Spring Break

I am determined this week to catch up on my blog.  I realized Sunday that I hadn't even posted about Julianna's birthday...1.5 months ago.  Yikes!  So we made it through the McNeely Birthday season.  3 parties, tons of presents, balloons, cakes...done.  Until next year.  After all the craziness we were all looking forward to a nice relaxing spring break with the Decker's.  Well it was fun, not sure I would use the word relaxing!

Oh before I get there we had our first batch of stitches.  Jake walked behind a baseball bat.  Pretty sure he and JP will pay more attention in the future.  Unfortunately Brian and I were out of town at the time.  So poor Meegan had to take Jake to the ER.  I think she was more upset than Jake!  But all was well, he got 3 little stitches and is good as new.  He was kind of sad and then I told him Uncle Johnny did the exact same thing except it was a golf club.  He perked up and said "Really?  I am just like Uncle Johnny?"

As I was talking to the doctor on the phone he said he couldn't go in pools for 2 weeks!  I instantly thought how far away is spring break?!?  3 weeks...phew!  Because we were headed to Wilderness of the Smokies!  But first we celebrated Easter.  And managed to get a decent picture.  SOOO much easier to make them smile when you say "as soon as you smile we will go to the waterslides!"

So we arrive in Tennessee and we are off to the waterslides.  A little cold the first day, and it rained day 2 & 3.  But Wednseday and Thursday were beautiful!

Look how excited everyone was!  There was something for everyone.  There were big waterslides, wave pools, hot tubs, and lots for Grace's age too!  And she had a ball going down this slide over and over.

At night we went to the arcade and they also had a ropes course and rock wall.  Oh my gosh my kids are fearless!  Grace played in a tree house thing while Julianna and Jake did rock climbing.  Then they went to the ropes course.  I can't believe how high they were.  Jake was kind of scared at the beginning but pushed through and did the entire thing.  Julianna did the high stuff and then got a little scared and got down.

The next day Julianna was begging to do the rock wall again because she didn't climb to the top.  So I took her and actually climbed with her.  I don't really mind heights but geez it was a little scary to jump down!  And she went all the way to the top!  How amazing is she?

Then we had to do the ropes course again. And she was a pro.  Got a little scared at the end...I think because she didn't want to go down!  It was lots of fun!

Our final day was beautiful and we hit the outdoor waterslides.  There is one that has a tube Grace could go down so that was fun.  She gets in the raft and the instant you go through the tunnel she screams...the entire way down.  Bell took her down the slides and we knew when they were coming.  It was too funny.  Then she would get out and say "I do that one more time."  No one says no to Gracie-Grace!

Fun times with our BFF's!  We are hitting the beach with the Decker's in July, can't wait for another "relaxing" adventure!

Grace is 3!!!

Our baby is 3!  She would say "I'm not a baby I'm a BIG girl!"  And she's right.  She is a big girl with an even bigger personality.  She is always smiling and laughing and running.

Grace is in her very first year of preschool.  She goes to Mt. Zion UMC and has Ms. Emilie and Ms. Kay.  Most importantly she is in the same class as her BFF Cadence.  Yes, they call each other their BFF.  She is doing great at school, her teacher is always telling me how "capable" Grace is.  I noticed the other day she can swing.  All by herself.  I think it took Jake 6 years to figure it out.  Not Grace, she doesn't want to be left behind.  She wants to do everything her big brother and sister do!

Grace is finally turning that magic age.  3 is when everything starts.  You can do ballet, swimming, gymnastics.  Can't wait to sign her up!  But she already started karate!  Yes, watch out world she is armed with a wicked front kick!  I will post some videos, it's hilarious.

Grace loves to do puzzles too!  I bought her a 24 piece puzzle and a 48 piece one for Julianna.  I walked away to make lunch.  Next thing I know she is bringing me the 48 piece puzzle fully assembled.  Now she has to sleep with her puzzles and do each one before she closes her eyes.  At least she is really good at the puzzles and is super fast.

It's hard to say what Grace is like.  I try to write a little bit about who they are every time a birthday comes around.  Grace is just Grace.  She is fearless (yes she has had a dislocated elbow, broken foot, and most recently fell off the couch but was shockingly fine).  She is LOUD, everything she says is a yell.  I guess she needs to be heard, but geez I might go deaf!  She is always happy, for the most part. Not saying she doesn't have her moments but she can go all day and keep smiling until she falls asleep.  Basically she is just fun.  Look how much fun she had here at a store while I was trying stuff on.

Grace was adamant this year.  She wanted a Frozen Party with Elsa.  Yes the same party she had with Julianna last year.  But she wanted HER friends to be there.  So this year, Frozen party was all about Grace.  And she loved every minute!  They watched for Elsa from the windows and Grace practically attacked her when she came in.  But Elsa was wonderful and the girls (and 3 boys) had the best time!

She did face painting, dancing, singing, parachute play, magic and even made balloon animals.  Elsa is amazing.  And to see this huge smile made my day!  It doesn't get much better than that.

Such a fun day and Nana, Papa Chuck, Grandma and & Poppy were all there!  She had such a great time.  She is already talking about her Elsa party next year!

Happy Birthday Gracie Grace!  You are one in a million and we love you to pieces!

Julianna is 5!!!

Julianna is 5!  How times flies.  She is such a sweet and sensitive little girl.  Julianna is finishing up her final year of preschool.  Next year she will hop on the bus for Kindergarten!  Crazy!  

She is really into Legos right now.  Just like Jake so we basically have two rooms with Legos everywhere.  She has built quite a few sets and she doesn't even need much help.  I am amazed at how fast she can put together a 200 piece castle.  I mean look at this!  She is just 5 years old!

Julianna is also quite the artist.  All she wanted was a painting party for her birthday.  So I found this cute little place called Farmhouse in the City and they have a petting zoo, face painting, dress up and painting.  It was perfect.  They made her feel so special.  We all had the best time!  This is her version of Elsa. 

She is also quite an athlete.  Her second soccer season she opened up and she scored 4 goals.  The second game so many people were there to watch her she said she was going to score 5!  And she did...plus two!  So glad Nana, Papa Chuck, Grandma and Poppy were there to see it!  

Julianna is also still taking ballet, her recital is at the end of May.  Their costumes are adorable.  They are fairy princesses with magic wands...could that be more perfect?  She is also still taking karate a couple times a week.  I need to get her into gymnastics too...she is cartwheeling everywhere!  

Julianna loves to play with friends.  Her teachers say she is so sweet to her classmates.  We are so fortunate to live on our street with 5 little girls for her to play with!  She is never bored...and also never far from her BFF Lily!  Yes, BFF's love to match!

Julianna is an amazingly talented, kind, fearless, and loving little girl and we couldn't be more proud of her.  Happy 5th Birthday Julianna!  We all love you!