Springing into Craziness

We have been so busy…but that is not a surprise.  As you see, I have changed up the title of my blog a bit…”My life is filled with…chaos, love, and laughter.” It seems the harder I try to slow us down, the faster we get.  But the good thing is, we have changed tactics..our days are filled with family.  A while back, Matt and I took a look at what our life had become and realized we weren’t devoting ourselves to our family as much as we wanted to.  We were meeting each other coming and going.  Our evenings contained us trying to get everything done separately instead of  teaming up and making time for the family.  So we have turned over a new leaf…and we love it!  We are busier then ever, but we make sure we spend as much time as possible as a family.  It’s full of chaos…it’s great!

Swimming lessons are 30/60 right now.  She has had one good weekend and two not so good.  Last week was great!  Gracie got into the water and participated no problem.  This week, the water was so cold she was not even having it.  She got in the water for all of 10 minutes…maybe…the other 20 (the ended class early because the water was so cold) this is what I found:

She was just not going to go in.  She did finally for a few and of course loved it.

This is my favorite picture taken in awhile….it’s just so sweet!

Since swimming lessons were a bust this week, we decided to go to the playground on post.  I had to make my grocery list so why not let Gracie play while I was doing that?  Of course, I had my camera handy and captured a few cute ones!

Today we just stayed in the house most of the day.  Matt has been getting caught up on college papers so Gracie and I relaxed.  We did venture out to Jungle Jaks, this playhouse for kids, and it was a nightmare.  It was so packed.  I have such a headache from it! ha ha!  Gracie had fun and I did promise her that we would go back tomorrow when it wasn’t so busy.  She even got her Daddy to go down the slide with her a couple of times!

So I learned a valuable lesson this weekend.  Don’t leave your makeup bag out, especially in reach of your little girl.  I was wondering why she was so quiet yesterday and this is why…

Yep, she got into my makeup.  Although I have to admit, she was pretty accurate in putting it on.  I am of course glad she did not poke herself or get makeup in her eyes.  Nonetheless, it was just another confirmation, no matter how much this girl loves to play sports, deep down, she is a girly girl just like her mama!

I am going to sign off for now.  I will post another blog later in the week telling you all some of the crazy things this girl has been coming up with.  She makes us laugh all the time!  Until then…

Goodnight Sweetheart…

One of my favorite songs is the “Goodnight Sweetheart.”  Tonight when I was busy making cupcakes for a cookout at work tomorrow evening, Matt was putting Gracie to bed and this is what I found…

I immediately started singing:

“Goodnight, sweetheart, well, it's time to go,
Goodnight, sweetheart, well, it's time to go,
I hate to leave you, but I really must say,
Goodnight, sweetheart, goodnight.”

It was just super sweet, so I thought I would share. 

Swimming Lessons

*I had two important things to blog about so instead of making one long blog, I posted two.  Don’t forget to check the other one out*

Saturday was definitely a reality check for me.  I have to tell you, I have the “my daughter is absolutely perfect syndrome” so that when Gracie doesn’t do something, well, perfect or at least what she is supposed to do, I have a serious case of embarrassment and uncertainty.  Ok, I admit it, I am being a lot bit dramatic.  Gracie was stoked about going to swimming lessons.  She talked to her teacher (which in itself is a small victory considering most of the time she replies with grunt to most people who speak to her) and was laughing and just plain excited about the lessons.  Then it was time to start.  Gracie REFUSED to get into the pool.  I had to sit at the side of the pool, fully clothed, while she assessed the situation for 20 minutes.  A few times she agreed to be put in the pool and then freaked out.  Then she decided it was safe to sit at the edge of the pool until she decided to finally get in the pool half way through the class.  Matt has the same problem I do.  So we all know, he was not a happy camper.  However, once she decided to get in the pool, she was thrilled.  She swam with her teacher and even went down the slide.  I still can’t believe she did that but she did.  The only thing that bothered her was when the teacher allowed her to go under the water when she went down the slide the last time.  That didn’t go over so well! We have 7 more weeks of classes so we will see how well she does.  I am confident that we are going to keep her in the class.  Water safety is just so incredibly important.  But look at our big girl, she is just growing up so fast!

