Today's Birthday Girl

In honor of Miss Gracie's third birthday, I thought I'd gather some photos of her three illustrious years of life.

This is a picture of Grace today, on her third birthday. She had a great time. She loved her strawberry cake, but she loved her chocolate ice cream even more.

Here is beautiful Grace a few months back, at two and a half years old.

Here is Miss Grace at two years old, sporting her first pony tails. What a cutie!

A happy, laughing Gracie at 18 months.

Grace Evelyn on January 31, 2006, her first birthday. Bring on the cake!

Here is Gracie at 6 months old, ready to ride some ponies!

And, finally, this is Grace Evelyn at exactly one week old. Look at that precious smile!

Happy Third Birthday, Baby Gracie! Mommy loves you so much!

Happy Birthday, Gracie!

It is official... there are no more "babies" in my house, because my last "baby", Miss Grace, turns three years old today.  I am sad and in a deep funk about this, as we are forever done with diapers, pacifiers, bottles, learning to walk like the frankenstein monster, tasting ice cream for the first time, seeing a baby duck for the first time, and all those other moments that kids are amazed with "the first time" it happens.  

Nobody warns you about how fast this happens (or when they do, you are buried so deeply under a pile of dirty diapers that you can't hear them!)   At least I didn't hear them... 

But, my baby is a baby no longer, and since she is three today, I have tried to narrow it down to only three reasons that she is special.  I have had MASSIVE trouble making the list short, because Grace is REALLY a special kid. (Those of you who know Mighty Miss Gracie know what I mean, now, don't you?)  

SO........ in her honor, here is a list of special things about Miss Grace Evelyn!

1.)  She has a wicked sense of humor.  She is absolutely hilarious.  (And I'm not just saying this because I'm her Mom.)  I mean, she cracks me up EVERY SINGLE DAY.  Even on days where I'm contemplating pinching her little head off, she still will make me laugh (and often at times when I should be totally serious and very authoritative! )  She makes disciplining a challenge...

2.)  She loves passionately.  If you are lucky enough to be in her circle of "chosen" people that she has feelings for, you are truly lucky.  She is fierce about her love, too.  (Translation: Don't mess with somebody she loves... even at the tender age of 3, she'll TAKE YOU ON if she thinks you are harming one of her "peeps".)  :-)

3.)  She is scary smart.  I mean really scary.  Her vocabulary is amazing.  She routinely uses works like magnificent, disgusting, fabulous, and ridiculous.  She figures things out that she shouldn't be able to at her age.  You can't "trick" her like you can some kids her age... she just knows things.  I think maybe she is an old soul.

I could write a much longer list, but I won't.  She continues to surprise me each and every day.  I will continue to say that she is the child who "calmed me down" as a mother.  My first two kids were compliant, sweet, calm, and just easy to mother.  Grace has just been "different" since the day she was born!  She has humbled me and made me seek the Lord's guidance many a time!  But she is a precious gift, and I love her just as fiercely as she loves me!

Happy Birthday, Big Girl Gracie!!  Mommy loves you!

WORKS FOR ME WEDNESDAY!!

It's my first time to try linking to Rocks in my Dryer for "Works for me Wednesday, so wish me luck!!   Here is my best tip:  when making banana bread, mix it up in the food processor!  It only uses one bowl, which makes it simple, and the clean-up is a breeze!  Here is my favorite recipe.  It works every time!

1/4 C. butter

3/4 C. sugar

3 large bananas

1/2 C. broken pecan pieces

1 egg

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1  1/2 cups flour, mixed with 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1'4 teaspoon salt, and 3/4 teaspoon 

baking soda

In food processor, mix butter and sugar until creamed.  With machine running, add egg, then lemon juice, then slip in one banana at a time.  Let it process until well-mixed.  Turn off machine.  Add dry ingredients.  Turn on machine, and let mix until smooth.  With machine running, add pecans until well mixed.  Pour into greased loaf pan and bake in a 350 degree oven for 45-60 minutes (or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.)  ENJOY!

My Katie grows up before my eyes...

Today my "baby" turned 9. In her honor, I've pulled a few photos of her life so far...

Here she is today, Jan. 29, 2008. She's 9 years old and so happy.

Here she is at 7 1/2 years old, standing in front of the creek on our place.

Here she is on her 6th birthday.

This is Miss Katie's kindergarten school picture. She's 5 years old, and she's ready to take on elementary school in a new, smaller town. Welcome to Hamilton, Kate!

Here is Kate in her first dance costume, ready for her first dance recital. She's three years old.

Precious Kate, at two years old.

This is a picture of Katie on January 29, 2000. It's her first birthday.

Kate Elizabeth, one month old. The best gift her mom ever received.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KATIE!!!

Today my sweet "biggest" baby turns 9 years old. It is unimaginable to me that I could have a child who is 9 (because some days I feel like a child myself!!!) But, in fact, she is growing up. I have had the pleasure of being her mom for 9 years, and in 9 short years more, she will be grown up and ready to leave my nest. It is half way over, and I cry inside when I think of that! She is the baby that I prayed so hard for, and believe you me, God did not disappoint when he blessed us with Miss Kate Elizabeth. In honor of her big day, I've come up with a list of 9 things that are special about her:

1.) She is the best big sister who ever lived. She will fiercely protect her little sisters. She will comfort them when they are hurt and praise them when they are doing well. I often refer to her as the "other mother." She helps make my job easier.

