The Amazing Box!!!

I have been without an oven for almost three months!!! I know I'm so tired of cooking in the crock pot, So on Monday We loaded the trailer up and headed to Lowe's and finally got one!!!! I have to say that the new stove is not as exciting as the shiny new box that came with it. Danny, Gracy, and Nacho have all played in it all week! its been hilarious. Gracy will drag her little DVD player in it and watch a movie with nacho. Sometimes she kicks nacho out, And the little demanding Gracy would cry if her dad tried to get out of the box and cried when I tried to get in. So obviously NO MOMS ALLOWED. We had to retire it after she went to bed last night. Thank goodness she didn't really notice it was gone when she woke up this morning. I think this settles it. Gracy is now OFFICIALLY a Daddies girl, no doubt about it.

Catching up......

I have been a slacker lately and haven't updated for a while. For some reason the first of the year is always a whirlwind for us, a good whirlwind :) We have alot of good things planned for this year. I think we all are getting the bug and are ready for camping and sunshine. This winter has brought on the blues for us and so we have been keeping busy. Gracy got to have a fun play date with her cute cousins left to right Becca, Bridger, Gracy and Adi. They also got to go see the circus together that came to vernal. I think Gracy is still a little young to want to sit for an hour in a half and watch elephants.......I think I liked it more than her. It was actually really cool, WAY over priced though lol.

This is Gracy FINALLY feeling better after getting over her ear infection. I was so upset to leave her sick while i left to Vegas. But thank goodness she has an amazing daddy that drops everything to take care of her. Thanks again to Danny and my mom and dad for helping me out :) I am so blessed to have great family all around me.

This is kinda not so important, but fun for me. I had been eyeballing this vintage lamp for like two years while i worked for betty at Merle norman. It was part of the Goosbumps inventory. Well she recently went out of business and I got this awesome find for like 75% off, and thus in my budget I was able to get it! The bad thing is it was a wal fixture, so since danny is the handiest husband in the world was able to re wire it for the plug in, seriously he is the best.

Gracy's favorite spot lately. she could hang out in the fridge for ever, she cries when i make her get out lol. I don't understand this new fascination.

just a few pictures I took from vegas, we had tons and tons of pictures. so i snagged a few. This was the best store. Its called "lush" its all naturally made skin care. infact these face masks were in a bowl on ice they scooped it out for us to take home. and it smalled like frosting :)

I have to tell you my friend amber was 7 1\2 months pregnant while we were there. And to be honest I seriously couldn't keep up with her. lol. What a trooper. I am so glad I have great friends. Ive known these girls since 3rd grade. Sometimes we dont get to see each other for a year and its neat because we still can get together and pick up were we left off. Thanks for inviting me! Loved vegas. it was a really great place....There is alot of filth there also, but we kept really busy and enjoyed ourselves. We went and saw the Broadway show "the lion king" Please go see it! There is nothing like it. I was so amazed the entire time.

I didnt get any pictures on Valentines weekend but Danny had a friend getting married in Pleasant grove area so we decided to go to the reception and socialize with Danny's old roommates. It was alot of fun, we actually had some really grand plans to go and eat at a nice place and get dressed up , unfortunately we both thought we had food poisoning but it was just the flu, and we cant believe we traveled while we were so sick. I wouldnt recommend it, lol. In fact Danny almost lost it while we were riding the elevator up to our hotel room lol. We both felt a little better next morning and went and ate at the corner bakery for breakfast and it was sooo yummy. Thank you to Nanna and Papa for having a sleepover with Gracy :) We wanted to bring her with us but They insisted on taking her. I am so glad Gracy gets those precious memories that I had as a little girl. Sleeping over and Grandma and Grandpas house making forts and eating candy before bed, Ill never forget my Grandpa trying to fix my hair for me :) I LOVE that Gracy gets the same memories.

What happens in Vegas May not ever get to Vegas!!!

I had to post this picture because Nacho and Barkley(my sisters dog i am babysitting) have been worried sick about Gracy, they wont leave her side its pretty cute...they guard her door and everything.

This is Gracy feeling at the top of her game.....all relaxed and watching cartoons with her fav. duck. comes complete with a spagetti-o- stain on the front of the jammies.

This is Gracy today.....fever of 103.6......it has been up and down since 3 this morning. She has been drinking TONS of gatorade and eating fruit and cereal bars, so im hoping she is starting to get better. Im determined to getting her back in shape before I leave tomorrow.

Not quit the same little girl. It is killing me to think I am leaving for a vacation while my baby is sick. How selfish can you get. Anyway, this sort of thing is always bound to happen when youve been planning a vacation for 5 months! I am glad she will have my mom and Danny to take care of her, Im sure she will be just fine but still, the guilt keeps creeping in at me. LOOK AT THOSE LITTLE EYES, and pale face. She feels so yucky and still is such a happy little thing, making jokes and giggling at the movie she is watching. I remember my mom making me special little beds wiht my favorite stuffed animal while I was sick. for some reason it sure made me feel better. I hope its working for little lou lou. Its so hard to leave her like that.

On a different note, Im starting to figure out this super short hair business, I like not having to do it ...AT ALL lol. between Gracy having a freakish amount of hair i think I needed to chop mine because between the both of us we were spending WAY to much time wrestling frolike hair symptoms lol. One wild hair is enough in this house. Plus I spend less than half of what I usually do on shampoo. Danny and i decided to call it the Econemy friendly haircut. yeah its lame but we get a good laugh making fun.

