Soccer!

We signed Gracie up for Super Mod soccer this spring and she loves it! She is really coordinated and scores 4-5 goals per game. Her team, the Superheroes, were undefeated this season. She is also fearless taking on kids twice her size. and quite athletic. I have a feeling we are going to be spending a lot more time on the soccer pitch in the years to come. :)

First Tent

Gracie really loved the play tent at Nora's house so Nora let her borrow the tent. Yeah, more toys. We drug it home and set it up in the girls room. Grace wanted to sleep in it so I let her. I think she's a tad big for the princess tent. :)

Easter

Gracie loved Easter! The girls awoke to the Easter baskets left by the Easter Bunny. Gracie loved the toys and candy but was a little freaked out about the thought of a big bunny tip-toeing around in her room at night even if he did leave cool Easter baskets.

After checking out their Easter baskets, Hannah drug Gracie out to the front room and tried to explain what an Easter egg hunt was. Not having much luck, she settled for showing Gracie what she was talking about. Grace caught on super quick, then the race was on! Having a little sister made the egg hunt way more fun than just hunting eggs with Mom and Dad. :) It wasn't long before all the eggs were found and the girls were checking out what was inside the eggs.

Then it into their Easter dresses and off to Auntie Margie's for Easter dinner. We had dinner with Margie, Lee and Nora this year because when Daddy booked his trip to Scotland with Matt, he didn't know that he booked right over Easter weekend. :(  The girls had a great time with more Easter baskets, another egg hunt and a wonderful dinner.

Thanks Margie for making Gracie's first Easter extra special!

Hannah

Look Mom, bubbles!

Gracie found one!
 

Now, she's got the hang of it.

I found another one

Hannah's closing in

Where are the rest?

Here's one!

Happy egg hunters

Hannah and Grace in their Easter finest

Happy Easter!

Grace, Nora and Hannah

Finding more eggs

Let me see.......

Where are they?

Easter 2014

"Why you color Eggs Mom?"

We colored our Easter eggs this weekend. While Hannah was super excited to color eggs, Gracie was clearly confused. As we got everything ready she asked "Why you color eggs Mom?" We tried to explain that we were coloring the eggs to make them Easter eggs at which point she looked even more confused!

Once Hannah showed her how to dye an egg, she thought this new crazy activity might just be fun. She caught on quickly and made some great eggs. As I tried to capture her first Easter egg coloring, she couldn't resist hamming it up for the camera. She also had to do a little photo bombing too. :)

All in all, she loved dying Easter eggs but she was still confused that we couldn't just eat them all right away. When we told her that the Easter Bunny had to hide them on Easter, you should have seen her face - she was sure that this new family of hers was certifiably crazy!
 

Gracie's first Easter egg

Hannah demonstrating her technique

The girls hard at work 



Couldn't resist hamming it up for the camera

Gracie

Hannah

Nice job girls

Booty photo bomb

Can I eat it Mom?

Yum!

Six Years!

Hannie, I can't believe that we have been a family for six years now. It feels like you have always been ours. That day six years ago seems like a different lifetime when a scared , quiet little girl was placed in our arms. Today you are a happy, bright, kind, compassionate and caring young lady. You are an awesome big sister and have been amazing as you help Gracie adjust to being home. We are so proud of you and so thankful that you are our daughter.
 

Grace

Grace and Hannah

Valentine's Day

Gracie's first Valentine's Day was pretty low key. Her daycare doesn't do Valentine's day parties so she distributed a few valentines but that was about it. When she got home though, there was a holiday box from Grandma and Grandpa on the porch. Inside was candy, cards, toys, stickers, books and movies. She loved it all! It was so much fun watching Hannah show her what everything was and her candy too. :)

Gracie's Baptism

We baptized Gracie On Sunday, February 9, 2014. We were a little worried that she might be overwhelmed since she hasn't been home very long. They wanted to do a full immersion baptism but we said no because we couldn't really explain to her what she would need to do. She also doesn't like being wet and cold. Even though we just did the sprinkling rite, she wasn't thrilled but she did ok.

It was a nice mass and my friend Patty from work was one of the soloist. :) Beautiful voice. We asked Margie and Lee to be her godparents. Very thankful such good friends are there for our girl. Grandma and Grandpa, Matt and Lisa and Ken were there too.

Afterward, we went to Anthony's Homeport. Gracie was fine during brunch but had a major meltdown when Hannie went home with Nora to play. She was so out of control that I had to physically bend her to put her in the car. The way she was carrying on, I am surprised no one called the police to report a kidnapping in progress!

Gracie, on your baptism day, we pray:

Dearest Father in Heaven,
Bless this child and bless this day Of new beginnings.
Smile upon this child And surround this child, Lord, With the soft mantle of your love.
Teach this child to follow in your footsteps,
And to live life in the ways of Love, faith, hope and charity.

Amen

St Michael Church

Gracie on her baptism day

 

Margie, Gracie, Hannah, Nora and Lee



Hannah and Grace

Matt, Grandpa, Hannah, Grandma, Mommy, Grace, Daddy and Lisa

Grandpa, Dad, Grandma, Hannah, Mom, Grace, Lisa and Ken
 

 

 

 

Father Jim

Grace Belen