Our Little Mermaid

Click to hear the most angelic little voice...

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We know what she is going to be for Halloween!!

A day of random fun

Gracelee and I decided to get out in a different way today...

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It was just a fun day!

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We started by taking the recycling to the Recycle Center in the heart of Rosenberg... probably won't do that by myself again, but trying to do our part to save the Earth.

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Then through a friend's posting on Facebook, we learned that there is a Carousel and a train ride in Katy Mills mall! Whoo Hoo!!! TWO of our favorite things! Then, come to find out, there is also a playground! Yay!!! INDOOR!!!!

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We started with the Carousel, which makes momma very dizzy, but Gracelee held on ALL BY HERSELF this time so I could take her picture...

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We then moved on to the "choo- choo" train... where we got to sit in the caboose!!!!

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She enjoyed looking around almost as much as momma did! We drove by several stores! : )

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Then we had to get some Wetzels Pretzel bites... and off to the play land... not my favorite place, but she seemed to enjoy herself! She went down the slide and through a tunnel, and even stopped by a campfire...

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She is becoming more and more independent and I am having to learn to let her go... all the while trying to watch her at the same time. She climbs and jumps and discovers new and fun things... and she doesn't always need my help... Now there is an eye popper- outer! What?!?!?!?!?! My Baby doesn't need me as much anymore???? OMG!!

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I love to watch her, though! I love to see her look around and figure stuff out... decide what she wants to play on, what she wants to see. It is rewarding to know that she has taken what I have taught her and she is applying it! That part of parenting is super cool!!!

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The last thing we did was ride a ghetto ice cream truck that took 75 cents to ride for 30 seconds... wow, is all I can say!

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She had a great time and is now sleeping like the angel that she is!

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I am so in love with her!

A celebration of Christianity

August 2, 2009

As Christians we believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. We believe that He died on the Cross taking away our sin. We believe that the Holy Sacrament of Baptism forever reminds us that His Blood washes away our sin...

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Some people feel that you shouldn't baptize a baby. I guess it is because they haven't been given the opportunity to accept Jesus in their hearts on their own, or maybe it is because they haven't learned the meaning of sin. My opinion is...

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What a better way to start out in life, than with Jesus by your side???!!!???

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Not that He isn't there already, but this occasion is to CELEBRATE the fact that HE is HERE!!! He is here from the moment of conception, molding and praying for your life! He is here to give us free will and the direction to choose right from wrong. He is here to be our guide, our example, our Father.

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August 2nd, 2009, we celebrated Gracelee's baptism. She is now being raised to know Jesus, to LOVE Jesus and to accept nothing else. We were given a very special gift that day. A baptismal candle that you can burn each year in celebration and remembrance of these gifts of forgiveness and the Light.

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With a special dinner, we gathered around our table, and celebrated Gracelee as a Christian.

Menu:

Grilled Red Snapper with lemon and oregano topped with a feta cheese and kalamata olive relish

Grilled Zucchini

kalamata olive with feta cheese, sun dried tomatoes, and walnut couscous

and of course, flat bread

Summer Vacation: Panama City Beach, Florida 2010

Oil shmoil!

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There was none to be seen, Thank the Good Lord!

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We took our family vacation to Panama City Beach, Florida... It is tradition in Justin's family, and this year Nini made the trip down, so we got to stay at the beach for 3 whole days!

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It is always a treat to spend time with Nini and Justin's aunt Cissy and her 2 wonderful children, Lauren and Jarrett! We all have a blast hanging out together, and this year was extra special because Gracelee was entertaining DELUXE!!!

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While Lessie and Amanda drove from Houston, which was such a blessing because we got to send a LOT of stuff with them, Scott, Justin, Gracelee and I flew! That's right folks! PCB has its own airport!!!! And it was little Miss Gracelee's first flight!!!!

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Gracelee was such a trooper! The plane was delayed a hour and a half which cut into her nap schedule, and consequently, she enjoyed the airport and looking at the airplane, but slept through the entire flight. Probably a blessing for her sake!

