A look back at 2008’s FUNNIEST moments!

1. Tuesday, December 30, 2008 "Boogers... yuck! "

2. Wednesday, October 29, 2008 "I kind of think I might have... "

3. Wednesday, November 12, 2008 "So what did you learn at school today? "

4. Thursday, August 28, 2008 "You calling a police man?? "

5. Thursday, December 25, 2008 "A doll diaper... Eva was right! "

6. Tuesday, October 28, 2008 "Please let my Mommy's head be okay the next time she drinks! "

7. Wednesday, December 10, 2008 "But I want a crate too! "

8. Sunday, May 25, 2008 "When I get bigger I'm going to have RED hair... "

9. Monday, September 1, 2008 "You bow, I bow... "

10. Wednesday, January 23, 2008 "Pina-colada's "

11. Thursday, November 27, 2008 "Almost doesn't count... "

12. Friday, January 18, 2008 "Where did the cow-go? "

13. Thursday, January 10, 2008 "Yes you can, go use the alligator "

14. Thursday, November 13, 2008 "Drive by's.... "

15. Wednesday, January 9, 2008 "Where is the fun at??? "

New Years Eve

For New Years Eve we had the Grigg's over (Shane, Jess & Ella), Josh & Erin joined later too... the girls had fun playing and did a relatively good job getting along most of the time. I can't figure it out but Ella likes Eva one minute and can't stand her the next. I think she just wants Grace all to herself, but who knows the mind of a three year old;-) The girls played upstairs while we grilled and sat around talking.

After dinner they spent most of their time running around coloring, riding Eva's train and playing on Eva's rocking horse. I can't get over how much fun Grace has riding the little train around - Nanni got it for Eva for Christmas but honestly Grace spends more time on it than Eva does! Which in general Eva is okay with, but she got a little mad when Grace & Ella would get on it and leave her out. I'd then have to intervene and remind them that the train is Eva's and she's sharing it. For the most part they then worked things out.

Jess brought sparkling white grape juice for the girls to drink to, crazy me let them drink out of big girl cups - I think Ella was the only one who DIDN'T spill hers. Eva wanted to "cheers" w/ everyone, it was too cute! Uncle Rob taught Grace how to do this, so either he started teaching Eva already or she's picked it up from Grace. Eva's first big drink on her own and she spilled it on her shirt - we laughed b/c one drink in her and she was taking off her clothes:-)

During a quiet moment I got pics of the three girls on the stairs - it was cute b/c I'd say "make a funny face" and Eva would try and make the same face I was making, Grace would make her own funny face and Ella would turn to see what Grace was doing and try to make the face Grace was making. They are the perfect ages to just observe - just nicer to observe when they all get along;-)

When it came time to leave Eva's left standing at the alter waiting for a kiss & a hug from Ella. Hopefully they will all grow out of it since we spend a good deal of time together.

Auto accident

Okay so Matt was headed out to go play cards w/ Tommy in Columbus, so I thought the girls and I might run to Target @ Southport and then run by Nanni's house to see her new bedroom furniture. But, and it's a huge but - on the way to Southport we ran into a huge hold up...

We were on St. Rd. 44 headed SW when - thank goodness I wasn't speeding, I saw a a red truck who rocked like he was going to pull out but then didn't. I thought for sure he had to see me, but unfortunately he didn't and pulled out crossing my lane of traffic. I hit the horn, the brake and swerved all at the same time. I almost missed him, but luckily we didn't hit him head on, it makes me sick to think what might have happened if we had. The left front of my car was damaged, I called 911 to report the accident and called Matt & my dad - everyone arrived about the same time.

When the police officer got to my window Grace was in the backseat interrupting so much I could barely talk - especially being so shaken up. I finally had to tell the officer that she wasn't going to be quiet until she got to ask her question, Grace needed to know "is he a NICE police officer???" Not sure why this was such an urgent question, but I guess that is four year old logic. He politely responded, "I think so, but not everyone I've dealt with would say that." I thought that was a petty good response.

After filling out all of the paperwork I drove my car back to Nanni's house w/ Poppy following me - Matt offered to come home, but I said he could go back and enjoy playing cards. I didn't think my car drove quite right but the police officer said it was okay so I drove on. Matt drove my car later and said it was NOT drivable. Guess I was right. I was a little proud of my driving skills, both Matt and Dad went on and on saying what a good job I did avoiding the accident. I know it still occurred but it could have been so much worse, and I managed to avoid hitting the electric pole too.

I feel so grateful knowing what could have happened - looking in the backseat after the accident and seeing both girls shaken up but okay was all that mattered.

