I knew I stopped wearing earings for a reason!

So yesterday I was getting ready to go to Quincy to run some errands and meet my aunt for lunch. So I was trying to acutally get ready (aka put on some makeup, actually fix my hair, and wear something other than a t-shirt). And I had this thought- I haven't worn earings in forever! I think the last time seriously might have been when I was pregnant with Grace. I guess I just cut that step out of my routine to save time. So I thought, "that sounds fun- how about some earrings." So I had to go dig around in my bathroom to actually find some. Oh, I forgot to mention before I walked into my room and the whole earring thing popped in my head I told Grace to find her shoes it was almost time to go. Okay, back to the digging for earrings. About 5-10 minutes into the process of choosing earrings for my five different holes in my ears and trying to acutally locate the long lost holes I had a warning alarm go off in my brain. It was super quiet-not good. I thought Grace had gone downstairs to her play room but I realized I hadn't heard anything as I got swept away with my whole earring hunt. So I went looking. Guess where I found my child?

In my backyard!!!! Yep, there she was. Her Dora bag packed (complete with diaper & pjs) and set by the van and her shoes on. Apparently she thought we were going to Papa and Grammy's house. She had been playing unsupervised in our backyard for about ten minutes. Did I mention our backyard is not entirely fenced in? Wow, I felt like mom of the year!

So, in conclusion today I will be hunting through my Christmas decorations for a jingle bell to attach to my back door. I knew I stopped wearing earings for a reason!

"Write it down...or you'll forget."

When you are a young mom with little kids moms with older kids start telling you to write down the funny things they say and do or you will forget. Well, I thought yeah I will when I have time- of course I hadn't done it yet. Then I was reading this book and the author was reflecting on her kids growing up. She was remembering when her child used to say, "Hold you me." And I thought Grace used to say that! Then I thought when did she start saying it "correctly"? And I had no idea! So here it goes- here are some of our recent funny times & toddler lingo I want to remember someday.

Funny Moments:
-The other night I could hear Grace on the monitor. She was supposed to be going to bed and finally after about 20 minutes of chattering and a little banging around I decided I better go inform her it was time to settle down and go to sleep. As I walked down the hall to her room I noticed there was a lot of light coming from under the door. She has the light on...and it gets better. Her entire bed was covered with every piece of "Little People" toys we own. She has the entire village set up and was having a great time. I couldn't help it I burst out laughing. I knew I probably shouldn't but it just caught me by surprise. I was really wondering how she got the light on by herself (usually she has to have her stool from the bathroom). So I asked her and she simply said, "Mama I reached!"
-Grace decided after spending the day at Grammy's house she no longer needed to use her potty seat. I tried to convinve her it was easier with the potty seat but she insisted that no she could do it by herself. She fell completely in the toilet and got soaked. After a brief moment to make sure she wasn't going to cry I laughed & so did she.
-I have walked in her room several times to find her fast asleep with a book still open just like she is reading it.
-Today we went over to some of our friend's who are in the process of building a house. The mud was like a magnet drawing her so strongly she couldn't resist. Finally she made her way and stepped in it. Then she looked up and said, "Mama I mess," like she was seriously upset about it.

Grace's Version of the English Language:
-Waubee (tv or movie)
-Num Nums (food of any kind)
-EEE Eww (Thank you)
-SSSSS (Short for Snack)
-Mama, I miss you. (She says this like I love you)
-Mama, I need you. (She uses this as a term of endearment-or when she is in trouble)
-I'm done. (Any time she is tired of something, for example her carseat)
- What is your name? Gracie (not sure-we almost always call her Grace)
- What is Faith's name? Sissy

Baby girl, you crack me up! While I look forward to understanding more of your constant chatter (you have lots to say!) I will miss when you look at me most sincerely and say "EEE Eww, Mama" voluntarily when I've done something for you.

Our Big Zoo Trip

For our anniversary Jeremy and I decided we would take the girls to the zoo in St. Louis. Actually it was Jeremy's idea and I LOVED it. Now, it might sound like a bummer to take your kids somewhere for your anniversary but it was perfect. What we have really been needing is some family time and I can't think of a more fun day! Not to say that it was perfect (it rained & we got lost!) But, there are lots of memories and seeing the wonder on Grace's face was priceless.

Grace loves animals. She has ever since she was very little. Before she said hardly any words she knew what sound over twenty animals made. She loves animals. So when I told her we were going to see animals like elephants, and camels, and kangaroos she looked at me and said, "On the waubee (her word for tv or movies). When I said, "No, we are going to see them in real life!" She just said, "OH!"

Even in the freezing cold rain we had a lot of fun. It was the perfect example of a trip not going exactly as planned but still being wonderful. A tip for the zoo- get there early. We knew if you get there when it opens you can park in the close free parking. Plus, all the things that cost money are free the first hour it is open. Due to getting lost we did not get to take advantage of the free attractions as planned, but maybe next time. (But we still got free parking!) We will also probably do our next zoo trip in the fall. Lets just say-field trip extravaganza! It was a little busier than we were expecting for a weekday morning. We also packed our lunch so the entire cost of our trip was less than a tank of gas- totally worth it! Due to the rain we ate our "picnic" lunch in the van (as you can see- no Faith isn't riding on her dad's lap)

Grace's favorites were the kangaroos (we went to see them twice, at her request), the camels, and the elephants. I have added a few pictures. If you are interested in a more in depth look at our zoo trip I am in the process of creating a book on shutterfly which I will link from here when I get it finished.

I think its interesting how our zoo trip included a great lesson for our marriage. Sometimes we begin marriage with a picture of perfect bliss (just like when we imagine a trip). And of course as anyone who is actually married knows it is more like our zoo trip- a few unexpected challenges. And yet when it is all said and done I still loved our day together, just like I love my not so picture perfect (yet amazing!) marriage.

Thank you Lord for a wonderful day of memories, life lessons, and fun!