Grace turns ONE!!!

Hello All,

Sorry it has taken me so long to post pictures of Grace's birthday party. It was so much fun! I can't believe my baby is one already! The party was at Kurt and Michelle's house on Saturday November 8th. Thank you to you both for letting us have it at your lovely home! And it was a costume party (well at least for the kiddos). Oh well Lauren and I dressed up too. I was a ladybug like Grace and Lauren was an Angel! Uncle Julio's catered and it was delicious! We had two cakes. One that Grace's Aunt Lolo got for her with a Monkey! It was precious! She brought it all the way from Austin. I got Grace a cake too that was a two tiered pumpkin cake. Both were awesome! Grace had the best time roaming around the house amongst her friends and in the backyard in the play house. I really think she enjoyed all the action. I think she gets that from her mom, but that's my guess. Thanks to all that helped us celebrate this special day and especially for those who made the long trip to Dallas. Enjoy the photo's!!

My Best,
Olivia, Ryan, and Grace

Just Ladybug 'N" Around!!

So it was Grace's first Halloween. And she was the cutest little Ladybug you had every seen. Her costume did not come with antenna's, so I made her some out of a black headband and black fuzzy pipe cleaners. We trick or treated 3 houses in our neighborhood. Our sweet next door neighbor got Grace a silky bear instead of candy. She loved it! We then headed over to our friends house Andrea and Grant. They have a little girl 6 weeks older than Grace named Madison. Grace and Madison both ended up being Ladybugs for Halloween and from the same store! They were so cute together. We ended the night at Ryan's brother's house in Allen. They have 3 little girls. So Grace got to trick or treat with her cousins. It was a busy night but Ryan and I had a really good time. Hope you all had a great Halloween. I just love seeing all the little ones dressed up in costumes!

"It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown"

Ok, it's been forever since I have posted anything. Lauren normally updates her blog a lot faster than I do mine. So I typically let her take care of keeping everyone updated with whats going on. The title of this blog is "The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown", it's a cartoon that Lauren and I used to watch every year when we were little. We always loved Halloween. Mom made a lot of our costumes when we were little.

Well had to take Grace to pumpkin patch! It's her first October/Halloween and we couldn't be more excited! We actually went to the pumpkin patch twice. Once the first weekend in October with Deanna and Joel and of course Faith. Then the next weekend we took Ryan's nieces Bailey, Aubrey, and Ellie. So all the Meztger girls could see all the pumpkins. It's a really neat pumpkin patch in Celina, which is a small town north of Dallas in the country. Ryan and I had a good time taking Grace. Enjoy the pictures. Stayed tuned to more pictures from October....with Halloween this Friday, I won't be able to wait to post pictures of Grace in her first Halloween Costume!!Oh and Grace is WALKING!! She just started a couple of weeks ago and now she is getting the hang of it....and she has the bruises to show for it!!Watch out world here comes Gracie!!!

Love to all- Olivia

The Brumley's VS Hurricane IKE

Here are a few pictures of how the hurricane affected my parents home in The Woodlands. They were living off a generator but the power came back on last night. Hallelujah!!! Our prayers go out to all those who were affected by this terrible storm.

Grace Playing

Just thought I would post a few pictures of Grace playing with all her toys. Her and Buffett could play for hours together. Buffett really just trys to give Grace kisses the whole time she is playing. - Olivia

Hello Stranger!

It's been forever since I have posted any blogs. Between work and a baby, I really don't have a lot of free time. Work is good though, I really enjoy what I do and I really like the people that I work with. I do however hate the commute to downtown Dallas every day. I have recently started taking the bus into work. It saves us a lot a money plus it drops me off right in front of my building downtown. This is my first month to buy a pass to ride all month long, so we will see how it works out.

The reason I am able to update the blog today is because Grace went in this morning for surgery to have tubes put in her ears. The hospital was in North Richland Hills and we had to be there by 6:30 am. And if you are familiar with the Dallas area, Carrollton and the hospital are not very close to each other. I am so tired. I kept thinking about the surgery all night and was ready to get it over with this morning. The surgery went well. The doctor said he was able to drain a lot out of the ears before putting the tubes in. She has either been crying or sleeping since we got home from the hospital and the car ride home was eventful. She pretty much cried for 40 minutes straight.

