Library Fun and Back To School Picnic

Ella really loves to visit the library, and now that Gracie is in school and we go alone, she enjoys it even more. She kind of likes having my total attention.

There are several tubs full of chunky board books for toddlers, and Ella heads straight for those tubs. She likes to point at things in the pictures now and try to find words for what she is seeing.

I don't remember what was so funny, but Ella sure got a laugh out of something.

I was heading out the door and turned around to find Ella staring at the bulletin board. She was looking at the pictures from a recent library event, and she saw herself and Gracie in the pictures. I thought it was cute that she even noticed the pictures. This evening we headed to Atlanta to take Gracie to her Back To School Picnic. All the teachers and staff were there as well as a lot of kids and their parents. It was fun to see Gracie interacting with other kids her age. She is very social these days. I think she was showing off her earrings to a couple of her friends.

The little girl in the middle walked up to our table and said, "So uh, Gracie...how are ya?" It was hysterical. Gracie just looked up and said, "Good. Really good." I guess she is fitting in just fine at school.

Church Picnic

Tonight our church had a picnic to kick off the Sunday evening programs resuming. We met at the fair grounds for a carry-in dinner. Then people broke up into groups for basketball, playing washers, Frisbee, and some people were down by the pond to fish. Gracie gravitated to the pond and saw that one of her new friends, Lexie, was fishing with her Mommy. She did a little sweet talking and got to share Lexie's fishing pole. The girls had a good time and even managed to catch a few fish with some help.

The fish was flailing around in the picture, but he was a rainbow perch. Of course, the girls threw him back.

ER Fair

Today was the ER Fair at Moberly Regional Medical Center in Moberly. We went last year and had a really good time, so we decided to go again this year. Ella was very fond of the costume characters and was pretty friendly with all of them.

Gracie was especially excited to see that they were serving cotton candy. The best part of the day was that everything was FREE!!!

Shy little Gracie came out of her shell to give Dr. Bear a big hug. She was excited to see him again since they had actually met last year.

Ella was enjoying a miniature snow cone, but still decided to shake hands with someone walking by.

The ER nurses gave Gracie a nurses hat to wear while we were in the hospital. They gave each child a stuffed animal, had them decide what part of the animal was hurt, and then the child got to watch the nurses bandage the wounded part of the animal.

Gracie's poodle had a hurt tail, so they very carefully doctored her tail.

The MODOT crew had an obstacle course again this year. The kids had to follow the signs that the MODOT workers were displaying.

This worker was explaining that you need to drive slowly and carefully when you are entering a work zone.

Ella was too small to go into some of the bigger inflatable toys, so she just had to stand outside and wait for Gracie. This was an inflated tube that the kids climbed through. Gracie loved it and wanted to get back in line as soon as she reached the exit each time.

Gracie posing by the fire truck.

Gracie definitely loved this. She is climbing up the incline on the left in the picture, but it's hard to see her. She then came down the slide on the right pretty fast!

Ella decided to stop for a snack while Gracie played on the big toys.

We had to stop and visit the bugs probably 4 more times before we could leave. Since Ella wasn't afraid, I guess Gracie decided she shouldn't be either!

Wal-Mart was offering a short vision screening at one of the booths. Gracie didn't really enjoy this part, but I wanted her to do it anyway. The poor technician couldn't hear Gracie's answers because of all of the noise around her, so she said just to bring her in some day and they would screen her in the store. All in all, it was a pretty fun day, but I'm not sure I'm up to doing it again anytime soon.

Strep Throat

Ella got her 18 month shots last Tuesday and developed a low grade temp for a few days after. The low grade temp slowly crept up to a pretty high, spiking temperature, so I finally got her into a doctor Tuesday of this week. She was fairly quickly tested for strep throat and was confirmed as having a bad case of strep. I missed 2 days of work to stay home with a very fussy, lethargic baby. Poor thing is finally starting to perk up though.

Gracie's First Day of Kindergarten

Gracie doesn't get to ride the bus since she's going to school in Atlanta, so Brent's car serves as her school bus of sorts. It's pretty handy for me to not have to take Gracie to school, plus it gives Brent and Gracie some good car time together.

Gracie's Kindergarten teacher, Miss Gott. We already knew her from church, so Gracie was very excited that she is her teacher.

