Working Momma......

Well, its official.... I'm going to be a working momma! I have been considering it now for awhile. 1- because I really think Makayla needs more than she is getting here with me. 2- because I think I need more than I am getting with just me and a two year old. So, I put out some resumes... thinking if nothing came up it was a sign from God I need to stay home with her. Well, two weeks later I started an interview process and found out Monday I got the job! During this time of me putting out my resume, I was scouting out the best preschools for Makayla. So, these next few weeks are going to be a big transition for the Gragg household. Makayla starts full time preschool on Sept. 2nd and I start my new job Sept. 8th. I'm so excited about my new job... not only am I getting a great hourly wage but they offer wonderful benefits... which is a huge plus for our family. Right now- we are paying an outragous amount on just me and Makayla. So, having those benefits is worth alot! Please keep us in your prayers the next few weeks! Here's to new beginnings :)

FUN IN THE SUN....

Makayla's first time going to the lake.

She is very proud of her new "floatie".

And her diva sunglasses. :)

Daddy's Helper.

I think Makayla is a good mixture of me and Daniel. She likes to help Daniel every chance she can but she likes to do it in style (like her momma). LOL. We are having water problems under our house so Daniel has been working on that at night after he gets off work. I took these pictures the other night of Makayla "helping daddy".




*Notice the multi-tasking.. Working while holding her purse. :)
*This face means she is tired of me taking pictures of her. LOL.

These two are something else... You gotta love them!

What it's all about....

I absolutely LOVE sleeping babies! This is our best friends ( Keisha and Adam) son, Caleb.
He and Makayla are a year apart and they are the best of friends already.

Vacation #2

Gatlinburg Vacation 2008

Vacation #1

BEACH VACATION 2008

(I have alot more pictures but blogger was taking forever!)

Prayers Needed

Please be praying for my sister-in-law, Christina and her family. We got word early this morning that her 23 year old sister died. This is such a shock to all of us and I am having a hard time grasping this reality. Please be praying for the days to come and for the strength of this family!
Also, please be praying for my brother-in-law, Nathan. He got thrown off a lawn-mower and broke three ribs and punctured a lung. He is in the hospital recovering but please be praying for a fast recovery. This past day has been very hard for our family.

"ME" time......

Today was my first day alone in awhile. Last week when Makayla started preschool my mom was here to keep me company. Now today... I am trying to figure out what to do with myself. It's also VERY nice to have the option of doing nothing. I was thinking last night of all the things I could do on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I might taking up reading again. I can't even tell you long it has been since I have had time to read. I am going to start scrapbooking again. The last thing I scrapbooked was when we went to the beach in '06. I might organize my closets or clean out the pantry. I might go get a manicure/pedicure. I might go lay out and start to get tan for summer. I might meet a friend for lunch and actually eat my food warm when it comes to the table(my food alway gets cold due to tending to Makayla's food...haha) OR I might just take a nap! I think I am going to get used to my ME time.

First Day of Preschool

Makayla is officially growing up. Today was her first day of preschool. I have been going back and forth for several months as to whether I should put her in a social group. Last Wednesday made up my mind. She and I both were pushing each others buttons and I knew it would be beneficial for both of us. There is a church here in Bell Buckle that has a parent's day out program. So, that next day I signed her up. She only goes 2 days a week from 9-2. Her teachers told me today that she did great! I can't believe how fast she is growing up... my baby is becoming a little girl!

Better late then never...

Makayla the Easter bunny... too cute!!!!

Walking out the door to go to church...

Had to say good-bye to her bunny before we left. (She does that anytime we leave- she has to tell the bunny she will be back....haha)

* My camera kept messing up so I couldn't get anymore pictures throughout the day... but some of my in-laws got some pictures of Makayla hunting Easter eggs.. so if I ever get those I will post more pictures soon. Like I said.. Better late than never!!!

What would you do?

