Happy Halloween!

One pirate, one strawberry, way too much candy . . .

Sesame Place!

Sesame Place Rocks! James and Grace are having a ball and Mommy and Daddy are enjoying watching them play. Tonight Grace is asleep wearing her Abby Cadabby hat and James is trying to sleep "really really still" so that he still has his ferocious tiger face to scare Sarah when we get to Radford.

James the Tiger - ROAR!

Grace rode the purple and pink horsie at least four times.

Breakfast with Abby Cadabby.


Bert is eating my apple!

Grace with Bert's handprints

James with Grover's handprints

Summer 2009

Here are some photos from our late spring and summer adventures. More to follow in time!

One . . . Two . . . Three . . . Weeeeeee!

Captain Underpants and his trusty sidekick, Undergirl!

Ponytails!

Maggie Moo's cotton candy ice cream - shades not found in nature.

Golf Rules: Hit the soccer ball with the club really hard, run the bases

and score a goal. We still aren't sure how the t-ball stand is involved.

Relaxing at the Cabin

Racing for the Cure is just exhausting.

Pounding the pavement in the Race for the Cure

Ready to race - gotta love a race where everyone wears pink!

James taking a break from the Square Dance.

Grace falls in love with horses.

The Easter Bunny Came and James Was In a Wedding

Obligatory Easter Picture - one year they are going to smile.

Maa made Grace's beautiful sweater.

James and his Easter basket REALLY EARLY!

Grace loved her Easter bunny.


Maa and Grace at the Easter egg hunt at church.

Grace the Mighty Egg Hunter.

Cappy and James with their rakes.

Nana and James with their rakes.

Grace and Sammy sharing a moment in the sun.

Seasoned Travelers

Grace ready for her first airplane ride.

Ready for take off.

James and Mackay at the rehearsal.

Goofy kids

Beautiful Grace

James and Mackay all dressed up

James took his job as the ring bearer very seriously.

Handsome Big Boys

Beautiful Girls

The Easter Bunny came to our house and left baskets full of Easter Joy for the kids and then accidentally spilled some chocolate eggs in our front yard on his way out! The children were wonderful during church (with a little help from the lollipops the priest gave out during the children's sermon - at least we avoided the red ones this year). Cappy and Nana came to visit. James made them help with the yard work. The very next weekend, we flew to Texas for John Lawton's wedding. James was the ring bearer and Jay was the best man. This was Grace's first flight and she was great for the entire ride. James LOVED his tuxedo and wanted to sleep in it that night. Despite my best efforts, the family photo in the heading was the best we could do. At least we are all in it and nobody's underwear is showing! We are still recovering from all the fun!

James Turns Three

James turned three this month and he had a Bob the Builder all day celebration on his birthday replete with a visit to a construction equipment rental center and a Bob Birthday Cake at the Chinese Buffet (imagine incredibly blue icing mixed with sticky rice and small children). On Valentine's Day, we had a Fireman Party at our house and the Fairview Fire Department was kind enough to send a truck, two firemen, and Sparky to our house to surprise James. We had a great time and James thought it was awesome. In other news, James had stitches twice in one week in January, Grace learned to color and now only eats some of the crayons some of the time, Riley came to visit on James' birthday, and we had a small snowfall here. We hope you enjoy the photos.





James drives the front end loader.





We couldn't find a fireman outfit that fit Grace, so we made her the fire.



James' birthday surprise.

James when he realized that the firetruck has come to his party.

Grace LOVED the truck.

James drives the firetruck.

Every outfit is better with pink snow boots.

Grace coloring like a big girl.

SNOW!

Grace Turns One and We Go to Disney

Grace surveying the Savannah on her birthday.

Hey - this doll looks like me.

The big cake

I don't think I eat bugs.

Grace LOVED Cinderella's Carousel.

James meets Eeyore.

James and Daddy - Guess who's tired.

James loved Mickey Mouse.

Happy Thanksgiving, Mommy.

.

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Grace turned one year old in November and Cousin Ellis turned one, Mommy turned 35 and Maa turned 70. So we headed to Disney World to celebrate! Grace had her party at home before we went. Her godmother and her mommy stayed up late making a really cool Very Hungry Caterpillar cake for Grace (the little cake above, the big one came from the bakery). Grace took one look and decided that she didn't eat bugs and James looked at it and said "That is slimy, I don't eat slimy." The photo is actually of Grace removing the cake from her mouth after Mommy put it there. Grace actually turned one while we were in Disney World. She loved Cinderella's Carousel and we had to ride it twice. James got to meet Eeyore, Piglet, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Mary Poppins, and Alice in Wonderland. We had so much fun and everyday we think about going back soon.

Pumpkins and Monkeys

Grace the Rock Star


Halloween Monkeys


Grace in the pumpkin patch

Daddy thinks we both fit in this double bike trailer!

Hiking in Chimney Rock

James comforting Jack

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Get Your Bright Orange Pumpkins!

James at the rice table

My little pumpkin

Dreaming of Hop On Pop

Disco Grace

Both kids were naughty monkeys for Halloween, although Grace spent half the day as a pumpkin to make her mommy happy. We sold pumpkins at the church and even though we only had one sale on our shift, we had tons of fun yelling "Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Get Your Bright Orange Pumpkins!" We bought a crate of pumpkins at the Farmer's Market and wound up helping two little kittens there. The black one that James named Jack, broke his leg and James and I took him to the clinic set it. During time that Jack was fostering at our house, James comforted him every day. Grace took her first steps on Nov. 9 in front of her Maa, Nana, Cappy, and Daddy and just couldn't wait until her Mommy came in from the kitchen. She did it again tonight so I finally got to see her walk! Grace turns one in two weeks and I will post more photos after all the celebrations have ended.