Christmas train ride

Today we decided to go on a Christmas train ride.

So we drove 15 minutes to Silverhill, Alabama.

There they have the neatest mini train that we were able to ride.

Here's Grace with her Daddy all ready to go!

And we're off!

Toot!  Toot!

We had so much fun that we decided to ride it again!  This time Grace rode with me.

David was able to take better pictures during the train ride than me - probably because he has such long arms.  I kept cutting his head off.

It was a lot of fun.

Grace would have ridden that train all day long if we let her.

We finally convinced her to take a walk and explore.

And we stumbled upon a playground!

So we went inside and played for the next hour or so.

 There were swings to play on.

Even David could play on them.

And Grace hung from these ring things while David pushed her.

And there was a big playhouse with a slide.  Grace really enjoyed it.

Peekaboo!  I see you!

There was even an airplane to play on!

Vroom!!!  Vroom!!!

Soon we were tired and hungry so we decided to go get something to eat.  As we were leaving the playground we saw the little train chug by.

Bye bye "too too tane"  (choo choo train in Toddler Talk).

We'll see you again real soon.  We really enjoyed spending the morning with you! 

The Christmas train is a tradition we plan to continue each year.  Grace has so much fun riding the trains that we can hardly wait to do it again!.

Hope finally graduated!

Hope finally got her Bachelor's degree from Troy University.

We arrived early to make sure we had a decent seat. 

Actually, we arrived very early.

So we just sat in the bleachers and waited.  I, of course, took photos to commemorate the event.

Here's the program.

Showing the date and time of the ceremony.

And there's her name:  Ashley Hope Lindsey!

Grace showed me Hope's name, too.

There it is, see?

Eventually the graduates came in.  Do you see Hope?

Grace, here comes Hope!

Do you see her?  She's right there.

"Wh-air?  Wh-airs Hope?"  (Where?  Where's Hope?)

"Eye cant fine her!"  (I can't find her.)

I don't see her any more either.  She's somewhere out there in all those caps and gowns.

Ah, there she is. 

She's walking up to get her diploma.

And she got it!  HOORAY!

Here's the graduate with Dad.

Here she is with Mom and Dad.

And here she is with her big sister, me. 

Hope, I am so proud of the person you have become.  You are exceptionally talented. You are incredibly smart, outrageously funny and absolutely beautiful both inside and out. 

There are three more things to tell you:  1.)  I love you with all my heart.  2.)  I will always be there for you.  3.)  There is nothing you could ever do that will ever change numbers 1 and 2.

I love you baby Sis and CONGRATULATIONS!

Our Christmas tree

We finally put our Christmas tree up.

David and Grace put the lights on together.  

 Then I pulled out the Christmas decorations.

 

 But Grace decided to hang some of her necklaces on the tree instead.

 

 She sat back and admired her handiwork.

 And then she decided to hang some more decorations.

 This is a star that she painted all by herself this year.

 After a while she finally noticed the more "traditional" decorations.

And she helped put them on the tree, as well.

She was so excited to help!

She was just full of joy.

And here's our tree finally in all its glory.

Grace wants a baby sister

Several weeks ago, we found out that I am pregnant with baby number two.  When we told Grace she was going to be a big sister, all she said was "I won bay-bee siss-her" (I want a baby sister).  We had our first ultrasound right after Thanksgiving.  Grace went to the appointment with us and insisted the printout was a picture of her baby sister.

Potty Training

Grace really surprised me today.  She started taking her clothes off and said "I won pah-ee" (I want to potty.)  So we ran to the potty, I sat her on it, and she tee-teed in the potty all by herself! 

And then she said "I uh big durl" (I'm a big girl.)  She certainly is.  I'm crossing my fingers and hoping she'll keep using the potty now.

Bob the Builder

The Exploreum has a new exhibit.

Grace really enjoyed it.

She drove some of the machines.

We don't know much about Bob the Builder, so I'm not sure who is what.  Or is it what is who?

But Grace didn't mind not knowing their names.

She enjoyed exploring around.

And playing with all the tools.

There was even a slide to play on!

The water pump fascinated her the most.

You start with the water.

And it travels through the pump thing.

And comes out the little faucet.

All in all, it was a fun trip and pretty educational.  We'll definitely have to go back soon.

Pregnant dreams

They say that pregnant women have strange dreams.  Apparently this is true.

Last night I dreamed that David and I were traveling through small dirt tunnels underground.  For some odd reason, we believed it would be faster than driving above ground.  Um.  Okay I guess, but if you know me at all, you know two things.  I am claustrophobic so you won't willing catch me in small tunnels underground.  And I'm a neat freak.  So if I'm going to be anywhere near dirt, I will have a dustbuster in hand or a broom and dustpan at the minimum. Not sure why my brain isn't factoring this in.

Well, on with my dream.  Not only are David and I walking around in dirt tunnels.  But it's dark in these tunnels.  And there's something coming after us.  So we start to run.  We run faster and faster.  Then I see it.  It is big.  It's massive.  And it's pink with purple polka dots.  And big bulging eyeballs.

It was a worm. And it kinda looked like this.

Scary, I know.

Seriously, in my dream, David and I were terrified of this pink and purple monster.  And then it finally caught up with us.  We thought we were certainly going to be devoured.  Until I grabbed it by its big bulging eyeball, looked deep into its eyes...and invited it to a dinner party at our house. 

Like I said, pregnant women have crazy dreams.  Although I never dreamed anything like this with Grace.  Sigh.  I wonder what it means.  Maybe I'm having a really imaginative baby.  Or maybe it's a boy.  Guess we'll just have to wait and see.