Pig Tails!

I know, a million posts in one day...but I just had to put these up! On monday, I was finally able to do this to Sarah Grace's hair! Yay, some variety now!

Tea Sets

This past saturday we had a few surprises. Two of my uncles and their wives came into town to visit with the family! Its always nice to see faces that you only get to see once or twice a year! My uncle Ken & aunt Wanda gave Sarah Grace a little tea set for Christmas! She has loved playing with it! Laurel I don't know if you read the blog or not, but its a disney princess tea set! Sarah Grace would love to play with you, so whenever you feel up for a visit, we are ready to have you! She has mostly been using the plates as frisbees, but I know she is going to love it when she is a bit older! ...there is a little story behind the tea set, apparently when my mom was pregnant with me she purchased a nice little set and then shortly after was told she was having a boy. She gave the tea set to my cousin Brandy (Ken's daughter) and then surprise... she had a girl. So my uncle felt like he owed her a set! We love it and enjoyed the visit with Frank, Judi, Ken & Wanda!

Christmas morning!

A BYU shirt from her Poppa, she was a little embarrassed so she covered it up after the loss! haha, Thank you! I loved this onesie, so cute and Michele everyone LOVED the dress, she looked so darling in it! I will get a pic up at once! Its tradition in my family, to get a big rosy kiss from Santa on Christmas night, it looks like he didn't disappoint! Eric also made sure that we had all of the essentials for a Fluke Christmas also. It has been fun combining the traditions. Judy, I have a little bell that you gave me that was part of your old Christmas decor, the bow is a little hashed now, but Eric insisted on putting it up. He said as a kid thats what made it feel like Christmas & Sarah Grace has loved walking around with it! Christmas 2008 started out a little chaotic! I got up around 5 am to defrost my cinnamon rolls and by 7 am I was up a patiently watching them rise. I decided to go ahead and start making the frosting and somewhere between not hearing well over the phone and my delusion at the lack of sleep, I completely managed to add WAY too much milk. In a panic I called my grandma who lives right down the street, she did not have any powdered sugar, but was looking up other recipes for me. I went ahead and started to bake them and my mom ended up frosting them when we brought them over....in the meantime Eric told me I was ruining Christmas in my panic. I don't think he understood how much effort I had put into them. Anyway, Sarah Grace had a blast going through her stocking and opening all of her presents. She loved ripping through everything and really enjoyed a horse that we got her, at one point she climbed on the box! So cute! Santa also brought her a musical sea horse that has been her sidekick ever sense. But it seems like her favorite gifts are always books. Thank you Nana! After a while of opening presents, (its slow going with Gracie) we got a call from my family begging us to come over. Apparently they had been staring at the tree for quite some time and were all dying for the cinnamon rolls. We spent a good little while opening gifts over there, eating, and later playing football and board games! It was perfect, we had so much fun, the night ended with Eric & my mom making homemade pizza! We have decided that Cinnamon rolls and pizza are now a must on Christmas! ... Thank you everyone for the gifts, you were all too kind and generous! 

Quick version of Christmas Eve!

Eric & I decided that we would let Sarah Grace get a new pair of pajamas every Christmas Eve! I think she enjoyed opening the box! Grandma even managed to get "The Tingler" which is now a family favorite! We had a wonderful Christmas Eve this year and loved spending every second of it with Sarah Grace! We finished up some last minute shopping that day and did lots of cooking & treat making. I spent most of the day tending to about 40 cinnamon rolls...oh but it was so worth it! That night we headed over to my grandmas for our gift exchange with her. Every Christmas Eve we go to her house for a light dinner/snacks and open presents. Sarah Grace loved walking around everyone and playing with the  boxes and paper. Thank you Grandma for all of the gifts, we love you!

B-ball time!

*My sisters big hair is in the back of my head, sorry Steph! Perfect angle! Our friend Bryan got us tickets to the Carolina basketball last night and the whole family decided to go! Eric & Sarah Grace had never been to a USC b-ball game, so I was really excited for them to experience it together. Gracie of course did wonderful and the noise didn't seem to bother her at all.  She loved dancing to the music and even had an appearance on the mega tron (sp) the crowd all awwwwed in unison when her picture came up. My grandma watched the game at home and said she even had some tv time! Lucky girl!  Anyway, we were finally able to get her picture with Cocky (which was more successful then her pic with Santa) and she even got to try out cotton candy. I'm so evil I know... We had great seats and could hear the slaps and smell the sweat...my favorite! Thank you Bryan!

