Fun in the sun at...

Brushy Creek Sprinkler Park.

Today, Grace and I met a friend of mine and her boys at the park.

We played in the water for a little bit and then took a break for a picnic lunch and then back to the water, of course, and then we ended our fun play date with the playground.

I think at times Grace was a little overwhelmed with all the water pouring out over head and all the kiddos running around, but we both had so much fun! :o)

Thanks Kelly, Drew and Dylan for such a fun morning! We'll have to do it again soon.

Date Night

Around lunch time yesterday, my mom and dad came to pick up Grace so that Jeff and I could have a date night. It was so wonderful to have a little break from our little sweet pea. During the afternoon, I ate lunch and watched a soap that I'd taped (without any interruptions), Jeff was able to go work out when ever he felt like it (without having to strategically plan his trip to the gym), we were able to convert Grace's bed to a toddler bed (more on this to come...), and I was able to focus on only myself while getting ready. Now don't get me wrong I love Grace to pieces and love having her around, but it sure is nice to sometimes have the opportunity to focus on myself and us as a couple. :o)

Jeff did a lot of research on where to go to dinner (we like to try new places) and decided to take me to a little restaurant in Georgetown called Tony & Luigi's. It's a family owned italian place. When we first drove up there was only a hand full of cars and Jeff said he wasn't guaranteeing anything and even insinuated that maybe we find another place, but I told him I wanted to try it out.

We walked in a were promptly greeted and seated. The waitress (which by the way was the owners daughter) told us the specials of the night, said that all the pastas, sauces, etc. were made in house by her father and gave us a few minutes to decide what we wanted.

I ordered manicotti filled with ricotta cheese topped with a bolognese sauce and a cesar salad. Jeff ordered pasta primavera with fettucini and grilled chicken. We were served homemade rolls that were made in house and fresh herbed butter (which I could of made a meal off of just that). After we finished our entrees, we ordered a chocolate tarte for dessert served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.

Jeff and I have definitely found us a new italian restaurant to dine at. I highly recommend this place to anyone. It's a quaint little place with black and white European pictures on the walls. The wait staff was very attentive. You can either dress up for a nice dinner or go casual. We saw all types of dress while we were there. And most of all the prices were very reasonable. Jeff and I got out of there with our bill costing $50.00 including tip.

After dinner, Jeff and I drove around just looking at different things. I mainly wanted to drive and find out where the Brushy Creek Sprinkler park was and the duck pond. I had no idea it was so close to us! This will have to be a place we take Grace in the near, near future. :o)
We, also, came across the elementary school Grace is suppose to attend when she enters kindergarten.

We had such a fabulous date night!

Thanks babe for a such a wonderful time. I love you so much!


P.S. While Jeff and I were focusing on ourselves...My wonderful parents took Grace to Chuck E Cheese for the first time ever for her to eat pizza and play games, which she loved. They,also, took her to Firehouse Subs for dinner where she recieved her very own fireman's hat.

Mom and Dad thank you so very much for keeping Grace for us! We love you guys!

Cameron Park Zoo in Waco

I know I'm a little late in posting this, but we took Grace to the Cameron Park Zoo for her actual birthday! We drove up on Monday, the day before her birthday, and stayed in a really nice Hampton Inn (I highly recommend this hotel to anyone who needs to spend the night in Waco!).

Grace playing on the luggage carrier.

Grace and Daddy checking out the cool closet.

Once we checked into our hotel, we decided to drive around Waco a little bit before stopping and eating at George's, which by the way had great food. Jeff and I both had chicken fried steak and Grace picked her favorite grilled cheese and fries. After eating such an early dinner, we went back to the hotel and went swimming in their indoor pool and ate jelly beans.

Next, we were off to give Grace a bath and then it was bedtime or so we thought. :o) We decided that we wouldn't haul Grace's portable crib with us and that she could just sleep with us. Well, between all the excitement of sleeping in a new place, the thought of going to the zoo and Mommy and Daddy watching TV, Grace decided that she didn't want to go to sleep. Finally, around 9:00, Jeff and I decided to turn off the TV in hopes of Grace settling down and falling asleep. I think she finally fell asleep around 9:30/9:45. I knew this was going to make for a long day at the zoo.

The day of Grace's birthday(May 19th), we all woke up at 6:45AM, laid in bed and watched cartoons for a little bit and then started getting ready. Grace was a little grumpy and I wonder why? ;o) After we all got dressed, we headed down to eat breakfast and then we were off to the zoo around 9:15AM. Grace ended up falling asleep on the short ride over to the zoo. Jeff and I decided it was best for all of us that we let her sleep a little bit. So, we just drove around downtown Waco for a bit and then headed to the zoo to find a parking spot under a shade tree. Grace ended up sleeping about an hour before she woke up. Now, it was time for the zoo!

