A Break for Mom and Dad

So this weekend was a rare one indeed. Mom and dad went on a mini vacation and left us kids with Granny, Alex and Amber (Alex's friend). Now to say that we had a blast would be the understatement of the year. We did more in the last few days than we have done in our entire early childhood. Not and indictment mom and dad, but just the fact. So while we were at the beach, the pool, the mall and who know's where else, mom and dad rode on an airplane and went to Denver. Yeah, you heard me right, DENVER!!! During their whirlwind (30 hour) getaway, mom and dad went to an Alison Krauss / Robert Plant concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater (http://www.redrocksonline.com/) and went whitewater rafting at Clear Creek in Idaho Springs, CO (http://www.clearcreekrafting.com/). I have put a couple pictures to prove that they actually got to go and have a good time and not worry about us. Now, really I do care that they had a good time and am glad they got away, but in all honesty Abby and I got to the best deal. Unfortunately, I don't have as many pictures to prove it. We loved having granny come down and spoil us rotten. We went to the beach a few times, the pool a couple times, the mall a couple times. We also went to the zoo. All in all, it was the best week ever. Unfortunately they leave today and we go back to school tommorow. Oh and did I mention that granny cooks like a champ. I really hope mom and dad took copious notes.

Okay, check out the pictures all our adventures this past week.


Grace and Abby

Our Weekend

Another weekend has come to and end. This one was not all that bad when looked at as a whole. Let's see.... Abby and I went with mommy to Target and got some new nightgowns. Mine have seen better days and have become a bit more revealing as I get taller. Abby has taken ownership of all of my old ones, so that is pretty cool. After a nap (okay, after laying bed for two hours) we went my mommy's friend's house for a birthday party. This was awesome!!!! They had this inflatable water slide that I just could not get enough of. I must have gone down that thing like a hundred times (I hear that is a high number). Abby also went down it alot, but was more interested in hanging out with daddy in the pool. After the slide, I also got in the pool, but not for that long cause I had to get some birthday cake. It was really, really, really good and I think I had a bit of a sugar high when I finished. Maybe that would explain why I was a bit resistive to going home. I know that when I start to hear things like time out and spanking... well I have crossed the line. I just wish I could tell myself to stop, but it never fails, I seem to go far.

So today we went to church and then to Cracker Barrel. CB was good, but that took way too much time to bring mommy and daddy's food out, they actually told them to box it up cause Abby and I were done and we were not sitting still real well. Not that they were really mad at us, but I could tell that they just wanted to go. So we did and came home to take a nap. Again, I just laid in the bed for a couple hours until nap time was over. After nap time it was Kung Fu Panda time and boy was that awesome. Abby and I actually did pretty good in the movie theater. That movie was so funny, I laughed so hard. The panda was very silly and determined. At the beginning he could not do much right, but by the end he saved the day and used his belly to do it. I would give it two thumbs up, but I am sucking on one of them right now, so one it is. Abby thought it was pretty good to, but she got scared in a couple parts.

So that was our weekend. Daddy grilled some chicken and we had a wonderful dinner. It was starting to storm so we were listening to the thunder and the rain. Very nice ending to a very nice weekend.

I have put a couple pictures that we took over the last couple days. Nothing much, but something.

Hope everyone else had a good time this weekend.

The Manchi (and the Meatball)








While this picture is cute, I wish daddy would have got a picture of me when I had the glasses on the back of my head and I was using the ear pieces like they were a microphone. I kept pretending I was working in a drive-thru.

A Trip to a New Place

So Mommy and Daddy have finally found a place where Abby and I can play in the middle of the street and rob a bank and make a dinner and ride in a fire truck and work at McDonalds and go to the library and a whole bunch more. You see, there is this place called Kid City and it is part of the Lowery Park enterprise in Central Tampa that is home to the Lowery Park Zoo. You know how I know it was near the zoo... cause when you went outside it smelled like poopy and it was not Abby this time.

Anyway, this place is pretty cool. My favorite part was the firehouse (and not the restaurant, as that is daddy's favorite). I got to wear a fireman jacket and ride in the fire truck. It was way cool. Seems as though someone thought to miniaturize all the buildings so that it is just big enough for kids like me, and just small enough to cause daddy to bump his head a few times. Uh dad, they call it KID city!!!!

So that is what we did today. It was so much fun, or as I told mommy and daddy in the car, it was very, very wonderful. I have this way of using the word "very" as a qualifier to most compliments these days. The more "very's" the better.

After Kid City, mommy and daddy took us to Steak and Shake for some steak and shake. Okay, my steak looked alot like a chicken nugget, but daddy had a hamburger that I just was drooling over. Truth be told, not a big fan of the french fries, they were too tiny. But you know that we were not there for the food. I decided to keep it simple and order a strawberry shake and Abby followed my lead. Daddy went for Bannana and mommy went all out for the Cookies 'n Cream. That was the perfect end to a perfect afternoon.

So we are home and I have to take a nap, so I will spare the details on how Abby and I are growing nicely. Just know that we are doing wonderful and miss our friends and family very much.

Very, very, very sincerely
The Manchi and The Meatball

Mommy and Daddy on a Date

Mommy and Daddy on a date. Daddy's work had some hoity toity function and he had to get all dressed up. Regardless of how dressed up he gets, mommy is what makes daddy look good.

Anyway, Abby and I got to play with the babysitter tonight. She is so much fun.

