Olivia's One Year Pictures

We finally did Olivia's One Year Pictures!

She hadn't been feeling well, so we didn't do many, but we'll be

doing them again soon!

Isn't she just the prettiest little thing?

She's a very pleasant baby!

And even though she is ONE, she still

lets us baby her! She likes to snuggle and

cuddle and rock! And I just love snuggling

with her and cuddling her and rocking her.

I hope she doesn't outgrow that

for awhile!

For now... she's the baby of the family! 

I know we can't keep her a baby forever,

but we can sure try to enjoy this stage while

it lasts! And I have a feeling it won't

be lasting much longer!

The Refuge

 While Grandpa was off for President's Day we took a drive through the refuge!

 We saw several deer!

Deer 

 We also saw deer tracks!

Longhorn

 And buffalo!

 And Grace got to climb at the top of Mount Scott!

I also had a chance to find a few books at the visitor's center that will help us identify rocks and stars!

Cupcakes!!!

 We recieved this really cute little cupcake kit from our friends Carlee and Alison for Christmas! I saved it so that we could make them while Grace was staying here while her Momma and Olivia were in Germany!

So we made cupcakes!

 And decorated them!

 They are almost as cute as the ones pictured on the box!

 And after making the cupcakes we had a tea party so we could enjoy them!

And if you look closely at Grace in the tea party pictures, you will notice....

 her little pinky sticking out, just like a proper little lady!

(or fairy, since I think she learned that trick from Tinkerbell)

Anyway, isn't that the cutest little pinky ever?

Rocks

 Grace loves rocks!

When she was little we would take her to the park and while other kids played on the slides and swings, she would pick up and play with the rocks.

So.... we are now rock collecting!

 Give this girl a shallow pan of soapy water, a pile of rocks and a toothbrush and she can wash rocks all day!

She does ask for warm water occasionally... because the water eventually gets cold and it isn't fun to stick your hands in cold water!

 Here she is studying a rock!

 And preparing to dry a freshly washed rock!

 See!

 This keeps her busy for the longest time!

 Rocks!

 Beautiful, beautiful rocks!

 We are just beginning to get them organized!

 And labeled!

We haven't identified the rocks yet, so we are labeling the location where we found them.

 This one was found by the pond!

 And this one is a polished river rock Grace found in a candle arrangement we keep on the dining room table.

Do you have pretty rocks in your area?

If so, we would love to see them. Take a picture and send it to me - or put the rock in a padded envelope and mail it to us at:

Grace

c/o Grandma Patty Patterson

2206 SW Edinburough Dr.

Lawton, Ok 73505

It would be fun to get rocks from other states and locations!

Brilyn Loves Cars!!!!!

 Brilyn Loves Cars!!!

Any car!

She loved the little Power Wheels car she got for Christmas!

And she loved the Little Tykes car she got for her Birthday!

She loves her friend Lenae's car!

She loves cars from the movie Cars!

 She just loves cars!

 She probably gets it from her Daddy,

who is a car lover, too!

I wonder if she'll grow up and collect classic cars!

And I wonder if that '68 Cadilac in her driveway will run when she is old enough to drive it!

And if it does run.... will she look as cool driving it as her Daddy did? I guess we will all just have to wait and see!

An Abby Sized Tent

Grace made a little tent. She can fit in it.... or Abby can fit in it.... but I don't fit! However, she did tell me that when I get little like her, I can play in the tent, too!

WORMS!!!!

 One day while making mud pies,

 Grace found some WORMS!

 She played with them for a little while and then released them in the flower bed so they could help the dirt that makes our flowers grow.

 She has so much fun discovering and observing things!

She also found a scorpion! But - she didn't touch it! I moved it to the patio on a piece of bark so we could observe it and take a picture and I explained to her that you don't touch scorpions because they sting! I'm pretty sure she got the message because she has been telling everyone that you never, never touch a scorpion because it can burn you and that hurts!