tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57470463229450952742024-03-05T21:06:15.113-08:00The Graesser FamilyThe Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747046322945095274.post-85886109265385934282009-10-31T08:13:00.000-07:002009-10-31T20:47:22.650-07:00End of Summer and the Best Season of All - Fall!So, I'm continuing the tradition of the three month catch-up! I left off in July and now it's the end of October. The rest of the summer was fairly uneventful. We spent lots of time in the water trying to beat the insane heat of the summer of 2009. We'll likely never forget it. I wasn't even pregnant and the heat was nearly unbearable. Needless to say, if we were outside, it was either to be in the water or to go from one air conditioned place to another. We celebrated Andrew's birthday in August with family - a much anticipated day by Hannah. She LOVES birthdays, even the ones that aren't for her.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Misc. Summer Pic</span>s<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRW8UrJFPn7wYHIFgpQnFEu3-bZc7_wYj9TLzmDIAVjjaEcw5x3D_AgyTVwNAotT92_FqogDOonq17fAdHW5I1Kfk-iA9I8EAPeMv9N9SG5PZPuV_HoWPxlSD-8j0FFX6UJMnK7yDjOXKn/s1600-h/baseball+ben+sleep.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRW8UrJFPn7wYHIFgpQnFEu3-bZc7_wYj9TLzmDIAVjjaEcw5x3D_AgyTVwNAotT92_FqogDOonq17fAdHW5I1Kfk-iA9I8EAPeMv9N9SG5PZPuV_HoWPxlSD-8j0FFX6UJMnK7yDjOXKn/s320/baseball+ben+sleep.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398849729643815826" border="0" /></a>Catching an Astros game and a nap...ahhh, the life!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDErmPIlf1INePTrhjkUKFHOOjbxZED7W2mBo79fQwPf41Uuc-I5ffyI11_h7b62msrzlsXQ_Sk1aI902fBzAVFxvhmtrnEzd-IIoU51vVgvcmaq2UWAty1rxYJWYFrxXILwBkeUttgUXn/s1600-h/baseball+girls+food.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDErmPIlf1INePTrhjkUKFHOOjbxZED7W2mBo79fQwPf41Uuc-I5ffyI11_h7b62msrzlsXQ_Sk1aI902fBzAVFxvhmtrnEzd-IIoU51vVgvcmaq2UWAty1rxYJWYFrxXILwBkeUttgUXn/s320/baseball+girls+food.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398850108443072066" border="0" /></a>Why do the girls love thee game of baseball? Let me count the ways...Peanuts, cotton candy, cracker jacks, hot dogs, sodas...<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSu_oiE1FRBnTTL_eIFbCEBYqpngdo3rGnMMT3tVtDwvXoKWrMEyT5JIyoYGLpb7mr1Z1q1siv9NhtLJAolqpvDkRk43k3WUuqIvN_a0VbNiBnd01_t8tduNgwiJW2h_M935effvrg7Lw/s1600-h/noni&papa+swim.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSu_oiE1FRBnTTL_eIFbCEBYqpngdo3rGnMMT3tVtDwvXoKWrMEyT5JIyoYGLpb7mr1Z1q1siv9NhtLJAolqpvDkRk43k3WUuqIvN_a0VbNiBnd01_t8tduNgwiJW2h_M935effvrg7Lw/s320/noni&papa+swim.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398964952205224130" border="0" /></a>The pool with Noni and Papa in San Antonio<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiNFmcrUgqS4LNGyaM311ytj5MpX3jHNN6w_brAT8ZjGV8CNsGbC-oAY-3WFBH4Zj7XVnRU-5jGEuQEk0dClML9WO3xJV65vZm3BnVpHvDocwK5sUTWxHtnEr3QWVENl7ALtT_tzChj4R/s1600-h/whale+slide+andrewellieben.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiNFmcrUgqS4LNGyaM311ytj5MpX3jHNN6w_brAT8ZjGV8CNsGbC-oAY-3WFBH4Zj7XVnRU-5jGEuQEk0dClML9WO3xJV65vZm3BnVpHvDocwK5sUTWxHtnEr3QWVENl7ALtT_tzChj4R/s320/whale+slide+andrewellieben.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398965490541153842" border="0" /></a>Daddy with Benjamin and Ellie going down the famous whale slide at the Schaefer's beach house!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGI50RWkrBj2etvRdRCYbsgbAmFwME3Y2A85vp7XK5W5aVYNxKIzli0rztcQkbbBQUI7pW4_Q5gcL4W5FhCsuwfvTaFWjFiMkcS_RE6SZPjRtAtB_TP6PuiihFFWIJFx5rpHuJGFXCWSn/s1600-h/hannah+whale+slide.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGI50RWkrBj2etvRdRCYbsgbAmFwME3Y2A85vp7XK5W5aVYNxKIzli0rztcQkbbBQUI7pW4_Q5gcL4W5FhCsuwfvTaFWjFiMkcS_RE6SZPjRtAtB_TP6PuiihFFWIJFx5rpHuJGFXCWSn/s320/hannah+whale+slide.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398964639406519346" border="0" /></a>Hannah's turn!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5hw4pHSlJ7UpxoiKEgnPmZVINhdbvPdcV9RurwsnXVTAnF_s4y8t57aNflASRiiHhAQTnmtSFTPHAKBBEu3GtJTxazaAmwE3JdIYjRcFpSl6aBn10r7O0bISfbIzYRhIVOF00xk09_of/s1600-h/katelyngirls+at+pool.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5hw4pHSlJ7UpxoiKEgnPmZVINhdbvPdcV9RurwsnXVTAnF_s4y8t57aNflASRiiHhAQTnmtSFTPHAKBBEu3GtJTxazaAmwE3JdIYjRcFpSl6aBn10r7O0bISfbIzYRhIVOF00xk09_of/s320/katelyngirls+at+pool.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398964647750599234" border="0" /></a>The girls got to swim with cousin Katelyn early in the summer. What a cutie!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3J4RL5IqRknNMnO7PpkmsTKaCtYkg_uGUgDG6zsiWpQb3sHCt7P5c-FV3k7rgpNXoD1xpw4OnBwss6loJUJbwsvPrXWTRvaaJhu_hdZDQBpnySflTAViZDo0oUAk_pgLXaEoX0kYUymJa/s1600-h/ellie&peter1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3J4RL5IqRknNMnO7PpkmsTKaCtYkg_uGUgDG6zsiWpQb3sHCt7P5c-FV3k7rgpNXoD1xpw4OnBwss6loJUJbwsvPrXWTRvaaJhu_hdZDQBpnySflTAViZDo0oUAk_pgLXaEoX0kYUymJa/s320/ellie&peter1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398963757443178898" border="0" /></a>Ellie and cousin Peter having a moment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-nReD4FjciFYIKfG8fvJRA7ClCcLBm0CYgUETkAERqhCLVL-i9D05BIxIfPOIlpM9_-oQtVDpBALeJjk5GTZfdJMMioR44cvQSIBwWaFCUepsrlCDhVX9fXMX5cLg76qdZBFQyFV25ft/s1600-h/2nd+cousins.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-nReD4FjciFYIKfG8fvJRA7ClCcLBm0CYgUETkAERqhCLVL-i9D05BIxIfPOIlpM9_-oQtVDpBALeJjk5GTZfdJMMioR44cvQSIBwWaFCUepsrlCDhVX9fXMX5cLg76qdZBFQyFV25ft/s320/2nd+cousins.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398849712852708898" border="0" /></a>The kids hanging with second cousin Joshua. So great to get to see him and his parents!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja049ouJ1tKwIxYsPLCqrEteF8yrW77mw9mJSRoNSp526LSruI0xLMr2jsfhjYn2KuFfZ0G6TC16W2sHQAsHNTE0TOVC2hvPKiSb3UzjjzdfPJNTKJEJr4nYZo_ID_Ul4z8hZlYvDeM0mG/s1600-h/ben&emmy+after+sunday+bruch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja049ouJ1tKwIxYsPLCqrEteF8yrW77mw9mJSRoNSp526LSruI0xLMr2jsfhjYn2KuFfZ0G6TC16W2sHQAsHNTE0TOVC2hvPKiSb3UzjjzdfPJNTKJEJr4nYZo_ID_Ul4z8hZlYvDeM0mG/s320/ben&emmy+after+sunday+bruch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398962648802105554" border="0" /></a>Girlfriend Emmy hanging out with Benjamin after Sunday brunch. He even let Emmy hold the toy remote!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlq-siW1hRlbQIRxLzdASRGDBW0DTDisr8kzOg-o5txKom_cSJvrRVbVucntR1a4Wa7d3TfvPQ_WWP7KUVcTAL9oa-FAAHU08c79X423btbDY6e5MZ8J8gExezWU0bW3o7JGep9vx4U1I/s1600-h/aunt+katie+visit.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlq-siW1hRlbQIRxLzdASRGDBW0DTDisr8kzOg-o5txKom_cSJvrRVbVucntR1a4Wa7d3TfvPQ_WWP7KUVcTAL9oa-FAAHU08c79X423btbDY6e5MZ8J8gExezWU0bW3o7JGep9vx4U1I/s320/aunt+katie+visit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398849723526158770" border="0" /></a>Aunt Katie came to visit for several days. We love Aunt Katie!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiL-NI5QrCfcPoWfAiXKPHmO3j08aTxjvkagLr1Im-J5LsOc6mpg0eF_mqNJqrFM_iWizy5LIBXZO6eM22TsT1S-_d_mbk27o1bXTYaEXJDW-iwrh_8KuBpV4yFz_cooCAy1ZWmYc6Gpn/s1600-h/andrew's+b-day,+ben%26grandpa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiL-NI5QrCfcPoWfAiXKPHmO3j08aTxjvkagLr1Im-J5LsOc6mpg0eF_mqNJqrFM_iWizy5LIBXZO6eM22TsT1S-_d_mbk27o1bXTYaEXJDW-iwrh_8KuBpV4yFz_cooCAy1ZWmYc6Gpn/s320/andrew's+b-day,+ben%26grandpa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398849721485344466" border="0" /></a>Benjamin chillin' with Grandpa at Daddy's birthday party<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Jbqq5S0eMwF5JFIXHmzCsn6eVmTbgAScri26BDaUaGIJlYKR7_YmGPDtL-qW637nI3LrmAOLsU2w6pzBT0L3gd-czs8_9VvVEJGisw5gXB83s-5sb7uklFkboeCttckJAoSOJ69Pj60x/s1600-h/andrews+bday+cake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Jbqq5S0eMwF5JFIXHmzCsn6eVmTbgAScri26BDaUaGIJlYKR7_YmGPDtL-qW637nI3LrmAOLsU2w6pzBT0L3gd-czs8_9VvVEJGisw5gXB83s-5sb7uklFkboeCttckJAoSOJ69Pj60x/s320/andrews+bday+cake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398849718709236594" border="0" /></a>Andrew has a little help blowing out his birthday candles<br /><br /></div>Hannah started pre-school this year (two days a week). I was surprised to be a little sadened by the event. Our girl is growing up! She was so excited to go the first day and her excitement hasn't waned. She loves everything about it; writing her letters and numbers, making new friends (William tells her she's pretty and London makes her laugh), learning new songs in music, and best of all she loves show and tell. She takes her "show and share box" once a week with an object that starts with the letter of the week. Meanwhile, Ellie and Benjamin are home with me and Ellie really likes the time to herself. These sisters love each other, but a break a couple days a week seems to agree with them.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRZC0k98Ks1flwJjWwjKXdfUrQ_J4nHx4rV3urvUkdFEDXyR2t5V5B8gl3VMBlTXKzz8viZNUVy87ho1hzRWRlVXsxwa37gykOsmCkdYr5UWMrGtZGc6G_NhTfeYAaVtFaWtGWLXX9w2T/s1600-h/hannah+first+day+preschool.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRZC0k98Ks1flwJjWwjKXdfUrQ_J4nHx4rV3urvUkdFEDXyR2t5V5B8gl3VMBlTXKzz8viZNUVy87ho1hzRWRlVXsxwa37gykOsmCkdYr5UWMrGtZGc6G_NhTfeYAaVtFaWtGWLXX9w2T/s320/hannah+first+day+preschool.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398964135344359410" border="0" /></a>The first day of school standing outside the building<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PXNT-D6G12OVscBNCTjD-Cvx_51aHEdbtbk3qbeAj5rtKK1__9A41sRtauXrMxAT_NPAeZejt4z1f3FJo-cMcu0m34KwZiW5wLn8KrTlKpKxibHA4l5gd4wz9dCbMbVHGub3DKY6z2U_/s1600-h/hannah+first+day+preschool2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PXNT-D6G12OVscBNCTjD-Cvx_51aHEdbtbk3qbeAj5rtKK1__9A41sRtauXrMxAT_NPAeZejt4z1f3FJo-cMcu0m34KwZiW5wLn8KrTlKpKxibHA4l5gd4wz9dCbMbVHGub3DKY6z2U_/s320/hannah+first+day+preschool2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398964143743423186" border="0" /></a>Just outside her new classroom. Yes, I was that mother taking pictures of my baby in the middle of the hallway.<br /><br /></div>In September we made the big move. We sold our house on Bethan Glen and moved out to Katy. We are excited about our neighborhood, great neighbors and awesome schools to look forward to. The house is great, too. We have a bit more space, which has been wonderful, though I'm still trying to figure out how to keep it clean. Any suggestions?<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjV_ECFvhiM5tKNXngTwZio7r-ghwl8lKmKH1FkcLXMiTM_d4rUTxwRfh-CpKX721Vz3uSWX2lKVdzggEq_rZbOf-pDFKt0JCokjokfA2hAIF6TeHVLpdvUekp09Pjz2rJjAKaObBeBNh/s1600-h/ben+w+spoon+and+bowl+while+packing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjV_ECFvhiM5tKNXngTwZio7r-ghwl8lKmKH1FkcLXMiTM_d4rUTxwRfh-CpKX721Vz3uSWX2lKVdzggEq_rZbOf-pDFKt0JCokjokfA2hAIF6TeHVLpdvUekp09Pjz2rJjAKaObBeBNh/s320/ben+w+spoon+and+bowl+while+packing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398962312805060418" border="0" /></a>Benjamin plays with a bowl and spoon while I try to get a few more boxes packed, which again begs the question...why do we bother with toys?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_l5H0HaHp5zCs4eph-LFWMSDM57MZEzcA1cp6M3wbwW8cQJUVkNxBivMXCX5er6bLUacF6wCdRgMgkX5_sLnYRphAAR0ql_OACgN_y2FBhXehYuEqyjaNN55t1idgoePPEOAle8cqqQyc/s1600-h/last+pic+in+old+house.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_l5H0HaHp5zCs4eph-LFWMSDM57MZEzcA1cp6M3wbwW8cQJUVkNxBivMXCX5er6bLUacF6wCdRgMgkX5_sLnYRphAAR0ql_OACgN_y2FBhXehYuEqyjaNN55t1idgoePPEOAle8cqqQyc/s320/last+pic+in+old+house.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398964654179217762" border="0" /></a>Last few pics taken at the old house.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4rdBH-JK3xOuJ_20L8rzh8PGOSUlL_C4sqNo8o65C6ykl3ruKShvbipcM3TUkG1mBaZ4ozaQg1cunBCGBxu6-PeC96m7KmR7kJrKVScqTbJjLA2rjDPi8Sd4UvkY00K7Z5vNNHLCRlXN/s1600-h/elliefashion.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4rdBH-JK3xOuJ_20L8rzh8PGOSUlL_C4sqNo8o65C6ykl3ruKShvbipcM3TUkG1mBaZ4ozaQg1cunBCGBxu6-PeC96m7KmR7kJrKVScqTbJjLA2rjDPi8Sd4UvkY00K7Z5vNNHLCRlXN/s320/elliefashion.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398963762396718034" border="0" /></a>Ellie showing off her late summer fashions. Thank you, Noni!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKA6hZKhXQ5414iTbbO_3xMgLMj5hTGAulYqSGkHPT3mKuchi37T1PfVdPrlzR9zOG-6JyIZsT4ooU_vGUh67EU3vrIGwiVKlBwjSI1nBAtby7V5W-J8QnwmPI_hSEXMyYlW3ap4AtHbZw/s1600-h/hannah+long+legs+%26+ponytail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKA6hZKhXQ5414iTbbO_3xMgLMj5hTGAulYqSGkHPT3mKuchi37T1PfVdPrlzR9zOG-6JyIZsT4ooU_vGUh67EU3vrIGwiVKlBwjSI1nBAtby7V5W-J8QnwmPI_hSEXMyYlW3ap4AtHbZw/s320/hannah+long+legs+%26+ponytail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398964144716460018" border="0" /></a>Look at those long legs! Hannah did a lot of growing over the summer!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9k1Tx84i8m2YDR4KAvOelgFFXgj-KVQoDqIMGgNwFjhWpHAiF0vM3ft_aKL3v_PKA_YYd4nc3Tjfnjyqys8XbFAzLRH3tP9vasnljcylBYYyd2Nw8ms9tHh3lal1jEfeLYJ4lznhU5w0/s1600-h/ben+pulling+up+on+mommy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9k1Tx84i8m2YDR4KAvOelgFFXgj-KVQoDqIMGgNwFjhWpHAiF0vM3ft_aKL3v_PKA_YYd4nc3Tjfnjyqys8XbFAzLRH3tP9vasnljcylBYYyd2Nw8ms9tHh3lal1jEfeLYJ4lznhU5w0/s320/ben+pulling+up+on+mommy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398962310070088418" border="0" /></a>Benjamin's pulling up on everything, including Mommy! And he's sooo proud of himself.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dheoBDlqTU7VwI-FSlfgr2aaQJfti6ljiaje9A5DkSgWW0-Uj0HLdMyPRGrty_mJas1QaI8Aircbb47WFgzhSOciUBgi7nBOXHNu27NW95WqYav73tHh2s2FUO_oHvwoGA49JSsNTWjc/s1600-h/front.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dheoBDlqTU7VwI-FSlfgr2aaQJfti6ljiaje9A5DkSgWW0-Uj0HLdMyPRGrty_mJas1QaI8Aircbb47WFgzhSOciUBgi7nBOXHNu27NW95WqYav73tHh2s2FUO_oHvwoGA49JSsNTWjc/s320/front.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398976426083199426" border="0" /></a>The new house. Our favorite part...the trees!!!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEM1hZbeorcyUNf800bqDgfKCSym-L9VQLHzVbxN8wyyrbgkOqMD3p5Mkz9Yq-c0j5_iHINdPQ5CcFoEklx4OVnqOck3fplftF6pvP4xTtlYjqZEy8zGzQNKg1WZfs1NXdouOr-IpbaOm/s1600-h/hannah+pool.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEM1hZbeorcyUNf800bqDgfKCSym-L9VQLHzVbxN8wyyrbgkOqMD3p5Mkz9Yq-c0j5_iHINdPQ5CcFoEklx4OVnqOck3fplftF6pvP4xTtlYjqZEy8zGzQNKg1WZfs1NXdouOr-IpbaOm/s320/hannah+pool.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398964630376493330" border="0" /></a>We gave the pool a shot after Andrew got the chemicals figured out. Too bad it was really COLD by then. Oh well, it was fun for a few minutes! Hannah got out pretty quickly (but not before her mother!).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQBXhjiITHykounC5g0bllhrG1oTibnLJgdb0aFtEVDPkRevD2Y4YbLddxzBaRahxUYne4dd22iRipZYm1Aj7PLz7lvXZ1dAeHNkaE4v3vFkpsbs8TjBo2TbeX1ezHkLZUmDH3CiRkob0/s1600-h/pool+with+daddy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQBXhjiITHykounC5g0bllhrG1oTibnLJgdb0aFtEVDPkRevD2Y4YbLddxzBaRahxUYne4dd22iRipZYm1Aj7PLz7lvXZ1dAeHNkaE4v3vFkpsbs8TjBo2TbeX1ezHkLZUmDH3CiRkob0/s320/pool+with+daddy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398964955991604114" border="0" /></a>Ellie, Daddy and Benjamin didn't seem to mind the cold as much.<br /><br /><br /></div>Early in October, Kristen (the kids' adopted aunt) took the girls on a special birthday trip to the little girls' salon for manis, pedis and an up-do. I got to tag along to see all the girly fun. They had sooo much fun. We went for lunch and a photo shoot afterward. Thank you, Aunt Kristen!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRTcR1iDfoJYw9gKI4_nHJGNQWRc5ldOXcWKb0wA2k4Fi99UjLzTjhE71wM18xIvxeSG8WUtbFGj4Dcsb2QILBQTQR7RKr-2TFRSF_T4MCMskh463gLLDfbx06a0eEEpocAUC3BZTM7TK/s1600-h/hannah+mani.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRTcR1iDfoJYw9gKI4_nHJGNQWRc5ldOXcWKb0wA2k4Fi99UjLzTjhE71wM18xIvxeSG8WUtbFGj4Dcsb2QILBQTQR7RKr-2TFRSF_T4MCMskh463gLLDfbx06a0eEEpocAUC3BZTM7TK/s320/hannah+mani.