Sunday pictures

I tried to get a few pictures of Sarah Grace this past sunday night, but she really wasn't wanting to cooperate with me. She had spotted something off in the distance and was dying to get to it! So this was my pathetic attempt of pictures. the bottom picture is a "farewell" cake my sister and I made, mostly her I just sloppily iced and sprinkled. It's supposed to be a SC and we wanted it in Carolina colors (garnet/black), but had some trouble with the food coloring, so.....pink and teal it was! 

Grace & funny faces!

She is just sooooo stoked! The dress she is wearing was mine and my sister's first Christmas dress! Two sundays ago we had dinner at my Grandmas and it was Sarah Grace's first time using a big girl booster seat! She looked so cute sitting at the table with everyone, I had to take a million pictures of her. Gracie has the best facial expressions!  While we were there, my grandma gave her two baby dolls and a crib that she hand painted! Sarah Grace was so excited she made this "O" face and just kept oooing and ahhhing! Its hilarious to watch her when she sees something that she likes!

Happy Birthday Eric!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday was Eric's birthday and we had a low key day of celebrations. We got up and Eric made breakfast (kinda backwards, but I had to tutor) later in the day we had a long nap and went out for a late lunch. After lunch Eric used a birthday gift card to best buy and we hit the grocery store! We picked up some of his favorite foods and ventured over to my parents to play his new game with my siblings. I made cupcakes and we all had waaaaayyyy too many and played a late into the night! I think he had a fun birthday and mostly just enjoyed spending the time with Sarah Grace & I! I'm so grateful for Eric and his hard work and dedication to his family. We love him so much and enjoy every spare minute he has playing! Did I mention that he checked his email first thing yesterday morning to find that he had a 4.0 again this semester?! That's right 3 semesters of straight A's in graduate school! He is so smart!   HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIC!  

*More pictures of the birthday celebrations to come later...

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my Dad's birthday! We were mean and forced him to wait a day to open presents so we could have a joint birthday party for him & Eric who has his b-day on Monday! Aren't we horrible! Anyway, I just wanted to take a minute and let my Dad know how much I love him and how grateful I am to be his daughter. I love how funny he is and quick witted! He always seems to have a solution to any and every problem and he is a true manly man! He has been a wonderful provider, trust me, none of us kids ever did without! My dad always made sure that we had the best of everything. He truly is selfless! He has been a wonderful supporter or pusher maybe would be a better term... j/k! He is an amazing Grandpa and I love watching him with Sarah Grace... I think I know now where I get my worrying from!  I love you Dad, Happy Birthday!

My big 11 month old!

She looks like this most nights we put her down for bed, her hair is always a mess and there is usually something stuck to her face! Sarah Grace turned 11 months old on the 11th! WOW! Where has the time gone?! I feel like she is turning into a big girl now. Sarah Grace is walking everywhere, talking nonstop, and making everyone around her smile! We are so in love with this little one. It has really almost been a year since this sweet child blessed our lives! Oh Gracie girl, how grateful we are for you!

At 11 months she is:

*Walking all the time and everywhere!

*Talking your ears off!

*Loves to say Mama, Dada, baba, Uh oh, hi, hey, woof, and ohhhhh

*Mimics everyone-she loves it and catches on so quickly- we definitely have a smart baby!

*Can almost snap her fingers

*Can point to your nose/mouth/and we are currently working on eyes

*Loves to point at everything and touch the tip of your pointer finger (think E.T.)

*Has amazing dance moves! The girl can groove!

*Giggles and laughs all the time

*Still enjoys the water and bath/shower time

*A headbanger in the making

*Nothing but gums

*Loving the game hide n' seek & peek a boo

*Having people stop us all the time to talk to her 

*Such a cuddler and little love

*Clapping her hands

*Saying Ho Ho Ho!

*As stubborn as can be (I'm sooooo proud)

*And a beautiful tiny thing!