Happy Birthday Gracie Girl!!

I cannot believe that a whole year has passed!! Gracie had her 2nd Birthday yesterday! I can't stand how fast time goes by- it was just yesterday that I had her and now she is 2!!! I got induced a little after 10PM on the 19th and had her at 3 AM on the 20th. She weighed in at a healthy 8 lbs. 10 oz. and was 20 inches long. She didn't cry very much when she born and right off I knew there was something not right. The nurse kept listening to her lungs and would try and get her to cry and keep listening to her. The nurse played it really cool and told us that sometimes if the baby doesn't cry their lungs don't open fully up and that she wanted to wait and see what happened. Here I am in the after-birth not being able to do anything. My mom kept looking at me with a very concerned look on her face- she knew something wasn't right either. Finally, the nurse said she was going to take her down to the nursery and listen to her for a little bit. They finally determined she was having some respiratory problems and was admitted to the NICU. We were familiar with the NICU because Brooklyn was in there for 6 days after she was born. I could not believe that my second would be in there too. I was still numb from the epidural plus it was 4AM and was so tired. So they took me up to my room and told me that me as soon as the epidural wore off I could go and see her. I got a little sleep, but not a ton and Sean slept a little too. My parents had rode over and my mom had to be to school for her sing-a-long so my sweet dad sat in the NICU with our little baby. Thank you so much dad!! I was finally able to go down and see her around 9 or 10 (I think). I was not prepared to see the oxygen in her nose or the tube going down her throat. At this point, we didn't have a name for her, so Sean and I sat there trying out the 2 names we had and decided that she would be named Gracie Kaye. She ended up spending about 12 hours in the NICU, not too bad. Then she had to be under the lights. We brought her home under the lights, she spent Christmas under the lights, and suntanned for about 5 days. I think we have been blessed for the rough start she had because she is a very sweet little girl. She loves her "sissy" and her "Gus." She has a HUGE sweet tooth (I wonder where she got that from)- I swear she has a 6th sense for anything with sugar in it. I will be in the kitchen trying to sneak me a treat and suddenly she will appear and yell, "PEAS" (for please). She is talking up a storm- it is so fun to watch her develop. She went into the doctor today and weighs 30.5 pounds and is 35.5 inches tall. That puts her in the 89th percentile for both. (She has been in the 100th.) Here comes the cliche part- but I truely do feel so blessed to be her mother. She brings SO much happiness and love into our home! We Love YOU- Gracie!

You can't really tell, but she has the oxygen and tube down her throat in this picture. I love how she is holding her binki.

She had a very successful birthday with LOTS of fun new toys and cute clothes. We had a party for her on Saturday at Sean's parents house and one on Sunday at my parents house. She is a spoile little girl with lots of people who love her.

My sister-in-law Chelsea took some pictures of us last week and got this adorable one of Gracie.

Eight Years

Eight years ago, I married this handsome guy-

In this beautiful place (although the day we got married, the temple looked nothing like this- it started out rainy and then that night during the reception it snowed 8-10 inches)

It was a PERFECT day!!!

First Encounter with Santa

On Tuesday, we had out first encounter with Santa Claus. He came to the Newton Library- me and the gals, Nat and Garrett, and "Santa" Pops went to see him. It went exactly as I had imagined it would. Brooklyn LOVED him and was very serious in her discussion with him. She told him she wanted a couple dolls and a doll house. Gracie on-the-other-hand was not so much of a fan. She loves everything about Santa she loves to say "Ho Ho Ho" but she does not want to be anywhere near him. Garrett wasn't sure what he thought of Santa. It is always such a joy! Brooklyn was very concerned about how Santa got to the library. I had to explain to her that the Reindeer and the Sleigh were hiding because the Reindeer are scared of people, except Santa. She looked at me and says, "But I am really nice!" It was priceless- I agreed with her that she is nice and explained they just like to be around Santa. I can tell that she is really starting to think more deeply.

This is her seeing Santa for the first time. So excited- love the static hair!

Very serious in her discussion

Brooklyn and Santa

The crew

Poor Gracie

This morning- Gracie went and stood by "Frossy Snoman" as she calls him and put her arm around- how cute it that. And wanted her picture taken with him. Love it!

Brooklyn wanted in on the action (ignore the bed head) but I love these girls!! Gracie is yelling. "CHEESE"

Citizen of the Month!

On Monday, we went to good ol' Wellsville Elementary to see Brooklyn receive the Citizen of the Month award for her class. Every month the teacher picks a student who has been a good citizen, friend. The whole school meets in the gym and they call the student from each class up and then do a fun little cheer for them. This really was a proud parent moment. Sean and I have tried to teach Brooklyn to be a good person and we hear all the time how she is a great friend and student at school. I am really proud of her for being such a good girl. It is kinda funny, she takes being a good citizen VERY seriously. If she is acting up- I will say to her, "I bet Mr. Dobson (the Principal) and Mrs. Allen (her teacher) would love to see how you are acting right now- you are really acting like a good citizen." And she will shape right up. We love you Brooklyn!

