Our Vacation

For Gracie's 5th birthday, we've gone to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg the past few years.

Gracie and Evan LOVED riding on the rides, playing in the hot tub and being at the cabin we rented. They had a blast!

Here are a few pics from our trip over Memorial Day weekend.

Today is Gracie's birthday and so far has had a great day!

She's had party w/her Grandpa and Gram last week and got a new pool and a pretty mug and plate for her to eat on, she had a party with Judy, Roger and Jonathan over the weekend and got a few things for her new pool to play w/and also a "big girl" fishing pole! Tonight we're having a little party here and then this weekend she gets to go camping w/her Nana and Papa, something she's been wanting to do for TWO years and is so excited she gets to go!

I can't believe my baby is already five, it really does fly by!

Gracie's graduation from preschool....

Was this AM...Wow...you know how you hear about someone having "a moment" , well this was " a moment" for me.
I prayed for a little girl for so long, knew I wanted to be a mommy and God gave me the most beautiful, sweet, wonderful little girl.
To me, this is a chapter in her life. I think the world around is moving SO fast, even more so than when I was growing up. I feel like there is pressure on little kids to "be cool" and to be more grown up than their own age. I don't like that, I don't think that's the way it should be. Theres an aspect of innocence that is lost when you don't let kids be kids.
We're given the ultimate gift when we become parents. It's what we do with that gift that determines how they turn out. By no means am I saying that I want to shelter her, not too much anyway, that's not going to solve any problems, but I ultimately know it comes down to putting the Lord first in our lives and what our children see at home that makes the difference.
I'm so grateful for Gracie, for her innocence, her talents, her sweet spirit, her love that flows so deeply for others....
I'll attatch some pics as I upload them..

Back to "Normal"...

Gracie has done wonderfully this week. Last week her doctors ordered three days of IV fluid and a steroid to help with the swelling in ther throat. She got dehydrated and it was slowing her healing. We went back to her ENT Monday it he says she's healing nicely. She had a rough Sunday/Monday, but has made a good recovery this week.
Evan is loving being outside and the warm weather.
We've got a friend in from England this past week and have enjoyed spending time with him.
Not much more going on in our world...
Have a blessed weekend!

Gracie's music...

Gracie LOVES music...but besides the LOVE, she has an ear for it as well.

She can hear a song a few times and then is able to memorize the lyrics.

Her absolute favorite is someone many of you may or may not know..Ron Block from Alison Krauss and Union Station. (www.ronblock.com)

She got the opportunity to meet him recently and he took the time to get down on her level and interact w/her. That meant the world to her.

Here is a picture of her new CD player we got her when she had her tonsils out. She's enjoyed having it in her room and has Ron's music playing each time I walk in! She knows all the words and even more, she is learning about the Lord while listening to his music!

I guess she gets alot of her talent from her Daddy (not sure if you've all listened to his CD "UP in the Air" or not,but you should take a listen)..She has a desire to sing and play as well.

As a mommy, I just sit back and can take it all in, but deep inside am so proud of her sweet spirit. Every Mommy thinks their child is special, but I truly feel God has a special purpose for Gracie.

Thursday

Gracie is tolerating her surgery very well...She's healing and doing MUCH better today.
She's been so tough!! Monday was a long day, but we felt your prayers and she came out of her surgery fine. Her ENT told us that her tonsils were very diseased and looked very bad and her adenoids were very enlarged and he was glad that we'd gone ahead and done the surgery.
She didn't want to eat or drink very much,but has done a great job forcing it down.
She's looking forward to getting back to preschool, swimming lessons and running outside!
She's enjoyed visits from her Gram and Grandpa, Nana and Papa, Aunt Judy, Uncle Eddie and Hazel, and gotten TONS of cards,balloons and toys!

Evan's BORED and ready to get back to normal!