2.) She is as smart as a tack. She learns new things at warp speed and has a memory that makes me envious.

3.) She is one of the most empathetic people I know. She feels the pain of anyone who is hurting or wronged.

4.) She LOVES animals! In particular, she holds a soft place in her heart for horses and cats (especially the 7 kitties who lie at our house currently!)

5.) She has a MEAN roundhouse kick in karate! She can break a board with her hand AND with her foot.

6.) She is a talented singer, and is brave enough to get up in front of people and perform. She also loves acting (and isn't bad at it, either!) We call her our little "drama queen"!

7.) She loves the Lord. She accepted Christ this past July and hasn't looked back since. She loves to sing about Him and tell others about him when she gets the chance. Her nighttime prayers are sweet and sincere.

8.) She is a hard worker. When she decides to do something, she does it. (Even if it isn't easy.)

9.) She is a true example of a living, breathing, walking answered prayer. She is the best gift I have ever received! She is my sweet, wonderful, perfect beautiful daughter. I LOVE YOU, KATE ELIZABETH!! Happy birthday, sweet girl!

Proud Moments

Last night we had a service at our church just for kids. It was REALLY great. We had a Christian Magician who came to perform for us and do some tricks and make everyone laugh and teach the kids a little bit about God. His name was Todd McKinney, and he was from the Waco area. Highly recommend this guy. Really neat stuff. He called some kids up on stage to help him, and at one point Katie was up there, dressed like a "Super Sleuth" and somehow picked out the cards that other people had secretly chosen. She doesn't know how it worked. But, I digress... that's not what I started out to write about.

Miss Gracie came into the service with us, because she didn't want to go to the nursery. (Don't know why, but she is having some separation issues right now...I'm hoping this is one of those "Stages" that everyone always talks about.) Any-hoo, she's in the service, and the magician told all the kids to come and sit down on the floor in the front. So, of course, she had to go, because, though in reality she is only 2, in her MIND, she is at least 5, maybe 8. So, they are getting ready to start, and our friend Sharon gets up on stage to introduce the magic guy. Gracie gets up and before I can nab her, she is on the stage, tugging on Sharon's pants leg. Then (very loudly) she says, "Miss Sha-won! I gotta go potty!" Oh, I can't tell you how proud I was!! (At least she didn't go in her pants...) Isn't parenthood GREAT?

Beauty Queens...

The other day we went out to Luke's family farm to visit the grandparents. While we were there, the girls decided to have a "beauty pageant". Mind you, they had no dress-up clothes out there, so they had to improvise with old slips from Gran's lingerie drawer. They were pretty funny! Here is what they came up with!Katie, "Miss Dramatic"

Abby, "Miss Photogenic"

Gracie, "Miss Independent"
(Note the special "beauty queen" wave she has going on there!!)


They had a great time, and everybody "won" the crown at one point or another.

Happy Birthday, Aidan and Bill!

Today is my nephew Aidan's first birthday!  I can't believe it... he's supposed to be a tiny baby still.  Happy day, sweet boy!  Aunt B loves you SOOOO much!

Also, two days ago was my MUCH older brother's birthday (who is also Aidan's dad, by the way). However, he is A LOT older than one... about 38 years older than one!!! ha ha!!  Love ya', brother! Happy Birthday to you and to your sweet baby boy!!

note to readers:  here is supposed to be a fabulous photo of my brother with his son... I had it all ready to scan and put on, when (surprise!) it wouldn't work!  Blogger frustrations!!  I WILL figure it out soon!  I AM smarter than this darn computer!

Sexy Shoes, Volume II

Get a look at these, will you? Since I poked a little fun at my better half for purchasing some sparkly blue running shoes, he decided he needed some different shoes that are designed for running longer distances. These are the ones he chose. WOW. They are REALLY orange! Just like the other pair, he purchased these without my assistance. (For this, I was grateful.) Anyway, the girls looked at them and really had not a whole lot to say. Katie said they look like orangutan shoes, and Abby thought they looked like Nemo the Clown Fish shoes. (Well, they are orange, and they DO have a big "N" on them....)

Prayers from a Toddler

Is there anything cuter (or funnier) than listening to the bedtime prayers of a two year old child? (Yes, she's still 2 for 12 more days!! Don't rush me... I don't want my baby to be three!)

I thought I should share some of the things that the amazing Grace has prayed for over the past few weeks. In addition to praying regularly for the man who owns the Hibachi Grill in Waco, Mr. Miagi, she has prayed for macaroni and cheese, "Miss 'Lisha" (our friend, Alicia), mashed potatoes, Lainey (Abby's best friend), and "all the tickets at Piper Pizza Place". She also prays for regular everyday things, like her Nana and Papaw as well as Gran and Grandad, her sisters, and "a nice day". It just amazes me me that a little person who is so young already gets the concept of prayer. Now THAT deserves a big AMEN!!!