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Once in PCB, Lessie picked us up and we headed to the condo... where Gracelee was surrounded by family and spoiled... but she is never rotten! Gracelee got a new book from aunt Cissy, that was a HUGE hit for everyone (it even became the buzzer for a hilarious game of taboo!), and a stuffed Lady dog that became Gracelee's best friend while out of town! She really loves her puppy and missed her so much, so a big THANK YOU to Nini for the stuffed puppy dog!!!

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Immediately stepping off the plane, I turned to Scott and said. "I don't know what it is about knowing that I am on vacation with family, but I am instantly hungry." And I pretty much stayed that way, even though ALL I did was stuff my face full of junk food! Dinners were amazing! We had homemade Green Enchiladas, courtesy of Aunt Amanda, who is now aptly nicknamed Aunt Minnie, and we had Homemade Red Pepper Cannelloni, courtesy of Grammy! We also went out to eat at Captain Andersons, which seems to be tradition too, but my preference is always HOMEMADE GOODNESS!!!!! Of course, I made an idiot of myself during lunch too, but really, the water and sun make you extra hungry!!!! Agree?!?!?!?!

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This picture is "If your happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it!"

This was Lady on the trip... have to be sure she eats!

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Justin and I were a little nervous as to how Gracelee would handle the beach... you know hot, sandy, HOT...

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BUT... she is my outside girl!!!

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She loved EVERY minute of it and then some!

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She loved the waves crashing against her feet, she loved riding the waves as we waded to the sandbar (it was only waist deep to me and it was away from the congregation of seaweed), and she LOVED playing in the sand! It did not matter that she had it every where! It didn't really matter that it stuck to her... She just played and played! I think she did appreciate the fact that daddy kept a bucket of water close by so that momma could clean her hands off regularly, but she never once complained! We would stay out for about 2 hours and then she would need to rinse off, play in the pool and then nap... which she did VERY well!

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I am so happy that she likes it because Justin and I do! We look forward to it every year!

I love this sequence of pictures because it is almost in motion!

Aunt Minnie found a Pandora station that played Mickey Mouse Club House... this picture is "Our Problem Solved..."

Shake what your Momma gave ya!

Chillin' with daddy under the cabana

She is too cool for school!

My love bug!

Smile!...

Daddy is so silly!

Peek-a- boo, Aunt Minnie! I see you!

Playing "No more Monkeys jumping on the Bed" with Grammy

Getting spoiled by Aunt Cissy, some more!!!

Family time! What a good looking bunch!

My HEART!!

Okay... can we say MODEL couple?!?!?! I mean seriously! Are they not the most gorgeous pair??

Scott and Justin taking advantage of a frisbee game

Scott and Grammy are masters of building sandcastles! We were all reminiscing Didi... although Gracelee and I never got to build sand castles with him, we got to hear the stories and learn the proper technique... we miss him dearly!

Whoo hoo! Riding the waves! Sort of!

Chillin' with Grammy under the umbrella, which made it feel about 5 degrees cooler...

Our last night... isn't it beautiful!!!

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We had a blast! Thank you Grammy for such a nice, relaxing vacation!!!

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Gracelee,

Again I tell you how wonderful you are and how much I love you!

Again I tell you that there is nothing better than time with the ones you love!

Again I tell you that you are the most special thing that has happened to your daddy and I thus far in life!!!!

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I love you and I love spending time with you! You are so smart and so wonderful, and you light up the room with your spark of a personality and your beautiful little face! Every where we went people ooo-ed and ahh-ed over you! From the airport to the restaurant and even in the elevator, you charmed the socks off of Florida!

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You still amaze us with your manners and your behavior and your love of life! I know you are only 16 months, but, baby, you have taught me so much about life! You have so much JOY and so much INNOCENCE and no time for waste! You want to learn and experience and grow! I love you so much!!!!!!!!

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I love experiencing life with you!

I love you more than life itself,

Momma