Boogers... yuck!

Okay so I hate to even out this in writing but Grace was in trouble for picking her nose and leaving, well, let's say the "remains" on the seat of my car. Yes I know - G R O S S! I informed her that if this happened again, there would be no DVD/TV in the car... she didn't want this to happen so she's been on her best behavior. Nanni also reinforced my threat w/ some more patient advice telling Grace that rather than pick her nose she should request a Kleenex.

So after I had cleaned my car, I went to Brenda's to pick the girls up. Grace got in the car and immediately commented on how nice my car looked. Nice. Then she says, "Mommy I need a Kleenex please." W/ the move, I didn't have any in my car yet - yikes! So I said, "Honey I don't have any in here right now... but DON'T PICK YOUR NOSE." Grace then says, "Oh, I'm not picking my nose (like duh, why would you even think I was doing that) I'm just trying to put this booger that fell out back in."

I mean don't you always have random boogers falling out of your nose??? :-)

Marley & Me

Grace has been asking to go to the movies ever since Sarah said that maybe she would take Grace & Ally to the movies... so after Nanni saw Marley & Me and thought it would be okay for Grace to see it, I told her we could go. We hit the 4:00 p.m. show, right after Grace got up from her nap (which it's still questionable as to whether she actually slept at all, but that's another story). When we got there the line was to the door! We were 15 minutes early but I was afraid we weren't going to make it in there in time. Of course after getting our tickets we HAD to get "yellow" popcorn, I think Grace wanted that as much as she wanted to see the movie. So tickets and popcorn in hand we head into the movies, the previews had already started but we found a seat. Grace was so cute, she didn't weigh enough to keep her seat down so every time she moved at all the seat would flip up - it was pretty funny!

Not sure how much of the movie Grace actually watched, she was too busy talking, eating popcorn, wanting something to drink... moving to my lap (which I loved), wondering who else was watching the movie. But when the movie was over all she could do was talk about how much FUN it was, and wanting to go again... so that made it all worth it. Plus the movie was very good, it actually worked well that Grace didn't watch it too closely b/c the end was soooo sad... nearly everyone was in tears. Thankfully not Grace - whew!

A doll diaper... Eva was right!

We were over at Pop-pop & Gram's for Christmas (aka: Matt's mom & dad) when Eva needed her diaper changed... I figured it would be me changing it again when Pop-pop said, "give it to me, I'll do it." So I handed Tom the travel diaper pack and off he and Eva go to the bathroom.

Eva is playing in the living room when I notice at least an inch of her little crack sticking out the top of her diaper... we teased her, Matt said "like mother like daughter". When Tom came in we teased him too! He said, "tell them Eva, I did a good job!" Eva proceeded to shake her head no, and say "No, no, no!" Tommy then said, "Yes I did." And Eva walked over to him and said, "bad". Which was just too funny b/c she doesn't say much - but she was clear on the no and bad... hmm...

After leaving Pat and Tom's and we're home Matt takes Eva upstairs to change her (she was stinky). He then comes down and says, the diaper Eva was wearing wasn't her diaper it was a DOLL's diaper! No wonder Eva said that Pop-pop didn't do a good job, as little as the diaper was I can't believe he was able to get it on her -- it had to be smaller than a preemie diaper! Who knows how, but it held everything.

Oh, have to give Tom some credit, not sure how he got the doll diaper, but Grace and Emma were playing w/ their dolls right where Eva was when he picked her up to go change her... and Matt is certain that had to be the first diaper he's ever changed! Nice job Pop-pop:-)

Christmas at Gram's

Christmas morning...

Our first Christmas in the new house - and what a Christmas!!! I woke up at 5:00 a.m. to go to the bathroom and couldn't go back to sleep. Every little noise in the house and I thought it was Grace coming down... I was just so excited! I'd finally fallen back to sleep around 8:00 a.m., when at 8:10 a.m. Grace came running in yelling, "Daddy, Mommy, get out of bed!!! Santa was here! Santa was here!" So I went up to get Eva who was still asleep:-) Eva saw her little black dress shoes from church by the stairs and instead I put them on, well dress shoes don't go on bare feet easily, so I only had one shoe on when we hit the landing and Eva saw the kitchen set. Of course after that she wanted down! It was so cute too b/c here she was tired, wearing only one shoe (a dress shoe at that) stumbling around their new kitchen set cooking:-) She looked like a little drunk old lady, but the most important thing - she was so HAPPY! I was in heaven.

