The Scissor Adventures

I'm sure there will be several more stories to come under this title.  Gracie has really been getting into cutting with scissors.  It's mostly paper, but I've been waiting for the day to come when she realizes scissors can cut more than just....paper.

It was a Sunday afternoon and I had a few errands to run.  I left Josh and the girls at home knowing they would have lots of fun father daughter bonding time.  I got back home around 3:30 to find this...

While I was bent over taking the pics, I was laughing so hard I woke him up.

Poor guy!  I think he just thought Gracie was combing his hair :)  He tends to lose consciousness when someone plays with his hair.  We can't send him to the hair dressers alone.  haha - kidding!  But, he does find it very relaxing.  That same day I also found a doll who had received the same treatment.

I would never tell her this, but I think she did a decent job.  Josh's hair didn't look half bad after she was done.  Maybe Gracie will follow in her Grandma's footsteps and become a hair dresser??

Potty time

We decided that it was time to buckle down and get serious about this potty training business.  I told myself after the holidays were over we would do it - just suck it up and do it!  And we did.  Who knew, "Let's go make tinkle noises" would do the trick!  It has been going surprisingly well.  I think she may have been pulling our leg in the past, acting like she had no idea how to use the bathroom. 

It seems the past couple of years have gone by fast.  I'm sure with every added child, it only goes faster.  She's no longer a baby that needs constant care, but a little girl that needs a helping hand every now and then.  I have to laugh every time I say, "Yay, Livi!  You're a big girl!" she always corrects me and says "No, I wittle."  Makes me thankful she's not in too big of a hurry to grow up :)

Thanksgiving 2010

We were so lucky to spend Thanksgiving day for the second year in a row, with Josh's family in Beaver, OK.  We all had a great time, but it's pretty rare that we don't have fun when we all get together :)

It was a beautiful drive up, and we were lucky to have the company of Grandpa Raef.  We had a shrimp boil that night, and a full blown Thanksgiving feast the following day.  We had to leave late afternoon so Josh could get back for Black Friday at the mall (woohoo - last one!!).  I only got a few pictures of our fun in Beaver...

My sisters-in-law (or is it sister-in-laws??) anyway, here are Shanna and Michelle with Michelle's little beauties Emma and Claire.

These are two of the coolest girls I know.  Maggie and  Lauren, sporting their blue highlights.  The girls always have lots to do and lots to catch up on when they get together.

Here's Livi all snuggled up with Grandpa watching a movie.  I didn't get a picture of her later that night snuggled up with Chuck, Gregg's dad, over at his house.  Too cute!

The weekend after Thanksgiving, we went to Nazareth to celebrate with my family.  We had a great time at my Grandma and Grandpa Ramaekers' and again enjoyed so much yummy food.  I love the holidays, because we are always garanteed lots of quality time with our families.  We are so blessed by them....

WOOHOO!!

Santa brought me and Josh a brand spankin' new computer for Christmas and this is my first time to sit down and play with it.  I'm trying to get used to the quiet of this new computer.  No noisy fan, no delayed noises of any kind, and no hanging it half way off my lap in fear of it overheating.  The best part is, I had it up and running and to my blog page in less than 30 seconds!  Our old computer would have taken at least 15 minutes on a good day :)
Needless to say, I am ecstatic and I hope to have more blog posts up soon about all the fun we had over the holidays.

The pink candle

"Momma, can we please light the pink one?" is a common question I have heard from Gracie Ann this Advent season.  She helped get out the Advent wreath a few weeks ago and carefully placed the three purple candles in their spots.  At first she requested another purple, not so sure about the only pink candle.  After a little explaining, she agreed to include it, as unfitting as it may have seemed. 

Every night she asks if it is time to light the pink candle and every night we have had to tell her, "Not yet."  Well, today as we were getting ready to walk into the church, Monsignor asked us if we would like to walk up with the clergy and light the candles on the Advent wreath.  "YES!" is what came out of my mouth!  What a special thing for us to get to do as a family, and I knew Gracie Ann would be thrilled to help.  We got up to the front, and Josh lifted her up to help him light the candles.  As we came around to the pink one, Gracie let out a sweet and happy little "aawww".  I was so excited for her!  It was finally time!

Monsignor's homily was over patience and preparation for the birth of Christ.  It made me realize what patience my little four year old has practiced the past few weeks, and how we are all called to have the excitement of a child.  Even though I don't have one gift under the tree, I am feeling prepared for Christmas day and I think I have a little girl to thank for that.

 

Maxwell's Pumpkin' Farm

I can't stand the thought of leaving this post out since we had so much fun!  I took the girls, along with my friends and their kiddos to Maxwell's Pumpkin' Farm here in Amarillo.  This is just one of those things I hope sticks and becomes a tradition in our family.  We arrived at 9 a.m. and  I finally had to drag the girls out around 1 p.m.  They have everything:  hay ride, pumpkin patch, corn box, giant slides, maze, etc.  And GREAT customer service (thanks Josh for giving me a whole new appreciation for this):)  

My favorite place to take pictures is outside, so fortunately we captured many sweet memories from the day.

Here they are forcing a smile for mom because I just had to have the "hay bale" picture --->

Going down the slide.  Last year, Josh and I enjoyed this slide WAY more than the girls :)

Corn maze!!

Peek - a - Boo!

I love this picture of Claire!  She's so excited to feed the goats :) Or, just excited because all of the other little girls are excited.  Either way, cute pic!

A little nervous to touch it...but I'm pretty sure they all eventually did.

My favorite!  This would have to be the best picture of the day.  #1 - The big kid in this picture is my friend Amy.  Our children FORCED us to get on this thing!  #2 - Totally kidding....this trampoline was hands down the coolest thing I've ever experienced. 

Me and my snug-a-bug getting a ride in the over sized wagon.  Livi didn't want to get in with Gracie, so the nice man told me to get in with her.  I resisted at first, but it didn't take him long to convince me to get in :)

Taking a nice hay ride over to the pumpkin patch.

Looking for the perfect pumpkin, or 2...

 "iiiiiii got it!"

With the perfect picture to end this post.  She could totally be in a marketing add for this place!

This post didn't quite flow the way I had imagined.  There was just so much to do and as usual, I took too many pictures leaving me with decisions of which to post.  I think I could have put a million more, but these are my favorites from the day. 

I have really come to enjoy and appreciate the season of fall. 

Sisters

The pile of pillows and blankets is what the girls call their mouse house.  Not sure where the name came from, but it sure is cute to hear them talk about it and watch them work together to build it. 

 

Today they discovered they can do this.

One moment they are on each others nerves, the next they are best buds.  Always in a constant state of love.

Only one word for it....

Sisters.

I love how they help bring up memories from my own childhood.  Spending countless hours imagining and creating things with my own sisters.  Thank you God for giving us siblings to share our lives with.