Elk Herd

We have been having a herd of elk visiting our pasture lately. Woke up yesterday, looked out and we had a little overnight snow and there were the elk. It was a beautiful way to start a Sunday morning. Pictures are not the best...hard to get them without spooking them.

Happy New Year!!

Grace Isabella DiOrio - 3 months

Cleaning up my computer and came across this pic. Was Miss Gracie cute or what??!! This picture was taken just 3 days before she turned 3 months. Wasn't that yesterday?? HA!! Still the same sweet face only on a 6 year old! Wishing you all a great weekend.

Christmas Day 2007

MERRY, MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! WISHING YOU ALL A HEALTHY, SAFE, PROSPEROUS, FUN 2008!

Our Miss Gracie Christmas morning. Age: 6
Gracie with the baby she asked Santa for.

Okay..a funny story and yet another reminder that Gracie is a smart little girl and no longer our baby or a toddler for that matter. This big bow was on another "santa" gift on Christmas morning. There it was all big and pretty attached to her scooter. So you would think that the first words out of her mouth when we went out to see what Santa brought would be "yeah...a scooter". But not from her and I quote "hey, isn't that bow the same one that was on my kitchen last year?" (of course her kitchen was her Santa gift last year). I promptly replied "noooooooooo" and diverted her attention ~ but seriously???? Can't pull the wool over her eyes. The good news is I don't think she truly put "two and two together" if you know what I mean.

Another wonderful meal and family time at Carl and Deb's. Here is a shot of Maddy, Kameron, Kayla, Gracie and Cara.

Wii anyone? Carlie and Debbie bowling. Kayla giving Grandma some pointers. Thanks for brining it Kevin and Nadine!

Christmas Eve 2007

We spent Christmas Eve with my family. Of course since I am not from here and as the kids get older it is a pretty small event. Aaron is in South Dakota of course, my niece Ashley is in Montana going to college and my nephew TJ is now a married man and must split his time with his in laws now as well. But we had a great day with my sister Kelly, my brother in law Dean and my youngest nephew Cody.


Gracie with Uncle Dean and Aunt Kelly

Gracie and Cody by the tree. Gracie wearing these adorable silky cat jammies my sister got her. She loved 'em!
We were giving Carlie a little "sh**" because we had yummy steaks for dinner. HOWEVER, note to self....check to ensure we have propane left over from the summer. He had to take a little drive to find a gas station that was open on Christmas Eve that offered propane. It all worked out and it offered a good laugh (poor Carlie).

Gracie talking to Aaron. She LOVES her brother!

Santa Party 2007

Thank you Bob and Carla for a another great year of memories @ the Santa party. Just a few pictures to share ~ didn't get too many this year. Gracie is so into Santa and the spirit of Christmas this time ~ I love it. The last few years she was not too keen on Santa, but this year she had no problem sharing what she wanted! (P.S. - -We missed you Joe, Katie and Girls!! - Hope everyone is feeling better!)


What are you doing in that salad bowl? I'm telling Aunt Carla!! HA

Happy 1st Birthday Alena!

Our great - niece, Miss Alena is 1 already! Holy Cow does time fly. She is walking and talking. She says Hi, Bye, Puppy -- it is soooo cute! Happy Birthday!!


Alena and her daddy (my nephew) TJ -- this partying tuckers a girl out!! Big yawn!

Weekend Pics

Gracie took this picture of Mommy and Daddy before heading out to see Larry the Cable guy on Saturday.

Yeah!! It snowed a little on Sunday. It ended up being barely an inch but we'll take it. The kids sure love it. Gracie and Jackson Roulst had fun out playing with dogs and jumping in the mud puddles. They were SOAKED when they came in. Hooked 'em up with some hot chocolate to warm 'em up!!

Good Friends!


Gracie, Jackson and Jager keeping warm doing some crafts.

Rocker Chick

We spent Thanksgiving evening at my sisters and were listening to music while we were playing cards. Gracie got to stay up late and I think it made her a little wacky!! Check out Gracie dancing to AC/DC's The Jack (sorry it is so dark, there were not good lights on in my sisters living room). I think she liked the "beat"!!

Happy 7th Bday Miss Haley

Thank you to Kevin and Dena for having us at Haley's 7th Birthday. Gracie had a great time. Thought I would share few photo's.


Happy Birthday Haley! 7 -- Can you believe it?!

Cousin's...I love it.

Getting a picture with Kaitlyn was not easy...but sooooo cute!

I thought this was great. Some of the girls sitting on the floor while they watched "High School Musical" Haley's friend Olivia, Kaitlyn, Maddy, Haley and Gracie.

