Family Day: Saying Goodbye

Yesterday, we celebrated Family Day. Four years ago we became a family in far away China. Matt and I can both remember every detail of that trip and in particular the day Lily Grace was placed in our arms.

Yesterday, as many of you know was not only Family Day, but also the last day we would have with our sweet Darby. Darby started having seizures a couple of years ago and then on Friday a cancerous mass was discovered. She just turned 6 in December. This morning we gave Darby a final goodbye hug and told her how much she has meant to us. She was a wonderful dog and truly a member of our family. Lily Grace took it hard, just as Matt and I have, but we are all doing alright and know that she is now without pain.

You may think it is was quite unfortunate in the timing of all of this with our Family Day being yesterday, and while it was a little more somber of a day, it was most definitely about family. We spent the day looking at pictures of when we became a family in China and when Darby was a pup. Darby and Lily Grace also made a stepping stone for the flower garden. You see, regardless of what was happening yesterday, or timing, it was all about Family. That is exactly what Matt and I prayed so hard for during that long wait for Lily Grace. We prayed for the times like these, both good and bad that we would face as a family. Honestly, yesterday and the circumstances that surrounded this weekend again served as a reminder of prayers answered. We handled it together.

This will be my last post from this site. (We are moving here.) It is in honor of Darby that we leave "And the Dog Makes Four" with this last post. So good girl- this one is for you! Darby you have been a wonderful and loyal companion. You have brought us much joy, many laughs, a few missing socks and lots of wonderful memories. You will be missed and always remembered. We love you!!

Brrrrrrr....

We got our first Southern snowfall this past week (about 4 inches) and it brought out the cutest Snow Angel.

Christmas Fun and Family Time

She's up and he's come! I love that big smile on her face.

Taking it all in!

Trying out another gift and performing her first Science experiment with daddy. (and of course, dress up clothes tops a lab coat any day)

One of her favorite gifts has to be matching outfits for her and doll, Molly. (day 2 of owning the gown and mommy washing the gown- Ha!)

Meeting the Duck Master at the Peabody after our Christmas Eve breakfast

We've had a wonderful Christmas and while I wouldn't call it a a true "White Christmas," we even enjoyed some beautiful flurries on Christmas Day.

Of course, we have had the best time watching the excitement and magic of Christmas through Lily Grace, but more importantly special time together as a family. God is good indeed!!

Sweet Treats

Last week, friends joined us for our annual Gingerbread decorating party. We had a wonderful time!!
It's always fun to see how each house will turn out and equally as interesting to see how much icing and candy goes on the houses vs. in the kid's tummies. HA!
After lunch we enjoyed Snowmen cupcakes compliments of Miss Misty. Each year she surprises us with a fun Christmas dessert and this year was no exception. Sooo cute!!!
We also exchanged books and played and played some more.
This year we had a new guest. Baby Beckett, as Lily Grace refers to him who is Elliot's brother. Lily Grace is smitten with him. I am happy to report that Beckett managed to leave our house without having been strolled around in a baby doll stroller, or dressed in doll clothes. Whew!
Thanks again to all of our friends for the all the yummy food and of course the time spent together. We love you all and enjoy celebrating the holidays with you each year. You all make them extra special.

Weekend of Performances

Elliot, Claire and Lily Grace after their Christmas Program

After the Nutcracker Ballet

Lily Grace had her preschool Christmas program Friday night. It was adorable and of course, so was she. As I sat and watched her, I thought to myself what a true blessing and privilege it is to be a mom. That was my sweet baby up there and I reminded myself to take it all in. These are after all, the days I prayed so hard for. So again I tell you, God answers prayers.
Sunday afternoon took us downtown for the annual Nutcracker Ballet. We arrive early for pictures and for Lily Grace to purchase a Nutcracker to remember her visit by. (I've named this year's choice the Liberace Nutcracker.) We love attending this Christmas performance as a family and as always, it was magical.
A downtown dinner followed the performance where I watched my wonderful husband indulge his little girl in the magic of the show we had just seen. Months after we attend, Lily Grace can be found in one of her flowing tulle dresses, dancing to the Nutcracker CD. She loves for Matt to play the role of the Nutcracker and she of course is Clara. When we arrived at this chic little downtown restaurant, she asked Matt to dance with her. Now mind you, this wasn't an environment really conducive to her request, but I watched Matt do something that most daddies would not. He granted her wish. He stood up to the side of the table and twirled her and swayed in movement as she had asked. My heart melted. His love knows no boundaries with her and he doesn't let embarrassment guide or direct it either. Thank you Matt for teaching our little girl to love unconditionally by example.