Grace of course loved everything, the kitchen set, her dogs and all their accessories, and she was very into opening presents... where Eva, half the time when you gave her a present she thought it was for someone else and passed it on... they don't stay at this stage long, I know. But both girls were great, loved what they got but weren't too spoiled about it. What a wonderful morning!

If that wasn't enough, after we'd opened everything Nanni, Poppy and Uncle Rob came over to visit - they'd actually skipped going to Bloomington this year so they could come see the girls... sweet, huh? Eva loved showing off everything, and cooked meals for everyone. Grace my little drama queen, who is always singing and dancing non-stop, I seriously can't get her to stop, was too shy to do the High School Musical wii game she'd gotten in front of everyone (basically singing w/ a microphone to HSM songs). But makes me think - is she feeling okay?? Can't be my Grace??

Note from Santa...

I wish I could get a do-over...

Okay so here goes, I'm not trying to avoid writing about it but it was a TRAUMATIC event for me... but in needs to go on record so that some day when Grace looks back she will know how very much her original snowman ornament meant to me. Yes, I did say "meant" as in past tense.

I had been so worried about the ornament making it from Nanni's house to our new house w/out getting broken - and I cleared that hurdle w/ flying colors. The ornament did not have a hook to place it on the tree so I was working to tie a ribbon on it when it slipped off the ribbon and onto the T I L E floor.... SCATTERING into millions of pieces. After everything that had been going on, Nanni's surgeries, moving, just the exhaustion of everything I burst into tears, sadly w/ Grace watching. She saw the whole tragic event - the breaking of the ornament and the devastation that occurred afterwards. I was truly heartbroken. Matt was yelling at me to pull it together and stop crying, saying I was going to upset Grace (which he was right) but for me was only making it worse. Grace is trying to pat me on the back saying, "It's okay Mommy, I'll tell Miss Rhonda you broke it and we need to make another one" between sobs. Oh it was just awful!
So I went out to get Christmas ornaments and paint, and paint pens, and anything else I could think of... both girls and I tried to make new snowman ornaments. The single snowmen are courtesy of Grace and the smaller grouping of three snowmen are Eva's:-)

Clearly not as good as the original, but you've gotta make lemonade out of lemons, right;-)

First night in the NEW house!!!

Our first night in the new house - wow, this has been a log wait. We thought about trying to make it in on Saturday the 20th but we just weren't ready yet, and Sunday I was at the Celine Dion concert w/ Mom so that would have meant Matt had both girls by himself - not to mention I want to be here for our first night all together;-)

I thought Grace might want to sleep in the same room w/ Eva (Eva is in the other bedroom b/c she's still in her crib and isn't ready to make the jump to a big girl bed). We went a head and put Grace's old bedroom furniture in the other bedroom, Eva's crib is in there just in case Grace wanted to sleep there; but shockingly she wanted to sleep in her bedroom. She made no mention of sleeping in there along - crazy, huh? Both girls did a great job going to bed... this can't last!

Grace's Christmas Preschool Party

Today was Grace's preschool Christmas Party, I hadn't signed up to bring anything w/ the move and all but was hoping we'd be settled enough that I'd be able to go... so I took pics:-) It was so cute, everyone is dressed in their little Christmas shirts made from their foot print -- I LOVED Grace's shirt the best:-)

They decorated Christmas cookies - Grace had like 2 inches of icing piled on top... as did most of the others. After decorating (and eating) their cookies they exchanged their gifts. Miss Rhonda had the child who was opening sit in a chair while the others sat on the floor so everyone could see. Grace drew Nathan, and got him a package of Match Box Cars (the limit on the gift was supposed to be $5). Charlie drew Grace and who knows how he knew she LOVES dogs, but he got her a little black dog that has a little jacket - Grace loved it! He even wrote out his card, too sweet - Charlie's a cutie too!

Santa was "supposed" to make a visit but apparently he wasn't able to make it - behind on getting all those Christmas presents ready for delivery I guess. So Father Chris and Joan stopped by for a visit. Then all of the kids (parents too) headed to the gym for some singing:-)

After school I took Grace to Brenda's where they were having their Christmas party there too!

The Snowman Ornament

Okay so I know as a Mom I'm supposed to according to the "Mom manual" gush about all of the handmade presents my children make... you know acting like they are the best thing ever, when you know honestly diamonds and other jewels were really what you were dreaming of. Well in this case I wouldn't have traded it for anything - seriously. I'm lucky it wasn't broken in Grace's backpack since I had no clue she was making it, so to my surprise I opened her backpack and in a little brown bag is this little jewel (see below)...

