Everettee (Eleven Months and Counting)

Grace has decided to nickname Everett "Everettee"  (Ever et tee)

Boy is this boy BOY!  We call him the BEAST because he's thick, chunky, and loves to yell.

Everett also loves BALLS and loves throwing them.  He's got the arm too.  I can't wait to see if he likes baseball, basketball and/or football.

Everett can say "Ba" for ball
                        "Bye"
                        "MAMA"  I don't know why but he thinks he has to YELL this word in order to get my attention.  It's kinda funny.  I'll be down stairs changing the laundry and he'll be upstairs on the other side of the baby gate yelling at the top of his lungs.  When I run up stairs to see what's the matter he'll be smiling big thinking he's cool for getting me to come.  It cracks me up.

Everett also loves to pull Papa's beard and put his fist in Papa's mouth.

Everett can climb up stairs and loves climbing up on everything.  The other day I caught him climbing up our fireplace ledge.  And when I put him outside in the yard he'll crawl over to the porch, climb up the stairs and crawl right into the house.  He doesn't want to be left behind, he fallows the girls everywhere.

Everett still has no teeth but can chew/ gum almost anything.  He really likes pizza, pulled pork, mac and cheese, rice and noodles.

Everett loves Bananas, Oranges, Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, apples, and yogurt. He loves cooked carrots (the only one in the family who likes them) and lots of veggies when they are smashed up and blended with applesauce.  

Everett doesn't really like Cheerios, puffs, or yogurt bits.

Since Everett fallows the girls everywhere Grace has decided to call him her puppy and he goes by Ginger when he's her puppy.  Everett doesn't enjoy the puppy pulling/tugging part but loves to bark.

I've been excited thinking about what to get Everett for his 1st Birthday.  I've thought about a basketball hoop but also think that might be a better Christmas present, (Hopefully he'll be walking by Christmas).  The other thought I've had was to get him a race track with cars (you know, the toddler kind with two ramps that spin around and come out at the end together).  But both these toys could wait til he's a bit older.  I've also thought about the idea of getting him some trains and train tracks that will add to our wooden train set.  Since they are kinda expensive and will take a few years to build up a big collection.  Obviously I've been thinking about this way too much.  hehehehe anyway if you have any ideas or thoughts on the matter please share.  Trying to figure out what to do for his 1st Birthday and it's only a month away, WOW!  

The trouble about being third, you're kinda the dog

This boy loves to poop in the potty.  He goes almost every morning.  yeah!

This is favorite place to hang out.  RIGHT ON THE EDGE OF THE PORCH

Playing in our backyard "The Sound"  Love living close to the beach

Everett loves the fort Papa built

Maybe it's because he likes the taste of wood

Working hard

Playing with his best friend T

An action shot of the first time climbing up the stairs

Love the sound of little fingers

It was mostly empty by the time he got it.  LOL

Everett is not a big fan of water but puts on a happy face anyway.

He thought he was so cool driving next to Grace

We have to remove the toilet paper when Everett is in the bathroom.

This picture makes me want to watch "Oh Brother Where Art Thou" 

Grace turns THREE (or 2 again)

Preparing for Grace's birthday has been very meaningful to me.  It pains me to say but often times Grace's wants get put on the back burner, Either I'm busy with Gwenevere and her schooling or I'm taking care of Everett and his needs.  Grace is a good sport about being in the middle, she plays well with both her siblings and finds her own voice when her needs aren't being met. 

It's been great to watch as the past few weeks the whole family has focused on putting Grace first.  As we've planned Grace's 3rd birthday the whole family has reached out to make it come together, fit for the princess she is.  My love for her has grown and I'm very grateful we took the time to celebrate the beautiful girl Grace is becoming.  I'm in awe at her deep roots in being a girl.  She loves her body and dressing up, she loves to play Mama and take care of babies,  She talks about marriage and family and dreams of having twin babies named Elsa and Anna.  Grace is teaching me what it mean to be a woman, and a daughter of God.  I love her spice, her since of humor and her rhythm of life. 

Since Grace's birthday was on Sunday we decided to celebrate as if it was on Saturday.  So Friday night Gwenevere and I went shopping to get Grace's birthday present.  Grace picked out her birthday present a week before her birthday, We found a beautiful tall doll at Jo-Ann's and it was a quarter of the price of an American Girl doll.  Since Grace already knew what she was getting I thought it would be fun for Gwenevere to pick out a few doll outfits that could be a surprise for Grace.  When we got home we wrapped the presents and decorated the house. Then we went to bed late.  

Gwenevere and Grace's matching shirts 3 balloons, a pinata, and two presents.

Since Grace was the first one asleep the night before she was also the first one awake the next morning. Grace and I watched cartoons and started backing the cakes while we waited for everyone else to wake up.

The Beautiful Birthday Girl

She was so happy to do all the steps by herself.  

Olaf for for the party and a collage of pictures of  Grace

 Finally around 9 am Grace woke up Gwenevere so we could watch Grace open her birthday presents and then go get doughnuts for breakfast.

Grace and her new doll

The newest addition to the family.  She goes everywhere with us.  

 After presents, we drove down town to Legendary Donuts and ate are weight in sugar.  It was pretty awesome.

The Birthday Girl with her Birthday doughnut.

 We needed to do a few errands before heading back home.  As I walked around the store with Grace I realized just how fast she's going to grow up.

3 going on 23

 When we got home James went to work making a beautiful garden party.  He built a stage, and a cover set up a sound system and arranged a playlist for the birthday party.  The plan was to have a singing party and let all the kids sing and dance to all the frozen songs.  Because that's what Grace loves to do.  Grandma Sharolee and (hopefully soon to be) Grandpa Don drove all the way up for Portland to celebrate with us.  Some of Grace's friends joined us and we all enjoyed dancing until the pizza arrived.

Birthday hugs

Eating Pizza

 After dinner we played pin the nose on Olaf without a blind fold because I love watching which way they think his nose should go.

Then Grace went back for more pizza while her friends played in the yard.

Grace's 3rd piece

Then it was time for the pinata.  It was a extra strong Pinata and the kids had several turns hitting it.

We even gave Grandma a turn.  Boy can she hit.

The loot from the pinata.

 Then it was time for CAKE!  Grace picked out the chocolate cake mix and purple frosting.

 We didn't do presents this year.  Since we knew what Grace really wanted to just asked people to bring a small donation to contribute to Grace's dream doll.  It was perfect.

Near the end of the party Auntie Grace showed up and the celebration was complete. A great day to remember forever.

Sunday morning the actual birthday I woke up Grace and told her she was now 3.  She stubbornly replied "No I'm 2".  Thinking she didn't understand I tried to explain to Grace that now that it was her birthday she was 3.  Grace gave me that look "I know Mom, but I don't care to be 3 so therefore I'm not going to be 3." And then went on to tell me again that she was 2.  This was her attitude all day.  I'll take another year of 2s if that means we can skip the 3s and jump straight to 4 next year. hehehhehhe

After Church we went to Point Defiance Park and had a wonderful potluck with friends.  It was the best way to celebrate.

Happy Birthday Grace!  We love you more than words can say.  Papa and I talk about you all the time when you're asleep.  We reenact your silly sayings and try to mimic your many facial expressions.  You are a joy to our family and a great strength to your siblings.