Happy New Year & Snuggly Toes Tonight w/update

So, I'm a few days late in wishing God's very best for you & yours in 2009! We're off to a great start. Really. I turned in my application for graduation yesterday. Mind you, this is only a small "yeah" on the way to this 2nd masters degree, but a "yeah" nonetheless. I'm pleased. AND I was just granted permission to take 2 grad level courses in the speech path program. Thus, I am maxed out of classes I can take before getting into the grad program. Deadline for that application is March 15th, I believe. And while I'm believing....I believe in God's favor for entrance to that program. Would be delighted if you'd believe with me. :o)

This afternoon, we enjoyed a brief snowball fight & sledding with our warm weather neighbors. The kids had a blast! It's quite the winter wonderland here in Chicagoland, despite all the political hot air keeping us steamed in Illinois.

And speaking of Winter Wonderland, I've got picks to share from last weekends outing to Navy Pier. Oh what fun! Gracie is quite the ice skater...our would we call her an ice "dancer", Uncle Bob? Heartfelt thanks to UB for being a good sport & skating/dancing with the Gracie girl & keeping her on her feet - most of the time anyway. Pics to come~

Today's tender moment brought to you by way of toasty toes pjs. Grace received some wonderFULL gifts for Christmas this year....really, we were both blessed beyond measure by friends & family alike. The surprises just keep coming. One of my clients sent home a gift - 2 gifts for Gracie. A surprise lover like her mom, she tore into them in the car. Must admit I was curious what was inside the gorgeously wrapped presents. Ohhhhh & inside were the most cozy jammies...with feet even! Gracie was full of sweet things & we called my client up so the giver could get in on the delight! Typically, I'm a wash before we wear family...but Gracie insisted on wearing some of her new feety jammies. And INSTANTLY, there stood my little girl--like she's still little or something! I love it! Something about those toasty blanket pjs with feet that makes 'em look like she's still my baby. We are talking major snuggling already & it's not even bedtime yet!

Ok - my hot chocolate (xtra marshmellos, too) is cooling, so I better sign off of here. We've got bedtime stories to read, best & worst to share, as well as confessing our thankful, grateful hearts to each other & to our sweethearted God smiling up above.

Night night~

EDIT: Up at 2:35 AM, crying..."My toe hurts. There's this area in there that's squishing my toes. I'll never ever ever wear feety pajamas again, Mommy. Never EVER."

Well, so much for that~ Nice while it lasted. Think we might just cut off the feet part of the pajamas. Have a good one!

Gracie at Parents.com

Check out Gracie's winter fun picture at Parents.com. Enjoying the Tinley Park Winter Festival, Gracie couldn't resist a bite of fresh fallen snow captured in the tutu of this ballerina.

Register & vote this week for this tutu cute girl, ending February 2. Just in case her photo doesn't pop up in the link, plug in her

id# 2417100001 & there you go.

Have a good one, friends & happy winter!

Every Season

A heart song from one of my favorites~

Every Season by Nicole Nordeman

and everything in time, and under heaven finally falls asleep
wrapped in blankets white, all creation...shivers underneath

and still I notice you, when branches crack

and in my breath on frosted glass
even now in death, you open doors for life to enter
you are winter

and everything that's new, has bravely surfaced
teaching us to breathe

what was frozen through, is newly purposed
turning all things green,

so it is with you and how you make me new
with every season change

and so it will be, as you are recreating me
summer, autumn, winter, spring

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's just a season & things will change, making me new again.

This has been a monumental week for Ms. Grace. She is yet away at her 1st sleepover...spontaneous sleepover. What did she pack 1st? All things regarding her hair: 3 headbands, barrettes, comb, brush & tangle spray. Cute~

I checked in this morning to see how she fared: a few tears at midnight - no, she didn't wake up at midnight but was going to sleep. Arrrrr~ Oh, yes that's right: sleepovers don't happen everyday. So tears at midnight but she fell asleep in the cuddling arms of the big sister of her little friend. Sweet. She's probably still sleeping~ Too cute

And how did I spend my first free night without Grace?? Not much to tell given the blizzard, short notice & must-stay-close-to-home-just-in-case situation. Grocery shopping - no one shops on Friday night - get in, get out. There was a blizzard, so needed some staples just in case. After putting in the last load of laundry, I popped some popcorn & settled in for a bit of mom TV ohne animation. :o) I fell asleep on the couch watching a Friends rerun, then rested comfortably in my Grace free bed until 5:50 AM this morning.

Next time, I'll be more prepared for sure. For sure, there will be a next time.

Happy snowy day~

Christmas Fun

We had a delightFULL weekend! Praise God for quieted coughs enough to enjoy them...Our German Kindergarten class was fun with a visit from St. Nicolas (still working on those pictures). We headed over to the Winter Fest in Tinley with reindeer, Mrs. Claus, cookie decorating, sleigh rides & so much more. Here are some captured memories to share as we celebrate the season. Not enough room in one Smilebox to hold them all....

PS: Don't forget to vote for Ms. Gracie Cakes photos in the Christmas Moments & Scared of Santa contests. Those with all their Christmas shopping finished can vote every day. :o)

Make a scrapbook!

Make a scrapbook!