Cinnamon Carmel Corn with Pecans and White Chocolate

On my Halloween post, I mentioned some popcorn that I had made that Sean said was the best thing I have ever made- besides the gals. It is super good!! I wish I could take credit for the recipe, but can't. Every morning at 11 on our local channel 5 (KSL) is a show called Studio 5. I am a FAN of this show. There are cooking segments, home improvement, home decorating, beauty/fashion, etc. This is where I saw the recipe for this. It was made my a gal named Sara Wells she also has a cooking website that is www.ourbestbites.com. This popcorn would be a cute visiting teaching or neighbor gift- put in a cute celophane bag and tied with a cute ribbon. Let me know if you make it and what you think.

Cinnamon Carmel Popcorn with Pecans and White Chocolate

-12 cups popcorn (about 1/2 cup kernals) I use microwave and use 2 bags
-1 cup roughly chopped pecans
-1 cup brown sugar
-3/4 tsp. cinnamon
-1/2 tsp. baking soda
-1 tsp. vanilla
-1/4 tsp. salt
-1/4 cup Karo syrup (honey makes a good substitution)
-1 stick real butter (1/2 cup)
-3 oz. almond bark (about 2 1/2 squares)

Preheat oven to 250 degrees

Place popcorn and chopped pecans in a large bowl and set aside

Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a 4 cup capacity microwave safe bowl. Mix well. Chop butter into chunks and place on top of sugar mixture. Pour corn syrup over the top of everything. Microwave on high for 30 seconds and then stir to combine. Return to microwave and heat for 2 minutes. Remove and stir and then microwave for 2 minutes more.

Remove from microwave and add in vanilla and baking soda. Stir to combine. Mixture will foam and rise. Pour carmel mixture over popcorn and pecans and stir very well so everything is well coated.

Spread popcorn mixture on a foil-lined jelly roll pan. Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 mintues.

Remove from oven and spread on a large piece of parchment, waxed paper, or foil.

Melt almond bark according to package instructions. Drizzle over popcorn mixture. When almond bark is hardened and popcorn is cool, break into chunks and enjoy!

Any Suggestions?

I am the Ward Music Chair in my ward and just found out that I am in charge of organizing the Christmas Program that is presented in Sacrament Meeting. YIKES!! I am in need of any suggestions that any of you talented people might have. Please help!

HaLLowEeN

*WARNING: picture overload- I had too many I liked :)

Our computer broke down the week of Halloween so I have lots to get caught up on. We had a fun Halloween this year. The gals were sick the week before and Brooklyn missed 2 days of school but really wanted to go to the Pumpkin Walk with her class so I drove her over. And then we carved pumpkins on Monday for FHE. On Tuesday, our ward had a Trunk-or-Treat (which ended up being inside due to the snow) and a ward dinner. Gracie was in HEAVEN- this girl was born with her mama's sweet tooth and she LOVES candy so to have all these people handing her candy for no reason she was THRILLED! It was so cute to watch her and the permanent smile she had on her face the whole night. Wednesday, Brooklyn got to dress up again and had a Halloween party at dance. Last year, our cute friend Maggie was Minnie Mouse and Brooklyn decided that is what she wanted to be and remembered the whole year- so we got her a darling Minnie Mouse costume and she looked so CUTE in it! I was in Smith's in St. George with my sister-in-law Chels when I saw the cutest little Lady Bug costume for Gracie- of course I had to get it and it accompanied us on the Ragnar. Gracie actually loved her costume and the headband and wore it the whole time. Saturday, we went to Sean's parents house and played with cousins and ate some good food and snacks that Sean's mom had prepared for us. Thank you Gisele for you hard work- we appreciate it. And then we headed to Kami and Kyle's for the annual Petersen/Anderson Halloween festivities. Kyle had made a delicious chili and Kami made her scrumptious cinnamon twists (which I might add are to die for- just typing about it make me want one right now!) I think I ate about 25 of them. Jan made her usual "Witches Brew" which is homemade rootbeer and the kids were in heaven. Thanks Kami and Kyle for letting us party at your place. With all the parties we went to we ended up with a TON of candy and it has been fun trying to ration it out. I am sad that Halloween has come and gone- but now we have Thanksgiving to look forward to.

Brooklyn doing some Jedi Training at the Pumpkin Walk

She wanted a picture in every single one of these cutouts

Gracie didn't quite know what to think of the whole pumpkin carving

While Sean worked hard on the carving- I was making this delicious carmel cinnamon popcorn- that Sean told me was the best thing I had ever made besides the girls. :)

Gracie climbed up on Sean

Brooklyn took the carving VERY seriously

The finished results- the one on the end Brooklyn did all by herself and it had a cute little face on it- on the back she had also written "Em" and was very proud of it.

Trunk-or-Treat

Gracie in heaven with all the candy

Her little wings that were so cute and she actually left them on

Miss Minnie

My cute gals

I love this picture of Sean with his girls

Cousins at the Maynard's (not too easy trying to get a picture)

This is a classic picture! Brooklyn trying to take care of Garrett- him hating the dog head on- and Gracie trying to get a wrapper off of candy as quickly as possible!

Garrett, Brooklyn, Gracie, and Porter

"Witches Brew"