Gracie's very own tree

Gracie has been "dying" to start decorating for Christmas. No time during the week to get it all out. However, we are getting our tree on Sunday but that just is still not quick enough for Miss Gracie. So I decided to surprise her after swimming lessons Tuesday night and we stopped and picked her up her very own tree/mini decorations. She was a happy camper! We'll plant the tree on our property after the holiday. 'Tis the Season!!


Again....notice the "Carlie" concentration tongue :)

The final touch!

Kids are Awesome

Maddy made this at school. I am going to forward the picture to Aaron....how cute!!! I know he will love it. Thanks Nadine for sharing with us...I am going to put the original in Aaron's Air Force Scrap Book.

In Gracie's Kindergarten class the day before Thanksgiving, they were discussing what they were thankful for. Obviously Aaron is missed and loved by his little sister. Are those pom-pom's in his hands?? HA!!!

Our children are our future and the ones we have brought into this world are pretty darn special!

XXOO

SUPERSTAR

Gracie's birthday just keeps going and going!! She received this adorable outfit from the Roulst family last night. TOO CUTE!! I think it will be something she can even take on the cruise (less the tutu of course).

Thanks again to everyone for making Gracie feel very special and loved on her big 6th birthday!

HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY PRINCESS GRACE

Gracie's 6 - can you believe it?? Happy Birthday to our best girl - we love you so much!!
She got the crown, wand and purse from Aaron's best friend Nikki. She is excited for a fun day at school ~ it seems as if it will be all about her. Already got a stuffed puppy from her friend Abby and she can hardly wait for the brownies we sent - her favorite! She picked Red Robin for dinner tonight because they sing and they serve cantalope -- another favorite. She did ask me to ask the waitress to only deliver a scoop of vanilla instead of that "big ice cream with all the stuff on it". How is she my child?? HA! Hope everyone has a great day...I know we will.
XXOO

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2007!

Meow! Meet Gracie the Kitty. Another Halloween come and gone and I have determined that this is one of Gracie's favorite holidays. She loves getting dressed up, running from house to house ringing the bell and shouting "trick or treat!". Thanks to the Hayes' for again hosting us. Gracie and Maddy hit their neighborhood hard and could barely carry their bags full of candy before it was over. At one house Gracie hit the door bell about 3 times then started knocking. We were like....no.....give them a chance to get to the door! It was too funny. After that..new rule: ONLY ONE RINGY DINGY ALLOWED!! Good times and new memories.


Look who came by to trick or treat...Marco and Jr. CUTE!!!
Kevin is sooo fun ~ had the girls giggling and giggling and giggling.

Pumpkin Fun

We officially started the holiday season with a little pumpkin carving this weekend. It was really the first year Gracie got right in there. Before she didn't like the "guts" and she could not really do any carving. This year was a turning point. She got a kick out of the slimey guts and even kept putting them back in her pumpkin just so she could take them back out. She also did some of the carving herself! We had a lot of fun!

Check out the tongue -- Carlie???

Pumpkin face!!!

"he knows when you've been bad or good"

I have been meaning to jot down this Gracie story from last week and just now getting the chance.

One night last week Carlie, me and Gracie were watching T.V. and Miss Gracie was laying across our laps. She kept flinging her legs around and we had asked her at least 3 times to please stop doing that. Well on about the 4th "fling" her heel went right into my thigh. OUCH! That was it...off our laps she went. Of course that was the "end of the world" for her and she had to go to her room. It was about bed time anyways, so once she had realized "her bad" she went night-night. The next morning we were driving to day care and out of the blue she says "well, I guess I'm not getting any presents". I was like "what"? She repeated herself and I said "bug, what are you talking about". She said "you know....because of last night. I was naughty and now Santa is not going to bring me any presents". Too funny!! Cracked me up since we have not had any recent conversations about Christmas or Santa. Plus she was just so matter of fact about -- not really upset at all. I did tell her that Santa is very forgiving and the key is to not just say "sorry" but mean it and not behave that way anymore. Yeah, we'll see how long that lasts!!

Kids are seriously so fantastic..aren't they??!!

Gracie and Suzi

I had to share these pictures that Kayla took with her camera phone of her new horse, Suzi and Gracie this weekend. They were just too cute not too share!! Thanks Kayla, these are keepers!


Love this one!

"She thinks my tractors sexy"....

After a few months of seaching and deciding....we took the plunge and bought Carlie a tractor. He is very excited and a little bummed he could not "play" with it more last night -- got dark! I figure I will now be a "tractor widow" because I have a feeling any spare time he has, him and Gracie will be out on the property moving dirt, mowing, etc. Congrats Carlie!!