Here's how our trip to the zoo panned out.

Daddy and Grace looking at the turtles.

Still looking at the turtles.

Grace loves turtles. This was even one of her first words.

We saw...

Lions













and

Tigers

(okay...maybe one tiger, who was pacing back and forth)

and

Bears

Oh, my!

Jeff just couldn't resist from being in the picture with the bears! ;o)

We saw...
Elephants

Rhinos

and

Giraffes

We saw...

a butterfly garden

Hueco Indian houses

Teepees

Buffalo

and

"fossils"

We saw...

Reptiles and Amphibians

We saw...

Fish

and

lastly the

Birds

By this time Grace was so tired and ready for a nap. She didn't even want to eat lunch.

Grace slept all the way home.

We had such a WONDERFUL time and couldn't have asked for better weather!

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY, my little sweet pea!

Wordless Wednesday: Happy Hump Day!

P.S. We are having a GREAT week with Daddy being home! Hope you're having a GREAT week too!

:o)

We Love You, Aunt Red

We are so very lucky to have such a wonderful and loving close family friend, Aunt Red, that writes poems for all the momentous occassions in our lives.

Here's the poem she wrote for Grace's 2nd Birthday:

Happy Birthday, "Miss Grace"

Last year on my birthday, I was only "ONE, "

But now I've grown bigger, and I'm having so much fun!

A whole year has passed, and I'm already "TWO!"

I'm enjoying all my friends, and I have quite a few.

I often go to school with Mom---those hours make me glad;

Then, after school sometimes, we go for ice cream with my Dad.

I like to play with boys and girls,

I lovefunny clothes and pretty curls.

My grown-up toys are lots of fun,

But I love the outdoors and the summer sun!

I'm learning a lot at Sunday School,

Then---it's fun to play in my swimming pool!

My room is fixed especially for me,

And I love the cartoons on TV!

God put me in a world of beauty and fun,

And I want to be like Jesus when my heavenly crown is won.

Happy Birthday!

I love You!

Aunt Red

Written May 18, 2009 at 10:52AM

Thank you so much Aunt Red for the beautiful poem. We love you so very dearly. :o)

Jeff, Lauren & Grace

Called all Sparrow Men and Never Fairies...

Flew off to the heart of Neverland, Pixie Hollow, for Grace's 2nd Birthday!

Last weekend we celebrated Grace's birthday with family and friends. I decided to do a Tinkerbell theme since Grace loves "TBell" as she calls her.




Here's how it all rolled out:


The day started off with my mom and I heading off to pick up the balloons and cakes for the party. Which by the way we ordered bundt cakes from a new place in Cedar Park called NothingBundtCake. They have fabulous cakes! You can order them plain, with icing or even iced with decorations. I highly recommend them. This whole time while Mommy and Nonie were running earands, Daddy was in charge of Grace. All morning she kept saying it was her "Happy Party and Happy Cake!" Grace went down for an early nap so that she could be well rested for her party. My mom and I finally got home with the rest of the goods for the party and began to set things up.

Fairy wings on the door...check

Birthday hat...check


(Made special by Nonie to match Grace's birthday outfit, which she only obliged Mommy and Daddy by wearing 1 time for a few pictures)



Flowers...check

Fairy food on the table...check

(fruits, veggies, cheese and crackers, pink and green jellybeans, and of course one of Grace's favorites Chick-fil-a nuggets)

Thanks Nonie for helping Mommy with the food!

Birthday cake decorated...check






"Tbell" balloons up...check

Birthday girl all dressed up...check




Thank you Nonie for making my cute shirt!


Party guests...check







Thank you to everyone for coming! :o)



Eating the yummy fairy food...check




Opening the presents...half check


(Grace opened about 3 or 4 presents and decided she was done. I guess too overwhelmed? SO Mommy and some little helpers opened the rest and Grace was just fine with that.) :o)



Thank you Aunt Tracey for helping with all the trash!







Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to all for Grace's fabulous presents!!!

Blowing out the birthday candles on the birthday cake...no check

(I just thought I had every little detail covered. I bought everything, but candles for Grace's birthday cake. She had to blow out candles, so we used the number 1 candle from her birthday party last year. That was the ONLY candle that was in the house. And on top of all of that, Jeff and I neither one got a picture of her blowing out her 1 candle.)

One tired birthday girl...check

Fun was had by all at Grace's 2nd Birthday...priceless!

P.S. A BIG thank you goes out to Nonie for helping with everything and Aunt Tracey for helping clean up after the party!