Enjoying the Beautiful Outdoors!

Grace loves to blow bubbles.

Our Walk To The Lake

After the warm weather we had last week, I packed away all of Grace's warmer jackets thinking that the colder weather was finally behind us. How very silly of me! Everyone in Maine knows to keep fleece coats, hats, and even the mittens readily available until at least July! Every morning Grace & I take a walk to the lake across from our house. This is one of Grace's very favorite things to do. Today we bundled up for our always beautiful walk. Along the way Grace and I collect "big ocks" (big rocks) to throw in the water. Grace loves throwing the rocks into the lake to see the big "spash" (splash) that they make. The bigger the splash the better! This is a special time that Grace and I share together and is something that we both look forward to each morning.

Grace's First Baseball Game!

Grace attended her very first baseball game this week with Mommy, Maddy, Poppy and me (Daddy!) and LOVED every second of it. Grace saw the Portland Sea Dogs, who are the AA affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. It is only a matter of time before the players Grace saw will be winning Championships in Boston.

Maddy was stylishly outfitted at the game with a beautiful Red Sox hat. It clearly communicates her classy style and compliments her winning attitude. On the other hand, Poppy was wearing an Orioles hat. It signifies his acceptance of complacency, and shows that style is not something he puts a high value on. A Yankees hat would have surely drawn the ire of thousands of attendees at the game but the Orioles lid flew under the radar, just like the Orioles do in the AL East.

Celebrating Earth Day

Grace celebrated Earth Day with Maddy and Poppy on Tuesday by planting beautiful purple and yellow pansy flowers in our yard. Grace then took her small red watering pitcher and watered the flowers, leaves, trees, grass, dirt, rocks, pine needles, and sticks around our house! Thank you so much Maddy & Poppy for making Earth Day a very special day for Grace while Bob and I were away. This was a wonderful way for Gracie girl to honor and celebrate Earth Day.

When Mommy & Daddy Are Away....

Maddy, Poppy & Grace will play!

Bob & Rebecca went away for their very first overnight trip since Grace was born. Poppy & I (Maddy) planned many projects and adventures with Grace while Mommy & Daddy were away. On the warm morning we went out on the deck and had a painting party! We spread out a large sheet of paper and gave Grace her choice of fingerpaints to create her very own special masterpiece.

Grace Takes Maddy & Poppy to the Beach!

Maddy, Poppy & Grace Moments

Sand, Sand, & More Sand!

We are so lucky to live in Maine, where we have such beautiful and very sandy beaches. Needless to say, Gracie girl got a bit sandy today at Ogunquit Beach. We brought home thousands and thousands of grainy souvenirs to remember our fun day at the beach. :)

Happy, Happy Birthday to Maddy!

We love you and can't wait to bring you & Poppy to the beach in just a few short days.

Happy End Of Tax Season, Poppy!

Hi Poppy.

I am so happy that tax season is finally over...that means I'll be seeing you and Maddy in just a few short days. Hooray! I can't wait to see both of you.

Love,
Grace

Happy Birthday Daddy!

A very Happy Birthday to Daddy. Bob is the kind of Daddy who doesn't mind walking around the grocery store with Grace's pink elephant on his head in order to see Grace smile. He is the kind of Daddy that reads books to Grace every morning before leaving for work. He is the kind of Daddy that makes up silly songs that make Grace and Mommy laugh. He is the kind of Daddy that calls Grace several times each day from work to hear her voice. Thank you for being such a wonderful father and husband. We love you!

We spent Bob's special day in Leominster, Massachusetts with Memere, Pepere, Auntie Allison, Uncle Steve, and cousins Rose & Kimberlee. Thank you everyone for a great day full of fun, smiles, and laughs!

Our Little All Star!

Gracie girl was an all-star today on the basketball court and Daddy was the MVP! We spent a fun Saturday at our YMCA's Open House Family Day. Grace enjoyed running and dancing her way across the basketball court all while wearing her favorite glitter shoes! I love this picture of Grace with her Daddy. I think Grace looks like a little flying fairy! We ended our fun day by taking a beautiful walk along the Portland Pier. Grace was amazed the big boats in the water. It was a great day.

Bye Bye Snow

The small "grassy" area in our front lawn is slowly expanding thanks to the warmer weather we have been having but we still have lots of snow in our yard. Yesterday, I found Grace standing at the very edge of the grass. She was looking down at the snow and waving to it while saying, "bye-bye!"

Warm Weather

It was 66 degrees today ~ the warmest day of the year! Grace & I celebrated this "heat wave" by going back to the beach. We loved every single moment of it.

Footprints

A Lighthouse!

We took Grace to see the Portland Headlight this afternoon. Grace has seen pictures of lighthouses in her books and she especially loves finding the lighthouse in her Goodnight Maine book but until today she had not seen a real live lighthouse. Grace seemed fascinated by the large size of the Portland Headlight. On the car ride home, Grace kept saying and signing, "big, big!" This will be a wonderful place to spend many of our summer days with Grace. In addition to the lighthouse, there are large open fields, a walking path, and spectacular views of the ocean. I can't wait to see Grace flying a kite there this summer. There is so much to look forward to when the warmer weather arrives. We can't wait!

We Made It To The Swing!

Grace and I tried to get to her swing, which is located on the far side of our house, about two weeks ago. At that time we were only able to make it half way there because the snow was waist deep and we literally got stuck!! Fortunately, over the past two weeks the warmer weather has melted away some of our snow and we were all able to make it there today through only knee high snow. Hooray. Grace was full of smiles, giggles, and great big laughs as Daddy & Mommy pushed her very high. We think everyone in the town of Limerick heard Grace's squeals. She was having the best time. It must have been a freeing feeling for Grace to be swinging since she was only able to admire her swing from afar all winter long. This is a sure sign of Spring at our house!

Grace's Beautiful Artwork

One of Grace's favorite books is The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Grace spent most of this morning painting with different materials to mimic Eric Carle's painting style. The result of Grace's hard work is this beautiful rendition of The Hungry Caterpillar. Grace's art piece is nearly three feet long and it will be a permanent piece on our living room wall for a long time to come. Great job, Gracie girl!

Back To The Beach

Grace and I enrolled in a wonderful music group and we had our very first class today. After the group was finished, Grace and I went to Higgins Beach since it was right around the corner from where our music class was located. Higgins Beach is a very special place because it is where Bob and I had our wedding reception almost five years ago. Grace had the best time walking the beach, drawing in the sand with her fingers, picking up shells, watching the seagulls, and listening to the crashing surf. It was the best feeling to be back at the beach and especially at the one that is filled with so many wonderful memories. It was an amazing feeling today to have created many more beautiful memories at such a special place with my daughter. The only thing missing today was Daddy but we can't wait to go back to Higgins Beach with him this weekend.

Tastes Like Chicken

Gracie was very interested in the sand on the beach - soft on the hands ...

velvety to the touch ...

glistening in the sun ... surely it must
be YUMMY!!!

Look At Those Curls!

Since I often put Grace's hair in a ponytail or in pigtails it is hard to see all of her curls. When combed straight Grace's hair extends just below her ears!! Grace has had three haircuts so far and the curls have lasted so I think she is going to have curly hair just like Maddy did when she was a little girl.

Sixteen Months Old!

April Showers

A Workin' Girl!

When I (Mommy) was a little girl I would tell everyone that I wanted to be a "working girl" when I grew up! It looks like Grace wants to be a working girl too! :)