Evening at the Farm!

This evening we went on a little trip with the early childhood center in town.

Grace and Eli got to experience their first ride on a school bus as we traveled to the Grady Farm!

Grace was very excited :)

(Dave looks as though he was enjoying the ride too :)

Eli and his first bus trip too!

There were so many fun things to do and see on the farm!

Grinding corn for the animals...

Grace's turn!

Time to feed the donkey and the baby goats!

We saw bunnies too!

Gracie's first pony ride!

She had so much fun...she went back for another ride!

Campfire!

Roasting hotdogs and marshmallows for s'mores!

Yum!

Around the Block

Today we got out and went for a little bike ride around our neighborhood!

Grace is getting very confident on her bike when riding in our backyard.

She wasn't so sure about daddy letting go of her bike when out on the sidewalks...

Here's our big girl on her bike!

Zoo Keeper

Here's Grace feeding her monkey at lunch time :)

And pausing to smile for a picture! =)

Always our Baby :)

Gracie looks so much older to me in this picture!

(Maybe it's her hair??)

Every once and awhile the little goof likes to climb in the baby toys for old time's sake :)

Together Time :)

Reading books so nicely together... :)

Just a few moments later...

I heard lots of giggling...and this is what I found...

A First ;)

Eli will love me for this picture some day I'm sure! :)

Eli doesn't quite understand how to go on the

potty yet- but he sure enjoys sitting on the seat!

I even let him try on big boy pants for the first time today :)

(We just wore these about long enough to get a picture :)

Cheese!

Wagon Ride!

Grace and Eli found a new form of entertainment in our backyard!

It actually started with Eli pulling Gracie around in the wagon... by the time I got my camera, it was Gracie's turn to pull Eli! :)

And there they go!

Lunch Time!

We have the messiest little eater in this house!

Little Goof!

Bike Ride!

Grace loves to ride her bike up and down our sidewalk! :)

Eli loves to sit on his bike too!

(We need to lower the seat on his little bike...so he can reach the pedals!

The two of them :)

Happy Girl! =)

1st Day of Preschool!

The expression on Grace's face...pretty much says it all :)

Grace was SO excited for her first day of preschool!

Grace with her princess backpack :)

Lots of smiles that morning!

(And every preschool morning!)

Grace in front of her locker :)

I really had a hard time deciding rather or not to send Grace to preschool this year...

She is absolutely loving it...and am so glad that we decided to send her!

She goes just 2 days a week for a few hours each day...

So we still get lots of time together at home too :)

Our Little Guy :)

It's hard to believe this little guy will be 2 in just under 2 months!

Eli is a very happy, energetic, and lovable little guy...

He loves to sit on the potty just like big sister...

Here are some of his most frequently used words/phrases he's using these days...

I'm hungry (Sounds more like "I hunry" :)

All done

Here go (Here you go)

Up

Uh Oh

Elmo

Potty

Poopy :)

Mommy, Daddy, Grace

Baby

Lala (Lilah- the baby that comesover 4 days a week:)

Yes & No

Open it

Need Help

Please & Thank You

Shoes!

He's still a great sleeper (from about 8:30-8:00 every night)

He takes a good 2-2 1/2 hr nap each day too!

Eli loves to give hugs and kisses!

He loves books, going for walks outside, and chasing Gracie around the house :)

We are so blessed to have our sweet little Eli!

Mall of America

Thanks to Auntie Kim and Uncle Chad- we were able to get more free tickets to the theme park at the Mall of America!

Grace's first time on the big swings!

Carson, Ryan, and Chad all ready to ride too!

Grace loved it!

Grace on her all-time favorite ride- The Puppy Ride! :)

Thanks Kim & Chad...for the fun afternoon! :)

Play Time!

Here are Grace and Eli enjoying a little time at the park!

Eli taking a peek! :)

Train Ride!

Fishing and a Boat Ride!

During our weekend away, we got to ride on Carson and Ryan's Grandma's boat!

Eli even got to help drive the boat :)

(He has such great skills...he can even drive with his eyes closed ;)

All by himself even too! :)

Carson fishing!

Ryan caught a fish!

Gracie's turn :)

I think she caught something!

A fish! :)

Reunion Time!

Grace, Eli, and I spent the weekend with Auntie Kim and family!

(Dave and a quiet weekend at home...working on his "to do" list :)

Today we headed to a family reunion!

The reunion was full of very distant relatives.

But it was nice to reconnect with family... :)

We ended up spending lots of time outside playing with Cousins Carson & Ryan.

Cousin Ryan enjoying the swing!

Goofy Carson!

Our little monkey in a tree! :)

Not-so-distant family members :)

The ancient playground!

I'm so thankful they don't make slides like that anymore.

Of course, Eli thought that slide was the greatest!

Thanks to Uncle Curt, he got to experience the giant slide a few times :)