School days-once again!

Another school year is upon us and Elizabeth started 3 year old preschool today! YEAH! She has had to change schools this year which we weren't too happy about at all, but things happen and you just move on. Anyway-she is going Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 to 11:30 and then stays an extra hour for what they call "lunch bunch."

She really loves school and when she woke up this morning the first thing she said was "Momma, I go to school today, I so cited!" While jumping up and down in her bed with her arms in the air. I really believe she was "cited" as she says.

I think she had a great day overall but will only tell me about lunch bunch and not what else went on during the day.

This was the only good picture I could get before we left today because she was very interested in the neighbor's dog that was over visiting before we left for school! I think this is the only picture she would actually look at the camera! Ha! Always wondering what everyone else is doing instead of herself.

We have had our 3 year old pictures taken now and have ordered the final copies. Once we get those I'll post here for everyone to see. It just amazes me to watch the change from year to year. Still can't believe she has been with us for 2 very amazing years. There were many, many days we thought she would never be home with us, but oh the wait was soooooo worth it!

Hope everyone else that is returning to school has a great year!

Until next time...........................................

Guess who is 3 years old today!!!!

The MacDonald clan prior to climbing the lighthouse, we were NOT fit for photos afterwards due to EXCESSIVE sweating!










We spent the entire weekend celebrating Elizabeth's 3rd birthday. We climbed the Ponce Inlet lighthouse on Saturday and then had lunch at one of our favorite places at the inlet.

Then on Sunday we went to the Rainforest Cafe at Downtown Disney for lunch. Elizabeth was kind of nervous the first 2 times the thunder and lightening started, but after that she thought it was hilarious! She loved the animals moving and talking and had to look at them and talk to them throughout lunch.

Now today, her actual birthday, will just be a quiet celebration around our house. Just the 3 of us. Hopefully we can visit the splash park in our area this afternoon if the afternoon thunderstorms hold off. Then cake and ice cream later. Hard to believe our little girl is 3 years old. Here are a few pictures from the weekend and this morning.

Until next time...........................





Elizabeth and Granddaddy waiting in line at the Rainforest Cafe and the animals began to talk, check out the look of surprise!

You mean this present is for me???

Looking through her viewmaster for the 1st time

2 years ago today-GOTCHA!

2 years ago today in a land far, far away we were handed the most tiny, pale, scared little girl we had ever seen. Now 2 years later we have an almost 3 year old (next week in fact) who is boisterous, happy, musical, beach loving, silly, independent and oh so spicy! She is the most precious gift we have ever received and love her more and more each and every day.

I hope the video plays for you, it is a very special moment in our lives-the moment she was handed to us and we became a forever family. I will not watch it this morning before going to work since it always brings on a river of tears to watch! Here is our beautiful, precious Elizabeth Grace-then & now.







THEN & NOW:









The very first time we saw her face to face












































Daddy holding his girl for the 1st time




















Momma so happy to have our baby girl at last!





















Our little surfer girl













Having story time with her bear, Cooper




























If you're happy and you know it clap your hands































Jump, jump, jump

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July to all our friends and family!

Hope you have good food, fellowship and a great fireworks show later!!!

Can't believe it has been almost 2 years since we traveled to China to get our little girl, who is turning 3 years old on July 27th-WOW where has the time gone??!?!?!??!

Very sad news here today

It is with a very sad heart we announce that Elizabeth has lost her beloved Papa today. John Francis (Frank) MacDonald (Patrick's father) passed away on Friday, June 3rd about 8:30 pm.

We will all miss you Frank!

Happy Easter!

Yes the Easter bunny has visited our house overnite! Elizabeth is already asking for candy and started the day at 6:45 am wanting to open her box of Peeps! Ha! Just like her mom-I love those things!

We will be doing an easter egg hunt momentarily and probably later do some swimming at the neighbor's house. A beautiful Florida Easter-should be about 90 degrees today (yes warm but better than snow!) and the sun is out and shining bright.

Elizabeth and I went to a field yesterday, near one of the hospitals that I round at, that is just bursting with wildflowers. It is a very popular picture spot and on Friday morning I actually saw a photographer unloading furniture for a photo shoot in the field. None the less, we ventured out there yesterday and there was just one other family doing pics so Elizabeth and I had a little photo shoot of our own! Enjoy the pics!

An update on Elizabeth now-is almost completely potty trained now, even wearing "big girl panties" all the time now, haven't accomplished nite time potty training because she still sleeps in a crib. She is 20 lbs, 8 ounces, and is wearing mostly 18 month clothing. Need the 18 months for the length but is like a 12 months in the waist. Her shoe size is a 6 to 6 1/2, and she is about 31-32 inches tall. Her hair is so long and getting thicker by the day. She still loves preschool and will be going to the same school next year as well. She loves to be outside and dig in the dirt, and she LOVES the beach-YEAH! That is special girl time when we go to the beach.

Until next time............................

Just a few more pics

Yes, I really am mom's lucky charm!!!!

A little blurry, but I loved my pony ride!!!

Just chillin' with Aunt Janet at the petting zoo

Uncle Randy I want that pony for my birthday!

Has it really been since October that we were last here?????

Hello to all my friends out there!!!!














Eating pizza for the 1st time!
















Dancing my socks off at Alicia's wedding-I am known as the Dancing Queen you know?!?!?











Riding my "bike" that Aunt Janet and Uncle Randy gave me for Christmas













Swinging on my new swing set














Hummmmm, now what was I googling?!?!

I know it has been a very long time since we were last here, but life is very busy with a 2 1/2 year old! Elizabeth is growing up so fast, I sure do miss our "baby" but she is growing up into quite a little lady.