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398964146115729122" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEZAfF82P1J_cDZsAfMytFAgW9nlnUvchUsVKHqvGYYFP0-mQNwK1anwoUL7NWLPkPn8FotwvZo25ReJLNd0uu4Ox5TAoeJ36-5MiNnFYNEEnCgNlNUhCKTo83T2fffpB798AQW6cdQ5c/s1600-h/elliemani.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIEZAfF82P1J_cDZsAfMytFAgW9nlnUvchUsVKHqvGYYFP0-mQNwK1anwoUL7NWLPkPn8FotwvZo25ReJLNd0uu4Ox5TAoeJ36-5MiNnFYNEEnCgNlNUhCKTo83T2fffpB798AQW6cdQ5c/s320/elliemani.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398963766524657986" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgenlZYAZs0dy1f_3V2jaX1u1Oro8qugVGDG53BPnakmui1Wr5BqK3oyGlZarrYHoGCjG6LOKpBXcFOdKEkBVGQjf6Qb3-y17JYBCO-7xMvUoOVIyAk0-diY-YTVMh8o2BF848y0Jgw8ibh/s1600-h/birthdaymanipedi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgenlZYAZs0dy1f_3V2jaX1u1Oro8qugVGDG53BPnakmui1Wr5BqK3oyGlZarrYHoGCjG6LOKpBXcFOdKEkBVGQjf6Qb3-y17JYBCO-7xMvUoOVIyAk0-diY-YTVMh8o2BF848y0Jgw8ibh/s320/birthdaymanipedi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398962656392945394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdLKeYxFE9klPlkFhdY6nBOcwOPiCw2W5WXYtnjVs_9fgVuDN2joEdLs9gA1dm3nsq4GFdea1sNTnd2dWc9yy8j8zjGcbG-N6MMsyPMkie4tFcA9-mpLgrL-Dag2WYz66EE4wqafY5JFB/s1600-h/birthdaymanipedi+with+kris.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdLKeYxFE9klPlkFhdY6nBOcwOPiCw2W5WXYtnjVs_9fgVuDN2joEdLs9gA1dm3nsq4GFdea1sNTnd2dWc9yy8j8zjGcbG-N6MMsyPMkie4tFcA9-mpLgrL-Dag2WYz66EE4wqafY5JFB/s320/birthdaymanipedi+with+kris.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398962656708381394" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And the photo shoot....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2dIrCvGf3vQ0JGMw-LnczXGFoAaLTUjwnl-gUChuUzVb9QZNIXV2gDMB0xsAN2I0jabAlocMF1LuFkLcpKVQa38kQNbAZsfgfk-o3eE1N_ecaXcNDABjVX8qtuFqmmm1DOadIwNwfV8z/s1600-h/hug.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2dIrCvGf3vQ0JGMw-LnczXGFoAaLTUjwnl-gUChuUzVb9QZNIXV2gDMB0xsAN2I0jabAlocMF1LuFkLcpKVQa38kQNbAZsfgfk-o3eE1N_ecaXcNDABjVX8qtuFqmmm1DOadIwNwfV8z/s320/hug.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398974052324351490" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrV5OKBMkTdKGuUy1XzAi0vpz4EyDw1u2CNyuHAuJRHL2zLhwMfOj1BKBHu49gZCFDi2azZQ8Zl44wK-tk6R9E2SHrp1yOsU-7wlShd7Dd8QyeIg2kAhd7P_4IF6KmwFZjUVqCHNvD3aFR/s1600-h/hannahtulle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrV5OKBMkTdKGuUy1XzAi0vpz4EyDw1u2CNyuHAuJRHL2zLhwMfOj1BKBHu49gZCFDi2azZQ8Zl44wK-tk6R9E2SHrp1yOsU-7wlShd7Dd8QyeIg2kAhd7P_4IF6KmwFZjUVqCHNvD3aFR/s320/hannahtulle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398974045165919522" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUxHqKVHqFu628Puj05JfZg8sXyXnt0orGRZ7c97eoAsdGLYn2t_YTJuVWlhZ7BiUSBASUz6dS0Wdaw8nKkdKmXn-vML9AWiElE2QgfbydydBgNo8_2IffrKSwAoDsCzPFdKVANpWbnuB/s1600-h/hannahsitting.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUxHqKVHqFu628Puj05JfZg8sXyXnt0orGRZ7c97eoAsdGLYn2t_YTJuVWlhZ7BiUSBASUz6dS0Wdaw8nKkdKmXn-vML9AWiElE2QgfbydydBgNo8_2IffrKSwAoDsCzPFdKVANpWbnuB/s320/hannahsitting.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398974041141155282" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIoAQgYa2ftX4zb017-OOA33qHtLGzguvzv7YGaZYgQIg5GCNNRYTrawxAMogU6aSrWQSoxawj-rrT7ETmGh-yFQqU7oRwDJo3YUk-bx8GDEfwGV3yTVgPJB7cWpWhG_w9PRr9AVkdnH8h/s1600-h/hannahside+smile.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIoAQgYa2ftX4zb017-OOA33qHtLGzguvzv7YGaZYgQIg5GCNNRYTrawxAMogU6aSrWQSoxawj-rrT7ETmGh-yFQqU7oRwDJo3YUk-bx8GDEfwGV3yTVgPJB7cWpWhG_w9PRr9AVkdnH8h/s320/hannahside+smile.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398974044884829170" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUU8Jd5yoWY5Jx5AgFyVD4jXTDXj5sijToTmqqrvJAL2LKNtnnbGTkAviwyTuwsJ5P5nP4f3DAVvgqHISX8IGplodrcrAuk6qcgXJvbnyNeb35g5_ZDNaLp_eQ_ddaoZafpgvO4Ji9O8Xw/s1600-h/hannahsassy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUU8Jd5yoWY5Jx5AgFyVD4jXTDXj5sijToTmqqrvJAL2LKNtnnbGTkAviwyTuwsJ5P5nP4f3DAVvgqHISX8IGplodrcrAuk6qcgXJvbnyNeb35g5_ZDNaLp_eQ_ddaoZafpgvO4Ji9O8Xw/s320/hannahsassy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398973794121912946" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1j4QFI77aPNqwkv908EWF76591R5NgXN4WqmfidAgRhUUuB6rfS3MyEogsTXHP9vjogaJuBWV03TYMlZ-UEkCedNnpl7s5aBVpucKpVKuhOflKGo5gQ6uvhJKhtERp92MIcTuyBTG1cF/s1600-h/girls+both+on+floor+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 312px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1j4QFI77aPNqwkv908EWF76591R5NgXN4WqmfidAgRhUUuB6rfS3MyEogsTXHP9vjogaJuBWV03TYMlZ-UEkCedNnpl7s5aBVpucKpVKuhOflKGo5gQ6uvhJKhtERp92MIcTuyBTG1cF/s320/girls+both+on+floor+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398973787740436418" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sFdarN1eUo8XD07gy6RKdOwWZukUEvUcHSQtPirj8miFGYAHERrhYWTD3azLgaD3vqpDedU3tHoWqSeoOpGnsEBf16WYcjtaiqvO1npz-bDKFV05z0rAIwFXg1ChUd2lnCGZI185xfou/s1600-h/girls+both+on+floor.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 312px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sFdarN1eUo8XD07gy6RKdOwWZukUEvUcHSQtPirj8miFGYAHERrhYWTD3azLgaD3vqpDedU3tHoWqSeoOpGnsEBf16WYcjtaiqvO1npz-bDKFV05z0rAIwFXg1ChUd2lnCGZI185xfou/s320/girls+both+on+floor.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398973785711652338" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49gNG262wHU6rnWdABHNbZi3LTnT6zqg2MoakfNpks_6m9F6Nhi11yKWvEePvh6oAJvI-DavLzFN7SKMoW-F56NbjOL8KaqU9eBMezIELHQ0qAfNLfBHVxQCeeCFLO8knsC-saEukWh7m/s1600-h/elliesassy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49gNG262wHU6rnWdABHNbZi3LTnT6zqg2MoakfNpks_6m9F6Nhi11yKWvEePvh6oAJvI-DavLzFN7SKMoW-F56NbjOL8KaqU9eBMezIELHQ0qAfNLfBHVxQCeeCFLO8knsC-saEukWh7m/s320/elliesassy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398973784806326434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZ8EfC05Okrt0aS9lyZLtvt1co08dDCqATH1awyoxnJH8wxfyrWKxPstX6xjXKXUd8o_N0nv5U6KKlUjaywCiqpCo0QClHUY5r5uddNMHer96u9rTz5ikxLFl-GGro4p4U8dh1TlH4eDN/s1600-h/ellie+tulle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZ8EfC05Okrt0aS9lyZLtvt1co08dDCqATH1awyoxnJH8wxfyrWKxPstX6xjXKXUd8o_N0nv5U6KKlUjaywCiqpCo0QClHUY5r5uddNMHer96u9rTz5ikxLFl-GGro4p4U8dh1TlH4eDN/s320/ellie+tulle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398973779828343266" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkV1W4gGE6zC0n-r8EVF95cU2Isr6HyCN4tVG5hdSzVJASCmSwu4AKn_6n57dtl7hKvLGxOfcFxx66tNI6UdPKxBrNbye07jss9796DD-jgYe9tx7A5i26Sd4-mhS3ekyVbFoSjmw6JFaL/s1600-h/ellie+straight+on.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkV1W4gGE6zC0n-r8EVF95cU2Isr6HyCN4tVG5hdSzVJASCmSwu4AKn_6n57dtl7hKvLGxOfcFxx66tNI6UdPKxBrNbye07jss9796DD-jgYe9tx7A5i26Sd4-mhS3ekyVbFoSjmw6JFaL/s320/ellie+straight+on.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398973521734438370" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0leo3g59V0Paa64nFuxIPC8AVbTeRyqUmX-YE0CHaPSHmlJMZ5ywwkYPuGYbL_GHDp4Yamhgvd8diyxGRrylSk8F98JQ8ehCZsVuPdxWTo_RKnvYj9ueIpOHM644cWRyhEcoDZKh8xYTz/s1600-h/ellie+leaning+on+hands.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0leo3g59V0Paa64nFuxIPC8AVbTeRyqUmX-YE0CHaPSHmlJMZ5ywwkYPuGYbL_GHDp4Yamhgvd8diyxGRrylSk8F98JQ8ehCZsVuPdxWTo_RKnvYj9ueIpOHM644cWRyhEcoDZKh8xYTz/s320/ellie+leaning+on+hands.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398973524846980690" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pacc7IksmMceGoReGEoCRCclPYqaiKBOvLYO9K6qobCHzjEn6N9PCXtS4b0iUAIBRJ3lVIzLq6pTsMKfZmP4XSgNKV5vyuast9JfU7XGPC2KsHgeZ20yWtxbXZIE95Xa7Oa_E7LWTwol/s1600-h/ellie+cheesy+grin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-pacc7IksmMceGoReGEoCRCclPYqaiKBOvLYO9K6qobCHzjEn6N9PCXtS4b0iUAIBRJ3lVIzLq6pTsMKfZmP4XSgNKV5vyuast9JfU7XGPC2KsHgeZ20yWtxbXZIE95Xa7Oa_E7LWTwol/s320/ellie+cheesy+grin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398973517189448178" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNu0CriiCsdXmssEtjDm_2l32YZ7bGk5vJ3K11GtbwZ7g53Usvso_V0dTczTaS6CRDqwQp05Nkq_vCtwS2xgy1o1EwT5Lh_qyvDyTTJzH8W4PViBm257FK1XkgZP4owEuudsb3uX1swzn/s1600-h/both+girls+sitting2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNu0CriiCsdXmssEtjDm_2l32YZ7bGk5vJ3K11GtbwZ7g53Usvso_V0dTczTaS6CRDqwQp05Nkq_vCtwS2xgy1o1EwT5Lh_qyvDyTTJzH8W4PViBm257FK1XkgZP4owEuudsb3uX1swzn/s320/both+girls+sitting2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398973515007784818" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNSzutC6mM75kvHixh7v497hP0AO7xUDUcTiqRuW7j1hzlsJbvUkyfGZNpJIUL8jzX867zTF_tmmmF8_SIyZSu5p1_9tczNlW_gqhLNeLlsKV7fRl11WcUTMQ1z9rHbfgPcRV41-lZydm/s1600-h/both+girls+on+sitting.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuNSzutC6mM75kvHixh7v497hP0AO7xUDUcTiqRuW7j1hzlsJbvUkyfGZNpJIUL8jzX867zTF_tmmmF8_SIyZSu5p1_9tczNlW_gqhLNeLlsKV7fRl11WcUTMQ1z9rHbfgPcRV41-lZydm/s320/both+girls+on+sitting.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398973514386739730" border="0" /></a>I just have to note that this was by far the easiest picture taking session we have ever had. Ellie was an absolute ham!!! Hannah was so sweet and did exactly what the photographer told her. And Kristen and I did a lot of laughing!<br /></div><br />With fall has come several stomach bugs already. We have a new name for the more grotesque part of these short but nasty illnesses. Hannah and Ellie have coined the term "allergies" for the runs. Sorry to be graphic, but it's too funny not to share. Hannah and Ellie were in the bathroom the other day when Ellie came running out to let me know that Hannah had "allergies". She did, indeed have the runs. Then just a few days later I was changing the girls' sheets when I hear a distressed Ellie shouting from the bathroom, "Oh, no! I have allergies!" She did, indeed. Fortunately, I have no pictures of this memory.<br /><br />We just celebrated Hannah's and Ellie's birthdays. Hannah turned 5 on the 22nd. Can't believe she's 5...She's grown so much in the past year. Her legs are so long all of a sudden, she's become very social - able to make friends wherever we go and she's very interested in reading, always telling me what things say and even reading simple books to her siblings.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xR3WzSVjfqdM1k_hyRND6giY-cDJnMCqzwLj_x67GjElrxgxhM-BeAyF3yw2kek35XSFcTcbsEFiEP5cyWIu2E14YU3x5Nvsono5fMaRu5QnIv0YZ1Al7zEWL417JSoqQ408qQsB0EAf/s1600-h/hannah+5th+birthday.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xR3WzSVjfqdM1k_hyRND6giY-cDJnMCqzwLj_x67GjElrxgxhM-BeAyF3yw2kek35XSFcTcbsEFiEP5cyWIu2E14YU3x5Nvsono5fMaRu5QnIv0YZ1Al7zEWL417JSoqQ408qQsB0EAf/s320/hannah+5th+birthday.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398963770005120642" border="0" /></a>Blowing out her candles on her 5th birthday<br /></div><br />We've done a few fun fall things. We went to the Katy Rice Harvest Festival which was fun as always. Here are a couple pictures of the girls posing with their favorite princesses who came to the festival too!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7HzTR4atnjQj_IKvvTnE0heLn_VzZoyNIDyA1L_8d4dWrMScK8edQXWX_BSUekrDcyxEhj35AAAa_4-weBnJb0YOdSQaVDd1pFi1wMLxBJL7T2LN7UZZ2YEtF8VI5TT6hRF30CueDw2j/s1600-h/rice+harvest+festival+hannah.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7HzTR4atnjQj_IKvvTnE0heLn_VzZoyNIDyA1L_8d4dWrMScK8edQXWX_BSUekrDcyxEhj35AAAa_4-weBnJb0YOdSQaVDd1pFi1wMLxBJL7T2LN7UZZ2YEtF8VI5TT6hRF30CueDw2j/s320/rice+harvest+festival+hannah.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398965477451406370" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxArfTD_VZT0gvZ-TMlo8VuGyablztvkYj5CYbPrHiLnXQyGF-MThpl8vxf6tOi3n7Fl3bouQF-EdZoAXCSq7dC8zEeRgw85nrElH62OX-l8aT1BFNoprfgJueLsaqStLesD7-X4igCjz3/s1600-h/rice+harvest+festival+ellie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxArfTD_VZT0gvZ-TMlo8VuGyablztvkYj5CYbPrHiLnXQyGF-MThpl8vxf6tOi3n7Fl3bouQF-EdZoAXCSq7dC8zEeRgw85nrElH62OX-l8aT1BFNoprfgJueLsaqStLesD7-X4igCjz3/s320/rice+harvest+festival+ellie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398965475388665890" border="0" /></a><br />We also recently went to a pumpkin patch with some friends. We got some cute pictures...sadly Hannah wasn't quite as interested in making the memory last. So, I only got a couple shots of her before she ditched me to go find a pumpkin to take home.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBelrvMGWBtykWwMCUxI-kG8Vufb14UFZq5XnNkouXC-hJ2aLRonCnr3OjHsYHSxAJGz-yny86tfwHGSQ8ScKO65i4P7lGAIhpWDZs3z4lRf0f5flJZdVq2dTJGWmU-o-m9WJR8MpyHra/s1600-h/pumpkin+patch+all+three.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBelrvMGWBtykWwMCUxI-kG8Vufb14UFZq5XnNkouXC-hJ2aLRonCnr3OjHsYHSxAJGz-yny86tfwHGSQ8ScKO65i4P7lGAIhpWDZs3z4lRf0f5flJZdVq2dTJGWmU-o-m9WJR8MpyHra/s320/pumpkin+patch+all+three.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398964957481129938" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQW8zU9amI50_w6AKCY6DOKSA6iKk_6dhUFmqD2ElXfy6IuyHbM7NV82kibNkCoT8Q4nqRFTRmRfvCi7VBrjAbU1Ao2w3FkgTRa5ExJBUiaJKTdkV6O1gqiCIhInKpbYol2TTvw48lUIQ/s1600-h/ellie+pumpkin+patch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQW8zU9amI50_w6AKCY6DOKSA6iKk_6dhUFmqD2ElXfy6IuyHbM7NV82kibNkCoT8Q4nqRFTRmRfvCi7VBrjAbU1Ao2w3FkgTRa5ExJBUiaJKTdkV6O1gqiCIhInKpbYol2TTvw48lUIQ/s320/ellie+pumpkin+patch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398963751276017922" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTL2KnsaAoWuNSTKlvialzSoRn1y3oUeKBwE2XtmO6kYMawAhE3akXALKQeAHhpGlyUkBzQOOnIh3tm9bYONZJqB2is8SreqvM6dtnXVuoxuDuEWd3270KL4ov_mFpox73-vMTay6RWN7p/s1600-h/monkey+ben+pumpkin+patch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTL2KnsaAoWuNSTKlvialzSoRn1y3oUeKBwE2XtmO6kYMawAhE3akXALKQeAHhpGlyUkBzQOOnIh3tm9bYONZJqB2is8SreqvM6dtnXVuoxuDuEWd3270KL4ov_mFpox73-vMTay6RWN7p/s320/monkey+ben+pumpkin+patch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398964947540680194" border="0" /></a>Benjamin in a monkey suit! I couldn't resist!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-CEluV5Rq8U_5GYUzqRkn0nRBb7ndORcRbRZorbj6UefhUI7ZNmvOxxO8ZXM9H7iqQ7x-Ly46Huq6_RWtTQX42O9yOIG2ZvpHJd6Klf0IdtCCVJwZZlrbV82t3vDOuEELP_K_XCjj3P4/s1600-h/hannah+pumpkin+patch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-CEluV5Rq8U_5GYUzqRkn0nRBb7ndORcRbRZorbj6UefhUI7ZNmvOxxO8ZXM9H7iqQ7x-Ly46Huq6_RWtTQX42O9yOIG2ZvpHJd6Klf0IdtCCVJwZZlrbV82t3vDOuEELP_K_XCjj3P4/s320/hannah+pumpkin+patch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398964631252803074" border="0" /></a>Hannah's great friend Jacob...and that's Hannah in the background wondering when we're leaving.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPaIJ831icyPDl2PeRXDfw7ql8dRacOyR5ZY8_mKXERxaB15rP5QUalN_fMDO-ISQp2FjfxboE_agM1HKxz0E_5Vs-ivtbxuvOqqKE1yGnbKNVB7usQRS4SepNeEC7J2DGi7RUFsXVcy7/s1600-h/ben+little+pumpkin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPaIJ831icyPDl2PeRXDfw7ql8dRacOyR5ZY8_mKXERxaB15rP5QUalN_fMDO-ISQp2FjfxboE_agM1HKxz0E_5Vs-ivtbxuvOqqKE1yGnbKNVB7usQRS4SepNeEC7J2DGi7RUFsXVcy7/s320/ben+little+pumpkin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398962310061057522" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLlGL7hVbkKFwd3-byWAOAmdmJemeEjuWl1MUnjEWok-gidSX6IFEgVneBDOX2n_1_sJ8Fd8TeOK6m5ZpcXJlhCthgDCF6IzEX48uRMZbKB8l2jp5vDVV96XcEiK3N6m03ZKRqNbJD-9Y/s1600-h/ben+at+pumpkin+patch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLlGL7hVbkKFwd3-byWAOAmdmJemeEjuWl1MUnjEWok-gidSX6IFEgVneBDOX2n_1_sJ8Fd8TeOK6m5ZpcXJlhCthgDCF6IzEX48uRMZbKB8l2jp5vDVV96XcEiK3N6m03ZKRqNbJD-9Y/s320/ben+at+pumpkin+patch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398962303928574338" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Then we had the girls' joint birthday party. The theme: Princess Tea Party! They had lots of fun with a few of their friends. I don't think there was a place in all the world that was more girly than our house that day.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmWQVQ3OlrHErlz6XyGoVuzpOHIgz09L-NdTmzG1NVKLRC8uVATEBUaaxrK01jihczs-kq4v5XaLgq0tzYN_RahHLb-GlLFj8Ds7tzsJNPpPrIHsd4rcF_V3rtLIinG3jtxzwPXRtQ493/s1600-h/princess+tea+party.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmWQVQ3OlrHErlz6XyGoVuzpOHIgz09L-NdTmzG1NVKLRC8uVATEBUaaxrK01jihczs-kq4v5XaLgq0tzYN_RahHLb-GlLFj8Ds7tzsJNPpPrIHsd4rcF_V3rtLIinG3jtxzwPXRtQ493/s320/princess+tea+party.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398964956596142530" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInMDa220i5rc8bXOS5w3nVZvYRWVJP4C9vkXnnFpsop6mw51Yhyphenhyphenhj9RyezSvZE9L_fLKK4DQhhNTYx-pdQqj2a-rIgoaJlWb3f2wx7GoVNTYI8G07lC5TjEWJi4Zsg1GAHXV7mfIX8ofL/s1600-h/hannah+party.