Fun Photos

Here are some of the fun things we've done this month:

Daddy and Gracie on the carousel at the zoo

On the train at Encanto Park

With Papa eating a drum stick

On the bumper boats, she loved it until she got bored and demanded to get out before the ride was actually over

On her first roller coaster. She wasn't a fan.

Hiking with Grandma and Grandpa

So cute!

With Grandma on Halloween

The Butterfly, the Lady Bug and the Orkin Man

Hanging out with Mima and Papa

With KK at the Pumpkin Patch

Strike a pose!

This is the face of an angel. A sweet little angel that could do no wrong. A sweet, innocent little angel that would never, never manipulate her mother.

Ha.

A few weeks ago Gracie and I met Grandpa for lunch before we had to go to the grocery store. It was a gorgeous day outside, so we sat on the patio and had our lunch. Grace ran around us chasing the finches and yelling at them to come down off the ledge because it was 'dangerous'. She was having a great time with Grandpa and didn't want to leave, but it was getting close to nap time and we still had to make it to the store. This was one of those absolutely necessary trips to the grocery store. We were out of milk, bread, and juice. The essentials.

So, despite her protests, I loaded her into the car for the short trip across the street to the grocery store. On the way there she was bargaining with me in an attempt to get out of having to go. She was pulling out all the tricks, "I forgot to tell Grandpa something, I'm thirsty, We need to go home and feed Belle, I'm tired." And then she struck gold. A no-fail way to get out of going. She said, "Mommy, if I go potty in my car seat, we can't go to the store 'cause I'll be all wet!"

I panicked. I screamed. I turned in my seat and began begging. You see, Grace has a fancy-schmancy car seat that takes approximately 7.5 hours to disassemble in order to wash. Not exaggerating. Washing that car seat is the bane of my existence. I hate it more than doing dishes.

As I pleaded with her, a smile spread across her face and she said, "Ooops! I peed! Guess we have to go home now."

I prayed as I reached back that somehow she was making it all up, but alas, I reached down and realized she was, indeed, soaking wet. Ugh, ugh, ugh.

Not only did we not get to go to the grocery store, but she got her way. We had to go home to start the marathon process of washing the car seat. I shook my head the whole way home.

And laughed, as much as I know I shouldn't, I laughed and laughed. She may not always make life easy, but there's never a dull moment!

And there are always times like the photo above, where she is a perfect little angel.

Gracie-ese

Grace has been talking for a long, long time. Like her mother before her, she was a very early talker. She could say her ABC's by 16 months and carry on a conversation by 18. (Don't worry we don't have any delusions of granduer, her mom didn't exactly turn out to be a genius :)

So, it's hilarious to her easily amused parents, to find that many, many months later, she still has some seriously amusing mispronunciations.

Here are a few examples:

nockbooblers = binoculars

Sleeping Booty = Sleeping Beauty

tearbears = carebears

uppa bubba = up above the (as in twinkle, twinkle)

... for the Bible tells me soap = so

She has also taken to yelling, "ERIC! NO! Don't go under the sea!" several times a day.

Ariel cookies = Oreo Cookies

Dego = Diego (he's not Italian, but she yells racial slurs at the tv every time this show comes on

She tells everyone that Belle is wearing a flashlight now that she has a cone on her head

cocky = coffee

maffles = waffles

And my personal favorite...

chilled grease = grilled cheese!!!

California

Finally another Blog post! I told you I would be terrible at this...

This post is just a collection of pictures from our recent trip to Newport Beach with the family. We had an amazing weekend relaxing, playing on the beach, catching an Angles game (unfortunately, Brandon didn't play), and looking at lots and lots of wedding magazines! Brandon and Lindsey are getting married in November of 2010! So exciting!!!

Our Little Family

The whole gang about ten steps from the beach house

The girls on Newport Ferry to Balboa Island

The newly engaged couple!

Me and my Kar

Had a great time with Maegan! Hey Meg, did you grow?

Grace was over the pictures at this point, she just wanted to jump in the sand with Kar

Silly cowgirls! Maegan and Grace had to have set the world record for the most hours of 'Little Mermaid' ever watched in one weekend! They are kindred spirits!

Lovely Grandma and Gracie. Don't mention the carousel behind them, Grace is still bitter she didn't get to ride it because we had to catch the ferry

Brandon coming after me with a bucket of freezing water... I ran

Brandon attacking me with a piece of seaweed (noticing a trend here) I did absolutely nothing to provoke him, of course. No throwing of sand in his hair, nothing of the sort. No one can prove a thing.

Grandpa and Grace playing in the waves (They're nuts, the water was about 40 below)

So cute!

The girls at the game. So excited to have another Lindsey in the family!

Whoa, tone down the supermodel posing , Grace.. You're only two.

Uncle Rick (LOVE him so much!) and Grandma and Grandpa eating the awesome Cioppino that my parents only spent 2,346 hours making, give or take a few

This stuff was amazing!!!

Somehow we failed to take any picture with Tracy and her adorable boyfriend, Matt. We had a great time with them on Balboa island eating chocolate covered bananas.

What a great weekend! We are one blessed family!