Are You Sure?

....is one of the first things Doug said when we found out we are having a BOY!!!!

Joining the Ranks

Alexa & Grace are so excited about the newest member that will be joining the ranks of Big Sisters in May 2010!!!!

Preschool

Today Grace started her first day of her second year of preschool. She has been asking me for the past two weeks when she gets to go to preschool. When today came she was so excited. The first thing she said to me this morning was, "I get to go to preschool today." It was so much fun seeing how excited she was this morning. Doug and I walked her to school and we took some really fun pictures of her and her class.I have a picture of her sitting at her desk from last year that I was looking at and I can't believe how much bigger she looks this year. Grace had such a fun time at preschool today and I am excited for her and all of the new and exciting things she will learn at preschool this year. I love you my little Gracie!!!

First of 1st

Today was Alexa's first day of 1st grade, and I thought Kindergarten was hard. It felt very weird around our house all today. I kept looking at the clock and wondering what she was doing all day and counting down the hours until I could go and pick her up. I have been pretty anxious about this day for a couple of weeks now. I had butterflies in my stomach this morning as I was getting Alexa ready for school. Alexa of course was excited as can be. She couldn't wait to go to school and eat lunch there. She was also super excited to go and see her class pet, Corky the turtle.When we dropped her off, I held it together. I didn't start tearing up until I started walking away. I looked over at Doug and he was the same way.When we got home from picking her up, I sat down on the couch with her and had her tell me exactly what she did from when she sat down at her desk to when school was out.I took this picture of her when we got back home from school. As you can see, she was all smiles and had a great first day of school. Well, I am glad that we got through today. I can't believe I have a 1st grader. I am grateful for my little Alexa and the sweet girl she is.

Hau`oli Lā Hānau Alexa!!!

Today Alexa turned 6 years old. The day started off with her Luau birthday party. She has been so excited for this day for a very long time. I think the day after she turned 5 she told me she wanted a Luau birthday party for when she turned 6. So yeah, needless to say she was excited when today came. She had so much fun today with all of her friends playing games, opening presents, eating cake, and of course playing outside in the water. This was definitely the highlight of the party. The kids ran through a little water sprinkler toy, had a water balloon fight, and got sprayed with the super-soaker by the biggest kid at the party, Doug.After the party we went to her birthday dinner and the place she chose was Chuck-E-Cheese. Alexa and Grace had a lot of fun going on rides and playing games. Emma slept pretty much the whole time, which was nice. I guess the Luau tired her out!!! Well after dinner we took the girls up to my parents' cabin and went 4-wheeling. I know it is kind of random, but when we asked Alexa what she wanted to do today, that was one of the things on her list. When we got back home it was pretty late. Grace and Emma were asleep, but Alexa was wide awake. Doug and I hadn't given her present to her yet, so there was no way she was falling asleep before we got home.Today was such a fun day and Alexa had such a great time. I can't believe that Alexa is 6. Today I was looking at Alexa and remembering when she was a baby. She has taught me a lot in her 6 years and I am grateful for all the joy she brings into my life. Hau`oli Lā Hānau Alexa!!!!!

Happy Birthday Princess Grace!!!

Today our little Grace turned 4!!!! She had such a fun and eventful day. First, we had a little princess birthday party for her. She invited her friends and they all dressed up in their favorite princess dresses. It was sooo cute seeing all of the little princesses. Snow White seemed to be a very popular theme.Everyone had a fun time decorating crowns, making bracelets and playing a little game of Pin the Kiss on the Frog. She really enjoyed opening her presents and of course eating cake and icecream.We bought Grace a princess bike for her birthday, which she was in desperate need of. We were trying to hold her off until she turned 5, but the little Elmo bike she had just wasn't cutting it; it was a fairly small bike but was deceivingly heavy and hard to pedal. So, as you can see, when she saw her new bike, she could hardly contain herself!!!! It was so much fun seeing her get so excited. She just kept telling us thank you and how much she loved her bike.Well after her party we took her and the kids to her little birthday dinner. The place she chose to go was Chuck-E-Cheese. The girls had such a fun time playing games, riding a few rides and eating pizza; they even picked out some sweet prizes...there is nothing like plastic spiders and crazy straws to impress a child. I am not sure who this little boy is in the picture below, but apparently Chuck E. thought it was important for him to be in it.Today was such a good day. I am so grateful for my sweet little Gracie and the joy she brings me. Happy Birthday Grace!!!!

30-Something

Well, I am now officially a 30 something. That's right, today I turned 31!!! I remember when I was little, there was this show called Thirty Something and the people on it seemed old to me. Well I don't feel old and of course now I don't think that being in your thirties is old. It was a great 31st birthday. The day started off with Doug making me breakfast. It was nice not having my usual cereal and toast!!! Well then I did the most exciting thing of the day, which was going and getting my driver's license renewed. It doesn't get more exciting than that!!! I got a new picture and everything. I know that driver's license pictures aren't supposed to be the best pictures you will ever have taken, but wow, this one was TERRIBLE. I was telling my mom about it and she thinks that there is some cosmic joke that all driver's license pictures have to turn out bad... I totally agree. Well anyways when Doug got home from work we went to dinner at Tucanos. It was super yummy. At first Doug and I were just going to go to dinner without the girls, but I told Alexa that we were planning on going to dinner and she wanted to come too. Well so we took the kids and had a great time!!!Alexa told me today that when Daddy got home from work he couldn't do anything because he still needed to make my cake. I love that Alexa thinks birthdays are special and important. When Doug came home from work, she told him that he needed to start making my cake. Well he actually bought me a chocolate cheesecake which was delicious!!!!It's nice having such good little helpers blow out my candles. Well today was a great day. Thanks for all of the phone calls and messages everyone sent. I am so grateful for Doug, my family and friends for making it such a great day.

Ballet

Again, sooooo behind on my posts. At the beginning of January the girls started ballet. It was Alexa's third year taking it and Grace's first year. Grace was so excited to get new ballet shoes and actually be able to go in the dance room. For the past two years she has had to look through the glass at her older sister, wishing she could be in there with her. Well, it was finally her turn. Both of them had such a fun time. It is so much fun seeing my little ballerinas dance.

Build-A-Bear Workshop

I am sooooooo behind on updating our blog. I was going through pictures the other day and I totally forgot to post about Grace's trip to Build-a-Bear. About a month ago Alexa went to a birthday party and so I decided to take Grace to Build-a-Bear. She had such a fun time picking out and dressing her bear. I had such a fun time spending time with my little Gracie. It is not very often that I get one-on-one time with her other than grocery shopping or just hanging out at the house. After we were done she wanted to get some lunch at the food court and it was so much fun sitting and talking with her and not feeling rushed to leave. I love my sweet Grace and the happiness she brings me.Picking out her bearPushing the Pedal to stuff the BearPicking out a heartGiving her bear a heartGiving her bear a bathBrushing her bearFinding the perfect outfitNaming her bear, which by the way is ShellaShe was just in heaven todayGiving her bear a home. Grace has had such a fun time taking care of her little bear cub. She is such a good little Momma Bear!!!