Blog is Moving!

I am moving our blog to a new URL and I have decided to make it by invitation only. Don't worry, though, as long as I know you, you are still welcome to view the gooofy stories and pics of our kids! I just need you to email me at grimesfam@gmail.com and ask for the invitation (unless you have received one already, which means I knew your email address off hand).

You will need a Google account to access the page. If you don't have one, you can sign up at Google. Thanks for understanding.

Shadley

Nother One Ice Storm

Geez. They are calling this The Ice Storm of 2007? Didn't we already have that last spring?? Apparently this one is more widespread...we have our little emergency pack on hand, I hope we don't need it! We do have one causualty though, Eden's color-changing My Little Pony is buried outside under a layer of ice and snow...oops. The other unfortunate thing is that our gutters are full of ice so the rain/sleet/ice that is falling is just pouring over the side, right onto the steps in front!

So far we have not lost power. I hope that is the case all night. I don't mind so much during the day, but you know me and candles. It's not exactly a relaxing environment for me when flames are licking up all around me and my little ones. Well we will prepare for the worst and hope for the best!

Veg-O-Mite!

I have often on this blog raved about what good eaters my kids are...it has reached all new levels. The other day the girls and I met Brynn and Marcus at the mall for supper...Eden wanted Chicken Teriyaki (as usual) so I got one for them to split. As Brynn and I were talking, the girls were eating their food and began to squabble. Brynn looks at me and says, "They are fighting over who gets the broccoli."

Then a few days ago, Elly asked for cookie, so I got out my little bag of vanilla sandwich cookies. "Eden, do you want a cookie?" I asked.
"No, I want something else."
"How about carrots?"
"Yay! Carrots!"

These kids are something. And I can't really take the credit for it, I eat vegetables only because I am grown up enough to know I should. :)

I Love a Parade!

Our family (my side) entered my hometown's Christmas Parade this year the day after Thanksgiving...my older sister is quite competitive and worked us round the clock even with our bellies full of turkey. :)

Our hard work paid off, and we won the Holiday Spirit Award for our "Island of Misfit Toys" inspired float!

Sweetness

She's all smiles these days!

Santicus

Marcus' penchant for cottage cheese really works in his favor this holiday season...ho ho ho!

For any of you looking closely, YES those are his front teeth bulging painfully from behind the gum tissue...poor little guy has been working on those all week to no avail.

Seriously

Are these not the cutest kids in the universe?

We've been so blessed by Samantha and Dakota (our niece and nephew) staying with us on the weekends while their dad is in the Bahamas working (rough, I know). Kody is 15 and Sam is 12...I have never seen a fifteen-year-old boy more interested in little children and so natural with them (well, maybe except my other nephew Ethan who is equally as exceptional)...Last night Kody said, "Why don't you guys go to bed and we'll put the girls down." [pause for your mouths to drop] and Sam is so anxious to log some babysitting hours she jumps at the chance to fill a sippy cup or change a diaper. Needless to say, Dan and I have been enjoying our help! They are really great kids. Look closely at the pic of Dan and Kode, we call them "Lip Twins."

Quite Ellyquent, Part 5

Today Elly and I were waiting in the car for Dan, and a slow worship song came on and I was singing along with it. Elly scolded me, "Don't sing it Momma! It makes me feel all nigh-night!"

Later, again in the van, Elly was in a super-hyper mood. She kept asking me, "Momma, do you have any suckas in ya purse?" I kept saying no. Then she calls out, "How 'bout you Daddy? Do YOU have any in ya purse?"

Elly Talk

So this whole time we've been telling everyone that Eden was the more verbal kid and that Elly was a little behind her (though still seems to be ahead in general with talking). Then the other night we pulled out some old video tapes and there was a 2 year old Eden...seriously not speaking as well as Elly does now at 27 months...huh.

Elly got a later start by about a month, but apparently she has caught up and then some. Some of her favorite phrases are:

"That's 'cary!"
"That's too 'picy!"
"I wohn be naughty evah evah evah no no no again. Mommy be wiwee mad."
"Is Ee-en in bewy big twubble?"
"Wanna see my new bed? Daddy make it!"
"Wanna see my tee? Daddy make it!"
[apparently my children think Daddy makes the sun rise and fall]

Another one is
"I nevah 'pill cocoa on youw pooter again Daddy! SSSOOOOWWWWYY!"
This one came after an incident with a big mug a cocoa and Daddy's WORK laptop...oops. Thankfully it works.

Want Baby Will Travel

If you are interested in following our adoption process, I have started a new blog to document it here.

Guilty Conscience, Elly Style

This weekend we were basically stuck in the house due to an ice storm, so Dan and I were cleaning and sorting stuff while we waited for our niece and nephew to get here. We were in the basement and we hadn't heard from Elly in a while, so I went looking for her. I found her upstairs in her room, with my make-up case spread out in front of her (I know, some of you are thinking, Shadley ownes make-up?) and she was painting her face like she was about to perform for Barnum and Bailey. I came in and said, "Oh! No wonder you were quiet!" and began laughing. She immediately burst into tears! Here is her face:

Latest Antics

Eden is very excited about taking pictures lately; this is her most recent:


The three girls at Grammy and Papa's for Thanksgiving (watching Rudolph)



Marcus is basically walking now (he's 11 months old now)...here he is "helping" with Christmas stuff.


Elly and Marcus continue to develop a sibling-like relationship and they are starting to play more together. They were pushing their strollers up and down the hallway.



Eden doing my Denise Austin tape:

The Wizard Will Explain It!

Here's another funny Nia story.