Swimming School...

Madi took swimming lessons over the summer (or swimming school...that is what Madi liked to call it). It was so good for Madi and we are so glad that we did it! She still ask when she is going to get to go back to swimming school...




Graci just hung out and played...ate Cheerios...and smiled for mama!

Summer fun at the pool...

We spent a lot of time at the pool this summer (thank you so much Ms. Connie, we love you!!)...the girls love the water and had a blast!!

Madi did so well in the water....I am so glad that she took swimming lessons over the summer, it really helped her be comfortable in the water, as you can tell she was all the way in the deep end here!!
Love that little pointed toe, so girly!!
and this cute little one too, look at that sweet tootsie!

When Graci got tired she would hang out and snack in her stoller, and play peek-a-boo with mommy!!
fun in the sun...

Ready to help Daddy work in the yard...

Love the fact that all she thought she needed was her boots!! Too Cute!!

Pizza night...

We had our friends Shain & Alecia over for a fun family pizza night...the kids had a blast, and well we all did!! We all made our own personal pizzas...they were SO yummy!!

Summer Fun with Friends...

Miss Independent...

Madi has always been very independent...she recently has wanted to start dressing herself and I just could not resist taking these pics...she is a sassy little thing!! I love the little expressions as she is modeling her outfit for me! She constantly has us laughing!

Graci is walking...

Graci started walking on August 31...she had been ready for a while, just needed a little confidence. We had known for a while she was close, and the day that she let go she never looked back! Her first day of taking more than those few steps she took off out of the living room and into her sisters room! She is so cute, she holds both arms up in the air to help with her balance, she is just so stinking cute!

Madi's first day of 3-K...

Madi has been counting down the days until school started back. Over the summer every time we would pass her school she would say "Do I get to go back this fall mama??" So finally the first day came and she is so excited!! She loves her teacher and is already making new friends. We are so glad that her good friend Will is in her class....her good friend Zeke is not in her class, but she says she sees him on the playground and they "run in the rocks together"! Too cute, I think Daddy is going to have his hands full one day!!

Graci's First Birthday Party...

Graci had a blast at her first birthday party! We had cake and yummy food and lots of good times with family and friends. She got some really cute new toys and we had so much fun watching all her excitement opening her presents (with big sissys help of course!!). It was a great day, thank you to all of you who helped make our baby girls day so special!

The invite...I must say I just adore this invite!!
oh but I adore this sweet little happy face so much more...she was tickled pink about eating more cake!!
and once again Daddy out did himself with the beautiful castle cake...our sweet little princess loved it!!





She loves her lady bug riding toy from her Pop & Nana...
Roll tide...thanks Gran Gran & PawPaw!




Oh the hat...I thought maybe she had forgotten about the hat situation...nope!

uummmm, cake!!

Graci's Big Day!

Sweet Graci is one... She is doing so many fun things right now. She is so close to walking...she just does not quite have the confidence, but she will take a few steps on her on. She is so cute when she does it, she will let go and be heading to something close by and after a few steps it is like she thinks "okay, that is enough" and she just dives for it. She loves her big sister, loves to play with her, they are really going to have so much fun together growing up!!

Graci says Dada, Mama, hello, by-by, good girl (in her own sweet little way) and bite. Speaking of bite...this little girlie loves to eat! She is such a good eater, much better than Madi was at this age (and maybe better than her now!!). She loves chicken, carrots, mac & cheese, fruit, potatoes, peas (a little bit), grilled cheese, spaghetti, pizza and lots of other stuff, but those are pretty much her faves. I can't think of anything that she really does not like!!

Precious little things that I love that she does....I love the way her sweet head feels against my chest...I love the way she pops up out of her bed when you walk into the room and as you get close to her she drops back down to get her silky...I love that she loves her silky so much...I love that just the thought of being able to touch her silky makes her pop that sweet little thumb into her mouth...I love that she has to hold her silky in both hands, even with the hand that she is sucking her thumb, and gently rubs her silky...I love her crooked little smile...I love to see her sweet teeth just a shining when she grins so big...I love the way she looks at her Dada...I love to watch her and her sister play together...I love the way she crosses her sweet little feet in her high chair and car seat...I love everything about this sweet little angel!!!

So, on her big day we started out the day in the tub...Graci and Madi love to play in the tub together....and I let them stay in extra long this morning!


Then we went and had lunch with Dada at the Galleria and rode the carousel, twice!! Graci loves riding the carousel, she bounces up and down grinning from ear to ear!



Then that evening Pop & Nana joined us to celebrate Graci's big day...of course there was presents...here she is waiting patiently on sister to bring her a gift!
making sure that we all see the nice pretty paper...
Playing us a little tune on the gift that Madi picked out for her...
so happy about her big day!
Big sister was a big help in opening her presents...







Then before cake I wanted to try to get a few pictures of her in her cute little hat...but her love for the hat did not last long...notice she is pulling at the chin strap...not good!
bless her heart! From that moment on she hated the hat!



I should not have tried the hat one more time before she blew out her candle...

but she quickly calmed down once she realized what was going on!


she shared her cake with sister...and sister helped her out with a couple of bites...
still upset with me about the hat...
Her little cake is so cute...her Daddy made it for her!
Madi thought she needed a little icing on her face as well!
It was a beautiful day...lots of memories on this special day!! Happy First Birthday sweet baby girl...Daddy and Mommy love you so much!!