Fall Fun Camping

We ventured to Southeastern Oklahoma to Beavers Bend for a little fall camping fun last week! We departed Wednesday morning at 6am and returned Saturday evening, a day early due to a torrential rainstorm that (thankfully) began as soon as we left the park.
A good time was had by all, as usual. We ate well, as usual, pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, breakfast burritos, hashbrowns for breakfast; taco soup, pizza, stew for supper; and of course cheery cobbler for dessert! It was all D-lish!!
This was our 4th time to camp there and for the first time, the boys went canoeing and had an absolute blast! Brandon really wanted to rock the canoe but Ryan said no (he knew that I would be less than thrilled if they came back wet!)
In true princess fashion, Gracelyn wasn't a fan of the whole sleeping in the tent arrangement. It was not pleasant. When I said to Ryan that G may not be cut out to be a camper, he quickly replied that she was born into a camping family. Sorry Gracie dear, no sympathy for you from the boys.
I didn't take a lot of pics this trip. I don't know why, except for the fact that I have 4 kids and really the purpose of our camping trips is to relax and enjoy each other. Since I did post almost all that I took, I posted them small but you can click to see them larger.

Kaleb, Jackson, Brandon, Blaine, Nathan, and Britton waiting to go canoeing!

loading the bus to go down to the river

Brandon is ready!

Blaine getting his life jacket on

Britton is a bit unsure

preparing to load the canoes!

their canoe passed right by our campsite and since Gracelyn and I didn't partake in the adventure we walked down to the river to take a few pics!

she caught sight of them!

waving wildly at her boys!

having fun!

look at him cheesing!!
there was no way I was passing up that kodak moment.

B3 cannot resist stopping to talk to G!

she is the boys very own cheerleader, she loves to clap!

Saturday morning, we all hiked a trail alongside the river, which not only was gorgeous with all the fall foliage around us, but so serene as well. B2 and B3 walked the entire 2 miles! I was very proud of them!

she just woke up from a nap in the backpack and was looking around to see where in the world she was!

Gracelyn is ONE!

RM Photography once again did a phenomenal job taking Gracelyn's 1 year pictures. Rebecca is so patient, even with a certain 1 year old that begins crying after less than 30 minutes into the shoot and wants her paci (that totally clashes with her outfit and this mom cannot locate the purple paci) And Rebecca is so super creative that as soon as we finish I am so anxious to see what she captured. If you are in OK or even if you aren't, you should contact her, she has camera, will travel!

Gracelyn is lots of smiles these days and I'm talking huge, expressive smiles. She is one happy girl and we L.O.V.E. it! G does love her pacifier and lights up when she sees it and will snatch it from you and pop it in her mouth. I won't paint a picture of a 24/7 pleasant baby because she is can be full of drama and will throw her head back and squint her eyes and make a really pathetic whimper or wail at times. All in all, she is our princess, the boys, all of us treat her as one.
Miss G is very picky with foods right now. I sometimes can get her to eat yogurt, sweet potatoes, several fruits but it depends on her mood. One thing that Gracie does love, pancakes and will gobble them up!! She is a snacker, just like her mama and does enjoy graham and animal crackers, cheerios. and vanilla wafers.
As far as development goes, as of her 1 year birthday, the 16th, Gracelyn had taken 3 steps with no assistance! She is saying "mama" and "dada" and she does call her brothers something specific but I cannot tell exactly what it is. G can sign "more" and "all done" and "drink"
Gracelyn is sleeping sooooooo much better at night!! She wakes every 3-4, which is quite an improvement over every hour! And sometimes it's just because she lost her paci!! Naps are hit and miss, especially at CDO where they average about an hour long, but that's just fine because she is sleeping at night!
Gracie looks very healthy but I have no idea her stats as her 1 year well check was supposed to be this Friday but instead it was moved to next Friday. I'll post them after the appointment.
Gracelyn Paige, our miracle baby, our princess: mom, dad, Brandon, Blaine and Britton love you greatly. You light up our lives, make us all smile and have taught us so much about determination and helped strengthen our faith.

a trip to the farm

Blaine's CDO class took a field trip to the farm, on October 14. (yes, unfortunately, I am THAT far behind on blogging.) It was an awesome fall-feeling day. He had a great time and Ryan tagged along with the kiddos and took pics for me! The kids had fun feeding animals, taking a hayride, picking a pumpkin, riding a train, watching a puppet show and playing on a big slide!

looking at the animals

puppet show time

hayride to the pumpkin patch

Blaine and his pumpkin

Nathan and Blaine, good buds!

Blaine and his dad!

I told Blaine that afternoon that I wished I could have been there with him and he said, "oh, it's okay mom, Dad was there and we had fun and he took pictures for you." love that boy!

Happy 1st Birthday to the Princess!!

Gracelyn Paige has turned 1!!!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Saturday, October 16 was her 1st birthday as well as her 1st birthday celebration! Our princess had a princess themed party fit for a true princess and because so many people love her we hosted it at the upstairs of our bank. Everything was so perfect and so pink and purple!!
Gracelyn had 2 onesies to go with a purple tutu and a bow and pink sparkle Tiny Toms to match. She was excited about her friends and family being there and smiled a lot! She enjoyed the icing on her cake but not the strawberry cake so I gave her a piece of white and chocolate from the main cake. She loved both of those flavors equally! Gracie helped a bit during the process of opening presents but because I requested mainly clothes, her attention drifted. She is one blessed little girl who is loved by so many! We are all blessed to have her.

one of the boys

Gracelyn's princess themed birthday party is just a short 5 days away and while my head is swirling with all things pink and purple and girly and frilly, she is hanging with the boys!

Gracie hijacks Britton's sippy cup every day and I have figured out it's the only way I can get her to drink water with no juice in it. She feels like a rebel drinking from a cup that isn't hers so she doesn't care what's in it.

so much to do...

so little time.
that is exactly how I feel these days. It's been a week since my last blog post and I don't like that at.all.
G's birthday party planning is in full swing and then add trying to replace the camping themed nursery with a more feminine look, CDO on Mondays and Thursdays, Ryan teaching a night class Tuesdays, church on Wednesdays, Scouts on Thursdays. And right now, only ONE of our children is involved in extra-curricular activities. I cringe at the thought when 2 or more are active and we are really running ragged.
For G's party, the cake and cookies have been ordered, her presents purchased, invites designed and mailed!!!! birthday outfits and matching bows received, favors done, leaving just a few things to do! YAY!!
Gracelyn has her 1 year pics with RM Photography on Monday, which I am so excited for!!! Rebecca always does such a fantastic job and with my kids she works her tail off to capture them because they can be so difficult.
As to not bore you any more with my ramblings I will post a few pics of G. They were taken with my phone so they are not the best.

I didn't lie when I said the pictures were not good.

My point in posting is that G is getting so big. She's crawling and pulling up, as well as reaching for things and stepping on anything in her path to get to what she wants. (and she gets very, very angry when you move it before she gets to it or if you take it away from her.)

little twinkle toes!!

I LOVE them. seriously L.O.V.E. them!! I adore baby feet, and then add some sparkle and I am in love!

I am so excited for Fall! Happy Fall Y'all!!