Go Royals!

It's been a few decades since KC baseball has seen the play-offs!  I'm really hoping this is the first of many 'Go Royals' posts!  

Part like it's 1985, babies!  

Rest Time

Gracie has pretty much given up napping regularly since she turned 3. Sometimes she sleeps, but oftentimes she just rests - which is code for plays quietly. I require her to rest pretty much every day, unless we're just too busy. She's supposed to stay in her room until I tell her she can come out, but about an hour in, she starts coming out to ask if it's time yet. I make her rest for 90 minutes, so the last 30 are in and out. 

Today she made it an hour, but came to wake Ryan and I from our naps... yes, we sleep... after an hour. We sent her back in for 30 more minutes, and when the time was up, this is what I found. 

For those who know me well, this mess is the worst her room has ever looked!  But she was pretty proud of the daycare she'd started. Pretty sweet!  I guess all the babies were crashed out, so the sitter decided she'd snooze, too!  Two beds in her room and she chooses the floor. Weirdo!

Dinner with Great Grandma Jean

Last night we picked up Great Grandma Jean and headed out to Corner Cafe in Riverside. Gracie kept commenting throughout the meal that she looooved this restaurant. It was quite yummy!  Afterward we went back to Great Grandma Jean's house to visit and play!  Gracie brought over a photo album and listened while Great Grandma Jean told her about everyone in the pictures. It was a fun, quiet night!  

Cousins!

Today Annabelle came over to play for awhile. As predicted, both girls had a great time!  We played, went to the city market, played some more, and ate. Not a bad morning with two sweet girls!  Gracie was in seventh heaven when she got to feed her yogurt. Such a blessing to be a close family!

A few funnies!

Before I forget to post them...

Two weeks ago at preschool, Gracie didn't earn a sticker. When I asked the teacher what happened, she explained that the kids could earn a sticker for knowing their full name.  When she asked Gracie for her full name, G replied,"Gracie Louise" very matter-of-factly. Mrs. Greene was confused because her enrollment card said Grace Mackenzie. So she asked Gracie if she'd ever heard of Grace Mackenzie. Gracie said she has heard that name before, but only from her mom. Aunt Steph calls her Gracie Louise. So that's her full name. What??!!  So I told Steph that missing her sticker once was okay, but I'll hunt her down if it continues!  Too funny! Needless to say, we've cleared that up now. 

Another funny happened tonight. She was stalling bathtime by working on her easel. So I said that I didn't appreciate how I was a sweet Momma by letting her watch a show and eat a junk food snack past her normal bathtime, but when it was her turn to be sweet, she wasn't obeying and getting ready for her bath.  So I left the room to get on my jammies and she followed me into my room to say, and I quote, "Honey. That's just how some kids are."  What??!!  I said, "Well, you have never been that way, but I guess you're not my sweet girl anymore."  She repeated, "Well, that's just how some kids are" while she started undressing herself for bath. Geez, this kid!  She's called me 'honey' a few times lately. It kills me!  

I can only imagine the stories she tells at school. 

A Family Date to the Circus!

A few weekends ago, the circus came to town!  Ryan and I surprised G with a family date to the event. A friend that Ryan works with also shared about the all-access pre-show pass for all ticket holders at Barnum and Baileys' circuses. It began an hour before the show and Gracie just loved it!  She got to go down to the arena floor and see the animals and clowns up close. I was impressed and so was G!  

  

In the picture below, the yellowish blob in the top center is an acrobat hanging upside-down!  Pretty cool!

An elephant painting!

Ryan was a little nervous when we were buying our tickets online. We wanted to be close enough to see, but not "close enough that the clowns can jack with us" according to Ryan. Good news... The clowns were not close enough to 'Jack' with us!  All the clowns were friendly-looking. No one seemed creepy. Gracie quite enjoyed their antics!  

We've begun these 'dates' with Gracie. Sometimes it's one-on-one with one of us, but the family date was really great, too!  I just love this age and the genuine giddiness that comes with new experiences!  You know, I once read a blog post about waiting till your kids are old enough to remember the fun. The author pointed out that as parents, we deserve to make memories for ourselves, too. I couldn't agree more. I remember going to the circus as a kid. I have foggy memories of sitting in Kemper Arena watching motorcycles drive in a caged ball. But I can clearly recall the feeling of joy my family had going together. I hope Gracie can remember that feeling from her childhood, too. Because Ryan and I both feel such joy when we're all together having fun!  It's not about remembering a circus, it's that I want her to know that she has always been and forever will be loved and cherished by her Momma and Daddy.

Preschooler

She's so big and so pretty!  This was taken before school on her first day as line leader!  

Building Fine Motor Skills

Mrs. Greene mentioned that Gracie seems to struggle with fine motor tasks. So after our camping weekend, I got to work making 'fun' activities to practice building her finger strength and coordination. Last night she used plastic tweezers to transfer beans to numbered cups. Five beans in the 5 cup, etc.  Well about 3 minutes in, my darling daughter said, "This game is boring, Mom."  So today, we did the same activity, only it involved marshmallows.  And let's just say, 'I win!' It was a hit!  We're still working on correct finger position, but it's a start. 

It's called "No Hands" and the 'game' goes like this. Transfer marshmallows from the cup to the tray. Then transfer marshmallows from the tray to your mouth!  Pretty simple and the pay-off is immediate. 

Let's Go Royals!

For Kyle's family birthday fun, we headed out to see the Boys in Blue!  The Royals have been awesome this year and the game we saw did not disappoint.   

Before the game, Gracie, Kia, and Natalie   experienced their first tailgate. Kyle has been to a Chiefs game before, but you can't go wrong with burgers and beanbags... All-American fun!

Then we headed way up high to our seats, which were about as far from our parking spot as you can get. No worries, Aunt Steph just grabbed the big girls' hands and away they went!  

When we found our seats, the sugar-consumption began. Cotton candy, homemade Jolly Rancher suckers (so easy, by the way) candy, candy, and more candy. Again, All-American fun!

Gracie's shirt was a DIY success!  $4 Walmart T-shirt with puff paint from my stash!  Yay, Momma!

Gracie got cranky about sharing several times throughout the game. So I had to snap a picture of her brat-face.  Turkey-head!

Nat loves her Boys in Blue. Aside from staying in our lap for 3 hours, she was having a great time!

The boys had fun, too. My husband is a mess... a mess. 

We definitely need to make sure this family outing becomes an annual tradition. So fun!  Happy birthday, Kyle!