WIPE OUT

As I type these words, my husband and daughter are laughing hysterically while watching the new Reality TV show "WIPE OUT" on ABC. The premise of the show is to see who has the fastest time on the worlds most difficult obstacle course. Nothing like watching a bunch of ordinary people make fools of themselves!

Ron just announced that he is setting up an obstacle course in our backyard. Let the fun begin!

Parties, Parties, Parties

The 3 Musketeers!

Always striking a pose!

We are definitely on the party circuit this summer! Gracie's friend Reagan had her birthday party at Chuckie Cheese's this past Saturday. Although the adults don't always love going to CCs, the kids are never disappointed! Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of the birthday girl. I did get a few pics of Gracie with some of her friends before my camera battery died. I tell ya, that camera is nothing but trouble! Must be time for a new one (hint, hint hubby........actually I'd prefer a MAC book instead ;) )

Olympics 2016 here we come!!!

We enrolled Gracie in gymnasitics this summer and she absolutely LOVES IT!!!!! I wish we would have enrolled her as a toddler. I observe the toddler class while waiting and the kids are adorable. They do tumblesets, walk on balance beams and hang like little monkeys from the bars. This would have been right up Gracie's alley when she was about 2 or 3. It still is! She's doing pretty well with the instruction so far. When I asked her what her favorite thing about gymnastics was, she said the balance beam and the block pit. The block pit is a big pit of foam cubes that they get to play in at the end of class! I'll be happy if she just learns how to do a cartwheel.....something I never mastered!!!!

Camp Primrose

Gracie is having a grand ole time at Summer Camp this year. They go on at least two field trips every week. I think she has seen more of Atlanta in the last 3 weeks than I have since we moved here! So far they've been to The Atlanta Motor Speedway, Kennesaw Mountain, Park of Dreams, Mountasia Minature Golf, and US Play. Some of the upcoming trips are to the Center for Puppetry Arts and the High Museum of Art. Why any sane person would want to take a bunch of 5 year olds to the High Museum of Art is beyond me.......but Gracie is game!

This is how our morning usually starts off!

After a pep talk

Shoe Graduation

I'm so sad. My little girl no longer wants to wear her little Keds. Gracie has had a pair of the "Daphne" style keds in every size since she was a toddler. It's the perfect shoe......all white, velcro and goes with every outfit! Apparently these nice little shoes don't support her growing ability to run "as fast" or jump "as high"! And to her defense, she is pretty hard on shoes. So, we took a trip to Stride Rite and she chose the "Superball" tennis shoe shown above......but in BLUE!?! Ron and I tried to reason with her about getting a shoe with more "white" or "pink" so that it would match more of her wardrobe. She was having none of it. She even insisted on wearing the "blue" shoes out of the store. So, if you see our child in a beautiful dress and blue tennis shoes....this is why.

P.S. Our child has giant feet. She is measuring a size 12!!!!

Kung Fu Panda

We took a little $50 field trip to the movies yesterday to check out Kung Fu Panda! I must say the movie was GREAT. Gracie was roaring with laughter. We actually had to tell her to tone it down a bit. The animation was superior and the dialogue was right on point. Check this one out.....if you're willing to take out a second mortgage on your home....geeeez, I can't believe how expensive it has become to see a movie. Ron and I decided to get a #1 combo that came with a large popcorn and two medium drinks. They don't put a price on the sign and I know why now......it was $17!!!!!!!! We'll definitely skip the popcorn next time.....we didn't even eat half of it.

No H"air"

Gracie has been really into music lately. When we're in the car she always asks the name of the song and the name of the person singing it. I guess she will be like me when it comes to music. So, I'm sure you all know the song "No Air" by Jordan Sparks and Chris Brown because they play it on the radio a gazillion times a day. Well, Gracie and I had an argument about this song because she claims that they are saying "No Hair"! I just about peed in my pants. I think Weird Al Yankovic could have a hit with that one.

Gracie's got a brand new Do

Well, I finally caved in and let Gracie get her hair cut. She has been asking for short hair for some time now. After school on Friday I asked her if she wanted to go and get her hair trimmed and she said yes. I figured I could get away with just a trim. But NO! When the stylist called her up, she told her that she wanted her hair cut up to here, pointing to her shoulders. I wanted to cry. But I must say it is VERY cute and it looks much healthier. I don't think Ron was very happy with it, but it looks like it's growing on him. And Gracie likes it so much that she refused to wash it because she feared it would grow back!

UPDATE: Gracie was looking at the blog and she claims that she looks like Ms. Emily and Ms. Heidi with her new haircut. I agree!

My Little Pony Ride

Gracie had a great time at her friend Shian's birthday party! She had a My Little Pony party complete with real pony rides! Gracie took one ride on the pony and that was enough for her!

The birthday girlEmma

Emma and Shian

Gracie and ShianGracie and Julian
Robbie and JT
Happy Birthday to You!

EXHAUSTED!!!!!!!!!

We just returned from our annual Disney Trip and we are exhausted. Next time we go back, it will not be for 8 days!!!! Now that we have been so many times, we know what we want to see and what we can skip. Gracie, on the other hand, could have stayed an additional 8 days! She had a blast this trip. She loves, loves, loves Big Thunder Mountain Railroad! At our last count, she rode it 15 times. Yes, my baby loves roller coasters.....just like me! We also did Splash Mountain numerous times and any other ride that gets you drenched. We tried a few new things this trip, such as the Spirit of Aloha dinner show, breakfast in Cinderella's castle and lunch at the Garden Grill. They were all excellent, especially the Luau. We also attended Mickey's Pirate and Princess Party which was awesome. They had a special parade and fireworks show (we missed the fireworks because Gracie insisted on riding Thunder Mountain again). The park was virtually empty and we just walked onto the rides with no wait.

I have way too many pictures to post here (500 +) .....so here are a few.

Posing in front of Cinderella's castle on our very last day

Animal Kingdom

Spirit of Aloha

Prince Caspian (Gracie loves The Chronicles of Narnia)

Tower of Terror

Breakfast at Tusker House in Animal Kingdom

Hollywood Studios

Pre-K Graduation

Gracie's Pre-K graduation ceremony was last Thursday.....the night before we left for Disney. The kids did such a great job. They sang several songs and recited the pledge allegiance. Gracie even had a duet with Julian, singing the song "The Number Rock"! All of my pictures of them on stage came out way too dark, so I won't post any here. Kindergarten, here we come!

Look Mom and Dad. I did it!!!!

Try getting 24 5 year olds to stand still for a picture! It won't happen.

Ms. Wes (Lead Teacher) and Gracie
Alysse, Justin, Griffin and Gracie
Gracie and Robbie
Gracie and Shian
Gracie and Ethan