Not much else going on around here. We did go to our first birthday party last weekend at Deanna's house. It was Faith's 1st birthday! Grace was pretty tired but we had fun. The girls play pretty well together. I wish we could have more play dates together, especially since we don't live far apart from each other.

And the weekend before last was Grace's baptism at our church St. Andrew Methodist Church of Plano, Tx. She was one of three babies being baptized that Sunday. We are happy to announce Grace's God-parents are Lauren Brumley (my sister) and Kurt Metzger (Ryan's bother). Everyone came in town from both sides of the family for the blessed event. Thank you all for coming!

This weekend is Cade Runyan birthday. Happy Birthday Cade! Sorry we can't make the party but we will hopefully we will be out in east Texas soon for a visit.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. And who know I may even blog again before the weekend is over.

Mom and Dad be stay dry as hurricane Ike approaches this weekend.

-Olivia

"Look at me I'm Sailing!"

Ryan and I just recently went on vacation to the British Virgin Islands. No Grace did not go with us but it was good for us to get away for awhile. We were gone for 2 weeks!! It was wild. We really had such a blast. It was kinda a crazy getting there but it was worth it in the end. We fly into Tortola and that is were the boat picked us up. We were on a 7 day chartered boat. There were a total of nine of us that came from all other. Ryan parents Tamy and Roger (Brenham, TX), Ryan's aunt and uncle Karla and Ken (Austin, TX), Joan and Bill (Houston, TX), and Sheryl (Colorado). Our Captain's name was Jeff and he was the BEST! So many stories so little time! There was also a crew of two great women Kim and Heather! The meals were unbelievable and the company was great! We went to all the islands except for Anegada....but that is another story for anther post. We went scuba diving, snorkling, exploring, shopping, sailing, you name it we did it. It was an experience of a life time. Thanks Karla and Ken!!

Enjoy the pics!!

Pictures......

Ryan's brother had their baby! Her name is Tamy Ellen Metzger. She was born on May 29th.
Everyone is doing great. Of course her sisters Bailey and Aubrey are so excited to be big sisters!


Janie just sent me this pic! So funny!!It was really great getting so see everyone again.

"Take me out to the Ball game!"

Here is the family at a baseball game on Friday night. It was the first I am sure of many games that Grace will be attending with her daddy! We were at the Frisco ballbark. Go RoughRiders!!

On Saturday we went to Adam Spence's wedding here in Dallas and saw all the old gang again. What a gorgeous wedding!! Some people we haven't seen in so many years. It really was like a college reunion. I will have to get Janie to send me the photo of us in fun sunglasses at the end of the night.

More pictures to post later!- O

Aunt Lolo's House

April 19th, 2008

Austin, TX

Grace is seriously a born to be traveler. She loves to be on the go, just like her mom and dad. She loved visiting Austin for the time. Aunt Lolo was a generous host. I think Lolo held Grace more than her mommy. Gigi and Papi also came in town for the big visit to A. town. The weather was beautiful that weekend. We went on a walk then went to Shady Grove and sat outside for lunch. It was all around a fun weekend.

Thanks!!

Beach Babe....

April 8th - 13th, 2008

South Padre, TX
What a great trip! It was Grace's first time ever in the pool and in the ocean. It took her a little bit to get comfortable in the water but then she loved it! She was a good little beached babe.

Thanks to Tamy and Roger for a fun trip!

Just a Swing'n!

March 29th, 2008

Here is Grace in Tyler,TX. This was the first time for the Brumley grandparents to meet baby Grace. Grace loved her Great Uncle's famous backyard. She loved it so much that she fell asleep swinging. I bet she was in that swing for almost 30 minutes!

A Vision in White

Here is a picture of Grace from this past weekend in The Woodlands. She is holding herself up so well. We were of course very close to Grace just incase she fell. Mom was the one that helped us capture this photo. We had a really great time at the wedding we went to in Houston on Saturday. It was one of the most interesting weddings I have ever been to in my life. We went to Market Street Sunday afternoon and everyone said how pretty Grace looked in all white. I think this might be a picture that we might have to submit to some baby photo contest. Well we can't wait for you all to meet Grace. She is growing up so fast. We enjoy spending time with her everyday. It is so neat to see how she is growing up so fast.

Love to all,
Olivia, Ryan, and Grace (and Buffett)