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInMDa220i5rc8bXOS5w3nVZvYRWVJP4C9vkXnnFpsop6mw51Yhyphenhyphenhj9RyezSvZE9L_fLKK4DQhhNTYx-pdQqj2a-rIgoaJlWb3f2wx7GoVNTYI8G07lC5TjEWJi4Zsg1GAHXV7mfIX8ofL/s320/hannah+party.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398964150693445474" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDpREREaOhVy8MtnxJFCcstKyixM8oUod8gJ_ELMs0zO1Bc9jUB9G5itcamdpr2ClYAlsTcyHQdwRBtZfRVwv_fJ2jAEAtMEYLDivfUl3U_Q365dsjwGBiJ7-WvzdpEhhAgpWpWiitI9g/s1600-h/ellie+party.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUDpREREaOhVy8MtnxJFCcstKyixM8oUod8gJ_ELMs0zO1Bc9jUB9G5itcamdpr2ClYAlsTcyHQdwRBtZfRVwv_fJ2jAEAtMEYLDivfUl3U_Q365dsjwGBiJ7-WvzdpEhhAgpWpWiitI9g/s320/ellie+party.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398962660307103346" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECrjMPuXKifWH1G-cyfm7o_TKAaDWKgA8FsM1PMB80vqWY-G5GTPD4XVSLe8hKceN2s3Vvb4guUD8GTbwex8Hc38WMJ8x-pedIN_o0Fa1sznCdPmjrrLlMc8HN5s1OmKPBa9xoADHJAhV/s1600-h/ben+at+party.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECrjMPuXKifWH1G-cyfm7o_TKAaDWKgA8FsM1PMB80vqWY-G5GTPD4XVSLe8hKceN2s3Vvb4guUD8GTbwex8Hc38WMJ8x-pedIN_o0Fa1sznCdPmjrrLlMc8HN5s1OmKPBa9xoADHJAhV/s320/ben+at+party.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398962300231623362" border="0" /></a>The boys at the party<br /><br /></div>We're celebrating Ellie's birthday this weekend. She turned 3 this morning at 7:27am. Again, hard to believe. At three years old, Ellie is a talker. She talks from the moment she wakes up ("Mommy, I'm hungry.") to the time she goes to sleep ("Mommy, I want a sip of water.") She is all girl and loves to pretend. She doesn't often allow us to call her Ellie. She prefers Ariel or Aladin most of the time. I'm often surprised to find out that I am no longer Mommy. Our conversations usually go something like this:<br />Me: "Ellie, it's time for lunch."<br />Ellie: "Call me Aladdin."<br />Me: "Okay, Aladdin, it's time for lunch."<br />Ellie (Aladdin): "Okay, Flounder. I'm coming!"<br />Me (Flounder): "Do you want milk or water with your lunch..."<br /><br />Benjamin is currently 11 months old. He's still sweet as sugar. He has been on the move for the last couple months. He started out "swimming" across the floor. He would pull his body up to a push-up and drag his body across the floor. Seemed like a lot more work than just crawling, but to each his own! Just about a week ago he started crawling in earnest. He also started pulling up just a little after the swimming began. There's a lot more in reach now and he likes to put all things into his mouth. He loves to sing songs...all the lyrics go something like, "Da da da da da..." and he started waving hello and bye bye several weeks ago. He's very proud of himself when he claps and still enjoys pulling his sisters' hair more than just about anything. We'll be celebrating his birthday in just a few weeks!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiJiP8Bj5wCqZ65_NhQjn2vzWsmMo5zykJI-R1xsZKNNHlookrwJWaT0Onbl4SWJCaQAUV7GghkFgAgVcI6NcMO8bzcMAIeItG61YXSfoYxvXiOw6rO3SvZ9zKTQQsJz1v88U9gS-ZS6F/s1600-h/the+slide+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiJiP8Bj5wCqZ65_NhQjn2vzWsmMo5zykJI-R1xsZKNNHlookrwJWaT0Onbl4SWJCaQAUV7GghkFgAgVcI6NcMO8bzcMAIeItG61YXSfoYxvXiOw6rO3SvZ9zKTQQsJz1v88U9gS-ZS6F/s320/the+slide+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398965484457513970" border="0" /></a>Benjamin "swimming" across the floor<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8PopAyr0dFqWSEGGINi6lk-wDjfjbajB6lx0eBgQyt4BU-yUlp3VRg_4TCqZBvicyZTi8JiFP6UOnXv5g4RQyGclWZBbtDLUnwM_BxLTWdP3YesFG9etl4TfkLyaoHqLqHhm2iNYqmHl/s1600-h/Benaggiesuit.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8PopAyr0dFqWSEGGINi6lk-wDjfjbajB6lx0eBgQyt4BU-yUlp3VRg_4TCqZBvicyZTi8JiFP6UOnXv5g4RQyGclWZBbtDLUnwM_BxLTWdP3YesFG9etl4TfkLyaoHqLqHhm2iNYqmHl/s320/Benaggiesuit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398962653643214658" border="0" /></a>Ready for some Aggie football! Gig 'em!<br /></div><br />More to come in later posts on Ellie's birthday and Halloween!!! (check back in three months)The Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747046322945095274.post-20355735004713132092009-07-13T18:39:00.000-07:002009-07-18T12:57:35.545-07:00SmokinoseFor those of you wondering how to pronounce that, it's smoke-i-nose. Now say it fast. That's right, smokinose. Ellie said this to me all afternoon one day last week and I never could figure out what she was talking about. Finally, a few days later, she got her face close to mine and said it again, "Smokinose, Mommy!" It finally hit me. She was talking about eskimos - kisses that is! Eskimo kisses! What a honey. I felt bad that she'd been asking for eskimo kisses for a couple days and I hadn't been able to understand. We've decided that smokinose is way more fun to say, so I think it's gonna stick.<br /><br />Through the past few years we've had lots of fun mispronunciations that have stuck. A lot more from Hannah so far, but there's still time. Here are just a few:<br /><br />Olivia room - living room<br />Pink tails - pig tails<br />foot flops - flip flops<br />oneie - eleven<br />Aunt Brownie - Aunt Brandy<br />Kiki - Blanket<br />Baboo -Diaper<br />chicken maggots - chicken nuggets (I know...gross, but Hannah doesn't know the difference)<br /><br />It's always a little sad the day one of them starts pronouncing those words the correct way. It just means that a little more baby has worn off.The Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747046322945095274.post-28497670036116802242009-07-10T22:12:00.000-07:002009-07-10T22:28:52.617-07:00Independence DayWe celebrated 4th of July with my parents, my sister Kate and my brother Chris in San Antonio. Like most holidays with my family, it was all about the FOOD! Papa made ribs, corn on the cob, ice cream and cotton candy and Noni made french toast, hot cocoa and peach cobbler. Doesn't get much better than that! We ate as much as we could at the house and then headed out for Mexican food in the evening. We had great food and heard a very loud band at La Fonda. I'd like to say that the band was good, but I think loud is really the better description. They were a lot of fun, anyway.<br /><br />We caught a fireworks show in the car on the way home. We pulled onto the shoulder of the feeder road and watched. I have to say this is the best way to see fireworks. You stay in the a/c, you don't get bitten by mosquitoes and there's no crowded parking lot at the end. The only draw back is that we couldn't hear the sound of the firecrackers soaring the air and the pop when they get to the top. Andrew and Kate found a great rememdy to this, however. They made all the sound effects for us. I can hear it now..."Eeeeee!!! Pccch!" <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqU60oWxtFtds7BzmMso8NDuvKtpN9z5eeVAdlFQl8uPviWnEWyzO4vuyQBDHIIgPZru-JZttehzFtmdKvVX69zgVrtwQqSaj4CfDEW7FfnrD3PSgWbfbo2xOPZp9VOKKW7jWbQ6tq6C7s/s1600-h/july4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqU60oWxtFtds7BzmMso8NDuvKtpN9z5eeVAdlFQl8uPviWnEWyzO4vuyQBDHIIgPZru-JZttehzFtmdKvVX69zgVrtwQqSaj4CfDEW7FfnrD3PSgWbfbo2xOPZp9VOKKW7jWbQ6tq6C7s/s320/july4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357066391355896034" border="0" /></a>The girls wait in anticipation as Papa checks to see if the ice cream is ready.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqZG34jFEcmlQ_wNTOH-zbneoGutiHwJkQUynKQGsPw7tX8uIGFvoSydjN184_xgl9HTUK0aPCefrHJFB_OXhYe_nr8ZPxCmgGXZGsvwf2vE4cz9Xkc5LGzcCziIDFG5wN0KOojQi7nQ7/s1600-h/july4-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqZG34jFEcmlQ_wNTOH-zbneoGutiHwJkQUynKQGsPw7tX8uIGFvoSydjN184_xgl9HTUK0aPCefrHJFB_OXhYe_nr8ZPxCmgGXZGsvwf2vE4cz9Xkc5LGzcCziIDFG5wN0KOojQi7nQ7/s320/july4-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357066393698388738" border="0" /></a>The girls give their stamp of approval as they sample the goods. Hannah and Ellie got to lick the paddle from the ice cream maker.<br /></div>The Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747046322945095274.post-38103158522346614362009-07-10T21:40:00.000-07:002009-07-10T22:12:43.851-07:00Mother's Day and MomWe had a good, yet sobering Mother's Day this year. I actually woke up to an empty house that morning. The girls were gone with Andrew to the store getting last minute items to make me breakfast, which turned out to be great. I got to go for a manicure and pedicure, which was wonderful. They really spoiled me.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghO-cMX0eVNFX4P86ZCAk-AIK_2u-cn4Nt9SlmXaEXevHy2FHwZrsew6hkYKM1rlt_FrFsWeT5dbt0q1soMWNs0KdKAMU96C8iuzfHWKPYXcYXbfKKDJT5kwA4fld5nHcRoURXx-M2VLmH/s1600-h/bengrandmamother'sday.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghO-cMX0eVNFX4P86ZCAk-AIK_2u-cn4Nt9SlmXaEXevHy2FHwZrsew6hkYKM1rlt_FrFsWeT5dbt0q1soMWNs0KdKAMU96C8iuzfHWKPYXcYXbfKKDJT5kwA4fld5nHcRoURXx-M2VLmH/s320/bengrandmamother'sday.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357063137143332578" border="0" /></a>Grandma reading to Benjamin on Mother's Day<br /><br /><br /></div>In the evening Andrew's parents came over for dinner and we honored his mom as well as Brandy who recently graduated from culinary school. While it was a wonderful time to be together with family, it was immediately apparent that Mom was not doing well. Her health had declined rather dramatically in the previous couple of weeks. It was difficult to see her that way and we all came away very concerned for where this was leading. Two days later she was admitted to the hospital where doctors did everything they could to improve her health. She was suffering from pulmonary hypertension, a complication of Scleroderma which she suffered from for over 20 years. In less than two weeks it became clear to the doctors that there was nothing they could do to improve her condition and she declined very quickly.<br /><br />During those two weeks we visited her as much as we could. The girls spent time with her in her hospital bed and brought her their artwork for her room, hoping it would cheer her up. Hannah, especially liked to get up in bed with Grandma to pull the covers up over her shoulders. She knew how cold Grandma could get. Mom was so sweet with the kids even as she was dealing with great discomfort and probably more aware than the rest of us how much time she had left. She took time to talk to them, didn't mind their noisiness in her room and loved their affection. She even played with Benjamin.<br /><br />At the end, Mom was so at peace with the situation and seemed so ready to go. She passed away on May 25th with Dad by her side. It's hard to comprehend that she's gone. She was so young and it seems unfair. And yet, her faith made her confident. I couldn't see any doubt in her. She even seemed at peace that we would be okay without her. It's truly amazing to me all the things that she endured, especially with this disease and yet she thought so little of herself. Hands down, my mother in law was the most selfless person I have ever known. She was a great mom and the best kind of grandma. Hannah and Ellie both miss her so much. Hannah understand that she can't see her anymore, but Ellie doesn't. She'll still ask if we can call her and I remind her that Grandma is in heaven with Jesus. She simply replies, "Yes, so can we call her?"<br /><br />In hindsight, I'm so grateful that she lived as long as she did. So many patients with her diagnosis don't live more than a few years. She told us that when first diagnosed she asked God to allow her the opportunity to raise her children. Praise God that she not only raised them, but lived to see her grandchildren and they were able to know her for a short time. It still doesn't make sense that she's gone, but I'm thankful for her example in my life. She gave me one of my life's greatest gifts, her son.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqYD_QggpQ-uXCsBmBMYGb-BbCG6DoPaLVBER8T9ExJDp-LWBelygy_j3EEGykAbqf9inFO4Imw3zxwN3_-Ep15mAaji0rVG5s1a7w8fpkNoCyBjW4xUuklH-bzywkG0SkaYfeQwhVFMU/s1600-h/grandma.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqYD_QggpQ-uXCsBmBMYGb-BbCG6DoPaLVBER8T9ExJDp-LWBelygy_j3EEGykAbqf9inFO4Imw3zxwN3_-Ep15mAaji0rVG5s1a7w8fpkNoCyBjW4xUuklH-bzywkG0SkaYfeQwhVFMU/s320/grandma.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357063133023312210" border="0" /></a><br /></div>The Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747046322945095274.post-47068856487755478682009-07-10T21:13:00.001-07:002009-07-10T21:37:31.249-07:00Milestones and fun stuffWe've hit a few milestones in the last several months. First, Hannah made her first dress. I kid you not. She comes down stairs one afternoon and she has made a dress out of a strand of tulle, a rectangle of fabric and some tape. I don't know where the inspiration came from, but I was a little in shock when she came to show me her creation. In true Hannah style, she had the perfect heals to match.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkSGbNFgI2TH9dA4zZooxjYkM61PnmP9-T_LkZ5UVsuLdsaWfsxvnqrO2fYchJlSr5376TeUwzDDiMEptwKfdJZwle6ndCJ-UgZ4DWcJsumln0moyLHQHr0oFMxsD4PtqvfFItcfBLOkq/s1600-h/hannahdressmakerfront.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAkSGbNFgI2TH9dA4zZooxjYkM61PnmP9-T_LkZ5UVsuLdsaWfsxvnqrO2fYchJlSr5376TeUwzDDiMEptwKfdJZwle6ndCJ-UgZ4DWcJsumln0moyLHQHr0oFMxsD4PtqvfFItcfBLOkq/s320/hannahdressmakerfront.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357052468065266354" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VU_2L9KQu0XNZATbW5R-2-SxXV7Uo8_OxabnX45lv79ATmtYXFt7a5JSO7ZtsOvg87lVnA-JvlpuFg-92wq3LTu4hoyDMSJ4DvP-Sfc1Y0_UAvGfsxqQzi8shCeAXkX_8Pr4L43sYL4_/s1600-h/hannahdressmakerback.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VU_2L9KQu0XNZATbW5R-2-SxXV7Uo8_OxabnX45lv79ATmtYXFt7a5JSO7ZtsOvg87lVnA-JvlpuFg-92wq3LTu4hoyDMSJ4DvP-Sfc1Y0_UAvGfsxqQzi8shCeAXkX_8Pr4L43sYL4_/s320/hannahdressmakerback.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357052466449115090" border="0" /></a><br />Next on the list, Benjamin learned to sit up at around 6 1/2 months. It all started with the bumbo and he gradually worked his way up to sitting up with no hands. I don't think it matters how many kids you've already had, it's just as exciting every time they learn something new. Now he likes to sit up and rock back and forth. He's starting to get himself up on his knees from his belly now, too. I don't think the thought has occurred to him yet that he might go forward from this position, but I'm sure that will come in less time than we anticipate. Without a doubt, Benjamin is already the busiest child we have had. He's a bouncer and a grabber and a pincher. He doesn't like to be still for long and he really likes attention!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEl74c__9955tvj5RD8FSwQ1GlC1vzKd-KpGUrmeawnpgzc1RRyJ1gH12je8dUnN9LuAAG6J_GE_ezuiEWcWZj5PspulVF9WLUTvKCQC2SOw4gxsRtNJM2FdcRKfrf5o7mYimwONm6T6Z7/s1600-h/benbumbo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEl74c__9955tvj5RD8FSwQ1GlC1vzKd-KpGUrmeawnpgzc1RRyJ1gH12je8dUnN9LuAAG6J_GE_ezuiEWcWZj5PspulVF9WLUTvKCQC2SOw4gxsRtNJM2FdcRKfrf5o7mYimwONm6T6Z7/s320/benbumbo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357052450292375730" border="0" /></a>Ben's first time in the bumbo a few months ago.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4TF0rvqfFMylStn_rKgYRJMFgjYt7fqy5ov1VRXgtcRGKc6mPWrEf1OlFAUr1L9rBXgJ0G85QByLPvKTDDtv5pOKsDzdQRu2-RHaOLLs_WIaeLGFFgr_BOC1MAgxgORJ3tieSgdZYBEQ/s1600-h/bensittingup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4TF0rvqfFMylStn_rKgYRJMFgjYt7fqy5ov1VRXgtcRGKc6mPWrEf1OlFAUr1L9rBXgJ0G85QByLPvKTDDtv5pOKsDzdQRu2-RHaOLLs_WIaeLGFFgr_BOC1MAgxgORJ3tieSgdZYBEQ/s320/bensittingup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357052458087691698" border="0" /></a>On top of the world!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Last, but not least, Ellie also had a first. She tasted her first Freebird's burrito in College Station. I think the burrito was as big as her head. She really just liked tortilla. Hannah also had a few bites and she attempted to make her own aluminum foil figurine for the wall. That proved to be more difficult than anticipated.