I am facing a situation that I was hoping I wouldn't have to face for a good 5-7 years. The last week has been wonderful weather so, Makayla and I have been spending a lot of time outside. Our little neighbor girl (Kayla- whose is 8 by the way)- has been wanting to play with Makayla. I am okay with them playing in our yard but Kayla doesn't think that is fun enough. She asked me a few days ago if Makayla could come to her house and play in her room. I told her I really didn't think it was a good idea but she ended up taking her anyway. I thought well maybe she didn't hear me... since she was already leading my 2-year old child over to her house. I quickly ran over there and knocked on my neighbors door to claim my child. Kayla answered the door... I told her that Makayla needed to come home. Kayla informed me that Makayla was playing in her room and that she could stay. I was dumbfounded- I have never had an 8 year old talk to me like that. Anyways- I got my child back and went home. Well, yesterday I get a knock on my door and again Kayla came over to see if Makayla could go to her house and play in her room. I told her that I really didn't think it was a good idea. And this little girl kept arguing with me. Telling me that I told her Makayla could come play. I told Daniel later on that night that I'm not ready for all this... plus I really don't want my 2 year old hanging out with a child that will back talk an adult. I really don't know what to do... should I go talk to her mom? Should I let Makayla go play? I don't want to be an overbearing mom but I'm not ready to let my 2 year old "hang out" with friends. Any suggestions????

Family Fun!!

Me, Makayla, Ash and Rae

I love this picture!!!!!!

Nana's birthday cake made it all better.

We just got back from a weekend in Atlanta with my parents and sister. We went out to eat Saturday night at Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse. It was very good. It kinda has a rustic, cabin feel.. with every kind of mountain animal all over the restaurant. Right away when we got there Makayla wasn't sure about this place. Alot of life size animals everywhere! We celebrated my mom's birthday and they came out to sing her their rendition of happy birthday and out came a huge dressed up moose with all the singing waiters and waitresses. Makayla FLIPPED out. Crying so hard she could barely catch her breath. After that, she was "red to go". We had a really great time though and hopefully next time we go there she will be over this phase.

* I haven't quite mastered this whole blog thing... the picture sequence is all messed up and this paragraph was supposed to be before all the pictures. I'll get better I promise!

Warm Nutty Caramel Brownies

I have had nine Pampered Chef shows so far and at all but one I have made WARM, NUTTY, CARAMEL BROWNIES. I have had nothing but great responses about these brownies so I thought I would share them with my blog friends.

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 package (12 oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips (mini's if you can find them)
1 package (18-21 oz) brownies mix (plus ingredients to make cake-like brownies)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup salted mixed nuts
Bag of Rollos

Step 1:
Preheat oven to 375. Lightly oil Large Bar Pan. Combine brownie mix, water, oil, eggs and 1/4 cup brown sugar. Mix well. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour batter into bar pan.

Step 2:
Chop Nuts. Combine nuts and remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar- sprinkle evenly over brownie mix. Bake 17 minutes and then add 24 whole rollos to brownie mix, place back in oven and bake another 3-5 minutes.

Step 3:
Meanwhile, cut 16 rollos into quarters and melt 1/2 cup of chocolate chips.

Step 4:
When brownies are done- sprinkle cut rollos on top of brownies and drizzle melted chocolate over brownies. Serve warm. Serve with ice cream, if desired.

*Large Bar Pan- this is a Pampered Chef product. This pan makes the brownies extra yummy! Check it out at www.pamperedchef.biz/kitchenmemories

Little Lady!

Finally I got a good picture of her. My mom got a new camera so she gave me her old one.. so, I was trying out the new camera. Makayla is coming around to camera's... normally she doesn't like to have her picture taken. (hint: picture 3)

I love this sweater on her! It really brings out her big, blue eyes.

Makayla sometimes doesn't want her picture taken. haha

The things kids say...

Lately here in Tennessee the flu have been going around. Makayla has heard me talking about "being sick" because my Pampered Chef shows have been cancelled due to illness. Plus everytime we go to Wal-Mart I pull out the disinfectant wipes and bath her and the cart with it. Right now, Makayla is in the asking alot of questions stage. "What happen" "Whats matter" "Where you goin" (When I get up to do ANYTHING) So, the Gragg house lately is alot of explaining to this curious little girl. Back to my story... last night we were on our way home from the fire hall and she sadly said " Mommy, I sick." I immediately thought.. great, she has the flu! I asked her what hurt on her and she said so innocently "my eye sick". Daniel and I looked at either and couldn't help but laugh under our breaths. I told her when we got home I would look at it to make sure her sick eye was okay. Well, when we got home... I was putting her to bed, and again she told me she was sick. I knew now (since it was literally 30 minutes since we got home) she probably was trying to get out of bedtime. I asked her what was wrong and this time, she told me "my finger is sick". I looked at her finger and she happened to have a hang nail. LOL! I think it's so funny how kids make up their own sicknesses. It's so cute and innocent. So, I guess now we are going to have to explain what "sick" means.

