The Ranch- December 2011

My Dad and Debbie spent Christmas with my grandparents this year, so after Christmas I took Gracie and we went to see all of them for a few days.  They live in Humboldt County, so for being a long drive for a toddler, she did really well!  I didn't even bring the DVD player (didn't have someone to help me, and it was bad enough keeping her happy with my music choices!)  We left on Tuesday and had yet another Christmas Tuesday evening, in which Gracie received a very unique pair of shoes...that squeak when she walks!  She had a BLAST with the ranch dogs, feeding sheep and horses, reading and tea parties with her "Great" (that is what my grandma wanted to be called...) playing in hay in the barn, pretending to drive the tractor, ACTUALLY driving Grandpa's car (well...on his lap) and much more.  We spent one afternoon, just the two of us, visiting my Auntie's grave and bringing her flowers.  Gracie was so sweet and we had a picnic lunch, but then she wanted to basically play hopscotch with the rows of grave markers.  I flinched at first, but then figured maybe some of the people hadn't had visitors in awhile, and they wouldn't mind my little girl jumping on their name.   Oops...

 She was a very happy little girl, but very happy to come home and see her Daddy who had to stay home and work.

Christmas 2011

Christmas for our family usually consists of many celebrations.  It is our favorite time of the year and is special because it represents the birth of Jesus.  Gracie had her date with Gammie (my mom) on the 17th and had a sleepover while Tim and I did dinner and a movie.  This year, my mom spent Christmas in Wyoming with Korbe and Traci, so we did our Christmas with her on the 18th.  Then I had three more teaching days until 18 glorious days off.  On the 21st, Tim and I had another date and Gracie had a Christmas date with the York family.  Then we did Christmas Eve celebrating with the Mosbaugh/Cross clan, then off to Tim's great Aunt and Uncle's for dinner.  Gracie opened new pajamas and we read The Polar Express.  Christmas morning we got up as a family and had a special breakfast and did gifts by the tree.  Then after Gracie had a good nap, we headed up the hill to Placerville to have Christmas with Tim's parents and grandparents.  Of course, Gracie was greeted by many gifts at every stop and was very spoiled.  I did not take enough pictures on our "real" camera, just our phones.

                                                         Christmas Eve 

                                                Opening new jammies

                                                  Having an apple before bed

                                                  On Christmas with her new kitchen

                                        Grandpa Fishy giving her a ride

Thanksgiving 2011

This year for Thanksgiving we decided to take Gracie to my brother and sister-in-law's new house in Casper, Wyoming.  This is a tiny little town where my brother was re-located with his company, and it happens to be where my grandparents went to high school, where my mom lived as a kid, and where some of Tim's family is from.  Did I mention there are less than 60,000 people in the whole town?  Talk about a small world.  So we decided to take the trip with our toddler.  Left WAY before the sun came up, had to change planes in Salt Lake, only to get on a tiny plane with propellers!  It was on this plane that Gracie decided to throw a fit and scream for a good 20 minutes.  We were getting some death looks from the people in front of us, LIKE THERE WAS ANYTHING I COULD DO.  We made it there safe and sound and had a great Thanksgiving.  Korbe and Traci made wonderful meals, and even took Gracie to the park one day to give Tim and I a little break.  My Dad and Debbie also made the trip and we were able to have lots of quality time with them as well. 

                                                                   Gracie at the park

                                                                  Playing with Maddie

                                                             Hanging out with Grandpa

                                         Deep in conversation with her Uncle Mamo     

                                                        Little girl did NOT like snow on her boots

        Looking for Chester (Korbe and Traci's cat) who escaped under the bed during the day...

                                                        Aunt Traci

Back Online

So having been out of the technology loop for awhile now, our old blog went down the drain.  With Gracie getting older and doing things, I thought I needed to get back on here, if for nothing else, to document our lives for our kids to look at as they grow older.  I am not assuming anyone wants to hear my ramblings...but nonetheless I will put them out there.  With Facebook, it is easy to put a post here and there, but it ends up feast or famine, with a status update a week from me to having ten on one day (like this last week).  It made me realize that YES, I have the time to keep up a blog.  And with one child and one on the way, I have become pro at typing with a kid on my lap, baby sleeping on my chest, etc.  So I am giving myself  NO EXCUSES.  So look for updates here, and not as much on Facebook.  That is not to say that I won't be stalking- keeping up with you that way! 

Now on to the last couple months...