four years ago...

Dear Grace,

Four years ago you and I shared the same skin. I was round and glowing and for the most part very happy. Now granted, some days I felt like 1 more hour of being pregnant with you was actually going to kill me, but most of the time I felt like a princess - a plump princess. Your daddy took very good care of me - telling me how beautiful I was, rubbing my belly like a genie lamp, massaging my feet and listening to me moan and complain at the end of the day. He and I would constantly talk about how different our lives were going to be once you arrived - as if we had a clue! :) We discussed what features we hoped you took from each of us and what life lessons we must teach you. We planned and prepared for you the best we could and we felt confident... then the big day came. You were born and our lives truly changed forevermore - just like we had anticipated, yet nothing like we had anticipated. All of the talking and planning and preparing has had it's advantages but in the scheme of things we are flying by the seat of our pants! You were nothing like we imagined... in fact, you have far exceeded our expectations and I couldn't dream up a better little girl. Sure, you have your moments, we all do, but I have seen your fits before - they are the same ones I am prone to throw! I know that when your tongue is hanging out you are in a deep state of concentration - I know this because this is what daddy looks like when he is focused. I know that when you twirl your hair you are tired because I do the same thing to relax myself to sleep at night. And I know that when your eyes are small and glossy that you aren't feeling well because daddy's eyes look the same way when he is ill. I know you well because you are a perfect blend of both daddy and mommy. You are something that only God could create and I am proud of you. As of yet, you are my only child and if that never changes I will be content because you alone are enough to make me happy forever. We celebrate your birth because it was the day a new chapter in our lives opened. On your birthday we thank our Heavenly Father for gifting us you and we celebrate you!

OKAY, mommy is done with the warm fuzzy side of things, let's talk about your party...

The theme was PARTY LIKE A PRINCESS!!! (or a knight)...

(Gabe, Camille, you and Remedy. Connor is shopping in the background :)

Every princess needs a castle...

You and your friends did a great job decorating it!



           The "unveiling" of your gift from mom and dad,

                            a homemade barbie dollhouse!

What's a party without Ariel?

                You were tickled pink!!!

Four years ago you melted my heart.

Today, you still do.

Happy Birthday Princess Grace!

Love,

Mommy



Letting go...

Christmas has come and gone. No more twinkling lights, yummy scents and that overwhelming sense of anticipation. Christmas decorations are slowly finding their nesting home in the garage. Although the Christmas lights are still clinging to our gutters and shingles they had no life in them last night as I regretfully denied them their glow for fear that some might think me crazy. New Year's day I was kindly reminded by a friend that the new year had begun and it was time to "let Christmas go". The tree still stands in our front room but it has met it's final hour as I intend to take it down after I write this. By tomorrow evening I will have removed all traces of Christmas evidence. In this sense I will have done exactly as I was advised - I will have let Christmas go. As I ponder this year's Christmas festivities I can't help but smile. We had such a wonderful time with family this year...

On the 23rd we went to Leavenworth with Mark's family. His brother and sister were in town (with their families) for the holidays and it was such a treat to spend this special time of year with them.

Gracie with her cousins Tori and Dylan. All 3 of them are 1 year apart. Tori is 2, Gracie is 3 and Dylan is 4. 

Despite the age gaps, the kiddos played quite nicely together, as if they see eachother all the time.

On the 24th we celebrated Christmas Eve "Francis Style". They have a long standing tradition of making enough food to feed an army and then going to the movie theater to watch a family movie - this year the food was delicious (as always) and the movie was 'Tangled'. When we got home the kids were hanging around in Grandma Francis' living room waiting for the 'green light' to open a few presents. (Obviously Grandma Francis was not around at this partiular time. :)

Finally, present time!!!...

Just before bedtime, Aunt Bean huddled the kids up and helped them lay cookies and milk out for Santa. Then she helped them write him a letter...

Gracie standing next to Santa's goodies...

On the 25th we woke up at a reasonable 8:30am and opened our gifts.

Gracie was such a good girl this year that Santa granted her request for a "princess bike and helmet".

She was tickled pink!

Later that afternoon we went over to my grandparent's house to eat and socialize. We didn't stay long this year so that we could spend as much time as possible with Mark's family, while they were still in town. I missed spending time with my family but I am fortuntate enough to live close to them so I will make up for it in the near future. Here's Gracie with 'Papa Craig' and her peeping uncle Andrew...

Gracie with Grandma Jack. (Yes, I've been told I look like my mom:)

On the 27th we invited Mark's family to our home for dinner and games. The kids had one last night to play together and they definitely didn't waste a second. Gracie and Tori are enjoying a "horsie ride" together. Tori is smaller than average and Gracie is bigger than average so when the two of them get together we see a 'David and Goliath' thing happening. :)

Creating this post was such an eye opener. Browsing through all of these photos I couldn't help but feel love in my heart and Christmas came alive for me all over again. I think Christmas is difficult to let go of because it isn't meant to be experienced only once a year and it shouldn't be tucked away in boxes. The true meaning of Christmas - love - should be shared every day. Yes, the decorations need to come down - but I refuse to let Christmas go. It is my New Year's wish to love like Jesus loves me.