Grace Singing in the Car

Okay, there is a slight possibility that dad and mom will be better at updating the blog in future days... you see, they got a new camera that is really small and they say they will always carry it with them. Dad'd other camera is really nice, but is a bit of a pain to carry around ALL the time. So, here goes. Below are a couple videos he took of me and Abby while we were on our way to lunch after church.

We are doing great. Last night Brie came over to watch us while mommy and daddy went on a date. It was awesome. We got to watch a movie and play till past our bedtime. Way cool. We watched Lady and the Tramp.

So check me out singing. I have also posted a bunch of pics that were taken over the last couple months....

Grace and Abigail






We are waiting nicely to get into the restaurant



The three most beautiful ladies in the world!!!


Stop, you must pay one kiss to pass by


The family on a boat ride in Tarpoon Springs


Abby is determined to find a dolphin


Grace hiding from windy wind


Dad, I will pick up Abby if it gets us to the ice cream faster


Grace, you will have to try harder than that!!


Mom, do these match?


Look mom, we match (Abby needs to learn manners)


Oh, the world out there is so large... I am so confined :o(


This was my Aunt Alex's many years ago...

Horseback Riding

Don't get your hopes up... I only have a couple pictures to post. It has really been a very busy last couple months. As you can see below, I was able to take some time out to visit my Aunt and go horseback riding. This was totally cool. What was more cool than getting to ride the horse was seing my cousin and having her teach me to fish out of the horse's drinking tub. I tried to get Abby to get on the horse, but she seemed to be more interested in playing (and falling) off of the playhouse.

Abby and I are doing really well. We got to stay home from school last week with mommy and daddy and it was great. Grandma and Grandpa came down to help take care of us while mommy and daddy went to the doctor. We absolutley loved having them over and they were so nice to us. I hope they can come back again really soon.

Abby is really getting big. She went to the doctor a couple weeks ago and he said that she was way above the 95th percentile for height. While she is not really saying too many words yet (dadda, no, stop, mine, momma, hi, bye and that) she is still pretty smart. She can tell you were most of her body parts are and loves to point out the trucks and airplanes when she sees them. Abby also LOVES to read. Sometimes when I am watching tv, she is in my room with all my books around her and carefully going through each one. I really don't mind, but I end up having to clean up the mess. Abby is really good at running and loves to go on walks around the block. I think mom and dad get a bit frustrated when she does not stop or turn when they want her to, but come on, she is 18 months!!!! I will not get into her eating issues...just suffice to say she is VERY picky.

I am doing quite well myself. I seem to be catching on to things at school pretty good. I have things like counting to 20, some Spanish, all the colors, knowing left from right and sarcasm pretty down. I love to tell stories and can carry on a converstation with myself with very little help. Dressing in princess clothes are my absolute favorite thing to do. When I go to my friend Olivia's house we tear into the closet right away to find the most amazing outfit.

So, sorry that there are not any more pics, but I will get onto dad about that later.

Gracie

Grace and Abby

I found a couple pictures that were not already on the computer... I hope you enjoy.


Abigail - Sept 2007


Grace - Sept 2007


Grace and Abby - Oct 2007


Grace and Abbby - Oct 2007

Happy New Year... 2008

Hello and Happy New Year everyone!!!!

Okay, Okay... I know that it has been a really long time since I updated the blog. I kinda have some good excuses, but still am a bit ashamed. You see, my daddy was gone for a long time in Iraq and when he got back we made sure that all we did for the last month or so was play. So when he would offer to put pictures of us on the computer, I kindly asked him to focus all of his attention on us and that after the holidays are over, then we will talk about spending time on the computer. Well, the holidays are over.

We had a great Christmas with dad being home. We got some really cool presents and by the looks of it, we must have been really good this year. Abby and I both got bikes and we LOVE them. Does not matter the time of day or the weather outside... we are going to want to go for a ride.

Everything with the family is going really well. Mom and dad say I am getting smarter every day. I must agree with them. I am learning alot of Spanish at school and am pretty good at stumping my parents from time to time. I am also getting on top of my letters and with the computer I got for Christmas, I am learning them even faster. Abby is also pretty bright, but since she still has not decided to say words more than make noises, we can only assume her brain is going 100 miles an hour. She is really good at communicating and letting all of us know exactly what she does or does not want. Mom and dad says she does pretty good at behaving and doing what she is told (except when she keeps trying to go outside!!!). Her most favorite thing to do right now is wash her hands and brush her teeth. We catch her in the bathroom all the time getting up on the stool and making sure her teeth are always ready to be photographed. If she is not doing that, then you will probably find her sitting in her favorite spot.... the jogging stroller. Not sure what the deal is, but so she is not alone, I often sit in there with her and we just look out the window.

School is going good. I like all the learning I get done and I think Abby is quite pleased with her teachers. We hardly ever give mom and dad grief about going anymore.

So, all else is pretty much the same. We got to go to the circus last night and we loved it. We were really tired, but managed to behave pretty well anyway. Abby just fell asleep half way through.

Okay, I hate that I do not have more pictures, but I promise to get my act together. I hope you can at least enjoy these.




Even a princess needs to get some exercise!!!


Da Bells of Da Ball!!


This is what we would have used for the Christmas cards had mommy and daddy got off their rear ends!!

This process was not as easy as we make it look...

We went to SeaWorld during Christmas vacation... it was so much fun. This is Shamu.

Abby and I are handling the decorating this year...

It did not take long for Abby to figure this out. She is quite good at this.