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPUZVDy-0Zcy-NMM8u_RpWT1GnvzmA5DXeZgXOtpMyHFAnyq_NubvTXVrItP7Zr7S1iT29YtYNeExNzXNDt8wySNSQfcp_0UDCNzr3Wodw2CfvxWdukiPq-9Y2UP3ip3PuHD1e_5DgrNJ/s1600-h/elliefreebirds.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPUZVDy-0Zcy-NMM8u_RpWT1GnvzmA5DXeZgXOtpMyHFAnyq_NubvTXVrItP7Zr7S1iT29YtYNeExNzXNDt8wySNSQfcp_0UDCNzr3Wodw2CfvxWdukiPq-9Y2UP3ip3PuHD1e_5DgrNJ/s320/elliefreebirds.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357055399826776082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-EjcvOAETYKARNW4obE1OjwsqkrAkdMl_bXWYO8qwx8FyhIIJh4CgW-CIAFBxc-UFJfywGPekEwGCKUb9xP0jCYRa-X-9hvIC-gnUjwMNU3WHGQk98omSPDe9g7vqhHZ68tXJRMBoPZv1/s1600-h/hannahfreebirds.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-EjcvOAETYKARNW4obE1OjwsqkrAkdMl_bXWYO8qwx8FyhIIJh4CgW-CIAFBxc-UFJfywGPekEwGCKUb9xP0jCYRa-X-9hvIC-gnUjwMNU3WHGQk98omSPDe9g7vqhHZ68tXJRMBoPZv1/s320/hannahfreebirds.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357054576367007330" border="0" /></a>I must also include the fulfillment of a prophesy. I knew that it would happen, I just wasn't sure when. Hannah has officially made a practice of putting girly dress up things on Benjamin. I'm not always quick enough to get a picture, but here's one of Princess Ben. He wasn't too happy about it and he let us know. Didn't seem to deter her from doing it again.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvTzMQwsiyPVF8Kv7964U9ZO0UZUPpTHTZVYuhd3BYAU43BvwR1Sb6S98XO21K8WBBMqUoBEWRhYuonwK4U106J_SuRqP_qx1EAzkMMjD8VCWEtwMrExdwli11fo6NQAtXkVX_LlwEXqW/s1600-h/bencrown.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvTzMQwsiyPVF8Kv7964U9ZO0UZUPpTHTZVYuhd3BYAU43BvwR1Sb6S98XO21K8WBBMqUoBEWRhYuonwK4U106J_SuRqP_qx1EAzkMMjD8VCWEtwMrExdwli11fo6NQAtXkVX_LlwEXqW/s320/bencrown.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357054581987995170" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /></div>The Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747046322945095274.post-44538367754733535402009-07-10T20:47:00.000-07:002009-07-10T21:10:21.918-07:00A day to be joyful!We love Easter!! It's like a new beginning on the church's calendar. We start fresh with a renewed commitment to live in a way that shows how thankful we are for Christ's sacrifice. That and we get to each lots of chocolate. Hannah and Ellie, but especially Hannah, looks forward to Easter like it's Christmas. We had to count down every day of Lent with anticipation. There were some days that she asked more than once how many days were left. 40 days is like an eternity for a child (and that child's mother).<br /><br />Well, all the anticipation was worth it. We had an Easter Egg hunt at church. Everyone got plenty of eggs and commenced eating as much candy as possible without delay. Benjamin even got an egg whose contents he generously gave to his Mommy. Yes, I took candy from a baby.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZZNlFHq6H4Q1XxlYB1wXwPM_Rv9mUne0gqBQMXNK_5d5WUAMK2g5gNlc_tj1OT8RFWrqQI5MkUClYbZVDRz7EYBo1GnzHTMpJiKchBOVB4YCznYCmQdNIS5uO_aIclrCNCnenzh4WUQp/s1600-h/easteregghuntsjvgirls.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZZNlFHq6H4Q1XxlYB1wXwPM_Rv9mUne0gqBQMXNK_5d5WUAMK2g5gNlc_tj1OT8RFWrqQI5MkUClYbZVDRz7EYBo1GnzHTMpJiKchBOVB4YCznYCmQdNIS5uO_aIclrCNCnenzh4WUQp/s320/easteregghuntsjvgirls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357046121909624802" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5LvnevDB2WE1eOyJla0Qrw6KBAeq65GaBBy2xuoOiFQ9rRm2YNROaIDjEbDwkCHsMeK7yHQO_FiBPYNHHmz4LC8BJPicGyjlPGE-2pSVL6p1K8DXouYaB3h4pXjUfEI0SKk4rBO9kc0h/s1600-h/beneasteregghungsjv.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5LvnevDB2WE1eOyJla0Qrw6KBAeq65GaBBy2xuoOiFQ9rRm2YNROaIDjEbDwkCHsMeK7yHQO_FiBPYNHHmz4LC8BJPicGyjlPGE-2pSVL6p1K8DXouYaB3h4pXjUfEI0SKk4rBO9kc0h/s320/beneasteregghungsjv.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357046108979091970" border="0" /></a>Then we went to San Antonio for Easter weekend. It seemed appropriate to celebrate the holiday as a family with Granny's funeral just passed. It was nice to have a couple days of fun together. Here are pictures of the girls and Benjamin on Easter Sunday. Amazingly, they didn't have chocolate on their dresses yet! However, no one was in the mood to pose for pictures, so we do not have one of the whole family. It's mornings like this when you most remember why it was necessary for God to come to earth as a man and save us from ourselves!! The rest of the day went well, though. All the girls and Ben went to Brackenridge park the following day while the guys went to play a little golf. We all met up for lunch before it was time to head back to Houston. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wyHTmLrPlnq8MJhLL1_sFG4JmmWf2z4MjSX42B44SmIdxkZzQ7g9cGXE1NGuUYdpWUEBii8cYy32CuXfsAOK60RuCHukMiKPDebMuKvB8ObLDlKqwoh0EW1st96TCyJtzfhIdz1k5BvI/s1600-h/beneaster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wyHTmLrPlnq8MJhLL1_sFG4JmmWf2z4MjSX42B44SmIdxkZzQ7g9cGXE1NGuUYdpWUEBii8cYy32CuXfsAOK60RuCHukMiKPDebMuKvB8ObLDlKqwoh0EW1st96TCyJtzfhIdz1k5BvI/s320/beneaster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357046113599773186" border="0" /></a>Benjamin on Easter Sunday<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQUWQ3aZJ72-bSVBimsJgdNeC3JD4uQSURwryFLXzMpKOvvWWA_fvb6zooKhiFs99Ej5BFr7IbNUa5ulgGnQujZgwsYED2A2TNXJRtevmasZJU-1MzyKkS3NAFEwiwQaqx7jE_nBuK-Ho/s1600-h/hannahellieeaster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQUWQ3aZJ72-bSVBimsJgdNeC3JD4uQSURwryFLXzMpKOvvWWA_fvb6zooKhiFs99Ej5BFr7IbNUa5ulgGnQujZgwsYED2A2TNXJRtevmasZJU-1MzyKkS3NAFEwiwQaqx7jE_nBuK-Ho/s320/hannahellieeaster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357046472079457202" border="0" /></a>The girls hunting for eggs in Noni and Papa's back yard. Hannah was disappointed to find out that the eggs outside weren't stuffed. I guess the 12 stuffed eggs in her basket weren't quite the loot she was hoping for!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sKymkz9KLP2rvStAdASvPI4ds8v36D4vllNXLklZxcvKujrT-ja0vpdgf-INWaM0TpiydFrTB1L2_ToWjxj0Q4yecNceL4M2G4JhlYd-YfLNO9K97bp5FmmNO1cY8NpC8SGB2DOYNcmt/s1600-h/hannahellietrain.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 185px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6sKymkz9KLP2rvStAdASvPI4ds8v36D4vllNXLklZxcvKujrT-ja0vpdgf-INWaM0TpiydFrTB1L2_ToWjxj0Q4yecNceL4M2G4JhlYd-YfLNO9K97bp5FmmNO1cY8NpC8SGB2DOYNcmt/s320/hannahellietrain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357046478588129522" border="0" /></a>All set for a train ride through the park!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQM4OaUC3gzef_TBGqHkDCaCtvAoweQQBsXmmx0o2aQ601u8OgNyJJvFeJfee_IklJ1gBV-Uli94x1dajvjx-eYX67b89Df-LxflyohyphenhyphenEBUHMtEco8z6J2ovsAxj_o88sfKVOpP2cnKZ7O/s1600-h/bentrain.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQM4OaUC3gzef_TBGqHkDCaCtvAoweQQBsXmmx0o2aQ601u8OgNyJJvFeJfee_IklJ1gBV-Uli94x1dajvjx-eYX67b89Df-LxflyohyphenhyphenEBUHMtEco8z6J2ovsAxj_o88sfKVOpP2cnKZ7O/s320/bentrain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357046118803501778" border="0" /></a>Hold on tight, Benjamin...the train goes at least 3 miles an hour!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQ_eyno5UHWYxslBGdMoWkF0B-6qDiaDfZfj0d_3U_hppwQm5Lp9TZUnLm3QIuIessiUpSREuWB5ZRitgMACFML68V6omBpxNOqlxzwa6YrjFDbHCUM44K62iB0HPK6CEn-MCrStzTaap/s1600-h/noniwkidssunkengardens.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQ_eyno5UHWYxslBGdMoWkF0B-6qDiaDfZfj0d_3U_hppwQm5Lp9TZUnLm3QIuIessiUpSREuWB5ZRitgMACFML68V6omBpxNOqlxzwa6YrjFDbHCUM44K62iB0HPK6CEn-MCrStzTaap/s320/noniwkidssunkengardens.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357046483516536642" border="0" /></a>Noni with all the kids at the Sunken Gardens. Is that a smile I see on everyone's face. It's a beautiful thing!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZipPs4-7tmhk1If4LzKqU98BX48yA2ikEm4M3jCUe5AFj9Cg6eFg6dlnTYh3ORhvUDqg8Q-dbYWUM0gwg8ZxcTrpxenjA9JOyAxElHSqKINqg7LgkHUb6lS1o4waZSAzIDYmm4oUU1bQ/s1600-h/rollypolly.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ZipPs4-7tmhk1If4LzKqU98BX48yA2ikEm4M3jCUe5AFj9Cg6eFg6dlnTYh3ORhvUDqg8Q-dbYWUM0gwg8ZxcTrpxenjA9JOyAxElHSqKINqg7LgkHUb6lS1o4waZSAzIDYmm4oUU1bQ/s320/rollypolly.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357046484296603490" border="0" /></a>This picture documents a record for the closest my daughters have ever come to a live insect. Yes, folks that's a Roly Poly and just a few minutes after this picture was taken an obsession with roly polies began. We've been searching for them wherever we go ever since. Ellie still won't touch them, but she doesn't scream when she sees one. Baby steps.<br /></div>The Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747046322945095274.post-21256140918723106622009-07-10T20:34:00.000-07:002009-07-18T12:52:15.474-07:00Family timeThis spring brought several visits with family. The kids had a lot of fun with each other. It's so cool to sit back and watch our children play with our siblings' kids. They get along a lot better than we did! The girls especially loved being with the other baby cousins. Molly, Peter and Katelyn are all at really fun ages!<br /><br />Here are a few of the shots we caught...<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYOw17U-R6BGyczth_iHDFqv3nxT2JNdTS05lhNtuaAqpoWBRmzogrrh08F1ZHIxsJneF0P7EgMOcz_HWBFNecdAjvMXH229Ig6jV9CovolK9JHuwH1TihdOetCbxQKRjVtiE4lHU4Kpj/s1600-h/benandchrisnap.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYOw17U-R6BGyczth_iHDFqv3nxT2JNdTS05lhNtuaAqpoWBRmzogrrh08F1ZHIxsJneF0P7EgMOcz_HWBFNecdAjvMXH229Ig6jV9CovolK9JHuwH1TihdOetCbxQKRjVtiE4lHU4Kpj/s320/benandchrisnap.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357042443600470434" border="0" /></a>Benjamin taking a nap with Uncle Chris...nothing like a sleeping baby to make you tired!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLaLfgnC-YCIMT9MtE-6jIKjVE-s0NsAXTHHB_0-fuy2ntjSoHp1I8OCxMz6KkaTlTrgfg6hus-geFk_p-vha3_LsHj520-vbqmtg5e06yaxNCCEN8n7DJ53yS8-nuxZxNh6sopf7FVz-/s1600-h/claireandhannah.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLaLfgnC-YCIMT9MtE-6jIKjVE-s0NsAXTHHB_0-fuy2ntjSoHp1I8OCxMz6KkaTlTrgfg6hus-geFk_p-vha3_LsHj520-vbqmtg5e06yaxNCCEN8n7DJ53yS8-nuxZxNh6sopf7FVz-/s320/claireandhannah.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359890216875574274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsp0jq9nzPkOuZEa5MO4MdEtdjEysI_O8fN2DKhye5HGhVMxEytTTPDZu0nspS4vB5n0zKdqT-P6TDmCe02m3Jkkt3mZFoP0WOQf7x5A7BknMo-F6zSj71w1Stnwem8YygHc1qw_9KGr3O/s1600-h/hannahellieclaire.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsp0jq9nzPkOuZEa5MO4MdEtdjEysI_O8fN2DKhye5HGhVMxEytTTPDZu0nspS4vB5n0zKdqT-P6TDmCe02m3Jkkt3mZFoP0WOQf7x5A7BknMo-F6zSj71w1Stnwem8YygHc1qw_9KGr3O/s320/hannahellieclaire.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357042457332921266" border="0" /></a>The big girls - Ellie, Hannah and Claire<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uzUmqSSRyXsXflEGY7i6LYq2cEZJ8JP_3MWBdpXAU18d8W2PHz-hYhF8UuqUro3OegGoWFpX_KxcI8bUkgvDAr_9caF3BZm8zOCMkylvnBMjBzWPLuUumO8O05BxZLq73lZf4BlfXbZe/s1600-h/grannysfuneralweekendcousins.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uzUmqSSRyXsXflEGY7i6LYq2cEZJ8JP_3MWBdpXAU18d8W2PHz-hYhF8UuqUro3OegGoWFpX_KxcI8bUkgvDAr_9caF3BZm8zOCMkylvnBMjBzWPLuUumO8O05BxZLq73lZf4BlfXbZe/s320/grannysfuneralweekendcousins.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357042451129279890" border="0" /></a>All the Portele cousins - Ellie, Claire, Hannah, Molly and Benjamin<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-ISsfi0Kh48dqgOCHBqjamkj3-nri3vAnUbDVGPExvbHNX09UPY7xPaQWc7tK4dw6xH-kUTteYZt_0mCFBKVgWzXXnrszZdkO3M9DMXoZy3gNgL_gxNA_HpKnSQiMWrQ2qnsJGPk_yTs/s1600-h/graessercousinscircle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-ISsfi0Kh48dqgOCHBqjamkj3-nri3vAnUbDVGPExvbHNX09UPY7xPaQWc7tK4dw6xH-kUTteYZt_0mCFBKVgWzXXnrszZdkO3M9DMXoZy3gNgL_gxNA_HpKnSQiMWrQ2qnsJGPk_yTs/s320/graessercousinscircle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357042464085708370" border="0" /></a>All the Graesser cousins - Katelyn, Hannah, Peter, Ellie and Benjamin<br />There are about 6 people hanging over the top of them making weird faces. Maybe that's why they're all looking in different directions!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXb59BdlNEYibucC2Wwf_DfnE1f2wn2Bfya4skCXxBuf8PDGFlXhu3D1Omx8Jd8eHNqqrk_iFja7pPAE0PgHipMowMQFC_yQKQn1t3AEPLVkixc-bqRn8oHI-a6JxFWUPAU9lsGiPXHI9V/s1600-h/hannahelliekatelynpool.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXb59BdlNEYibucC2Wwf_DfnE1f2wn2Bfya4skCXxBuf8PDGFlXhu3D1Omx8Jd8eHNqqrk_iFja7pPAE0PgHipMowMQFC_yQKQn1t3AEPLVkixc-bqRn8oHI-a6JxFWUPAU9lsGiPXHI9V/s320/hannahelliekatelynpool.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357042466087656050" border="0" /></a>All the girl Graesser cousins on a trip to the pool. Katelyn is such a happy girl! It turned out to be a pretty chilly day for the pool, but we had fun.<br /></div>The Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747046322945095274.post-35921034054143705422009-07-10T20:13:00.000-07:002009-07-10T20:33:47.937-07:00GrannyI got a call from Granny while we were at Emmy's baptism reception. It was Sunday and she sounded very weak on the phone. She was calling to say goodbye. Granny had been sick for several months and it had become evident over the past few weeks that she would not be with us much longer. Still, it seemed sudden. I don't know if a person is ever prepared to say goodbye. I didn't think I'd get to talk to her again or see her for that matter, but I called her again that evening and talked for a couple minutes. She wanted to know that we were doing okay. She was concerned how Andrew was fairing with the failing economy. I let her know that we were doing just fine. Then she let me know that she had hoped to see Benjamin again. So with that, although I didn't need any convincing, I made plans to leave the next morning for San Antonio with Benjamin. Andrew stayed home with the girls that Monday.<br /><br />I am so grateful that I was given the gift of that day with Granny. She was at a hospice care center by that time. When I got there she was talking with the chaplain from Fort Sam Houston, Fr. Joe. What an amazing ray of sunshine he was in that room. I sat down on the other side of her bed and just listened to her. She wanted to be sure that we all knew that there was only one way in life, that being a life in Christ. We were able to reassure her that she had made that clear by the way she lived. She asked several times where Benjamin was and I brought him over to the bed for her to see. I know that Benjamin won't remember that visit, but I will never forget it. It was so hard to say goodbye that night. I felt sure that it was indeed the last time I would see her.<br /><br />Granny went home to be with her Heavenly Father the following day, March 25th. She lived an incredible 92 years. I miss talking to her and seeing her when we visit San Antonio and it breaks my heart to know the hole she has left in our family. It's hard to think about all that she's taken with her...her wisdom and all her memories. Even so, we have a new saint in heaven inspiring us to do more for God's kingdom.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWqDZqo-RAhndyi32ylX_Na_rK5EcdPXI99q3VU0CpG5feEIyP_1NsflE_j65vd0qLUwd39-5XqnwZxiBAxSu3Mk772uGKgwzPrWPrBrLxEfrOgAM3DLwZoTGJdnTbg6woPYrU3zbPJu8/s1600-h/granny.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 233px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWqDZqo-RAhndyi32ylX_Na_rK5EcdPXI99q3VU0CpG5feEIyP_1NsflE_j65vd0qLUwd39-5XqnwZxiBAxSu3Mk772uGKgwzPrWPrBrLxEfrOgAM3DLwZoTGJdnTbg6woPYrU3zbPJu8/s320/granny.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357039451994074290" border="0" /></a>I love you so much, Granny and we'll miss you more than words can express.</div>The Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747046322945095274.post-63807453160775054562009-07-10T20:04:00.000-07:002009-07-10T20:13:22.951-07:00Dipped and DunkedOn March 23rd we were blessed to attend Emerson Vacek's baptism. She was beautiful, as always, and the kids really had fun at the reception playing with all the other kids. Here're a few pictures of the morning...