Our Weekend in Blackberry Pictures

 Will was out of town hunting this weekend, and when he is gone, I take lots of pictures of GA on my Blackberry and text them to him so that he can see what he is missing.  This is what we did this weekend:

Grace Ann started swimming lessons, and she did great! They practiced blowing bubbles, kicking, holding on to the side, and pulling themselves out of the pool if they are hanging on the side.  Obviously for 2-year olds the purpose is not to be swimming after six weeks, but they are learning some good skills and some things that are important for safety purposes.  She had so much fun.  It was 25 degrees when we left on Saturday morning, but the pool is indoors and heated so we were nice and warm. I know January is a weird time to do swimming lessons, but I wanted to get started on the lessons before I get any fatter and I knew it would be hard in the summer with a new baby arriving.   Here are a few pictures I took of her in the dressing room before we started.  Hopefully next week I can get Will to do the swimming so I can get some real pictures.

Here is Grace Ann pretending to talk on the phone. She told me she was talking to Trey (probably because I had just mentioned that it was his birthday on Saturday - Happy Birthday Trey!) 

When I picked GA up from Sunday school today, I said that we were going home to eat lunch when she started telling me that she wanted to go eat "somewhere else".  She said she wanted to eat "roni" at the place with the water.  She meant Panera Bread, because she loves to look at the fountain there.  Can you tell we eat there are little too much?   It is our favorite!

Here are a few pictures of her loving the fountain! 

Finally, here is a cute one I took of her with Will's hat on!

We sure missed Daddy, and we are so glad to have him home (and glad that his 2011 deer hunting season is over!)

A Fun Day!

We had a fun day today which was much better than the entire last week of which GA and I spent iced-in or home sick.  We were so happy to get out and be with our friends (and so happy it was above 50 degrees!)

We started the day at McWane Center with Harris and Emilyn, spent the afternoon playing outside, and ended the day having fun at the mall with Ben, Rebecca, and Kate!

What's the Weather?

Since the weather is such a hot topic this weekend. . .thought I would share! Mrs. Jill (Kindermusik teacher) would be proud of her use of instruments!

Lately . . .

Grace Ann has been a little "unsure" of the car Santa left her, so we thought that if we took her to ride with Ben and Rebecca she would warm up to it a little.  No such luck!  She did finally go for a ride with Ben in Rebecca's Barbie Jeep.

These pictures remind me what we have to dread when they are 16!  I can't imagine how much I'll worry when these kiddos really hit the streets! 

Although GA wasn't too interested in her Princess Jeep, Kate liked it!   

We went to Kindermusik this week. We only have one more week, because we didn't sign up for the spring since Lizzie will be on the way. 

 Grace Ann really loves her teacher Mrs. Jill and talks about her all the time!

They love playing with the scarves! 

 We are preparing for  the Blizzard of 2011 and bought these at Target today in case the snow really comes! We were lucky to get one of the last extra-small pair of boots in the store!

Snow pictures coming soon, maybe?

Santa Comes! (2010)

On Christmas morning, Grace Ann woke up to this:

GamMama, Gandaddy, Aunt Ru and Uncle Scott gave her a Bitty Baby and its accessories 

When we got home the day after Christmas, we found that Santa had left one gift at our house!  Here are a few snapshots from the video we took when she walked in the door.  (She looks like she just woke up because she had been napping in the car!)

She keeps telling me that Santa brought her toys and she says "Thank You, Santa!"

We had a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas Eve 2010

 We spent Christmas this year in Selma.  When we arrived, GA was thrilled with the inflatables that her Gandaddy had put in the yard for her. 

Cora Lee (the Swift's sweet nextdoor neighbor), Will, and GA

Ruth and Gandaddy

a cute group of three in the golf cart

After church that night, we had a gumbo for dinner (a Swift Christmas Eve tradition)

(the above photo is a snapshot from our new toy - our Flip video camera!  I'm love it, but I'm still learning how to use it!) Here is my attempt at posting a video.  You will need to pause the music player at the bottom of the blog in order to hear the sound.  As you can see, she is expressing herself very well and letting her wishes be known!

Mama and Grace Ann in our Christmas PJ's getting ready for Santa to come. 

More Christmas posts to come!

McWane's Santa Workshop

This morning, my friend Amy and I took our girls to the Santa Workshop breakfast at McWane center.  The food was good, but the girls weren't too big on seeing Santa (GA's love for Santa has definitely declined over this Christmas season-she gave him a wave, but that was it!) However, they had lots of fun playing in the museum after we ate.

Ga and Harris driving!

 checking out the train exhibit

 GA loved the kitchen area and the oven mits - maybe Santa noticed?

Sweet Harris in the cable car 

 GA loved looking at herself in the mirror.  She was cracking me up making faces in the mirror while she played on the piano.

 A fun morning!

In other news, tonight before bath, GA pooped in the potty!  I was thrilled and was cheering and clapping and making such a big deal out of it.  She looked at me like I was being silly, gave me a big smile, and said "I'm so proud of you, Mommy!" Ha