Our Family

The only way we are ever going to ensure peace on this planet is to adopt the entire world as "our family." We are going to have to hug them and kiss them. And dance and play with them. And we are going to have to sit and talk and walk and cry with them. Because when we do, we'll be able to see that, indeed, everyone is beautiful, and we all complement each other beautifully and we would all be poorer without each other.

Stan Dale

I came across this in a box of cards. Thought is worth sharing.

For the record...the memory record:

• Gracie's people are beginning to look more like people with hair, eyes, nose, mouth, limbs & now a belly button. The mouth is an attempted smile that overuns the outline of the face on both sides. I love that kind of smile, don't you?
• Adverbs...Grace uses adverbs now--correctly in most cases. For example: I have to go to the potty quickly or that guy is walking quickly and I fixed my hair beautifully.
• Grace likes Lightmean Aqueen (Lighting McQueen) and needs the game just like Haddon. She pointed out "I don't have anything Lightmean Aqueen and I need something."
• M's look like m's & o's look like o's and g's are taking shape as well. We're learning to write.
• After the 27th snow event (according to WLS 890), Gracie is finished with snow.
• Gracie likes to sing the high part while mom sings the low part, though she's becoming more of a soloist lately. Per this morning (Veggie Tales "You Are My Sunshine") when the part gets high, you have to sing really loud and open your mouth really big.

The more we get together...the happier we'll be~

I'm a bit behind in posting holiday pics & stuff. Here's a nice start with the 2007 Roomie Cookie Swap!

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

Speaking of getting together, I'm heading to Gracie's preschool today as a guest to demonstrate using our voice as an instrument. So we'll sing a bit and then we'll sing with signs. "The More We Get Together" and "Mary Had a Little Lamb" are on the list to sing/sign. This should be fun!

Despite the snow, we've had a great week thus far including some snow play. We also got together with old friends...my old friend, Deb & her family. Deb has 3 kids & Gracie loves them ALL! Talk about a happy day. Dressing up, Barbie play, dressing up, running around and more dressing up. Annie has a couple cheerleader outfits, which are a diversion from the princess theme. The girl is flexible, adapting quite well to cheering with pom poms in heels. Bummer, Annie has only one pair of heels. We are going shopping before we go back to Annie's. The tears! The tears at sharing that one pair of pumps. We'll take shoes next time. AND a sleepover is in the works. Annie is confident she'll want to stay for days....HA! We'll see.

While mom was at an adult function (congratulations Kim & Joe!), Grace visited Fair Oaks Farm in Indiana with NSE. This is a working dairy farm that has a ton of cool stuff for kids. Grace watched a calf being born! What a story!
Plus, they brought back some tasty ice cream for moi! Can't wait to go there myself in the Spring. These images are from the Fair Oaks Farm website.

Happy snowy day, AGAIN!!

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~

Heartsmiles

One of Gracie's favorite books is this charmer by Charlotte Zolotow. It's about a little girl who details all the things she will let her little girl do: wear party dresses, pet any dog without asking if it's friendly, eat snow, have a sleepover whenever she wants, try on all mom's jewelry without asking first, order whatever she wants at a restaurant at least once a month, take a bath once a week, play in the ocean until she's blue, go without a coat the first warm day, etc.

It's a cutie book for sure! After reading it one night this weekend, I asked Grace if she wanted to have a little girl when she grows up. To which she replied, "I told you 'I want a PET!'" Hee, heeeeeeee....

Other heartsmiles, some from Grace; some from others~

• When I grow up, I want to be a mommy like you
• You're the bestest mom ever!
• I've got a real inkling/itch (or something like that) to play some Rumbicub! My response: BRING IT ON!
• Viel kussen für die kleine mausse
• We saved you some meatloaf
• We love you
• Gracie quoting her memory verse from Sunday "Love the Lord your God with all your heart."
• Pray for me, mama

Our 1st Sleepover & the Gingerbread Church

Thanks for your patience as I get back into the swing of things after the holiday season. It's been a slow go for numerous reasons, but we'll start with this cutie smilebox. Enjoy!

Gracie had her 1st sleepover just before Christmas with her sweet friend, Jayleeah. They had a blast playing dressup and riding horses (stick & rocking. After pancakes the next morning, the girls delighted us all in decorating a gingerbread house. Once a sucker, a star became the focal point of their creation and thus, we had a charming gingerbread church. We sent it home with Jayleeah for her family to enjoy. Oh what fun~~ AND forgive me, Phaedra, for misspelling your sweetcake's name.

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

BTW...your's truly was featured on Disney's parenting website with the Gracie quote, "I can do all things through Christ..." Disney sent along a little something for this sweet GraceFULL moment shared. I know you have your own stories to tell...let the world share your smile. :o)

Happy day, friends! Bis spater~

Quizzing

Is this me or what?!!

What my name means

You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily. You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind. A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable. You are usually the best at everything .. you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated. You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want. You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals. You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily. Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is. You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in. You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising. You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care. You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life. You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home. (Hello?!) You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

I knew it!!

You Belong in Rome

You're a big city soul with a small town heart Which is why you're attracted to the romance of Rome Strolling down picture perfect streets, cappuccino in hand And gorgeous Italian people - could life get any better?

What City Do You Belong In?

Laughter does good like a medicine

Somedays are just like that~

Happy New Year! May it be full of delightful surprises, laughs and giggles worth sharing again & again.:o)

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!

Christmas Grace moments to share

This photo has been entered in the Christmas moments event. It's one of my all time favorite pics of the Gracie girl. Log on & vote for Ms. Christmas Grace.

I've entered Gracie's 1st visit with Santa picture in the Very Merry Christmas...Santa gone wrong contest. Check it out & vote for little Grace.