Happy Birthday Brother Bear

A very sweet Happy Birthday from Gracie to Thomas on his very special day!

Mommy's Baby Is ONE!

As of 8:08 am this morning, mommy's froggy prince is officially a year old. And, he was wide awake to see it.

He has no idea that it is a special day---but the rest of us do!

Mommy is so blessed to have you as her son, and what a wonderful year we have had. I look forward to many more years of those wonderful smiles of yours, and those full and warm hugs you love to give me.

Happy Birthday Baby Boy, mommy loves you!!

The Blizzard Of 2010

I should probably be more impressed. But, as I mentioned earlier, I am indifferent to the snow. And, it was only a few weeks ago that we got 20 something inches.

We didn't measure this go round, but it seems we did hit the 30 inch mark.

Garren was out several times last night shoveling the areas around our cars and the sidewalk. He tells me "it is easier to shovel 6 inches 4 times, than 24 inches once."

The snow was falling about 2 inches an hour, so it didn't take long for the nice pathways he had cleared to fill in.

It is done now, and we let the kids go out and play in it.

Thomas wasn't that interested, and when I put him down in it for a few pictures he would fuss. I don't think it was the cold or the snow, he is teething and he only wants to be held. But, as long as I was holding him, he was enjoying watching daddy shovel, and Gracie and her friend Dylan climb the very tall "snow mountain" that has been created in our median.

Gracie is becoming very brave in the snow, and she even stayed out after Thomas and I went in. She climbed and climbed that mountain even though she got stuck a few times. I have to say I am very impressed with my otherwise "chicken headed' daughter.

Garren has stayed on top of shoveling the snow, and the main roads are clear, so this Blizzard doesn't seem to be hindering, at least *us,* that much.

We do hope though, that if you are under several inches as well and can't (or don't plan) to get out, you stay plenty warm. Just stay inside and enjoy the view.

It's Only Just Begun

Snow has been falling since around 9:30 this morning, but it is only now (around 3pm) that it is starting to stick.

School was canceled for today, and we are expecting 30 inches or more.

While I am definitely over winter, snow doesn't really affect me personally. I am stuck in this house if it snows, I am stuck in this house if it doesn't snow. But, now that they are calling for another round to blow through our area on Tuesday, I am getting annoyed. And, if this white stuff forces me to cancel my baby's 1st birthday party--I am going to be one grouchy mommy bear!

Now, having a February birthday myself, I know what it is like to hardly ever have a party because it always snows on your birthday. But, this is different. This is his FIRST birthday, and it is important.

But, back to the impending "blizzard." We will continue to watch and add the inches up as they fall.

As long as the power holds out, we have plenty of food and drinks, and activities to keep us busy.

All Done!

Our Gracie has completed all 13 sets of sight words! We are so proud of her!

Today is the first, and likely only, day she has been to school this week. And, it was a big day. She took in a new stuffed friend "Hugs" to show and tell, she got the last stickers for her last two sets of sight words, brought in her book order form, and 20 cups of Jello for snack.

As you have likely seen, the sight words have made a HUGE difference in her reading ability. It bolsters your confidence to know so many words on the page without having to sound them out.

She is now doing the reading at nap time story times and bedtime as well.

And, yes, I still make my 5 year old take a "nap" on the days she is out of school. She doesn't usually sleep, but we BOTH need that "down time."

Gracie Reads

Look At Her Go!

If the kids ever find their way back to school--Gracie will be finished with her sight word list. Yep, 13 sets of words, and she knows them all.

The last two sets were by far the hardest to get down pat, but she knows them well and I am sure she will receive her last two stickers.

I hate to brag (ha!), but we couldn't be more proud of our start student. And, as if my cheeks weren't burning enough from the smiles...my Gracie read a book tonight for bed time!

It was time for story and she brought in a book and declared "mommy, I can read the first sentence of this book." Very excited for her listened as she read the sentence. I looked at the book--it was word for word. So, we kept going. Page after page she read on and on. By the time she finished the book (30+ pages), I was holding back the tears of joy and realizing I had only helped her with maybe 10 words in the whole book.

Tonight, our fabulous five year old read "Morris The Moose."

Gracie was already getting the hang of reading even before Kindergarten, but those sight words have made the biggest difference.

Tomorrow, my goal is to record a video of a few pages so you can all be just as proud as I am.

Congratulations Gracie, you read your first book!!

Milk Monster

We've Got Milk!

Technically Thomas isn't a year old yet, but last Monday I decided to give him a little taste of "big boy milk." Let's say he is a fan! In fact, he seems to prefer the whole milk.

Thomas drank quite a few bottles and sippy cups full of milk this past weekend at Grandma & Grandpa's and it seems that his little body is doing just fine with it.

For now, I am trying to give him whole milk during the day, and leaving formula for before naps and bedtime. Switching between the two seems to be doing okay as well.

So, once we get the final "okay" from his pediatrician, we will make the switch--and save a TON of money.

Being a second time mom, I have found that kids can handle quite a bit. With Gracie I made myself a nervous wreck over everything--this time I just relax (a little any way), and try things.

Milk was a hit, and now so is juice. I gave him a watered down ounce or so of Gerber apple juice tonight and he loved that as well. I think he is going to really like all of the new things being a one year old can offer.

And, no we haven't been in for his one year check up yet--but like I said, things are easier this go round, and I know my baby well enough to know that a little milk...and a little juice won't hurt him!

The Queen's Quotes Of The Day

Gracie (in a very dramatically royal tone):
"I am the queen of everything!"