<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3nWAO8nyo8aXAAdtaplTjwb5AUPXcRjYHvGaVZxe_bBaDghwrWfOFia0PwfG6zCKU6B9egJ2jJ7USShGrsleWw_n6d3LMFGjfn7RPCaAj5cIGTOIqpdIDiMSvy0AhZ0BZCkOLXsJYSPG/s1600-h/emmybaptismkids.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3nWAO8nyo8aXAAdtaplTjwb5AUPXcRjYHvGaVZxe_bBaDghwrWfOFia0PwfG6zCKU6B9egJ2jJ7USShGrsleWw_n6d3LMFGjfn7RPCaAj5cIGTOIqpdIDiMSvy0AhZ0BZCkOLXsJYSPG/s320/emmybaptismkids.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357034511844183202" border="0" /></a>All the kids - Benjamin, Emmy (all tuckered out), Caroline, Abby, Hannah, Ellie and Brandon<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgE-2o2OyUZHZrUqebMTam68dG9PoKCaL34yoPcVfsd1sF7be83WoukYScf2a5_KwbPMKvIvz2uCuflQcxV-ktZRD5oEuJFPq4putjllaZ9OvQ4dOJgOoqo8Wkc006oZNgaHlxmb6InC7/s1600-h/emmyandbenemmysbaptism.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgE-2o2OyUZHZrUqebMTam68dG9PoKCaL34yoPcVfsd1sF7be83WoukYScf2a5_KwbPMKvIvz2uCuflQcxV-ktZRD5oEuJFPq4putjllaZ9OvQ4dOJgOoqo8Wkc006oZNgaHlxmb6InC7/s320/emmyandbenemmysbaptism.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357034501900518034" border="0" /></a>Benjamin and Emmy in their Sunday best<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrRkX7oGoYUXbdJ_N0rgLcl90roFbmWrfb7ZP7GNg4iJonkjG4N1fr-j_onvUThrty0UAnC27lmHaTiU0bqbxRi_9Yjvr_RbUHrFdCnxBT2Uqs4AwIl_l8b2MJ031Z7XSnx1TNa-I2GOD/s1600-h/familyatemmysbaptism.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrRkX7oGoYUXbdJ_N0rgLcl90roFbmWrfb7ZP7GNg4iJonkjG4N1fr-j_onvUThrty0UAnC27lmHaTiU0bqbxRi_9Yjvr_RbUHrFdCnxBT2Uqs4AwIl_l8b2MJ031Z7XSnx1TNa-I2GOD/s320/familyatemmysbaptism.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357034507749243010" border="0" /></a>Our little family. First picture as a family since Ben came along!<br /></div>The Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747046322945095274.post-80775603277316848452009-03-16T15:15:00.000-07:002009-03-16T15:24:36.560-07:00Benjamin's First Portraits<div style="text-align: center;">I took Benjamin to take pictures in his baptism outfit. I thought this one would be a piece of cake because he's such a smiley baby...nope. We got a few cute ones anyway. I guess my babies just like to make me sweat! Here are a few of our favorites.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxpMWbkS4DS91R2s8-TSfpd9x94OUsH-tujs3LfUTlZ_cScNfbB-CV7Sul5jrvNw4uLXekkc8MaQ65tPVo_nkRJA0-bSJ1y_uAT9NuTAilQezmh6KN-fFZB7p8sfZgKvwBkjBQJZMysCY/s1600-h/b&w+on+belly.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 312px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxpMWbkS4DS91R2s8-TSfpd9x94OUsH-tujs3LfUTlZ_cScNfbB-CV7Sul5jrvNw4uLXekkc8MaQ65tPVo_nkRJA0-bSJ1y_uAT9NuTAilQezmh6KN-fFZB7p8sfZgKvwBkjBQJZMysCY/s320/b&w+on+belly.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313914441485449090" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOx2Fuce5Cq0l2KF_ccXi0n_UeqjVolYo4k2uEpWKF15PFOtU6D4C4Nr5kRrUfTu7O4RtycuTYneCn6Tu-ISVaGe76i2d6nEH2hRN7X86RgiAZobaYtqsJ_FFMBl19tVgV6tQYE1754FFM/s1600-h/on+back+smiling.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 312px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOx2Fuce5Cq0l2KF_ccXi0n_UeqjVolYo4k2uEpWKF15PFOtU6D4C4Nr5kRrUfTu7O4RtycuTYneCn6Tu-ISVaGe76i2d6nEH2hRN7X86RgiAZobaYtqsJ_FFMBl19tVgV6tQYE1754FFM/s320/on+back+smiling.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313914441515384546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEYZ_QGFnS5fr5Mpebcwn_MmoGDyGSA8tc6GWkXTqn6xX0UYHogW7mT3zjk7zviD6-BMd_HObu2F7IP7yHMBQSVqoO6ciQtBvpwsrFsi-FhmE3bSPqftbNh-XkitoYJmQZJBtfuXGy2kj/s1600-h/head+up+w+hat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEYZ_QGFnS5fr5Mpebcwn_MmoGDyGSA8tc6GWkXTqn6xX0UYHogW7mT3zjk7zviD6-BMd_HObu2F7IP7yHMBQSVqoO6ciQtBvpwsrFsi-FhmE3bSPqftbNh-XkitoYJmQZJBtfuXGy2kj/s320/head+up+w+hat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313913979024037410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQNm4yu18gj18BcO8vwOVS98gBR2w5Rc1D0xk-fLf65WibgzN6l8GNVI8YoMaB4MVgKoevOr2tDOQhyLvma-lOLMM2Yc2d6phWvBcITZQTx6ASaptmYTJMTo4AgwWuoTYJIhwQBioaGph/s1600-h/close+up+naked.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQNm4yu18gj18BcO8vwOVS98gBR2w5Rc1D0xk-fLf65WibgzN6l8GNVI8YoMaB4MVgKoevOr2tDOQhyLvma-lOLMM2Yc2d6phWvBcITZQTx6ASaptmYTJMTo4AgwWuoTYJIhwQBioaGph/s320/close+up+naked.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313913981019804018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1evrP4O175oQueb8IYGVUNxd8vYqwN9z2WXrXCNOO3gyfNjDet4z6zRSlsJrqSbHVysUaF2gZLa3k5XIXiqp4yEP49BIWMhP7RUQswfqpkkqv-UzGFBg9BWXX7MKhGsQMhcX-URMTEhR/s1600-h/close+up+head+on+arm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 312px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1evrP4O175oQueb8IYGVUNxd8vYqwN9z2WXrXCNOO3gyfNjDet4z6zRSlsJrqSbHVysUaF2gZLa3k5XIXiqp4yEP49BIWMhP7RUQswfqpkkqv-UzGFBg9BWXX7MKhGsQMhcX-URMTEhR/s320/close+up+head+on+arm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313913974613413138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqUVgHk8-XGVdEqFru1OS2ad7iUfm6WzuhVjWIZ4dX2uYvb0MrJ2lPx6B951v6UrsQ6rc98OLY_2uRv6oajgleG7IjXImLDnyPwCz3CMfMS0L4ewHDS2vVYtqyY0t86N_93m4gF3niwzD/s1600-h/baptism+closeup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 312px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqUVgHk8-XGVdEqFru1OS2ad7iUfm6WzuhVjWIZ4dX2uYvb0MrJ2lPx6B951v6UrsQ6rc98OLY_2uRv6oajgleG7IjXImLDnyPwCz3CMfMS0L4ewHDS2vVYtqyY0t86N_93m4gF3niwzD/s320/baptism+closeup.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313913974935639938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmfOwsVJKJf4VdhjXF_-uqsNPPwipFFTzAo-npkV0Mvio1tIVMPgMto1ed5RJSGnGaiKvgiieBo31S5DvJq4GgyILVlpd_yQO7sZjo9hO6kqmC-9Cm2qDcbEKpN5Y61KcIQVM4z7nXKvs/s1600-h/baptism.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmfOwsVJKJf4VdhjXF_-uqsNPPwipFFTzAo-npkV0Mvio1tIVMPgMto1ed5RJSGnGaiKvgiieBo31S5DvJq4GgyILVlpd_yQO7sZjo9hO6kqmC-9Cm2qDcbEKpN5Y61KcIQVM4z7nXKvs/s320/baptism.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313913974173114802" border="0" /></a>The Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747046322945095274.post-5587987714809261272009-03-09T13:42:00.000-07:002009-03-15T18:40:18.376-07:00Catch Up TimeJust the title is kind of funny to me. I've been needing to update the blog, but I don't have time to catch up. Since there is no time, I'm just finally going to borrow it from time I should be spending folding some laundry. It'll get done in the end. (Or one could say that it's never done, but I'm taking the glass half full attitude!)<br /><br />That's the state of things around here. It's been three and a half months since the last blog. So much has happened, but time has flown by. Every day comes and goes so quickly...I think that must be why my house looks like a tornado hit it. Our days are full of I don't even know what. I do know that our children are growing like crazy. The girls are getting to be so big and smart. Benjamin is finally looking more like a normal baby...he's about ten pounds and full of smiles. Responsibilities aside, our lives are very full. Andrew and I are totally content to have such sweet, healthy and really fun kids.<br /><br />Well, rather than trying to write about all that's happened in the last three months , I'll let the pictures and captions do all the talking.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQZxydj0evN8s503hcSkb-HDg5oPp1sy1lw_lfuYXJ9t5OgA7TtXszZJ8hLBVzuOnCvo7AdMARn_vmjU3iDqQITDRvTqsH971H4gLLUhsvraXOL6IjTamQ0TL-ePE2ouxiFU3KkUtdN10/s1600-h/hannahmeetsben.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQZxydj0evN8s503hcSkb-HDg5oPp1sy1lw_lfuYXJ9t5OgA7TtXszZJ8hLBVzuOnCvo7AdMARn_vmjU3iDqQITDRvTqsH971H4gLLUhsvraXOL6IjTamQ0TL-ePE2ouxiFU3KkUtdN10/s320/hannahmeetsben.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311306933337503906" border="0" /></a>Hannah got to meet Benjamin in the NICU. She had to be over 3 years old and not running fever. She was very timid. I think the NICU was a weird place to be.<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqypjIfnmkgRqdDpSXKrL39mO-yD9tP7QoYGm180i-tgFCxLy4E3ICyE85Yxieig14hRx4aV-fYFZL_3_XBsncJEz4z7PCx5bbg16VDrf6_JLkRsRqWP94CNzbWaGQPC8MdbcobahyWnr3/s1600-h/bencarseat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqypjIfnmkgRqdDpSXKrL39mO-yD9tP7QoYGm180i-tgFCxLy4E3ICyE85Yxieig14hRx4aV-fYFZL_3_XBsncJEz4z7PCx5bbg16VDrf6_JLkRsRqWP94CNzbWaGQPC8MdbcobahyWnr3/s320/bencarseat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311308306060776338" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);font-size:100%;" >We got to home after three days. Benjamin passed his carseat test and we were off! It's hard to believe that anything can be that tiny. The straps were as tight as possible and they were still too loose! Benjamin's waving goodbye. He was definitely ready to be free of all those wires.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_QcJez_RExDGfGFnXFdfzhuRaMTnKXOQvGOZJ8xVkYdKc9niDqQxFvCgk3RUHt6B8saYNhOC_lc5h7FtUZREdhVf3Bg5naXgpCIgx7OWvbgdaIU9pi4sYB-0joawvwgiyD89BlCuXIWn/s1600-h/going+home.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_QcJez_RExDGfGFnXFdfzhuRaMTnKXOQvGOZJ8xVkYdKc9niDqQxFvCgk3RUHt6B8saYNhOC_lc5h7FtUZREdhVf3Bg5naXgpCIgx7OWvbgdaIU9pi4sYB-0joawvwgiyD89BlCuXIWn/s320/going+home.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311307484952710306" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7W-AYed16r1TWCNRFEEaueiTfWOIPT-pxEPkeer-ejNiINvloy4BWeu5VdlgoqENTUrK6G2C1uUqLqL6ckPL9tJcNG4wdBKL8cCPgXv1bNvzrgJ44PgxoJL6hX_M3J96YJ9uAxpJAmHIk/s1600-h/elliemeetsben.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7W-AYed16r1TWCNRFEEaueiTfWOIPT-pxEPkeer-ejNiINvloy4BWeu5VdlgoqENTUrK6G2C1uUqLqL6ckPL9tJcNG4wdBKL8cCPgXv1bNvzrgJ44PgxoJL6hX_M3J96YJ9uAxpJAmHIk/s320/elliemeetsben.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311309393626449522" border="0" /></a>Ellie meets Benjamin. Her first impression was, "It's so cute!". Then she wanted to "hold her".<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimHFXxNa-gq5LW-vfJvvWEX-Hufq-fGwWXkBZ9vczINtXGz3bEVtlkGWRHx_Ng88EK3-vckOxaExH7bFPgylBevY6YaqFQCTwH70YNjurXrqBFo3vfRiFdseLecNRxc9jlZSlflMZ4STu/s1600-h/eeliandben.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimHFXxNa-gq5LW-vfJvvWEX-Hufq-fGwWXkBZ9vczINtXGz3bEVtlkGWRHx_Ng88EK3-vckOxaExH7bFPgylBevY6YaqFQCTwH70YNjurXrqBFo3vfRiFdseLecNRxc9jlZSlflMZ4STu/s320/eeliandben.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311309884549643298" border="0" /></a>Andrew's favorite picture of Ellie with Benjamin.<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQGqhw04DyzMUayDTj23H8KuM0dbsm3W1_MhOVHUrJbHrTW8tTF5BMTkuZHGWxVC6xhyphenhyphenf1okZuDtcpZm6BVnbl47MTC9MyQb0i2ggaaYx_2LIb6hwuHTNgS1ERFEow_YFIT4hbsMJrWfs/s1600-h/hannah+and+ben.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQGqhw04DyzMUayDTj23H8KuM0dbsm3W1_MhOVHUrJbHrTW8tTF5BMTkuZHGWxVC6xhyphenhyphenf1okZuDtcpZm6BVnbl47MTC9MyQb0i2ggaaYx_2LIb6hwuHTNgS1ERFEow_YFIT4hbsMJrWfs/s320/hannah+and+ben.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311320213134438258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJ5VH4MUJOWJjRbgmvpTEbkqII41btzzQZ0BziLUzwFLSVzPGS19TG-m5cTImX_KKaUNpsGrklGdfY8O0YmOSVWp6M5KG4g7HSblzLSdTSrO6fScEnKOtWXzaOIogxFy3_1teHlif09CO/s1600-h/HannahandEllie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJ5VH4MUJOWJjRbgmvpTEbkqII41btzzQZ0BziLUzwFLSVzPGS19TG-m5cTImX_KKaUNpsGrklGdfY8O0YmOSVWp6M5KG4g7HSblzLSdTSrO6fScEnKOtWXzaOIogxFy3_1teHlif09CO/s320/HannahandEllie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311320392743135650" border="0" /></a>What a difference two years can make! The one on top in Hannah and Benjamin and the one under that is Hannah with Ellie in the hospital when she was born.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGZs_hA6ZCHLRK5jQQ5BVbPqeIVv-xr4pCCpMMXIpM5AfjqD50yFXWRimH4gBNa82PtmRBHIAsBKTdklMmAY4_TKlaAq0siMLzw1vBNvjmfOo1E9UoxeUnNiHvlxpk73mtVGlNXb5kMCr/s1600-h/portele+cousins+thanksgiving.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGZs_hA6ZCHLRK5jQQ5BVbPqeIVv-xr4pCCpMMXIpM5AfjqD50yFXWRimH4gBNa82PtmRBHIAsBKTdklMmAY4_TKlaAq0siMLzw1vBNvjmfOo1E9UoxeUnNiHvlxpk73mtVGlNXb5kMCr/s320/portele+cousins+thanksgiving.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311310877329261090" border="0" /></a>Pat and Cathy stopped in with the girls over Thanksgiving. Here's a shot of all the Portele cousins.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69ukHJYzDF8izSlMAsaZkuoewoKY_DJ2b2YOokKNdeDThqsl1QN4cmbTLYcPidWVYYzASBBboKS84W-Szewwo-O8YZRnfI3R7KWSdWaVgI_yTRk3eWHxdOGv73U2TR3Ob5qv_VVu4cci2/s1600-h/halfpint.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69ukHJYzDF8izSlMAsaZkuoewoKY_DJ2b2YOokKNdeDThqsl1QN4cmbTLYcPidWVYYzASBBboKS84W-Szewwo-O8YZRnfI3R7KWSdWaVgI_yTRk3eWHxdOGv73U2TR3Ob5qv_VVu4cci2/s320/halfpint.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311311148414613874" border="0" /></a>Pat's big hands, Benjamin's little body!<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCan5o5o6ZRNpOZ-ObKTFRsvsCNUD7wl_GYMepFF9BeWCIfV9AyGZK0f9jsjoek9ehvY3kN4TCzm8IDMFQDkWq_5rCRZLthM9j4xg_G95sk8JMzju1BOaMWQMGN4Ehj9v1oPgEPI2vdmkb/s1600-h/noniweek.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCan5o5o6ZRNpOZ-ObKTFRsvsCNUD7wl_GYMepFF9BeWCIfV9AyGZK0f9jsjoek9ehvY3kN4TCzm8IDMFQDkWq_5rCRZLthM9j4xg_G95sk8JMzju1BOaMWQMGN4Ehj9v1oPgEPI2vdmkb/s320/noniweek.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313593459256732498" border="0" /></a>Mom came and stayed with us the second week after Benjamin was born. As always she was a tremendous help. Don't know what we would have done without her!<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZjcQMjgPcbiVlZPVW7REvtYplzXrh1vno16p2p4PEDQ1yxEFgMc6SI9R3w0ma2jP4G9R4_0coUnK8ldJ9a2boEqhVCR4RLNVrhC9y3lxExCh2reAAMruQKbg271TJX8OYAPTvJWEHmWd/s1600-h/3kidsxmas.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZjcQMjgPcbiVlZPVW7REvtYplzXrh1vno16p2p4PEDQ1yxEFgMc6SI9R3w0ma2jP4G9R4_0coUnK8ldJ9a2boEqhVCR4RLNVrhC9y3lxExCh2reAAMruQKbg271TJX8OYAPTvJWEHmWd/s320/3kidsxmas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313526505756651986" border="0" /></a>Christmas was fun and exhausting. Sadly all of my pictures from the day were lost. Here's one from right after the tree was put up.<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfHlzYAGjrDljELsWcuj5KEY4c6yYldD3-14VocF03PsdxquHamztesjLnlbqx_kitne9bWjiSYRmyej7XXjAdklzNmUCAGdDLyDxuBw3sO3vseLHbpDaBhBXKzSgrsXoJuLHnWQZzEbG/s1600-h/josh&ben.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvfHlzYAGjrDljELsWcuj5KEY4c6yYldD3-14VocF03PsdxquHamztesjLnlbqx_kitne9bWjiSYRmyej7XXjAdklzNmUCAGdDLyDxuBw3sO3vseLHbpDaBhBXKzSgrsXoJuLHnWQZzEbG/s320/josh&ben.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311321481282633266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhAyJeXVBQIg-qZuPMbBuZKwSvg-PolsO9naZV9hlxi8tUA0t0NilV01Gm15e3zF1XdoRWwqUeMi9uxzpkc4uq0KnTW7um_wihYZA_kkK6g9NRvbE_MuZ5fNigkRSpyLfOApKiMnrqml7/s1600-h/graessercousinsxmas.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhAyJeXVBQIg-qZuPMbBuZKwSvg-PolsO9naZV9hlxi8tUA0t0NilV01Gm15e3zF1XdoRWwqUeMi9uxzpkc4uq0KnTW7um_wihYZA_kkK6g9NRvbE_MuZ5fNigkRSpyLfOApKiMnrqml7/s320/graessercousinsxmas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311321477317221458" border="0" /></a>Just after Christmas, Chris and Jess came to visit for just a couple days. It was great to see them again and to spend time with Joshua, too. It's hard to believe a year has gone by since they left for Peru. Here are a few shots of the kids.<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CZ2lBlCg2A0H5mKqhA52cz2IKBIul5aj4lFCE1rop2Ps6chCpRBBmDA6pzTRxa32Js3maafzNdPzxgUAkkHWxw4b42nGobFnUo1q3U2NuhXDS9bUXrum1biwrsVH8s7hS_3FfGL0-lpY/s1600-h/ben&emmymeet.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CZ2lBlCg2A0H5mKqhA52cz2IKBIul5aj4lFCE1rop2Ps6chCpRBBmDA6pzTRxa32Js3maafzNdPzxgUAkkHWxw4b42nGobFnUo1q3U2NuhXDS9bUXrum1biwrsVH8s7hS_3FfGL0-lpY/s320/ben&emmymeet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311311557227761154" border="0" /></a>Boy Meets Girl. Benjamin's future wife was born just three weeks after him. She was due to come two weeks before him, but that wouldn't have been proper. So, here they are just a couple days after Emerson Rose was born. We're looking forward to a good relationship with Ben's in-laws (our great friends) Blake and Kristen!