Breakfast with Santa and some Holiday Baking

Saturday we had the pleasure of having breakfast with Santa at church. We were all so excited and had a wonderful time!
Once back home, Lily Grace (make that Mary Poppins) and I got busy baking. We even got daddy involved. We made Coconut Macaroons and our annual Gingerbread Ornaments for our Christmas tree. We tried a new Gingerbread recipe this year. It's awesome! The cookies bake up so nicely. They look and smell just like Gingerbread cookies, but bake up really hard to use as ornaments. So good in fact that Darby didn't know the difference and ate one right off the tree. Ha!
Lily Grace did some of her own baking as well. She spent about an hour playing in flour after we finished baking.
You can see the recipe here if you and your family would like to make your own Gingerbread ornaments. Happy Baking!

Ice Skating!

I love the smile on Lily Grace's face and mine. It's that forced type smile because we are really concentrating on standing up. HA!

So excited and cute

Getting warm in the lodge after skating

Look at our smiles now that we are on "steady ground" in the lodge. Much bigger! HA!

The zoo announced that it would be opening an ice skating rink throughout the holidays this year. We have been so excited about taking Lily Grace. Matt took off work today and off we went.
Matt knows how to ice skate. Lily Grace, well she's four and lives in the south so it was her first time. Me, being a lifetime southern girl have only been once. I was 8 years old and on a church field trip. The only thing I really remember about the experience is how fast my legs could go without my body following. I flailed along the side of that rink, holding onto the bar for dear life. So you can understand why I was a little apprehensive about today. I am happy to report that Matt was a great teacher and had Lily Grace and I going around the rink within minutes. (I only hit the floor once. Now let me just add, that when you do "hit the floor," there is nothing remotely graceful about that. And getting back up, well that is a sport own its own.)
Lily Grace smiled the entire time and could have skated all day long I do believe. We had to pinkie promise to return.
Matt, as always, you were wonderful with her (and me) and I loved watching you teach her something new.

Skating with Daddy

Feliz Navidad

Lily Grace can often be heard singing around here and last night was no exception, just one of her more entertaining performances. With her upcoming Preschool Christmas program approaching, she has been focused on Christmas songs and with her new-found love for Spanish class, this song in particular. She said that her Spanish teacher showed her how to sing it. Apparently, Lily Grace took it seriously and threw a bit of herself into it. HA! Each time she sings it, she does so with this same exaggerated expression and I just had to video it. Of course, she was all too happy to perform, after she got up on the stool, which she deemed her stage. By the way, according to her all of that pointing, is her pointing to each audience member. Sorry the video is short. It was quickly interrupted by all of my laughter. You can see why.

Thankful for our Blessings

Today is about giving thanks. As we join family, play games, share laughs and pass tons of food around the table, we are reminded of how very blessed we are.

Our blessings are bountiful and our Heavenly father has prepared a feast for us beyond anything we can imagine. Thanks be to God!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Downtown Fun

Lily Grace joined friends Claire, Elliot and Blake for some downtown fun. The kids enjoyed lunch and a downtown trolley ride. We all had so much fun!!

Mary Poppins

Lily Grace adores the movie Mary Poppins as well as the songs from the movie. As many of you know, she also LOVES dress-up. She is quite resourceful and imaginative when it comes to her outfits. She recently put together this Mary Poppins ensemble complete with coat (yes, it's her bathrobe), skirt, hat, scarf, knitting bag and umbrella and ran around the house and backyard singing "Chim Chim Cher-ee."
Too cute!

Birthday Blessings!