Saying Goodbye

Change is bittersweet.  Being an Army Family, change is part of our lives.  Changes can be hard, exciting, and bittersweet.  Gracie experienced something for the first time that is actually one of the hardest things I have to deal with being an Army spouse.  Saying goodbye to friends that we have made a part of our lives.  Some of them we consider family. Over the last 10 years I have said goodbye to many and see you later to some.  Luckily, I still keep in contact with a few on a regular basis.  Gracie, however, is too young to realize the impact of this sad aspect of being a military family.  This week she said bye to her friend Natalia.  Over the last couple of years, we have had numerous play dates with Natalia and Araceli.  On Tuesday, we had our last one.  It was Natalia’s 4th birthday so we headed to Peter Piper Pizza (think Chuck-E-Cheese).  The girls had a good time.  Wait, I am sorry, they had a blast.  They were completely and blissfully oblivious to the fact that they probably wouldn’t ever see each other again and even if they did, it is unlikely they would remember each other.  Nonetheless, they played for 3 hours!!!!!  Finally, we got them ice cream, gave goodbye hugs, and off they went.  Gracie’s first outside of school friend, off to spend time with her Grandma and her daddy for the next year while Celi goes off to Korea.  It makes me tear up knowing that this is the first in a long line of friends that Gracie will have to say goodbye too.  As I said, it is bittersweet.  Gracie will be able to meet so many people through the rest of Matt’s career, it’s just the said truth that she will also have to say goodbye or hopefully, just a see you later.  But anyway, on to the pictures.  One thing I will never forget is what they call each other….Talu and Crazy…you gotta love the way 3/4 year olds talk!

Auntie Heather

We have had an eventful week!  On Tuesday, Matt’s cousin Heather came to visit.  She usually comes out to see us once a year but didn’t make it out last year.  It is always great to see her.  Both Matt and I had to work but we tried to carve out some time here and there.  We didn’t really do anything big but it was nice to have a shopping buddy for awhile.  Gracie loves her Auntie Heather.  As a matter of fact, she sobbed when we had to leave Heather at the airport.  Either way it was a great visit! 

On Tuesday, I picked Heather up from the airport and met Matt and Gracie over on post for dinner.  Gracie loves to play over there so it was nice to have a nice dinner and a little play time.  Gracie even got a belated Christmas gift!

Wednesday we just hung around the house then we went out for dinner at Olive Garden….yummy! I love Olive Garden.

Thursday we went to the pool.  Let me tell you, that water was cold!  When Gracie got into the pool, she freaked out!  She was crying and acting like she didn’t want to be in the water.  I was thinking, “GREAT!  Leave it to Gracie to develop a fear to water a week before she starts swimming lessons next week!”  But after a few minutes she was fine and swimming on her own.  As a matter of fact, she told me a few times to stay where I was at, she didn’t need any help!

I took most of the day off on Friday.  It was a great girls day!  We got massages and did a little bit of shopping.  I love hanging out with Heather, we always have fun.  Believe it or not, I didn’t take any pictures!  

Saturday we headed up to La Mesilla so we could partake in yummy Mexican food with our friend Rob.  It was the chilliest day of the week but the boys rode on the bikes anyway.  Heather braved the chillier temps and rode back with Matt.  We decided to stop by the outlet mall on the way back to hit up Carter’s and Osh Gosh (but they were SO packed I didn’t get a thing!).  It was a great way to end her short little vacation.

Here are some more random pictures from her visit!

She talked Auntie Heather into playing Candy Land with her.  She even convinced her to play the Wii too!!!

Ok, so Friday night, Matt and I are downstairs watching TV while Heather is upstairs talking on her phone.  Gracie was in between.  She was quiet for a very long time with a few thuds here and there.  When we went upstairs, this is what we found in her room.  Yeah, she took 75% of the stuff out of her closet, took all of her clothes out of drawers, and stripped her bed.  All we could do was laugh.  The funniest part, was the guilty look on her face!

It was such a great visit!  We can’t wait until the next one!