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cLDjPfsLRV17xOdVFH1LxLcdfcEeDFlMvl5uoWip8KLmNGe0bepqX2QsTJf0mHXX2bZH5Pq4NKzr_9xn3WNdqapltjjNOC3oTqgX1VU9ipexzhYFv_p79JxqURWxI75gWUf2U3rp76QB/s1600-h/emmyandbenjamin2-11-09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cLDjPfsLRV17xOdVFH1LxLcdfcEeDFlMvl5uoWip8KLmNGe0bepqX2QsTJf0mHXX2bZH5Pq4NKzr_9xn3WNdqapltjjNOC3oTqgX1VU9ipexzhYFv_p79JxqURWxI75gWUf2U3rp76QB/s320/emmyandbenjamin2-11-09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311312317692448450" border="0" /></a>Here Benjamin tries to put the moves on Emmy just a couple days before Valentine's Day. I've got to hand it to him...she's pretty cute!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXe42GZHAxZjYpoq7YJx3TkeLItwKYly0AfbzDjS8PKn60WK0ImUjbR4PmHYzKpOudVm8PTzU5hb9e-NqnfjTvZZzyPq-B4VheFOT3Swhb7bDUwdqdzSv7VFekm7KWA9aKw4XKdyvSrd_Q/s1600-h/benwatchingespn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXe42GZHAxZjYpoq7YJx3TkeLItwKYly0AfbzDjS8PKn60WK0ImUjbR4PmHYzKpOudVm8PTzU5hb9e-NqnfjTvZZzyPq-B4VheFOT3Swhb7bDUwdqdzSv7VFekm7KWA9aKw4XKdyvSrd_Q/s320/benwatchingespn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311385707890196018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMx07SkFQsQCUNz1Brn_8WXh_p3ryhymNtMS2cm8SDrzeYLU1di5LGP349HzUncAYhFdSDtfdFiCwaBLcyw3UPt1wxifgu8v8C4W3_fimnPVRkmcgy7xqnvsCOj3BCgelpCEezmTTxFLP8/s1600-h/tvwdaddy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMx07SkFQsQCUNz1Brn_8WXh_p3ryhymNtMS2cm8SDrzeYLU1di5LGP349HzUncAYhFdSDtfdFiCwaBLcyw3UPt1wxifgu8v8C4W3_fimnPVRkmcgy7xqnvsCOj3BCgelpCEezmTTxFLP8/s320/tvwdaddy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311385705299388994" border="0" /></a>I was trying to take a picture of Benjamin when he squirmed to look up at the TV. In the second picture, he's watching the game with Daddy. Who doesn't like a little mindless entertainment?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmoAOWyzW-IVY74rT40DVRyohcX-KhQHzL-6wRnDVYA54aMZVYl6hexVAdHNOIBf8MiO4ktllMl8OG0TzEi2-E__tP6NS7aBXBSWHi80BH7_HFTwlPzP06a-ZXqDH-5XtG4Av4T0HFeTj/s1600-h/benbaptism3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmoAOWyzW-IVY74rT40DVRyohcX-KhQHzL-6wRnDVYA54aMZVYl6hexVAdHNOIBf8MiO4ktllMl8OG0TzEi2-E__tP6NS7aBXBSWHi80BH7_HFTwlPzP06a-ZXqDH-5XtG4Av4T0HFeTj/s320/benbaptism3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311322402175917218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoPinfG1TDWEhCK5_MrmNl7EIFBT6aUmXg07r2xGnmxgr6_oqUKZltKZRim2R5dpOlsipXGjOKyR_heI9ML2GG261BSHGJzE-a1Gt1Mq8j0QGwWoWchkDR0N4D-vAcWsdRAqhJn8IeCXq/s1600-h/benbaptism2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoPinfG1TDWEhCK5_MrmNl7EIFBT6aUmXg07r2xGnmxgr6_oqUKZltKZRim2R5dpOlsipXGjOKyR_heI9ML2GG261BSHGJzE-a1Gt1Mq8j0QGwWoWchkDR0N4D-vAcWsdRAqhJn8IeCXq/s320/benbaptism2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311322394504219330" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWz73VZheoPtTxgJ_Sk2nmj5_YlTMB8TfKFy_sZZp4Fo461EYYDsYHLxn0d0ILYSEqQ8k9Auu3haqLT_BBPd5olcD5uq4MURqYtF3DdqWxMM9ULBZriGIc5q_O2CeqmPfamknawFNNV_A/s1600-h/benbaptism1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWz73VZheoPtTxgJ_Sk2nmj5_YlTMB8TfKFy_sZZp4Fo461EYYDsYHLxn0d0ILYSEqQ8k9Auu3haqLT_BBPd5olcD5uq4MURqYtF3DdqWxMM9ULBZriGIc5q_O2CeqmPfamknawFNNV_A/s320/benbaptism1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311322388888919922" border="0" /></a>We were blessed to have Benjamin baptized on February 15! We had lots of friends and family to celebrate with. It was a great day. Uncle Chris is Benjamin's godfather.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfb-4i1hy0oUOXHF2ZFN5540UmRldvHqcHqdvheXyUPNU6qx2zTf6kfRa-YK6lgk5mdWA3Rrt31jxEPte9DgLJJiVkN42UUyi5vqhTPyYWpdB8jyACQIeYBjDILasQuV7s0UqsjFl-4vF/s1600-h/bensmiles.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfb-4i1hy0oUOXHF2ZFN5540UmRldvHqcHqdvheXyUPNU6qx2zTf6kfRa-YK6lgk5mdWA3Rrt31jxEPte9DgLJJiVkN42UUyi5vqhTPyYWpdB8jyACQIeYBjDILasQuV7s0UqsjFl-4vF/s320/bensmiles.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311323106998440930" border="0" /></a>Smiles!<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZs0fz33N-X-GI8OZlRBBTnAtuWPuLC9Ahf_zZQ1Z4ml1Drf3T0AmKtHYUGKg-KzRUdBXNkQlthHEEZ4suu_R-FAn2-BGNoeRgFdTxtChsG7Bu3g1u-L7cvWUHbTCCKiiPIEcrqeV0lJp/s1600-h/ellie3halfmos.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZs0fz33N-X-GI8OZlRBBTnAtuWPuLC9Ahf_zZQ1Z4ml1Drf3T0AmKtHYUGKg-KzRUdBXNkQlthHEEZ4suu_R-FAn2-BGNoeRgFdTxtChsG7Bu3g1u-L7cvWUHbTCCKiiPIEcrqeV0lJp/s200/ellie3halfmos.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311393723675566818" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMw2fz5875dRiav4ku1ZbmS9hxKN7BUPRyiynJlTPOoIH2nR4uHgOwpbDZe725wcTChpx5yk0lalyjUlCwDZzXhXuLZ5ie1Fby__VJDVMkbIF6GWV9_wMlRlUoMuoO0D265B0HrEvvawXt/s1600-h/ben+smirk+like+ellie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 152px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMw2fz5875dRiav4ku1ZbmS9hxKN7BUPRyiynJlTPOoIH2nR4uHgOwpbDZe725wcTChpx5yk0lalyjUlCwDZzXhXuLZ5ie1Fby__VJDVMkbIF6GWV9_wMlRlUoMuoO0D265B0HrEvvawXt/s200/ben+smirk+like+ellie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311393724328993970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Benjamin, February '09 and Ellie, February '07<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:85%;">As soon as I caught this picture of Benjamin it reminded me of Ellie at this age. It's crazy how much they look alike in this picture!<br /></span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAD0SCWFEIJSg4zeivLWSxbtA7am4WeqztmPIhVwytTPhAUZVDPqqy4PCA_NqwXde5Z7Cit156-9kwiONmkn0keg-YJq-kTQ2xIL6JAOvPgRetXuC_PJN8pmZDXZuqVMdyg8ftUls-EjPR/s1600-h/benmeetsgranny.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAD0SCWFEIJSg4zeivLWSxbtA7am4WeqztmPIhVwytTPhAUZVDPqqy4PCA_NqwXde5Z7Cit156-9kwiONmkn0keg-YJq-kTQ2xIL6JAOvPgRetXuC_PJN8pmZDXZuqVMdyg8ftUls-EjPR/s320/benmeetsgranny.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311390683421951970" border="0" /></a>We were so excited for Benjamin to finally meet Granny. We had a really nice visit and he seemed happy to be with her!<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vemV25_TtcMc4omV8P3sHd2HFDvFrUrDrAV-nS_Y3kNUReu4iok6BQXe35Eez9OKQJ_6zV_RZvspMI2PbdrLTvcVAeCCboQIcxvs604Mu_Tcf7_NChZJQnGaARLfh6OER3OLxuyVRayu/s1600-h/awesomehairday.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vemV25_TtcMc4omV8P3sHd2HFDvFrUrDrAV-nS_Y3kNUReu4iok6BQXe35Eez9OKQJ_6zV_RZvspMI2PbdrLTvcVAeCCboQIcxvs604Mu_Tcf7_NChZJQnGaARLfh6OER3OLxuyVRayu/s320/awesomehairday.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311325201558378978" border="0" /></a>Ellie in a nutshell. What a goof ball. She's having an awesome hair day!<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiay841EbztK-CPANBtuVZdFoamq3kzaj6SCrXDLic91p8uEghwPmbZ6rXMPgHmS4B35xMrcHSVi6hl4mXHroghzjD3v6fhW_P43Kul4oqthPFKeQtMH5ciLpyJpalKRGtkq_9ihjKsFP96/s1600-h/h&e+western+day.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiay841EbztK-CPANBtuVZdFoamq3kzaj6SCrXDLic91p8uEghwPmbZ6rXMPgHmS4B35xMrcHSVi6hl4mXHroghzjD3v6fhW_P43Kul4oqthPFKeQtMH5ciLpyJpalKRGtkq_9ihjKsFP96/s320/h&e+western+day.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311325534754655442" border="0" /></a>The girls on "Western Day" at mother's day out. Don't let their smiles fool you. Their "Go-Texan Day" attitude went out the window promptly after we left the house. It turns out that they do not like to wear bandannas.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Oa9NDfKbMhOKSCM9-gKyav7atEkStwklORUMm-zvjU94pvJa9MMU3pVXE8yjaEjRlKwt-EHz-nAex1W3MxbzXipHSXpjDo1xNHbumOl5I5wZylq8lmC_GKicj7G2oK0A7Qp_ViB_WUC9/s1600-h/most+recently.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Oa9NDfKbMhOKSCM9-gKyav7atEkStwklORUMm-zvjU94pvJa9MMU3pVXE8yjaEjRlKwt-EHz-nAex1W3MxbzXipHSXpjDo1xNHbumOl5I5wZylq8lmC_GKicj7G2oK0A7Qp_ViB_WUC9/s320/most+recently.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311326400731461234" border="0" /></a>This is the most recent picture of Benjamin. After lots of hard work, he is on the verge of 10 pounds. Woo hoo!<br /><br />Okay, back to it. The laundry is calling my name...no, wait that's Ellie.<br /><br /></div>The Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747046322945095274.post-29293049888174487012008-11-21T05:02:00.000-08:002008-11-21T05:25:36.592-08:00Benjamin is here! Here's the story...Well, that was fast! I got off of bed rest on the 12th of November. We quit the terbutaline pump on Monday, the 17th and by early Thursday morning Benjamin starting making his way into the world. I contracted all morning long while the girls were at MDO not knowing for sure if I was really in labor. My contractions were eratic...never really taking a pattern and they didn't hurt that much. <br /><br />Andrew came home just before 2 o'clock to go pick the girls up from school and that's when the situation became more clear. My contractions picked up substantially and we decided it was time to get to the hospital. We met Grandma and Grandpa Graesser at MDO where they took the carseats and the girls home with them. We sped on to the hospital and made it just 90 minutes before Benjamin was born. It happened very quickly...so fast in fact, that there was no doctor present for the birth. My nurse caught Benjamin. My doctor didn't get there until about 10 minutes after he was born. Hard to blame her...she'd been told just an hour before that I was only 4 cm. <br /><br />Anyway, it was fast and furious and a little scary. Benjamin came on November 20th at 4:17pm (36 weeks and 1 day). He was 5 lbs 0.3 ozs and 18 inches long. He looked perfect...was assigned an 8-9 Apgar, but then his breathing became labored. He was grunting a bit trying to get good breaths, so they rushed him off to the NICU where they got him started on some oxygen. His breathing came under control within a couple hours and they got him off the oxygen by about 7pm. We finally got to go be with him in the NICU around 7:45pm. The moment I saw him I was in love. He's so sweet...I just marvel and the blessings of God's creation. <br /><br />We got to feed him at that point and visit for a while. We have continued to go back for each feed throughout the night and this morning. The nurses seem confident that he will go home with us on Saturday. We are looking forward to getting him to ourselves. <br /><br />Thank you all for your prayers throughout this pregnancy. God has given us peace throughout this time and through our family and friends, has blessed us with His mighty provision. We could not have made it through this time so well without you all. <br /><br />Thank you God for our precious baby boy! He is an amazing blessing to our lives, just as his sisters have been. Thank you for loving us so much.<br /><br />Here's our sweet little boy...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Cn8yQ8vjdKDletXlfRZhgODVm949S0iTglg5FajsYX57zcHFVZOJb19QlBYSAWunnlf6kTZJo_7qlZ5Vyfu6f-r98dt4-tuzEzphQ8ZcFSAANlE8drilypiMqNWJtFDKrqOvfygGx5uD/s1600-h/benjamin3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Cn8yQ8vjdKDletXlfRZhgODVm949S0iTglg5FajsYX57zcHFVZOJb19QlBYSAWunnlf6kTZJo_7qlZ5Vyfu6f-r98dt4-tuzEzphQ8ZcFSAANlE8drilypiMqNWJtFDKrqOvfygGx5uD/s320/benjamin3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271100027906135794" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhao0lv1PP6zdfUk2GJ1ry7Vbi84Epmi60htIPZcmX0UBP-qK5m5fTGR4o8D8-kH31J5qza1ypEaBuCsE6bfCV0zEDYvbupS8NHp74XOfjwqUlNuzaxkddEjbqLytKo996sqHROAh6TEj-W/s1600-h/benjamin2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhao0lv1PP6zdfUk2GJ1ry7Vbi84Epmi60htIPZcmX0UBP-qK5m5fTGR4o8D8-kH31J5qza1ypEaBuCsE6bfCV0zEDYvbupS8NHp74XOfjwqUlNuzaxkddEjbqLytKo996sqHROAh6TEj-W/s320/benjamin2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271100024199108290" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbP3g3t9bSyVoyFcV42EmX2JBguD5C6mPCBNSald_1y_Jf5At2Uu9RjYZxG-RVSFBXuOBm9ODZ-R6kqNQw0NCqaa5HBasMHcZTBDqX8_C87FsL9gZvAoSPdZqGdlZRu7b9-ED64UD6nGJh/s1600-h/benjamin1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbP3g3t9bSyVoyFcV42EmX2JBguD5C6mPCBNSald_1y_Jf5At2Uu9RjYZxG-RVSFBXuOBm9ODZ-R6kqNQw0NCqaa5HBasMHcZTBDqX8_C87FsL9gZvAoSPdZqGdlZRu7b9-ED64UD6nGJh/s320/benjamin1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271100022903948946" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CW-eHDTW3Gp_pnZtxcBXwuMvAk4roo-zDb-TVJK-_HHDG-P9p-hPe3TCVjsfo7V2QfVm776OIoNKCRhWSJaVctS3oLCmnpqO-uzwhMYyv9bj7OA4rMbn_lPy5nUzLBYHKowVbIQx_gOu/s1600-h/ben's+bloodpressure+cuff.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CW-eHDTW3Gp_pnZtxcBXwuMvAk4roo-zDb-TVJK-_HHDG-P9p-hPe3TCVjsfo7V2QfVm776OIoNKCRhWSJaVctS3oLCmnpqO-uzwhMYyv9bj7OA4rMbn_lPy5nUzLBYHKowVbIQx_gOu/s320/ben's+bloodpressure+cuff.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271100021309371154" /></a><br />Benjamin's blood pressure cuff. So tiny!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcIGam3yrAZVZLGObMgis5qnLJDpcA7m6UqpAQbC2A_i3NtrYYyP7za4lmhEL5SnOqEB7eKmc_0JIfGq9N7OTWpLGm6UWWmVfF6mFfsJA3lxT3mg6I4QbccuS6InMW3plqjKO27klDlQG/s1600-h/benjamin+and+mommy+in+nicu.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcIGam3yrAZVZLGObMgis5qnLJDpcA7m6UqpAQbC2A_i3NtrYYyP7za4lmhEL5SnOqEB7eKmc_0JIfGq9N7OTWpLGm6UWWmVfF6mFfsJA3lxT3mg6I4QbccuS6InMW3plqjKO27klDlQG/s320/benjamin+and+mommy+in+nicu.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271100021107455954" /></a><br />I finally got to meet Benjamin!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaw4GWM07p1rsMZk07PmxOdqM5xPmKZisytMx_NUqwKZDeYRAP_HdcRrlecA5Zws-Q42p-WwEpQHH27dXfrMjvym5HaJZYTQxvpnF4YwX6FAHU2JR-XsplptW-pXxctzqLJRCLBvjSTK_n/s1600-h/benjamin+and+daddy2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaw4GWM07p1rsMZk07PmxOdqM5xPmKZisytMx_NUqwKZDeYRAP_HdcRrlecA5Zws-Q42p-WwEpQHH27dXfrMjvym5HaJZYTQxvpnF4YwX6FAHU2JR-XsplptW-pXxctzqLJRCLBvjSTK_n/s320/benjamin+and+daddy2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271100366476641570" /></a><br />Benjamin and Daddy. My what a big head you have Daddy!The Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747046322945095274.post-11302352021261482522008-11-21T04:56:00.000-08:002008-11-21T05:01:42.362-08:00Baby BellyI don't know why, but I feel weird taking pictures of my belly. There have been a few requests to see this growing mountain...so I caved. Here it is in all it's glory at 35 weeks.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GEmZP4dX2JvlBfDXf1h0HkR89eBEgi3elQQm4mxlPYS453r2kYuTT1FP1eJQ0gOHlQzcKg61sT7GNgEMhhy1M5oVAO162sh8WZNiYHO1C10Olv6dssFP4Co54NLWOtY-31n3eIQRWfKB/s1600-h/belly+35wks.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GEmZP4dX2JvlBfDXf1h0HkR89eBEgi3elQQm4mxlPYS453r2kYuTT1FP1eJQ0gOHlQzcKg61sT7GNgEMhhy1M5oVAO162sh8WZNiYHO1C10Olv6dssFP4Co54NLWOtY-31n3eIQRWfKB/s320/belly+35wks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271094343425704754" /></a>The Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747046322945095274.post-91664335700122469352008-11-21T04:18:00.000-08:002008-11-21T04:54:09.278-08:00Two Birthdays and a HalloweenOctober absolutely flew by...even on bed rest. The girls both had their birthdays. Hannah turned the big 04 on the 22nd and Ellie hit the 2 year mark on the 31st. They had a party with friends. It was very pink and all about the princesses they are. They had a lot of fun, especially Hannah who has been talking about her 4th birthday for the last six months! Here are a few pictures from the party. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbXQgWH4aqRuZfYkHgzw7-j3DDtl-R4KGfksZWgJ73FcdDhVRAP4WRvZl0veSapqpypGUSauB7VG3WjA4VJfTpkBg1SsgbfLrHLhyphenhyphenA_XiO0xdQNuAnfQh2WUS-F8WL5VJnMpyUbGmi4lt/s1600-h/hannahgrace+and+ellie+w+pinata.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbXQgWH4aqRuZfYkHgzw7-j3DDtl-R4KGfksZWgJ73FcdDhVRAP4WRvZl0veSapqpypGUSauB7VG3WjA4VJfTpkBg1SsgbfLrHLhyphenhyphenA_XiO0xdQNuAnfQh2WUS-F8WL5VJnMpyUbGmi4lt/s320/hannahgrace+and+ellie+w+pinata.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271089731978191186" /></a><br />Hannah Grace and Ellie enjoying the candy from the pinata. It was a very girly pinata...no hitting. They each pulled ribbons from the bottom and one lucky girl (Lauren) tugged on the one that opened the door at the bottom. Don't know that any of them would have been strong enough to actually whack that think open! Well, maybe Jacob! Either way - Candy for everyone!