my neighbor made for her will be perfect, isn't it adorable?




Gracie loves the baby Grandma B gave her. She swims when you put her in water. It was perfect because Gracie started swimming lessons the day after her birthday and watching the baby swim got her more excited to learn how to swim herself. She loves to play with it in the bathtub too.

We had the neighbors over to swim in the new pool that Gracie got for her birthday. They all had a lot of fun! Diana may be mad at me for putting this picture of Noah on but I thought it was too cute not to share:)

Rodeo

Matthew won the 4th grade coloring contest for his school and received tickets to the rodeo for his prize. We had a great time. The rodeo is definitely entertaining. Here's Matthew's picture he colored. (notice the yellow colored teeth on the cowboy and the horse:) It's been posted down at the local bank and they even put his name in the program at the rodeo. Way to go buddy!!!!


I think these cowgirls are ready for a rodeo, don't you???




Pledging the flag has taken on a whole new meaning in our family since Josh became an American. I can just see a different look of pride in his eyes. (He would be laughing at me for saying this.)



"Dad am I doing this right?"



This was the kids favorite part of the night--watching the free style motor-cross riders. They did all sorts of amazing tricks. Zach's favorite was the flips. These guys are definitely brave and crazy!!! Sorry the picture is so blurry!




Does this face say I'm ready for bed or what????

Happy Anniversary

Thank you for putting up with me for 11 years babe. I love you!!!! Josh

Fun with cousins, Rainbows and Recital

Cousin Kennedy came in to town and we needed something fun to do so Diana and I took the kids to the dinosaur museum and the arcades to play.




Here's a cute picture of little "Nily" sleeping. That's my new name for her because she looks soooo much like her brother Noah:)




We have had SO much rain over the past two weeks and it's been kind of depressing for me and the kids being stuck in the house all day. We haven't been able to go to the pool even once since the kids got out of school. Our day was brightened one evening when we went outside and saw this beautiful rainbow (the pictures don't do it justice for how colorful it was). I hadn't seen the kids this excited all summer. You can see them running off in one of the pictures below. They were going to see if they could find the end of it, which they thought was at Grandma's house:)




Matthew had his first piano recital and did a great job of overcoming his fear of getting up in front of people. (he got that from his mom:) He played two songs (one was a duet with his piano teacher) and has caught on really fast in the three short months since he's been playing.