The snowman is made from white finger prints from Grace's little hand - everything about it is so perfect. She was so proud of it, I was truly in awe it was BEAUTIFUL. I carried it around carefully waiting until the tree at the new house was ready to have it placed on the tree.

This has to be one of the best gifts Grace has ever made for me.

Wrapping presents...

Okay so I know I haven't blogged much but between prepping for the move & Christmas things have just been CRAZY! I know, and during one of the most important moments for "documenting" all those cute little things you guys do... but what can I say, I'm trying:-)

Tonight I was working on getting all of the last minute presents wrapped - which included presents for Brenda's (the big Christmas party is tomorrow) so of course Grace wanted to help wrap, and you know what that means if Grace is doing it Eva wants to do it too:-) Anymore that is a total "duh" of course Eva wants to do EVERYTHING and ANYTHING Grace is doing;-) So I figured Brenda would appreciate a wrap job and let the girls wrap her present.

Eva got more tap on her than on the package, and Grace well all she did is put tape EVERYWHERE. I don't think there was a single seam that wasn't taped, she must get that from Poppy - he loves duck tape;-)

Attached is a pick of the final product, looks pretty good to me!

Grace's gymnastics exhibition...

Grace's gymnastics exhibition at the Girls Club - she's really getting good!

Note from Miss Rhonda...

Eva's Magic Trick!

Eva's so cute. Her latest thing is a magic trick... she takes her hand and pulls it up into the sleeve of her shirt. She then wants you to say, "Where is Eva's hand???" And then w/ a HUGE smile she will pop her hand out! Sometimes she even adds to the act, and while her hand is hidden in the sleeve she will shrug her shoulders and say "where it go?".

But I want a crate too!

Okay so Eva's had to take a bath first b/c she can't be in the same bath water w/ Grace b/c of the skin tag on her leg... have to wait till it falls off. So we've been doing back to back baths which takes forever! At first Eva didn't like it but I think she's starting to enjoy having the entire bathtub to herself. She loves to have control of the faucet... generally they fight over who gets to sit there while the water comes out... but when it's just her she wins:-) And she likes to lay on her belly and stretch out. It's so cute. So when Eva's bath is finished, then it's Grace's turn - but I have to make sure Eva stays out of the bathroom b/c she's in her p.j.'s but she's still tempted w/ the water, so what happens is she reaches in the bathtub and gets her p.j.'s all wet. Sometimes I get Poppy to hold her... b/c Matt's usually working at the house. Well tonight I made the comment that I needed to put Eva in a crate. Grace got SO upset... you would think b/c I was going to put her in a crate - but no she was upset b/c she wanted to be in a crate too! Is that not too funny!

Last day in the office!!!

Today is my last day in the office - yippie!!! I am so loving knowing I'll be off for nearly the next month:-) I feel bad though b/c Grace is dying to stay home w/ me - but in order to work on moving they have to go to Brenda's. It breaks my heart when Grace says, "but I want to stay home w/ you... I never get to see you" I just have to remember it's so we can move in sooner.

Decorating the Christmas tree...

Today Nanni, Grace & Eva decorated the Christmas tree... Grace has been waiting FOREVER to do it. They were so cute! Dancing all around, Grace would hand Nanni ornaments for the taller branches. And when Daddy got home Grace made him shut his eyes, drug him into the living room and yelled SURPRISE! It was soooooo sweet!

Bella's crate...

Okay who would have thought that a dog crate could be so much fun... but BOTH Grace and Eva LOVE to get in Bella's crate... and shut the door! I'm certain Eva only does it b/c Grace does it - and Grace probably does it b/c she loves dogs. At times she thinks she's a dog, and loves to crawl around, yes barking. She'll say she's Riley and Eva is Bella... I have pics of the two of them in Bella's crate - smiling, Rob thinks someone would call CPS if they saw the pics but I swear they beg to get in there - go figure!

Look at the socks!!!

Oh gosh, having someone like Grace around during the holiday makes it all worth it - she gets soooo excited over the littlest things:-) She has been dying for Nanni & Poppy to put up their Christmas tree (Matt is dying to buy her one for the new house - I keep telling him... focus on moving, we'll get a tree once we're moved!) So when Nanni hung the stockings on the mantle, I should have known Grace would come RUNNING. In she comes yelling, "COME LOOK AT ALL THE SOCKS!!!! EVERYONE HAS A SOCK!!! LOOK LOOK LOOK!!!!" It was too cute.

Nanni doesn't have her tree up yet but she put a small fiber optic tree in Grace's room. Grace was in love. She told me, "Nanni loves me a lot - look at my tree." So sweet it breaks my heart!