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEghhMNRIeZBU13e_mTLx5wDU-egJI6uIeGI7eEentmoBXVDLiOhFdGz3_6qxmFTZlVYw0hEutlOoiu8YDiyG_J36Tp4_vPA2AbwIbL6SGUmLrbeoOHMpPngGaZ9xzf2-Ez8AbepJ22TKj/s1600-h/hannah+pinata.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEghhMNRIeZBU13e_mTLx5wDU-egJI6uIeGI7eEentmoBXVDLiOhFdGz3_6qxmFTZlVYw0hEutlOoiu8YDiyG_J36Tp4_vPA2AbwIbL6SGUmLrbeoOHMpPngGaZ9xzf2-Ez8AbepJ22TKj/s320/hannah+pinata.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271089729225516690" /></a><br />Hannah and Lauren pulling ribbons from the pinata.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-n0mULE01C7q9UtIEDzrrFxIzfUFwxN9XQSJNHVh-WDL9NlRAuBwHSdoWlnNEdh5HKl0DL557C9DR7egcS0bo72P8uStTvl81XyigEH4jPWU3kh6x1jGvyHntSVQLxf-9QP9DMG21Udd2/s1600-h/birthday+cupcakes.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-n0mULE01C7q9UtIEDzrrFxIzfUFwxN9XQSJNHVh-WDL9NlRAuBwHSdoWlnNEdh5HKl0DL557C9DR7egcS0bo72P8uStTvl81XyigEH4jPWU3kh6x1jGvyHntSVQLxf-9QP9DMG21Udd2/s320/birthday+cupcakes.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271089727002256130" /></a><br />The birthday cupcakes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAIqKfYILiJveYube43g5Wfk7TTMabY7JaRaB89CkPPA9xlsY8vFt2Vr4eL3opbq_NWXtVuF47kUowOEEgvuxI1D7Fhf7oqO-PLlnqRK7NeV9dgU41wbfzlwxbAf_1u15UDdk9CwBogku/s1600-h/happy+birthday.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcAIqKfYILiJveYube43g5Wfk7TTMabY7JaRaB89CkPPA9xlsY8vFt2Vr4eL3opbq_NWXtVuF47kUowOEEgvuxI1D7Fhf7oqO-PLlnqRK7NeV9dgU41wbfzlwxbAf_1u15UDdk9CwBogku/s320/happy+birthday.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271089730964777426" /></a><br />Sugar comma in 5...4...3...2...<br /><br />Halloween was fun this year. Of course they got to celebrate twice dressing up for "circus day" at mother's day out and again on the 31st. For Hannah, this meant that she could be a princess and a ballerina for Halloween. What a deal! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDVC9eWcANf3vxer_DGRUUeHamIKwncQOy4ro7mixmpQXtT0WPA91V9F4-pc_-65oMqWUCp01yjfVO1h9uBr5g1JrNmi8abL3qpN1eoT7-lhiyEjr5gIeRWAl02Y6DVzQWlZ3wuQLUIwj/s1600-h/Hannah+princess.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDVC9eWcANf3vxer_DGRUUeHamIKwncQOy4ro7mixmpQXtT0WPA91V9F4-pc_-65oMqWUCp01yjfVO1h9uBr5g1JrNmi8abL3qpN1eoT7-lhiyEjr5gIeRWAl02Y6DVzQWlZ3wuQLUIwj/s320/Hannah+princess.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271092360518786978" /></a><br />Princess Hannah<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYQrNrakP46iM6CP38MNT68239SiWbJADLXJ-P_maCgCrvm7H9GGFy1INwAN9rnp37o-ck58VLil7uGtSFcgBxYgId722V875RsgSHEPh-H8xDsSYw39US-rc16G4_G-0dz3nsCPnghy0/s1600-h/ellie+lady+bug.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYQrNrakP46iM6CP38MNT68239SiWbJADLXJ-P_maCgCrvm7H9GGFy1INwAN9rnp37o-ck58VLil7uGtSFcgBxYgId722V875RsgSHEPh-H8xDsSYw39US-rc16G4_G-0dz3nsCPnghy0/s320/ellie+lady+bug.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271092360627882514" /></a><br />Ellie the lady bug.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Yx6Rb3G21my_Zec8CeJ5dvz-dNKIEl3c71GzJjglbnNNUiEtvVSEzvWlHh4vRwnbMBME_zHHxJd6gzTC9IQm2f-NtUN5eQ8_d-vPi0I0ijutZIdYYs_g7sXrUvKatsjeRMX8q8IQ692_/s1600-h/october+31,+2008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 246px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Yx6Rb3G21my_Zec8CeJ5dvz-dNKIEl3c71GzJjglbnNNUiEtvVSEzvWlHh4vRwnbMBME_zHHxJd6gzTC9IQm2f-NtUN5eQ8_d-vPi0I0ijutZIdYYs_g7sXrUvKatsjeRMX8q8IQ692_/s320/october+31,+2008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271092364120445026" /></a><br />October 31, 2008<br /><br />Even though Ellie was initially scared of the pumpkin (she would point at the huge orange thing and cry, "Hunkin, Mommy! Hunkin!"), she got over her fears in time to de-gut and carve! Again, there was girliness all over this holiday...we carved a flower in the pumpkin upon Hannah's request. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJftAzpRXesPTYh_Jv8z7mKs05ci5H9kAGVJ3SHMiRuthlYvm6kLyNGPMc-NA5LgjqTasCctMx21HnN8l13reTjBtHKIS_jfdTrkVfFnsxuqbVhW1Z-XgTlC9_xoliMt1ywebl97Y04oM/s1600-h/carving+pumpkin08.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJftAzpRXesPTYh_Jv8z7mKs05ci5H9kAGVJ3SHMiRuthlYvm6kLyNGPMc-NA5LgjqTasCctMx21HnN8l13reTjBtHKIS_jfdTrkVfFnsxuqbVhW1Z-XgTlC9_xoliMt1ywebl97Y04oM/s320/carving+pumpkin08.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271092357235567458" /></a>The Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747046322945095274.post-17076063231921770732008-10-03T16:45:00.000-07:002008-10-03T17:10:04.973-07:00The trouble with Benjamin...Well, life is never boring. Just before Hurricane Ike made its way to Houston, my doctor put me on bed rest. It seems that my body is more ready to have Benjamin out than Benjamin is ready to be out! I had dilated 1cm at 26 weeks. Crazy. So, as many women have done before me, I am on my behind for a total of 9 weeks. We even got to make a trip to labor and delivery the following day. Benjamin and I got a couple doses of steroids and I was sent home the next evening with a Terbutaline pump (which delivers meds into my leg 24/7) to keep me from contracting so much and a home contraction monitor. What fun! <br /><br />If we learn nothing else from this experience, we will come away knowing how loved and blessed we are. God has put people in our lives who are so willing to take care of us. We've had friends bring food, take our kids and provide moral support. My mom has come to stay with us and is keeping my house better than I ever did...not to mention feeding us with great food! Andrew's parents have been so helpful in taking the kids when Mom needed to go home for a few days. I don't know how we could have done this without all the support and prayers from friends and family.<br /><br />So, one of the perks of all this craziness is that we got to see a Perinatologist this past week and were able to see little Ben in 3D. What a cool thing - especially this far along. We've decided he's definitely got some Portele in him. I hope that he gets some of Andrew's features (eyes, for one).<br /><br />The doctor reassured us that this little guy should make it to at least 35 weeks if we keep doing what we're doing. It was a relief to hear that. So, our scanner isn't working, but here's a picture of the ultrasound photo. Hopefully you can make out his face.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjldbWKq7u2H3M6edyFl2lQrPrklhk1M4MTY6Di3dL-6BBsnBgB5yb96fvivDaP3iwf9tAZTOAcu0gQJu8RRMM28gzjyEoDFCjwSu1c5c-aj8ZfhoFqlhD-tpFHLlrs2Gk_JAutxmGjqrT/s1600-h/benus.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjldbWKq7u2H3M6edyFl2lQrPrklhk1M4MTY6Di3dL-6BBsnBgB5yb96fvivDaP3iwf9tAZTOAcu0gQJu8RRMM28gzjyEoDFCjwSu1c5c-aj8ZfhoFqlhD-tpFHLlrs2Gk_JAutxmGjqrT/s320/benus.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253084224213560482" /></a>The Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747046322945095274.post-2606159710659861982008-10-03T15:57:00.000-07:002008-10-03T16:40:45.694-07:00Trip to Sheboygan, WI and Chicago!The trip to Sheboygan was a lot of fun. We got to spend time with almost all the Graesser's. Jason and Brandy couldn't make it and they were missed. <br /><br />We got to meet baby Katelyn! She's a sweetheart. We were able to be there for her baptism. It had to be the smoothest baptism I've ever seen. Katelyn slept through everything! We also got to spend some time at Mel and Dave's house. They have made it into a wonderful home. Thanks for having us Mel and Dave!<br /><br />Then we spent a couple days in Chicago before going home. It was fun going to the Navy Pier. The girls really enjoyed the rides. We got to do a little shopping on Michigan Avenue and spent some time at Millennium Park. We also took a little sunset cruise on the lake. Ellie screamed the whole time, but it was quite a view of the Chicago skyline. Too bad the camera died. Sadly, we have no pictures of that. We rode the bus a lot. The girls loved that it was so bumpy...wish I could say the same for myself!<br /><br />So...here are the pictures.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptIHROkNNZm9pa8qLOE6DIRPMAPBitx1cAGM3o2g-asp22NW3uwYTl_H3HQ_UVHIM1do4dXkVIdaFc9msu38ydWEsLJ7HAGwZBkWj4YXTI4zHj2sUVLywTwV9SsSRqR1rzOfG2TDGrpDc/s1600-h/airplanetosheboygan.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptIHROkNNZm9pa8qLOE6DIRPMAPBitx1cAGM3o2g-asp22NW3uwYTl_H3HQ_UVHIM1do4dXkVIdaFc9msu38ydWEsLJ7HAGwZBkWj4YXTI4zHj2sUVLywTwV9SsSRqR1rzOfG2TDGrpDc/s320/airplanetosheboygan.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253071852439629826" /></a><br />Hannah holding Ellie for take-off out of Houston. The girls did great on the plane. Neither of them has acquired an "inside voice", but at least they weren't screaming!<br /><br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSvskXzeaunsRU-dMZyFXzrMSlPmLdPLCZhgEuaUe0vzQ7CLHUcmRjTLDvHRYgv7eYECxdQJ7fh64dzL38VLqGHyx5XqvXMCMvDmov1gQex3PfOzaiWPbMtaWiU9HCSJjvvuPuLAq_vjD/s1600-h/graessercousins.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSvskXzeaunsRU-dMZyFXzrMSlPmLdPLCZhgEuaUe0vzQ7CLHUcmRjTLDvHRYgv7eYECxdQJ7fh64dzL38VLqGHyx5XqvXMCMvDmov1gQex3PfOzaiWPbMtaWiU9HCSJjvvuPuLAq_vjD/s320/graessercousins.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253072359724257810" /></a><br />All the Graesser cousins hanging out at Aunt Mel and Uncle Dave's house. Hannah loved being around all the babies! From left to right: Peter (Michael and Kim's son), Katelyn (Mel and Dave's daughter), Hannah and Ellie.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrhuSWaVkgGWSR3x8hqPdV6_rK62S9ilf0lQRNXfP0_CF50U8MEgR4f5KXsf2_FUsAA73_IpWEMb-TEJ0KlUmxVL76LIYzHQcp0X2aOIT5UUqWtPWxq_fWFtibHR4su2FR74LpLEmVID-/s1600-h/katelynsbaptism.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrhuSWaVkgGWSR3x8hqPdV6_rK62S9ilf0lQRNXfP0_CF50U8MEgR4f5KXsf2_FUsAA73_IpWEMb-TEJ0KlUmxVL76LIYzHQcp0X2aOIT5UUqWtPWxq_fWFtibHR4su2FR74LpLEmVID-/s320/katelynsbaptism.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253073788821785394" /></a><br />Katelyn's Baptism. Katelyn wore the same gown that Melissa wore when she was baptized.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDssnnsp2ozSaMtSIl81L7b8W6XZ2hY2_GE2gqRT28jl41mfuRG7SC9hqGV1tKPGiF5yZ7MfZDoRN9_I426gE3-CU6lvrA8k3-L4rKjg4JDc_NZJPDn05Yx-ifSPIploH-hO6PyuB2nz_/s1600-h/navypierferriswheel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDssnnsp2ozSaMtSIl81L7b8W6XZ2hY2_GE2gqRT28jl41mfuRG7SC9hqGV1tKPGiF5yZ7MfZDoRN9_I426gE3-CU6lvrA8k3-L4rKjg4JDc_NZJPDn05Yx-ifSPIploH-hO6PyuB2nz_/s320/navypierferriswheel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253074268751602754" /></a><br />Hannah and Ellie on the ferris wheel at the Navy Pier in Chicago.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8IFNUKnQp3cQ8MKG8yJLr8BS-0oPdpkKDgE64SqQKep_dMVzD8GMGK_jpXh9yL9kM-tztz1Dzlixu0sREH9PmBrZ7m6tSvE_gDPGkdRFI8IFVoF_f2KBU-tPYkncs0tt29-PlkNG8y28/s1600-h/pregobellymilleniumpark.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8IFNUKnQp3cQ8MKG8yJLr8BS-0oPdpkKDgE64SqQKep_dMVzD8GMGK_jpXh9yL9kM-tztz1Dzlixu0sREH9PmBrZ7m6tSvE_gDPGkdRFI8IFVoF_f2KBU-tPYkncs0tt29-PlkNG8y28/s320/pregobellymilleniumpark.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253074519527595202" /></a><br />Some of you haven't seen me recently...this is my belly pic at 24 weeks! Haha...we took this at Millennium park at the great big jelly bean (you can see it at http://www.millenniumpark.org/artandarchitecture/cloud_gate.html). We had fun taking some goofy pictures. By we I mean Andrew and me...the girls slept through the whole thing. At least we can still laugh at ourselves.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiyrXRa43z-FwBt7wul0KbN8VgG9RbpGoFpujYfXjxZLdJxs90YBaCqhOCwVSQbQktbVY6mbxwglOkpCWpjMK3PzG1L7fWverrRnaRWK4XHegQaL2YVqSqZSRpmmAeFZo4r9nUOCan8ZS/s1600-h/chicagozoohannah.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiyrXRa43z-FwBt7wul0KbN8VgG9RbpGoFpujYfXjxZLdJxs90YBaCqhOCwVSQbQktbVY6mbxwglOkpCWpjMK3PzG1L7fWverrRnaRWK4XHegQaL2YVqSqZSRpmmAeFZo4r9nUOCan8ZS/s320/chicagozoohannah.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253075767013667810" /></a><br />Hannah was our official tour guide at the Chicago Zoo. The zoo was free and a great last activity before we left for the airport.The Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747046322945095274.post-6450116974613715552008-07-27T14:29:00.000-07:002008-07-27T14:55:48.943-07:00Colorado Trip<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BIKN9bsq10eNaqXa-UbonuN6_W12yk9qqZuUt_bXeB-jaSXfGX_pAynZNhu1bkTAjqECB7u_5vxCW1i-HFbNOy7dvAfRX59u_unUUqj6i-JsGlBKmtGsNQlh3yKf6BWbLrYLE2TEv9pr/s1600-h/COview.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BIKN9bsq10eNaqXa-UbonuN6_W12yk9qqZuUt_bXeB-jaSXfGX_pAynZNhu1bkTAjqECB7u_5vxCW1i-HFbNOy7dvAfRX59u_unUUqj6i-JsGlBKmtGsNQlh3yKf6BWbLrYLE2TEv9pr/s400/COview.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227813997581045362" /></a><br />We just got back yesterday from Pagosa Springs, CO where we spent a week on vacation with the Portele family. We got to see a great deal of West Texas and some of New Mexico on the way. Colorado was definitely the most beautiful part of the trip. The girls did great in the car. <br /><br />The trip itself was a lot of fun. We got to do a lot of relaxing, some hiking, the boys did some golfing, and we even got to spend some time at the hot springs. What a gorgeous part of the country. The pictures don't even begin to do it justice. The weather was great, too. It was much cooler for the majority of our trip which was a nice break from 100 degree weather in Houston. <br /><br />Most of all we loved getting to spend time with family. Hannah and Ellie had lots of time with their cousins Claire and Molly. This was our first time to meet Molly who's almost six months old now. She's a beautiful baby and so sweet, just like her sister. <br /><br />Needless to say, we felt very fortunate to be able to make the trip. We thank God for His creation and His provision!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtHnS-B51DMjdJo2XsT4DA_yEIjfQF0M-ndsUZsKbVMJCfkkbowzxGul-A7979QRHmx50h48ijSq6icBGwQRMcaZPx0JN_8ncS261LjYxfZ0jAFZU8H9oTAZ6svVEETB3pqJuP3_KFR7F/s1600-h/graessersco.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtHnS-B51DMjdJo2XsT4DA_yEIjfQF0M-ndsUZsKbVMJCfkkbowzxGul-A7979QRHmx50h48ijSq6icBGwQRMcaZPx0JN_8ncS261LjYxfZ0jAFZU8H9oTAZ6svVEETB3pqJuP3_KFR7F/s320/graessersco.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227814903142007314" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKBWo6TZuAYhqwYr_lfzsnKdp2B7MqdMTgNJDZWrwKcG2ewoOY7IV5Gj8VICn8lULykyywX01h_CkCCBLi0rwhwnEyQS-F1Nk8QAxqU-ow_ndcfcWMXAaY-Oo15KwdWvL_dtVwQrkSkPV/s1600-h/portelescolorado.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKBWo6TZuAYhqwYr_lfzsnKdp2B7MqdMTgNJDZWrwKcG2ewoOY7IV5Gj8VICn8lULykyywX01h_CkCCBLi0rwhwnEyQS-F1Nk8QAxqU-ow_ndcfcWMXAaY-Oo15KwdWvL_dtVwQrkSkPV/s320/portelescolorado.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227814901522761586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQD9W32_nAAYkBHcYf0Pecujm1uz2uArCt9wsuG0h1VxREXj2uau0t3EsQe4691esxU2xMUl_EQNByaLuql6GrfQNvEXgw2PlOxOyAKYYRXjzugj0cnM5UgkiFy8sycztV4b07TypN3EF5/s1600-h/waterfall.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQD9W32_nAAYkBHcYf0Pecujm1uz2uArCt9wsuG0h1VxREXj2uau0t3EsQe4691esxU2xMUl_EQNByaLuql6GrfQNvEXgw2PlOxOyAKYYRXjzugj0cnM5UgkiFy8sycztV4b07TypN3EF5/s320/waterfall.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227814909987457746" /></a><br />The two family pics above were taken right next to the top of this waterfall facing the other direction. What a breathtaking view! (It was a bit chilly up there, too.)The Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747046322945095274.post-44636088497481727902008-07-27T14:21:00.000-07:002008-07-27T14:29:37.591-07:00And Baby Makes 5!Back in April, Andrew and I got a big surprise when we found out that we're going to have another blessing added to our family! We were even more surprised to find out just a few days ago that we're going to have a baby boy! We feel like God is orchestrating our family and we are so excited. We love our girls and we think that they are going to be great big sisters to their little brother. Andrew and I aren't sure what we're going to do with a little boy...invest in some toy trucks, I guess! Our whole vocabulary is going to change. Here's a snapshot of our little guy. Hope it doesn't offend anyone! We're due December 19th, so please pray for a a healthy baby in Decemeber...or November. Babies seem to make those decisions all on their own!