(To Thomas)
"I Proclaim you the Frog Prince of Slobber!"
She taps his shoulder with the new scepter she picked out at Walmart today.

Happy Groundhog Day!

Well, it may not be such a happy occasion at your house--I heard we are in for 6 more weeks of winter.

I would believe it. Gracie is home for the second day in a row due to snow, and I am watching it fall outside the window as I type.

Since Gracie and her Kindergarten class have been talking about shadows and Groundhogs, I thought it might be fun to "capture" her shadow.

I have been trying to get her silhouette done for years now, but you can NOT do this with a child who won't sit still. So, how did I manage to get Gracie's? It wasn't easy, and you will notice like in real life--her shadow's mouth is WIDE open!

After I drew her shadow we had fun taking pictures of her making different shadows on the wall.

She really got in to this idea and was doing all sorts of different poses and laughing at herself. This is a great way to have a little fun, and maybe learn a little something a long the way.

We hope where ever you live that you are enjoying the cold and the snow, because it looks like it will stick around for a while.

Birthday Months

The Shipley family Birthday Bonanza is off and running!

Daddy celebrated his 32nd birthday yesterday, and enjoyed a nice evening out with his wife while Aunt Ruth & Uncle George braved an evening with their favorite kids ;)

Garren's birthday marks the start of our birthday months, and Gracie ends the celebration at the BEGINNING of March!

Seriously!

We come right off the holidays to start in with more parties and goodies and planning.

Thomas will celebrate his FIRST birthday on February 9th. I have decided on a "Frog" themed party and I hope that the snow doesn't rain...well, snow...on our parade! This is such a special event in his life, and ours. Although, I have to admit I feel so guilty about not planning sooner and making such a huge fuss over planning and preparations for this milestone! Poor Thomas is the second baby and I can't do for him what I did for Gracie. But, I can (and will) throw him a great party full of friends and family that love and adore him!

And, after his party, mommy turns 30-something, and we skip past it to make a HUGE celebration for our soon to be 6 year old!

Gracie wants a Barbie themed party this year. Funny thing I was worried about finding things to fit her chosen theme, and I have actually found more supplies for hers, and I am still struggling to find things for Thomas'!!!!

So, in the next few weeks we have a lot of celebrating to do. And, then maybe we can rest for a while. Although, Easter isn't far off the birthday horizon. Then we can rest....right?

No Pictures Please!

A New Year For Change

Six months from now I will have to pack up all the things in this house and take my two small children and move them to a new home...140 miles and two and a half hours away.

I struggle to even write this post as all the thoughts of what I will "miss out on" cloud my my mind.

What I should be concentrating on is all of the doors that will open for Gracie & Thomas, all the new adventures we will have, and all of the new friends we will make.

But, I have never been good at making friends, my idea of an adventure is finding a new thrift store, and I don't handle change very well.

So, with a new year, and a new decade will come more challenges for me. The challenge of saying goodbye, the challenge of learning new places, the challenge of starting over, the challenge of getting to know a new school and new teachers that will spend more of the day with my child than I will.

Pretty pitiful huh?!!

Garren gets a new and amazing job and I sit around and cry in my Wheaties (well, actually I am eating some ice cream)!

It just all happened so fast. One day we are taking down the Christmas tree, the next we are talking about a new home in Richmond,VA. One day my husband is a reporter, the next he is the new Communications Director for the Republican Party of Virginia!

It really did happen that fast. He interviewed on a Saturday. By Friday he had decided to take the job and worked his last day at the Northern VA Daily, summing up a 12+ year career as a journalist. This past Monday he started his new job.

We are very happy, and even more proud of Garren. Not only for the new and exciting job, but for taking a HUGE leap of faith and starting a whole new chapter in his life. The least we can do is jump with him.

There are some good points to all of this. For starters, his new bosses are allowing Garren to work from home until June when Gracie graduates from Kindergarten. The idea of having to take her out of school mid year during such a formative and important year was too much for mommy. And, mommy has a few high school classmates that live in the area, so we won't have to start over with out a little support in the same zip code (like we did last time!)

You know, I have done all of this before. I picked the University Of Tennessee as a college choice and left my hometown to go to school 6 hours away. I loved the idea of starting fresh and on a new adventure. And after graduation I looked at jobs in South Carolina and Georgia and couldn't wait to move on an have a new chapter. Then, I pushed (gently, I hope) Garren in to interviewing for a new job and we landed here in Strasburg ready to start fresh and new.

But, that was a long time ago. I am old now. I am old and I have children. I am not youthful and full of life--I am mother seeking an anchor for my family. So, you can't blame me for dragging my feet and sobbing wildly when no one is looking.

So, when I am not being a drama queen, I plan to make the most of my 6 months. I will spend as much time enjoying this wonderful town that we have fallen in love with. We are going to spend so much extra time with Aunt Ruth & Uncle George and the Mozingo's that they are going to get so sick of us. And, I am stocking up on all the thrift store deals I can because they may not have them in Richmond!

And, we will be coming back! We have too many people we love here to drop everything and never look back. You can expect us back at least once a month for church services and lunch out, and time at some of our favorite places and with the people we have grown to love like family.

So, it will be okay. We will be just fine. And, we will grow as a family....and God will continue his plan for us, and me. And, just maybe I can do it all with a little bit of grace ( I said "little bit"--thank goodness I have six months to pull that one off! :)

So keep us in your prayers as we start over again, and Garren starts a new job (that he is SO excited about). And, don't forget us, because we won't forget you.