It's February!!!

We LOVE this month. :)

I just reminded Jeff that today is our Engagement Day anniversary--FIVE YEARS AGO Jeff flipped out a ring on a bridge over the Falls...

"That seems SO long ago..." he says.

"In a GOOD WAY, right?"

He smiles.

Sometimes life turns out better than you imagine it.

"Mommy Rest. Gracie Rest."

Mommy is a little tired these days......sometimes resorting to laying on the floor to "play" with Gracie in the evenings...
"Mommy tired. Gracie tired, TOO! Nigh-night, Mommy."
This was the calm before the Gracie-tackle: "I got you, babe!"

I've got you too, Grace Face.

PKU Update

I realize that we haven't posted an update on Gracie's PKU in quite a while... It's probably because her case is mild--which is rare in kids with PKU--and we haven't had to make drastic changes in her life. Blessed! :) At this point--20 months old--the only foods we've kept out of her diet are meat, eggs, and peanut butter. This is a lot easier to do than we originally thought--we just never introduced these foods, and she hasn't really known what she's been missing! Her body is able to digest SOME phenylalanine (one type of protein)--so we still let her eat dairy--which is something most kids with PKU are unable to do. She gets most of her protein from a special formula we add to her milk each day. At this point, we have her blood tested once a month and adjust her diet--usually the amount of formula that's added to her milk--accordingly after the results. We've just started taking her blood samples at home instead of going in to the lab. All-in-all, we are pretty blessed to have such a mild strain of this genetic disorder. The other good news we have received is that our next baby has a 25% chance of also having PKU, but his case would be very similar to Grace's--mild.

We are very blessed!

(This is a picture of the yogurt container that Grace emptied, threw away, and promptly retrieved from the garbage to lick clean...)

Daddy's Shoes

Yes! We've finally gotten to the little-girl-trying-on-her-daddy's-shoes stage! What a crack up! Gracie loves everything that belongs to her dad--from his CEREAL and SHOES to his DEODORANT--yes, his deodorant...she always wants the lid off and we're afraid that soon we'll find sticky blueish Old Spice gel on the walls--she thinks her dad hung the moon.


I know I've posted a picture just like this before, but it's my favorite part of the day. "More cereal, Daddy." You may see this pose again in a few months...just to mark this girls' growth! :)

"Happy Birthday, 'Eah!"

We cannot believe that "little" Alea turned FIVE this month! She and Kalei are such wonderful friends to Gracie--Alea had to make sure that Gracie (age 1 1/2) was invited to her Jump and Play birthday party with all of her friends. Grace had a GREAT TIME. Happy Birthday, Alea! Slow down! You're growing too fast!

Daddy went on the bigger kids' jumping toys with Grace. She was so giggly! How fun to be a big kid! :)
One going on five...?

Our Outdoor Girl

She'd just as soon be outside than anywhere. We learned this in the first few weeks of her life--often resorting to sitting outside on our porch just to calm her down. She loves her coat, her hat ("Good job, Jen!"), her gloves, her shoes...anything that assists her in her outdoor quest. It doesn't really matter where we go...a simple walk down the sidewalk or a trip to the mailbox to get the mail...she's content. But don't try going inside too soon! :)



The puppy in the window, the texture of the sidewalk under her fingers, "Cold! Brrrr!" the flight of a crow, "March! March! March!", the basketball sitting on the slab, "Mommy, hand."

Christmas Card 2009

Love Came Near

"They saw the child...and they bowed down and worshiped him...they opened their treasures and presented him with gits of gold and incencse and myrrh..."


The gifts of Christmas have been opened, sorted, and put away with the lights and tree...and yet we continue to be in awe that our Savior would come to US to give us the gift of abundant life. What a great season to celebrate this LOVE. We were so blessed to be surrounded by so many family members over our two weeks of celebration. We treasure the gift of family we've been given--as rich as gold, frankincense, and myhrr--this abundant life.

Are These Two Related?

You have to look DEEPLY to see the resemblances of this mother/son duo... :)

Back in December Jeff and Colleen celebrated their pre-Christmas birthdays and we celebrated at our house. Happy belated birthday to a couple of CRAZY LOCHHEADS! You make life so fun. :)

Q: Does anyone want to ask Jeff what he got for his 30th birthday? Something to help him feel youthful...

A: ...or at least FULL of YOUTH on the road! Yep, we said we'd never do it and we're eating every anti-minivan word. What a way to bring in the new DECADE! :)

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

"Titt 'ights" = Christmas Lights...we laugh every time she says this!
"Good Job, Daddy" = What Gracie says whenever she sees outdoor lights put up--he gets credit for the whole town's lights!
"TREEEEE!" = Christmas tree
"Hee-Haw! Tanks, Dianne!" = said when she views her stuffed donkey toy under the tree from her babysitter
"More Tookie" = her favorite holiday food addition...frosted, pressed, swirled...they're all delicious! (and G'ma's are the best for giving LOTS of these!)
"Happy Birthday, Daddy...Happy Birthday, Jesus." = still being said the week after dad's birthday...the second part is said after we prompt her: "Who else's birthday is it?" Sometimes G'ma Colleen gets a birthday wish, but it's immediately followed by, "Happy Birthday, 'Tott." Apparently she and Papa Scott go together. :)