Today is officially my 34th birthday. (To all of you rubbing your head, come on.... I have the cake below to prove it.- ha!) Matt and Lily Grace kicked the celebration off this weekend. They went shopping together and Lily Grace picked out some lovely gifts for me (and herself, poor Matt didn't stand a chance). They also baked and decorated me a cake. We enjoyed it for dessert following my favorite meal which they prepared for me.
Today, Matt took off from work today. (It may be my birthday but it IS the day he became eligible for his phone upgrade and he and the iPhone 4 are becoming fast friends.) Before that much anticipated trip to the Apple Store, Matt read to Lily Grace's preschool class. It was "silly sock" day at school and Matt being the awesome dad that he is, joined right in. He sat wearing a brown and a white sock and read Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy. You are truly one in a million daddy.
After some shopping, we enjoyed lunch out and a wonderful afternoon of family fun.
I am so blessed. I have a wonderful family to celebrate and share special days with, who always make me feel special, no matter the day. I am blessed knowing that my Heavenly Father loves me unconditionally and has blessed me with all that I have, all that I am and all that I celebrated today.
Thanks so much to everyone who has called, emailed, sent text and cards. I am blessed by you also.

Snow White and some Halloween Fun!

..with Snow White hair

Lily Grace and Claire at the Church Carnival

Snow White golfs??

Harry Potter, Snow White and a cute Giraffe on their way trick or treating

Her first house

And near the last house (and this isn't even our wagon or her daddy pulling)

This year, Lily Grace asked to be Snow White. Her other request was for "Snow White Hair." She was so serious, that she would pull out books with Snow White in them and insist that she needed curls. Well I obliged her. Sure Lily Grace has hair as straight as a board, but you see, there are two things us Southern girls know and that's teasing big hair and hairspray. (And I will admit that I lived through the 80's with big hair, I just won't show you any pictures.- HA!) Curling her hair actually took about 35 minutes and half a can of extra hold hairspray. When I finished it, Lily Grace took a look at herself gasped and then squealed with excitement at how she looked. I will say, she looked cute as a button.
Now only did Snow White enjoy trick or treating with friend Claire (this is actually the first year that Lily Grace has asked to go), but we also joined Claire and her family at the church carnival. The girls even entered the costume contest. They marched right up on stage, one adorable giraffe and precious Snow White. They looked so cute. Lily Grace did her princess wave and blew kisses to the audience the entire time she was on stage. When the announcer got to her to introduce her as Snow White, she touched her hair and let him know that it was special. So funny! And on a side note, Daddy also contributed to that hair. Who do you think stopped on the way home from work and picked up the curling iron? Thanks daddy!
Matt, along with a couple of other dads took the kids trick or treating. He said they all had a great time. Apparently! I think Lily Grace was asleep before her head hit the pillow. Well actually, the two shampoos and blow dry it took to get all that hairspray out could have something to do with how relaxed she was. HA! HA!
Happy Halloween!

The Many Faces of Lily Grace

Digging away.....even in a big pink bow

One cute little dirty girl and her latest outside find

The Bride...

...and her husband (you're a great sport daddy)

In mom's wedding dress

Lily Grace has a huge imagination. She keeps Matt and I laughing. Her latest is digging in the flower beds and playing bride.
According to her, she is either digging for dinosaur bones or planting. She is very girly, but doesn't mind getting dirty. I told Matt last week that she is such an answered prayer. What momma doesn't pray for a precious little girl covered in dirty fun? I know I did!!
Playing bride is her other favorite thing right now. When she does, her name changes to Mary. Get it??? ( I must admit, that when she first started dressing up and told us that her name was Mary, Matt and I thought she meant the Virgin Mary. We were so proud like awww, she's really been listening in church. Then she explains to us that because she is getting married that her name is Mary.) So funny! Daddy is her husband and she lugs around those artificial flowers. That veil on her head is actually a cape which she used to wear as a super hero. (What a versatile wardrobe piece. -ha) Last weekend, I snuck upstairs and put on my wedding dress and came downstairs. She has never seen it and the look on her face was hilarious. Of course, she had to try it on after that.
She's also very in to being like mommy. Believe me, I am cherishing this time. I know that soon enough, that might not be as cool. Wait....of course it will, you've met me right?? I'm a fun hip mom. HA! HA!
I got out of the shower last week to find her standing in my bathroom with my rollers in her hair. She rolled it herself and told me she was getting ready to go to Target.