Summer is finally here!

Well, summer has finally showed itself here in the Palouse...but then went back into hiding. We're hoping it comes back out to play this weekend since we're going up to Uncle Jim's cabin to go 4-wheeling, BBQing and just relax!

Grace has been busy...talking more and just hamming it up in general. She really enjoys talking to family via webcam conversations (gotta love how technology can bridge the miles!) and heads for the great outdoors anytime she can make a break for it!

Just a few photos - I'm sure there will be more after this weekend!

Picture 1 - We went to Boise (via a different friend's wedding in McCall) to visit Guido & Shana and had a great time - Gracie got to be dressed up, we went on a fun walk on the Boise greenbelt, had a nice Cheesecake Factory dinner (Chuck's first time there!) and just enjoyed our time in the nice weather with friends!

Picture 2 - This is what Grace does when we say, "SMILE!" :-)

Picture 3 - ALWAYS riding her bouncy horse - Grace went and got her summer "outside" hat and was a realy cowgirl once she flipped up the brim!

Picture 4 - Look out world...she has a shoe fetish! She's putting on my slippers here, but she is constantly into my shoes on the rack, takes strappy sandals out of my closet and wears them on her arm like a purse (but usually more than one at a time). She currently has about 4-5 pairs of her own and while she's wearing one pair...she's eyeing another!

Spring time!

Well Grace hasn't slowed down much...that is until she got her first major fever this week, then BAMO...she shifted from rabbit-gear down into turtle-gear. Not sure what it was - maybe a bug, maybe a little infection, maybe a tooth (her new game is to NOT let us look in her mouth, so it remains a mystery). It took a couple days, but she recovered and has moved back to high-speed once again.

She is even more adventurous and curious (if you can believe that!) and the warm weather is opening up new worlds for her in the backyard, around the neighborhood on walks with Mom and Dad as well as with the daycare kids. She gets a real kick out of walking on different textures and going after all of Mommy's flowers that are in bloom - how fun it is to pick petals! ;-)

I finished up my semester (phew!) and had 2 short trips to wrap things out while Chuck was asked to serve on the city council (what an upstanding guy!).

Grace is talking more and more -- mama, dada, hu-lo, bu-bye, uh-oh, day-do (we think it's a combo of Apollo and doggie), signing new things -- thank you (sort of), bathtime, drink, more and blows kisses. It's so amazing to watch her study, learn and take everything in. If only we could continue to learn at that same rate our whole lives!