SATURDAY Jan 31, 2009 Sun. 2/1

Mirror Mirrorand applying blush (oh no...not on those cute brown cheeks)

How does it look mommy!

Daddy showing G how to spread the sauce on the enchilladas!

Slight panic attack from daddy......................

DADDY GIVING DIRECTIONS!!

DUMPING THE SAUCE ON THE ENCHILLADAS!!

I WILL CLIMB UP HERE!!!

COME ON DAD LETS TRY THE SLIDE!!!

CLIMBING THE STAIRS!!

IT WAS FREEZING AT THE PARK SO WE WRAPPED A TOWEL AROUND HER WAIST AND USED MOMS GLOVES!! WE THEN PROMISED WE WOULD COME BACK WHEN THE SUN WAS OUT! SHE WAS SHIVERING SO BAD!!!

More readoption anniversary pictures!

January 30, 2009 READOPTION DAY 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!

JANUARY 30, 2009--3 years old

January 2008---2 years old

TODAY MARKS THE 2nd ANNIVERSARY OF OUR READOPTION PAPERWORK --AND COURT DATE TO LEGALIZE HER NAME TO GRETCHEN FAITH COLE!!! IT WAS CELEBRATED WITH A COUPLE MEN WHO WORKED WITH DADDY AND NANA AND PAPA. Great Gramma Cole also came to celebrate! We went to lunch afterwards at Roosters in Pendleton. Last year we celebrated at home with cupcakes and a special dinner! This year was also fun--since it was on a Friday--we went and bought red balloons and plates and had mac and cheese and hotdog wraps and corn for dinner!! This year she would not wear red white and blue that I picked out and chose the green car shirt---Oh it wasnt worth the struggle so mommy had to bite her lip on this outfit!! Mommy and Gretchen played dress up and dishes all morning long and then made the cupcakes--although I messed up and read the recipe wrong and put in a whole cup of water more than it asked--- oops!!! We added flour and they tasted fine---we did end up throwing half of them away later!! She had a slight meltdown before daddy got home due to the fact she wanted a 2nd cupcake before dinner when she had already had one --ugh-and I thought it was nice of me to give her one!!! Next time NONE!!

January 26-Mon to Thursday 29!

Look Mom!! My rainbow jacket matches my pants---we were backing the van out of the garage!

SWEET LIPS!!!

AMMA is on the phone ad Gretchen took her for an elephant ride!! teeehheee-Was it fun Amma?

ERN E Elephant puppet!

Chilling out as mom takes a shower!!

Showing our house! G fell asleep before we left the neighborhood--so I parked the van behind the movie theater (not even a block away ) and watched as the potential buyers came to look! When they pulled up --I could not see good enough from where I was aprked so I decided it was a diff. realator and if I drove by my house--they had no idea I lived there--so I did they were not inside my house yet? I instantly froze and kept driving---embarrased yes! Of course I did not look at the couple which was my purpose to drive by--DUH! So I reparked at the theater and received a phone call minutes later that the people on my front porch could not get in with the key in the lock box!! So I had to go let them in----talk about being OBVIOUS!!! GREAT!!

ELLEN doing work at elephant preschool........................................

Gretchen doing her preschool work---counting and circling objects!!

HEY--look at this look!

Laughing my head off!!!!

QUICK SHOT MOM!!
SWINGING AROUND AND AROUND!! I AM GETTING DIZZY!!

POPCORN MOMMY!!

SHAKE AND DANCE WITH MY ELEPHANT ELLEN!!!

Making a Ernie puppet!! Storytime!!!


TWIRL AND TIP AND TWIST AND TURN!!!

Stringing Beads!!! Baby Boogie ----

ON OUR WAY TO BABY BOOGIE AND STORYTIME!!! 1/21

COLORING WITH GRAY THE ELEPHANT!!!

PINK the elephant coloring a page at preschool!! It is called elephant preschool--- she has an imagination beyond I could think of !!!

I completely picked out my outfit and put it all on by myself!!!

My friend Angelica and I on the tire swing!!

LAST WEEK OF JANUARY 2009!! 11 more months and its Christmas! ok ok ok--catching up with blogging photos!! Gretchie says the cutest thngs and I have made a list but will do that later ! Monday we had Stephanie and Emma over for dinner and play--it was very fun and the girls played in the jumpy house and with her toys!! I took no pictures! Wednesday was our usual day Boogie Story and then awana at night---Thursday we did preschool and then a spur of the moment park playdate with her friend Angelica!

January 23 Friday and Sunday 25th!!

READING READING READING...............................she loves books!!

COME ON COME ON... (I walk in) she is trying to change thetv with the clicker...COME ON CLICKER!(NOW THATS FUNNY) (WE HAVE TWO CLICKERS ONE FOR VOLUME AND ONE FOR CHANGING CHANNELS) I will have to agree the DVD clicker has to be pointed just right to push play! She usually just presses play on the machine!

YES--That is a peanut butter sandwhich mom fed me--with apples!

Watching a DVD--Shocks and Little Trumpet---Clarence is also watching!

Concentrating on the show----

Dancing to Madagascar music!


MOVE IT MOVE IT!!!
Groovin and shakin and stinkin cute ay I add!

Mom ---come dance with me! I LOVE THIS LIBRARY BOOK---LITTLE ELEPHANTS WALK!!

SOOOO CUTE---


GRETCHIE GIRL!!!

Since I have alot of posting of photos--I am going to group the next couple posts into dates! So not original with my blog titles! But I would rather post them than not!!! JUST A BUNCH OF CUTENESS!!!

Thoughts from our house!

CATCHING UP!!! OH my I got myself behind on blogging--not that I have any excuse but my computer is so s....................................l...............................................o.....................................w!!! I get interrupted my those big brown eyes to play elephants or something and then the weather the past three days have been so beautiful!! Naps have been a fight again this week and she goes to bed early but then I have house stuff to do! I will also admit facebook is so addicting also when I do sit down!!! Weekends go way to fast as Lee is still coming home on weekends--while working two hours away in Yakima! W e are still praying for our house to SELL!!! January 27th we showed the house for the 7th time in 3 months. Now I was pretty excited about this showing due to the fact that the couple was coming back a 2nd time and this was their "back up plan" if the builder would not carry through--the builder fell through but we have not heard back from them! We also had a second couple like our house but are waiting on their house to sell---WHEN IS THE BIG QUESTION AND SERIOUSLY I AM STRUGGLING WITH BEING PATIENT!! The past two weeks not one potential buyer has walked through!! Gretchen and Mommy miss daddy so much--In the last two weeks she breaks down into tears after she talks to Lee more than I want to admit or wont give the phone back----I have had it also---I know its temporary but enough is enough! She pretends daddy is here--- Ok I did not mean to rant and rave---we are thankful for a home thats nice and warm and a job that he enjoys and pays well in this economy is a BLESSING!!! For me to be at home as our little angel grows is also something to be grateful for!! I could never ever take it all in and savor each cute thing she says!!!

ALSO............................after 14 weeks my tailbone is finally not hurting daily--thought we would never get there!!! I have not used the heating pad , my donut pillow or IB Profin twice daily in two weeks! Word to the Wise --do not break your tailbone --and if you do make sure you dont have a 3 year old and selling your house and husband working out of town!!