It may look like Gracie has the first day jitters, but she was actually just cold. It was only 65 degrees this morning and she was requesting a coat.

The new Barbie backpack that Gracie wanted. Barbie has a "real" pearl necklace around her neck, thus the appeal.

Gracie with her new principal...I mean, her dad!

The backpack was very loaded down with her school supplies, so it looks pretty heavy.

I think Gracie will enjoy seeing Brent in the halls at school. Now if she just understands when he is too busy to hug her or stop to talk.

Gracie Doolin, 5 years old...but still my baby girl! She reported that it was a really good day. She shared her lunch with some of her classmates, loved P.E. and Music class and got to have recess 3 times today.

What Exactly Was I Thinking?

Ella has really been intrigued by Gracie finger painting, so I decided today was her time. My biggest fear was that she would try eating it, but she never did. Next time I may try the edible finger paint options just in case.

Is that a scowl or what???!!! Check out those hands, too.

I think Ella did pretty good for her first try. You might notice that she's holding a paintbrush, but somehow still has paint all over her hands. Hmmm...

Ella and Reagan

During Sunday School, usually Ella and Reagan Stieger are the only two kids in the nursery. Today, it looked like they were conspiring to find an escape route. They stood by the window doing some jabbering while pointing outside, so it kind of looked like they were plotting a little something!

Reagan caught me watching them, so maybe that's why they didn't actually act on their plan.

Back at it again...but they both were still in the nursery at the end of Sunday School.

Cheese and Thievery

Anyone who knew Gracie when she was this age can probably recall her affection for cheese. It was almost a love affair. You could ask her, "Gracie, what do you want for lunch?" She would answer, "Cheese." "Gracie, what do you want for Christmas?" Again, she would say, "Cheese." One of our friends from Keokuk actually made that request come true one year. Well, little Ella is starting to be a cheese fan. This picture is of Ella eating cheese for breakfast because she didn't want anything else I offered her.

Now to the thievery part...Ella enjoys playing with my purse. I hang it on the same doorknob everyday so I can grab it when I'm on the way out the door. I often find her twisted up in it, stuck behind it due to the weight inside (oops), or simply taking things out of it.

Still in her pj's and without her hair done, I still took pictures of her thieving my ATM card out of my wallet. I suppose I'm going to have to find a new home for my purse. She managed to get my checkbook out one day and nicely tore out a ton of checks. It's amazing, because checks never tear out easily for me, but at 18 months, Ella has figured it out.

Library Costume Party

Tonight was the costume party for the kids who completed the Summer Reading program the library offered. You had to commit to reading so many books a week or a certain amount of time a day. Both Gracie and Ella participated. Gracie was SO excited for the big celebration costume party. She is decked out as Fancy Nancy. If you aren't familiar with the Fancy Nancy books, you should check them out. They are really cute and remind me a lot of our Gracie.

Another pose from Fancy Nancy.

A rear view of Fancy Nancy.

Ella is dressed as Katy Duck who is a duck that loves to dance. She wore a swimming suit and tutu for her costume.

Fancy Nancy and Katy Duck were the cutest little girls at the party in this mommy's humble opinion!

I loved this picture of Gracie. I was teasing her the night before the party and I kept calling her Nancy in our conversations. I would say things like, "Well Nancy, it's probably time for your bath." She finally said, "You know Mommy, I like being called Nancy and Fancy Nancy, but I just like being old Gracie the best." What a cutie!

Another little girl wearing her tutu sat by Gracie during Bingo. They used M&M's for the markers on their bingo cards.

Waiting for another game of Bingo to start.

Ella never won at Bingo, probably because she kept eating the M&M's off her card!

Gracie won a game of Bingo and this was her picking a prize from the box.

It's pretty dark, but this was a shot of all the costumed kids filling the stairwell. Gracie and Ella are in front.

Katy Duck escaped before I took this photo!

They gave away lots of prizes at the end of the party. This was the group of kids who won $5.00 from one of the local banks. Gracie was excited!

That $5.00 has already been spent, by the way. She had been wanting another sticker book that we order online, so that's what she got. Ella won a $10.00 gift card to Wal-Mart, but she wasn't as excited as Gracie. The girls also won "The Chronicles of Narnia" series in paperback and a lava lamp. All in all, a very fun evening! We love the library!