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqWcKmh7dI0dTVSxs8OrIghZdJIB6S4bJAu8ny688OvXF6GpnOC5OUICyPAGk-Ue0ik8bbz5pkH_vQbxZ2H_bmPIZG2s0OTRqPmSABRGkfLgkRO7Kl564cSCyNZWLqUeekUn34fqFN54u/s1600-h/babyboyus.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnqWcKmh7dI0dTVSxs8OrIghZdJIB6S4bJAu8ny688OvXF6GpnOC5OUICyPAGk-Ue0ik8bbz5pkH_vQbxZ2H_bmPIZG2s0OTRqPmSABRGkfLgkRO7Kl564cSCyNZWLqUeekUn34fqFN54u/s320/babyboyus.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227808835760545746" /></a>The Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747046322945095274.post-45824667040193430982008-07-27T14:15:00.000-07:002008-07-27T14:21:38.352-07:004th of JulyWe got to celebrate the 4th with Andrew's brother and sister-in-law Michael and Kim and our new little nephew Peter Joshua! We went up to Dallas on the 4th and stayed through the weekend. It was great to meet Peter. Hannah loved getting to hold him. He's really cute and so sweet. The girls also loved the pool in the backyard. There was a lot of fun to be had. Thanks, Michael and Kim for having us!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8rQMbDCseylsA2M6-zkL74J8hKt_DMtcZVSuyDQ9knr_NpDpyBSVBGsHuXlJjCDDMBpf9doMocQ08yNm1s8tmSjvAIeDNZDZ4oPD_XAnoVq3S5ixanPEE7_Cbm9QgT6tFEndr_WfE92s/s1600-h/hannah&babypeter.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8rQMbDCseylsA2M6-zkL74J8hKt_DMtcZVSuyDQ9knr_NpDpyBSVBGsHuXlJjCDDMBpf9doMocQ08yNm1s8tmSjvAIeDNZDZ4oPD_XAnoVq3S5ixanPEE7_Cbm9QgT6tFEndr_WfE92s/s320/hannah&babypeter.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227806860097065362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5htCiVtOsV1sc2BTf31XP8ee4SbgNxdX8umtCr6uS56B5zQ9WXsX69Ej0RHdIgFOF5m2a_a26yXwftyDIJ-XC0Xby36kYPgy9KlIyZO5DQtvL422ARp3Fc7fN_HtJToyKBxfeNdpKGfU/s1600-h/Ellieinpool-M&Ks.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5htCiVtOsV1sc2BTf31XP8ee4SbgNxdX8umtCr6uS56B5zQ9WXsX69Ej0RHdIgFOF5m2a_a26yXwftyDIJ-XC0Xby36kYPgy9KlIyZO5DQtvL422ARp3Fc7fN_HtJToyKBxfeNdpKGfU/s320/Ellieinpool-M&Ks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227806866330535298" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2qgFR48SvGEcpB3dFxTf63kDvfprnJs7gdHuN2Ig66nc91hyphenhyphenmk-zhRhNGi5j-YPEV0ht79WtzR5F9bVjMIT7O6-O5EhtEW2oCzTQ3s0GaQD6SgBrqB-5owu4tDYwfVk8xxBAV5O7tYdI/s1600-h/hannahinpool-M&Ks.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2qgFR48SvGEcpB3dFxTf63kDvfprnJs7gdHuN2Ig66nc91hyphenhyphenmk-zhRhNGi5j-YPEV0ht79WtzR5F9bVjMIT7O6-O5EhtEW2oCzTQ3s0GaQD6SgBrqB-5owu4tDYwfVk8xxBAV5O7tYdI/s320/hannahinpool-M&Ks.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227806872262879666" /></a>The Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747046322945095274.post-33274404758846668502008-06-17T13:16:00.001-07:002008-06-17T13:31:38.147-07:0027 Dresses, or maybe just 5<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfWg-Ua0tJVjut9u15qQM4xyGsuU1GJ_6dCMXSqN1r2XPcrnOoqkHue8AgXvwlMpD8hyhTDVCdha9B5Exm3zsinUcMHBxyVcH7MAl-KU5JMQBOMJTdeApGH5CEkC6eUGuPTqzIoSTO1um/s1600-h/dress1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSfWg-Ua0tJVjut9u15qQM4xyGsuU1GJ_6dCMXSqN1r2XPcrnOoqkHue8AgXvwlMpD8hyhTDVCdha9B5Exm3zsinUcMHBxyVcH7MAl-KU5JMQBOMJTdeApGH5CEkC6eUGuPTqzIoSTO1um/s200/dress1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212948991166257042" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTuQXWzLPdAQ-1O8O7vOzeEsxFBWWp0anJMp4fDyiQnGxRMgch2hjeYKGUTMQL1jr5BWKk0BHs9X8sv1YxpfJLZ1I8dn7nIRtCSTgN1IpXMqHP1j1YuArshtzVAEJbjUtqbmweQOxAjLU3/s1600-h/dress5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTuQXWzLPdAQ-1O8O7vOzeEsxFBWWp0anJMp4fDyiQnGxRMgch2hjeYKGUTMQL1jr5BWKk0BHs9X8sv1YxpfJLZ1I8dn7nIRtCSTgN1IpXMqHP1j1YuArshtzVAEJbjUtqbmweQOxAjLU3/s200/dress5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212949663576509986" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNQ5a7fDw4oz0L35ishqIrIr2Yyzgx2YvElwT8swI2E7SXwubf6-Z4mbcq0eO4PuH2kMnsgut9JXn5U0M2hkyMdeNDzehbqIKxQPffqzvu2tu5u2Ko4O5lxsKARPJbRWrO2uuPqe8GNnH/s1600-h/dress4.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNQ5a7fDw4oz0L35ishqIrIr2Yyzgx2YvElwT8swI2E7SXwubf6-Z4mbcq0eO4PuH2kMnsgut9JXn5U0M2hkyMdeNDzehbqIKxQPffqzvu2tu5u2Ko4O5lxsKARPJbRWrO2uuPqe8GNnH/s200/dress4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212949568989684178" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWn-ZINrc0N2ASBwJuMruJY2XV2HSeLnO03Ix2FbDEG9x_kz8CT5tHkeMRC8eU5JOE4KNvDIxIzAwCgeig4xMz4owHmQECvKZWHwyHqcN_yvVk9_116qxz7Y2MzFBj6EZwHgeY5jw4559/s1600-h/dress3.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWn-ZINrc0N2ASBwJuMruJY2XV2HSeLnO03Ix2FbDEG9x_kz8CT5tHkeMRC8eU5JOE4KNvDIxIzAwCgeig4xMz4owHmQECvKZWHwyHqcN_yvVk9_116qxz7Y2MzFBj6EZwHgeY5jw4559/s200/dress3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212949353304364482" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0qzE_wwyBnKBT5GtbJC2R_ryhzTjBwaF7gJKXhkXvDmB_H9UCz3dbhImFyU8zelHJNjsqfjdNzilHysX6RanmosaM8H-b-6GXjYbFB6F4k-plqFKqmVQRULynCnc5QOd-W3lofhLtZdK/s1600-h/dress2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0qzE_wwyBnKBT5GtbJC2R_ryhzTjBwaF7gJKXhkXvDmB_H9UCz3dbhImFyU8zelHJNjsqfjdNzilHysX6RanmosaM8H-b-6GXjYbFB6F4k-plqFKqmVQRULynCnc5QOd-W3lofhLtZdK/s200/dress2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212949210589293330" /></a><br /> <br />So, Hannah and I went on a shopping spree today. We stormed Walmart and Marshall's for the best deals we could find on dresses. Hannah would wear a dress every day if we had enough and the poor child has only had one dress to wear since Christmas. (Can you imagine the hardship?) So we did what any sane girl would do and we went out to find the best deals money could buy...then we came home and had a fashion show! What fun! Sadly, we can't keep them all and two of them don't fit, but it was still a productive trip. Hannah wanted to take pictures so that Daddy could see his princess in all her dresses when he got home. <br /><br />For those of you who don't know, when Hannah is wearing a dress, she is a princess. This is what we have been told. She doesn't say this with any vain conceit. It's just a matter of fact and from where I'm standing, it's good to know.The Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747046322945095274.post-75718671403079104622008-06-17T13:06:00.000-07:002008-06-17T13:15:45.073-07:00In the Eagle's Nest<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WCPVjhjtf1mNXQZA-xmOgiHYKWsmE5bMDyWsrkZ-Je8A8EJHWgqARKHawAgGdRhl-H2EgT0oCBNHSz08QDSviuHw0_pV964VKRO2y8pfho4VyfSqj9pFPLrqk8EBDkyUll7qE9bm0alt/s1600-h/zoo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WCPVjhjtf1mNXQZA-xmOgiHYKWsmE5bMDyWsrkZ-Je8A8EJHWgqARKHawAgGdRhl-H2EgT0oCBNHSz08QDSviuHw0_pV964VKRO2y8pfho4VyfSqj9pFPLrqk8EBDkyUll7qE9bm0alt/s320/zoo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212945939549214770" /></a><br />Hannah and Ellie were invited to go to the zoo with their good friends Jacob and Hannah Cole earlier in the spring. It was a fun day and the kids all lasted for an extraordinarily long time. Anyhow, I just ran across the picture and decided to post it. This was a miracle shot in which all four kids were happy and looking at, okay at least facing the camera, so it deserves to be blogged about!The Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747046322945095274.post-25081338469684333602008-06-17T12:42:00.000-07:002008-06-17T12:48:06.070-07:00Time Out<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8M4BiOicA-EGG71hyphenhyphenv87cnqdesSNj4GZzqzBO7wIx4f6W37uAJwZj2VFvrvK6sA9pNDvTT27E42sLe7OPnSvFhY8wEBIZY9qRkwsW7etpY-fNrOvXax1vOIJp6Bk-v4MDYh5v6rl2HDmE/s1600-h/timeout.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8M4BiOicA-EGG71hyphenhyphenv87cnqdesSNj4GZzqzBO7wIx4f6W37uAJwZj2VFvrvK6sA9pNDvTT27E42sLe7OPnSvFhY8wEBIZY9qRkwsW7etpY-fNrOvXax1vOIJp6Bk-v4MDYh5v6rl2HDmE/s320/timeout.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212939509008630482" /></a><br />The joys of sibling rivalry came with a little spat between sisters today. They both hit each other, so they both had to spend some time in time out. It was really funny. I doubt that either of them got the point of being disciplined with mommy taking pictures of them. (By the way, Hannah is wearing an infant bonnet...she insisted that I tie it on her. Gotta love her sense of style.)The Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747046322945095274.post-78841591039277000722008-04-21T19:28:00.001-07:002008-04-21T20:08:18.188-07:00SpringI have some catching up to do...Easter was great. We spent it with my parents in San Antonio. The girls had a great time and we got to spend some time with Aunt Katie and Granny as well. <br /><br />I think Hannah had three separate Easter egg hunts this year between MDO, church and Noni and Papa's house...Which basically means that she had way too much candy and I had to throw a lot away. It's great to have kids this young. She hasn't even asked what happened to all the candy. <br /><br />The first couple pics are from our church egg hunt and the last several are from our time in San Antonio. We got to see the newly renovated Japanese Sunken Gardens. It's beautiful and the girls enjoyed a stroll through the path...okay, so we set that picture up, but it's a cute one. We all took a train ride through Breckenridge Park. I haven't done that in quite some time. I think the adults had even more fun than the kids!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxMUVlp-mLn7OP96n9IeJKo1bfnHsuCHGKQ4vnQ7ucuqTghBg3uzEE0GAvQqfPQ9a6PwURqG5H5cP2reeAoTBV2gCFXojGmfFw1z-FDjuki8va-1Fe_qsTdI9QVX4zIMDvXFiQGGbnOM6/s1600-h/sjvegghunt.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxMUVlp-mLn7OP96n9IeJKo1bfnHsuCHGKQ4vnQ7ucuqTghBg3uzEE0GAvQqfPQ9a6PwURqG5H5cP2reeAoTBV2gCFXojGmfFw1z-FDjuki8va-1Fe_qsTdI9QVX4zIMDvXFiQGGbnOM6/s320/sjvegghunt.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191894478348545138" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoORg5RPBijU0avFb-4RyDilNhsmn9aMuyoV2gXxbrklmfGZfdtsruHaqXcdTDQcH3bvgmBOgYk8jdoUPRyXmqtRYemvuQULd0oyD8Y7v_ElGq2mhACXtwu4eeYP-gS3wICXjBG9ESnJ1r/s1600-h/sjvegghunt2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoORg5RPBijU0avFb-4RyDilNhsmn9aMuyoV2gXxbrklmfGZfdtsruHaqXcdTDQcH3bvgmBOgYk8jdoUPRyXmqtRYemvuQULd0oyD8Y7v_ElGq2mhACXtwu4eeYP-gS3wICXjBG9ESnJ1r/s320/sjvegghunt2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191894628672400514" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEysd6786Oxvo2nvT3QGc6TeLZcYSQdzq_ZC3qUx_nXtL_DTBJom8FaskWmgO1s9jEOjjgQ05uLBKJMOWO3rZfikkt_5CzFxj1zYaKSxsqOHA_f2y85qyHDbkNehkftbPT4c5hyur758I/s1600-h/girlswalkgarden.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEysd6786Oxvo2nvT3QGc6TeLZcYSQdzq_ZC3qUx_nXtL_DTBJom8FaskWmgO1s9jEOjjgQ05uLBKJMOWO3rZfikkt_5CzFxj1zYaKSxsqOHA_f2y85qyHDbkNehkftbPT4c5hyur758I/s320/girlswalkgarden.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191894757521419410" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJchrj7sSrcX-JIo_yF_SAgo8WfkWej39NA4xMYDRehknUnHJS9qjD6GZq2F5sB6L-3I3i7Ag7lWt3Iztrrv14qENyZHpAURCF9R9yNvn_nmil7qDQCkivDJEYtCzC1EKsZWvFVFNCoo_S/s1600-h/trainsunkengardens.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJchrj7sSrcX-JIo_yF_SAgo8WfkWej39NA4xMYDRehknUnHJS9qjD6GZq2F5sB6L-3I3i7Ag7lWt3Iztrrv14qENyZHpAURCF9R9yNvn_nmil7qDQCkivDJEYtCzC1EKsZWvFVFNCoo_S/s320/trainsunkengardens.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191894955089915042" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKfYj7kUoVlcbZLgXQ4adacKu8FGUMLBdJZL_buwITgCzglZlx2ZtpePyaU8T_r5ulnk5nR-Z_v22h_s6Cz3l-4gvxlDN-uhH4C0R9DutzNBP8gAG3BJ7DV1B2nQzqEPt2MYDn92LG6Hq/s1600-h/eastersunday.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKfYj7kUoVlcbZLgXQ4adacKu8FGUMLBdJZL_buwITgCzglZlx2ZtpePyaU8T_r5ulnk5nR-Z_v22h_s6Cz3l-4gvxlDN-uhH4C0R9DutzNBP8gAG3BJ7DV1B2nQzqEPt2MYDn92LG6Hq/s320/eastersunday.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191895204198018226" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ELlDQjQDNJBmnPiO02X0axL3-55qg_oTvppNz7zR28jpzpvsZOptbNTDDHwu4wknXjIqmAux_bQwvL18lsz3ddLzYYWRHARyMP9NbCluai9KvpJ5NI-9YcFWuknT1-IZOuxLvsJ-PIpA/s1600-h/hannahhunt.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ELlDQjQDNJBmnPiO02X0axL3-55qg_oTvppNz7zR28jpzpvsZOptbNTDDHwu4wknXjIqmAux_bQwvL18lsz3ddLzYYWRHARyMP9NbCluai9KvpJ5NI-9YcFWuknT1-IZOuxLvsJ-PIpA/s320/hannahhunt.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191895384586644674" /></a><br /><br />Last, Ellie is officially walking. At about 17 months she decided it was time to get moving. She has definitely done things on her own time and she couldn't be more proud of herself! Hannah has entered the world of pretend and it's become difficult to tell when she's "just pretending". She now tells us that she has a big kid and her big kid's baby sister just like mommy. So, needless to say, she's very busy around the house taking care of her two children!The Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747046322945095274.post-77591527921969859702008-02-08T12:29:00.001-08:002008-02-08T14:08:33.341-08:00Life is funnyThe girls have been so funny lately. Ellie is starting to walk a bit, which is a lot of fun. Hannah is her biggest chearleader...though she's frustrated because Ellie won't walk to her yet. You can see the video of her on youtube at the following link: <br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54cKfV53bsk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54cKfV53bsk</a><br /><br />For those of you who are wondering...yes, those are raisins I'm bribing her with and yes, her head is partly cut off in most of the video...but it's the feet that really matter in this case!<br /><br />Hannah is speaking more fluently lately. Of course, like any smart three year old, she's using her new found gift of expression to manipulate! On the way home from church last Sunday she asked Andrew if she could have something. When he didn't respond right away, she said,"Daddy, just say, 'Yes, Hannah"!<br /><br />We said goodbye to Chris and Jess last weekend. It is sad to see them go, but we know they will do amazing things for God's Kingdom in Peru. Keep them in your prayers! Hannah and Ellie had lots of hugs and kisses for Joshua before we left!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKQz8ccLQRrbWu8jbZ0KY_5JDlNwuxS-8-ikOE-ln0V-KJIju3phCWiCgJscfVgF1guLXkCewNe6FoUbav8tk1aaDlNRPXiolcHAuTmfu5MjaZdSXtR2SJsUhoh8Geti8_KRfWGqZ0koY/s1600-h/hannahsayinggoodbye.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKQz8ccLQRrbWu8jbZ0KY_5JDlNwuxS-8-ikOE-ln0V-KJIju3phCWiCgJscfVgF1guLXkCewNe6FoUbav8tk1aaDlNRPXiolcHAuTmfu5MjaZdSXtR2SJsUhoh8Geti8_KRfWGqZ0koY/s320/hannahsayinggoodbye.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164733227274946994" /></a>The Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5747046322945095274.post-58654558114041860332008-01-17T18:48:00.002-08:002008-01-17T18:53:17.866-08:00Standing Up for Herself!<span style="font-family:georgia;">Ellie is excited about her newest accomplishment. She has started standing up all by herself...no hands! At 14 months, she's still taking her time and she's enjoying the ride. She even got herself to a standing position from the floor, but only once. It's so funny to watch her stand there and grin with pride. Then she flops down on her bottom as hard as she can, laughs and starts clapping for herself. Gotta love it.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YshB9jEAcAVX3oi-cJUKAuGXxjuWTGy74apNlCOhL_QGt9HybcGcfInNhi216wvw6aQz1505sToaDYJoSrD-YL__JvorSwx8dHg5JW40apBHx-fglHM6EoOuRj8BAzylUbYGlcwM3LL4/s1600-h/standingellie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YshB9jEAcAVX3oi-cJUKAuGXxjuWTGy74apNlCOhL_QGt9HybcGcfInNhi216wvw6aQz1505sToaDYJoSrD-YL__JvorSwx8dHg5JW40apBHx-fglHM6EoOuRj8BAzylUbYGlcwM3LL4/s320/standingellie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156643899188208994" border="0" /></a>The Graesser Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00099130370990471616noreply@blogger.com1