Happy baby = Happy mamma

Every post seems to be about Gracy lately. What can I say Im a proud mom. I go back and think how scared and worried I was about being a mom. The thought of having the responsibility to raise a successful, self reliant, religious happy little human was a little much at first. Now that Danny and I have made it through a year and 1\2 of Gracy.....we are thinking we just might make it through alive. Although I may be speaking to soon, the teenage years have yet to come. But I have to say every night when Danny gets home from work, we all have eaten dinner, dishes are done and we just have family time, its gotta be the best time in the world. Gracy is so much fun. She teases us and loves to give smooches, she is just sooo happy, and healthy and smart and fun. As a inexperienced parent this is feeling pretty good. I have maybe done a few things right. :) Although we still have our little quarks that need some TLC and lets face it...ALOT of elbow Greece, but overall, I was blessed with this amazing little life that brings so much joy. I cant be more excited to show her off. I think she has taught us more than we teach her. I love you Gracy Girl!

18 Months!!!

I had to share these pictures....it shows Gracy's personality off so well. She is just short a few days of being 18 months! I know everyone says how fast babies grow but seriously she has the motor skills of a three year old. I have to list some of my favorite things she is doing lately.

1. sticky crumb filled kisses, usually very generous with them especially if we are saying goodbye .

2. how she walks around the house with my purse and cell phone up to her ear jibber jabbering about something we all wish we could understand.

3. lately her new thing is to chew me out in her own Gracy language, very high pitched and sounds similar to an auctioneer person. And then feels bad for her outburst and repents with a hug.

4. she climbs everything! even pushes the chair up to the counter tops and tries to play in the sink!

5. LOVES books and everything her daddy does. Even the naughty things.

6. is obsessed with fixing things....she has her own personal screw driver and helps her dad fix the bedroom doors that regularly need attention.

7.loves makeup..... she sits on my lap every morning and we put on our faces together.

8. loves to pretend cook in her new kitchen set...although she cooks everything but food....mostly i find her own shoes sitting on the burners.

9. She is so sharp.....is totally concerned if she sees mommy crying or upset....she is right there patting my back or laying her head on me stroking my legs for comfort. (and it helps alot)

10. Still sleeps through the night! I can prob. count on one hand the bad nights we've had since she was born. I am so lucky to have a good little girl.

11. She has a hard time sharing Mom during nursery. I think being Nursery leader is going to help us both grow ...... hopefully sooner than later.

12. Her new best buddy is Nacho, they play and FIGHT.

13. She is doing so much better at the sharing concept.....and also the "fend for your self" concept.

14.Loves bath time and has such an imagination

15. She suddenly wont let me touch her hair.....so she looks like a wild amazon child, and she pretty much is. Thats how we love her.

16. Loves to wear my shoes and can maneuver around with them on pretty well.

17. adores her grandparents and Great Grandparents.

18.Loves movies......favorite is little mermaid and sings every song IN TUNE. I cant even do that.

19. is addicted to Ovaltine

20. picks out her own clothes..

My goals

I have put off my new years goal list because I honestly didn't think of it until the first day of 2010, And I really have been thinking hard of some new things I need to work on. Some may seem not so important...but Ive noticed that the little things help you conquer the bigger things.

First goal most important!
1.being a better Mom and Wife. Paying attention to my husband and making sure he is happy and is appreciated. Making sure Gracy is happy and healthy, Growing and learning as much much as I can teach her.
2.Read Gracy at least 2 books a day. and any in between.
3. Mop the floor at least 2-3 times a week. (in such a little house the floors get EXTRA dirty.)
4. make danny's lunches the night before.
5. Create fun visuals and new lesson material for my new nursery calling!
6. Get Gracy to make it through sacrament 3 weeks in row!
7. Plan a weekly dinner menu....
8.keep my art skills fresh. Weekly.
9.do something other than going to the movie for date night. Meaning I may have to take things into my own hands and be the date planner.
10. Going to the temple 2 a month instead of 1 a month.
11. Figure out what the heck is wrong with Danny's health. and FIX IT!
12. Tone up those saddle bags that have been hanging out.
13. dont over book my week so I can enjoy being home with my baby.
14. Less coke. (im not ready to completely deprive myself)
15.play more volleyball.
15. spend more time with our Neola family.

Gracy vs Nacho

I just wanted to post some of my favorite pictures from the last few months. Um this is my dad not yours mom ....... get away!!!! She personally told me this.

Gracy the cheeser. She is looking so grown up.....Im sure the ear to ear grin has something to do with the new bike she got Christmas eve.

This is what happens when Danny feeds the monster. Yogurt Facial. so soothing. For Gracy. Not for mom who has to clean it up.

Hey believe it or not Danny is cooking Breakfast! B. and Gravy yumm. Please dont look over the beautiful frilly apron danny is modeling. it really shows off his shape :)

Another cuddling moment. Notice there are no cuddle pictures with mom when dad is home. Gracy and I fight over who gets a hug first.

For the finale I had to post this video of Gracy and Nacho dukin` it out. They are so funny together. And NO i never let nacho on our blankets but this was to funny to watch. I am proud to say that Gracy stuck it out to the end and faught for her right to cuddle. Nacho did hold her own for a while, I actually thought she might win but no I think it might be the little bit of gardner\bingham blood mixture that has made Gracy quit the little fire cracker. Dont let the tears fool you. She had the whole thing planned out.