We've made it!

We have officially moved! We arrived in Fort Collins on Thursday and are having fun setting up our new home and exploring the area. I am so behind on blogging and will have to remain that way for a while as I am making a final push on the dissertation while we set up a new house. I promise I'm taking lots of pictures and will update as soon as possible!

Father's Day at Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park

Outside

As the weather has become warmer, we have been spending more and more time outside. Grace loves to ride her bike, push her wagon (yes, she doesn't like to ride in it--just push it), ride her train, and run races up and down the side walk. She knows that if she goes in the road she has to be holding one of our hands. This pic is from last week but we spent quite a bit outside tonight too. She was running races with me. This is what she would do, "Ready, set, on your mark, go!" Then she would run maybe 20 feet and stop and say, "Oh! I need a break!" as she would wipe her forehead. We did this all the way down the street!

Men's Weekend

While Grace and I were gallivanting around Michigan and Indianapolis, Mark was at Pokagon State Park with the men of the Hone family for their annual fishing trip (with some golf on the side). From all reports they had a great time and even caught some fish--proof is below!

Grandpa

Dad

Uncle Dave

Jared

Andrew

Mark--fish #1

Mark--fish #2

Mark--fish #3

Mark--fish #4

Yes! Mark caught FOUR fish, but didn't bring any home for dinner.

Wedding with my Purdue Ladies

Grace and I drove to Indy from Michigan last Saturday. Again, it was a fantastic car ride. She was quite the trooper! That night Grace had a slumber party with Nana and I headed downtown for a wedding of two of my friends from graduate school, John Dowd and Lisa Hanasono. It was a gorgeous wedding and I had a great time hanging out with my Purdue friends! I am going to miss them so much when we move!

Vicky, Eileen, Kari, and I

Abigail and I (Abigail officiated the wedding and it honestly was one of the best wedding ceremonies I have been too--and I've been to a lot! Way to go Abigail!)

Another visit to MI

Two weeks ago Grace and I headed to Michigan so I could accompany my dad to a doctor's appointment. We had such a fun time! We drove up Wednesday and I was a little nervous because it was the first time I didn't have my mom meet us halfway but we made it! Grace was awesome for me and she's actually at an age where it's kind of fun to road trip together.

Thursday was a day for visiting/shopping. We picked my dad up and headed to the park. Then we met Grandma and Uncle Todd for lunch and then mom for shopping.

Trying to take a nap in Papa's bed

Cookout

And as you can see...all of the activity wore Grace out!

Friday I headed to Ann Arbor with my dad and Grace stayed home and played with Mama and Papa Applebee. Again, she had fun!

Love the action shot!

2 & a half!!!

Grace had a 1/2 birthday on Saturday. What an amazing little girl we have! Here are her current favorites:

• The alphabet is still our go-to song
• Choosing her own outfits
• Getting her hair done (she's doing pig tails and headbands) and pretending to put on make-up
• "Hiding"--a few days ago we were hiding under the covers and Mark would come find us. Then she told us it was "mommy and daddy turn to hide." We hid and she never came back--we found her in the family room reading her books.
• Playing outside, especially riding her bike and kicking her ball.
• Giving hugs and kisses.
• Skyping with her grandparents.
• Coloring.
• Talking--she's a little chatterbox! I love the conversations we have.
• Telling us where we are. She constantly amazes me with her memory. Every time we drive by her doctor's office she tells us that that is where her doctor is. She even remembers places we've only been a few times.
  
• Asking to go to go visit people.
• Her teachers and her classmates--she talks about her teachers all the time and we hear the name "Molly" (her BFF at school) multiple times a day!
• Daisy--she loves giving her kisses and is always concerned about where she is.

She is such a FUN girl!!!

Mother's Day Weekend

I had an AMAZING Mother's Day Weekend. It was the first weekend where I was home all weekend since the beginning of March! On Friday night we had our dinner group from church over which was really fun. Saturday afternoon I decided that a trip to the movie theater would be fun--Grace had never been and it had been way too long since I had. We went and saw Rio and Grace loved it! Especially the popcorn!





Saturday night my friend Eileen had a party so I was able to have some time with my girlfriends.

LaShara and Vicky

Kari and Jane

Eileen and Dr. LaShara (she just finished up her PhD!)

Sunday morning I woke up to a "Happy Mother's Day" and a bag full of wonderful art projects from school. We made it to church where Grace refused to go to the nursery so we let her come into the service with the understanding that if she wasn't quiet she would go to the nursery. She was fantastic but did get a little upset that none of the songs we sang were the ABCs. After church it was off to Steak and Shake for lunch...yum!

Sunday night we had the Linvills over. It was the perfect way to celebrate Mother's Day--Jenn and I were pregnant together and have enjoyed all of our mommy firsts together. Plus our kiddos have so much fun with each other!

She's able to pedal now!