She goes to preschool 2 mornings per week, but asks every morning "school today?" We are still in speech therapy one day per week, but in the last 2 months we have really been taking off and meeting our goals and I don't think speech will be needed much longer. As a result of speech her eating patterns are much improved and meal time does not take near as long. And an added benefit it she LOVES carrots!!!! This is one of her foods she eats during therapy and as a result she now loves carrots!

We are really moving along with potty training and may be able to go to school in a week or two in just regular clothes and regular underpants! YEAH!!!

She is still the tiny peanut, only weighs 20.5 lbs, and is about 31 to 32 inches tall. But trust me the attitude makes up for the small stature! Her father and I had no idea so much noise could come out of something so little!!!! She is so active, never stopping for a minute. One of our travel mates recently had a photo of her little girl laying on the sofa watching cartoons, well you will never see that kind of picture here, because the longest Elizabeth sits still is about 2 minutes and then on to the next project.

I will post some more pics in just a minute in a separate post, just so this one does not get too long. I'll try not to go so long between posts again, but again, no promises!!!

Until next time...................................

A few more vacation pictures

I think this was called Graveyard Falls, didn't look so scary to us!!!






















This is Looking Glass Falls and yes I really did take this picture myself! And it was raining but you can't tell that in the picture























This is our niece, Katherine, and she attends Western Carolina Univeristy and was able to spend some time with us. Pay attention to the shadow of the "bear" behind her. This was a VERY popular spot and you are right on the edge of a VERY busy road. Between 5:30 and 6:00 pm the sun cast a shadow on the mountain that gradually takes on the appearance of a bear. It was freezing too!!!







Reference my previous point about freezing!! Yep that is right this thermometer reads 32 degrees!












Look Mom no hands!
















Just one of the many beautiful sites we enjoyed last week












Elizabeth spent many hours just climbing up and down these stairs. She doesn't get to see these things in Florida apparently!

No we didn't get lost!

Well Hello to everyone! We have not fallen off the face of the earth, just been busy, you know the story! Elizabeth is continuing to grow and become quite the little lady. Our "baby" is quickly going away and a new little girl is emerging. She is chatting constantly and more and more words are becoming easier to understand. She is eating better, and starting to try some new foods and textures (thank you speech therapy!!!). Her hair is growing like a weed and we just love her to death!

We just returned from our first "family" vacation. We have been on some short trips, reunions, etc but this was the first time that just the 3 of us piled in the car and headed out with no real purpose other than spending a week together. We left on Friday afternoon and headed out to Sylva, North Carolina where we enjoyed 8 days of beautiful weather, magnificant scenary and good times as a family of 3. The leaves were just really starting to pop and show a distinct array of colors, and it was so pretty. For those of you that don't know Jennifer grew up in South Carolina and seeing this type of scenary makes me miss it alot! Elizabeth is a great traveler, and we really mean that. She just sits in her car seat, watching the world go by and will occasionally chat out to us or start to sing a song. Other than that she just sits back and enjoys the ride. She went with the flow and even though she had no real schedule for the week, she just adapted.

Here are a few pics below of the last month or so, and I will post some more vacation pics in the next post.

Until next time..............................

Our cute little cabin in North Carolina

Elizabeth gives Stone Mountain, Georgia 2 thumbs up!

Feeding her Pablo a chicken nugget

-she LOVES Pablo

Just being goofy

Swimming with her American brother-Joe or as Elizabeth says, Joe-Joe

A weekend at Grams & Grandaddy's

I LOVE my Aunt Janet!!!

Rubbing Grandaddy's head for good luck

Playing Legos with Uncle Randy

just chillin' with my Grandaddy

Giving Grams a hug

Elizabeth and I got to spend the weekend at my parents house and Elizabeth got to celebrate her birthday with Aunt Janet. Aunt Janet was in the hospital for the "real" birthday party and was not able to make it and had been very disappointed. So last weekend during our visit Elizabeth had plenty of time with Aunt Janet and opened her presents from Uncle Randy and Aunt Janet and also had a small birthday cake too. And the answer to your question is "no, she did not eat this brithday cake either."

If you read my previous post on her birthday party in July you will see that I said Elizabeth was only interested in cutting up the cake with her spoon and did not want to take even one bite. That was again true last weekend when we tried to give her birthday cake again! What is the matter with this child???? A kid that doesn't eat birthday cake???? Anyway, she had a great time and I did too and here are some pictures to enjoy.........................

School Days!

Hi out there to everyone! Hope your summer is going well and you have not sweated to death like we have here in Florida.

Elizabeth has now started pre-school and here are a couple pics of the first day. She is really enjoying it. She goes 2 days per week for 3 hours and is pretty tuckered out once she gets home. Somedays she has to take a nap right away, even before eating lunch, because she is so pooped out. And today we have a slight runny nose, welcome to the world of school children, I guess!

We also had a 2 year old check up and our girl is 19.1 lbs in weight, and 30 inches tall. So that is almost 6 lb weight gain in the last year, and about 2.5 to 3 inches in height. Not too bad. As you can tell by the pictures her hair is growing like a weed too!!

Ready to go to school with my new book bag that is as big as me!

Waiting outside the classroom door to go into school. I wouldn't look at my mom because there was just too much other stuff going on!

A day in the life

Doing one of my favorite jobs-using the Swiffer on the bathroom floor. I also love to feed the dog and clean the bathtub every nite after my bath!!!!

Still playing with my Pablo ballon from my birthday-notice he is being dragged around by his head

Like father-like daughter

Feeding my doll a play doh sandwich-yum yum

Just a girl who loves her high heel shoes!!!! And a shopping bag too!!!!