My best helper

It has been a little while since I did an update on Gracie Maree. Like the title says, she really is my best helper. Gracie has been great help lately as she helps stop Gunner from going down the stairs head first and as she helps to coach Gunner. A few weeks ago I started hearing her say, "Sorry, babe, you can't play with that", "sorry, babe, you're too little" (which is funny because I don't say "sorry, babe" so I think she heard it from someone else and liked the sound of it). she also helps me clean the bathtub, mop the floor, and has been great at helping to clean her room with me.

Gracie is getting really good at praying because she won't let anyone else in the family take a turn (unless there is company, and then she is too shy). She loves learning about Jesus and the other day she chose the testaments to watch over any other movie and actually sat and watched it (she's so spiritual!:). We've talked about how Jesus loves her and how he is our friend. I love how little children take that to heart. Yesterday I heard her pretending to talk on the phone. She said, "Hi, Jesus? Yeah, I'm just playing", and continued on with the conversation. So sweet, and a good reminder for me that we should have our Savior in our thoughts more often.

Recently, I have loved to see Gracie pick up the books that we've been reading from the library and read them back to me or Gunner. She doesn't really read, but I'm surprised by how much she remembers of the story lines and sometimes the rhymes. She is also getting really good at singing along with primary songs. I love to hear her singing.

Miss Gracie is our bag lady and loves to find any kind of bags and use them to tote her stuff around the house. Usually, she finds a corner to start stacking bags (and bags, and bags) of stuff. She calls it her "car" (is she picking that up from me?). I should take a picture sometime because it really is pretty incredible how much stuff accumulates in these little areas. It usually happens while I'm fixing dinner or preoccupied with checking email or tending to Gunner's needs. At least we know she is a mover and a shaker and will find a way to haul every possession she owns out of her room.

We are loving pre-school this year and having a lot of fun. Gracie is also loving nursery and is getting excited to go into primary in January. On Sunday, our bishop held a fireside at his house for all the parents with children 8 and under. The parents met upstairs and the children met downstairs. Later, Gracie referred to something that happened there as "when I was playing with my NEW cousins". I love that every fun group of kids are cousins to her, because we sure miss our cousins.

We love you, Gracie.