Gragg Family '08

This is our first professional family picture we have taken. I have plenty of just Makayla but I figured we needed one of the three of us before we add another Gragg to the family. (Hopefully within this year :) )

Mommy/daughter picture. I'm not very fond of this picture of me but Makayla looks cute!

Some much needed pics...

Our towns fire department does a picture fundraiser every year and we got some pictures taken. Makayla is obsessed with daddy driving the fire trucks (Daniel is on the fire dept.) so we thought this was the cutest prop for her picture. She was SO proud she was driving that toy fire truck like daddy.

Birthday Wishes!

I just wanted to send birthday wishes to my husband, Daniel! Happy 27th Birthday. I Love You! ~Jenna

In need of prayer....

Recently my cousin Joey joined the National Guard and just left for 10 weeks of basic training. Before he left he told us it would be really hard to get ahold of him.. basically writing letters and him getting them a few weeks later. Well, about a week ago, Joey's best friend (Joseph) was stabbed to death at a party. Joseph was a big part of why Joey went into the National Guard. Joseph himself had joined out of high school and led Joey to the same thing. Joseph was Joey's "information" to what he was about to go through at basic training. Although I don't know Joseph personally, when I heard the news of his death.. I was heart-broken. I first thought of Joey and how sad I was for him! Then I thought of Joseph's family grieving for their 21 year old son/brother. Well, Sunday I got a text message from Joey. We (his parents, grandparents, sister/brother-in-law) had all been very nervous to tell Joey of Joseph's death. We didn't know how he would take it and the fact that he is away and not with people who care about him. In the text message from Joey, he asked me to get his address and write to him. I knew he must've found out about Joseph. I sat down last night to write him a letter... and it was the hardest thing I have done in awhile. I was encouraging (of course)but the right words to say to him just weren't coming out right. Please.. whoever reads this, pray for Joey. I am really worried about him. Basic training alone is a hard thing to go through but that and the lose of your best friend.. must be AWFUL. RIP Joseph Floyd.

HELP!!!

I have been potty-training for about two weeks and everything was going great for the first week but after week one it all went down hill. Makayla was wearing big girl Dora panties (that she picked out) all day long for a good 4 days... and had NO accidents. I thought this potty training stuff was going to be a peice of cake. HAHA... how I was wrong. These past few days.. she is peeing every 10 minutes and having accidents left and right. I take her to the bathroom and she freaks out. I don't want to lose ground on her accomplishments but I also don't want to push her.. because I have heard they can regress if they aren't completely ready. I know the best thing to do is to just stick with her every 10 minutes and take her to the bathroom but SERIOUSLY thats alot of work.. lol. Not to mention... getting out and leading the on-the-go life I love... will have to be put on the back burner. Any suggestions from fellow mothers who have already potty trained?

Back in Action

I recently decided that I needed to get out more and start something for myself. I thought about getting a waitressing job at nights but I didn't want to be out until the wee hours of the night and miss out on my putting Makayla to bed so, I decided to start my own business and became a Pampered Chef consultant. I LOVE IT! I get to be my own boss and set my own schedule, which is very nice with a two year old. I had my first show January 31st and I was sooo nervous. My sister-in-law had the show so you would think I wouldn't be nervous with all family there but I was super nervous. Everyone at the show said I did good but I thought they were just being nice. haha. The show ended up being a 700.00 show which is very good! I so far have made extra money and gotten alot of FREE pampered chef product... plus I am having alot of fun and I get to tuck Makayla into bed at nights. Right now at this stage in my life.. It's the perfect job for me! I would recommend this job to anybody with young children!
We didn't have a computer here at the house and you have to submit shows on the internet so I was going over to my sister-in-laws house to use there computer. It was getting tough because I would have to lug all my pampered chef stuff and Makayla so, I just recently got a new laptop and internet service at my house. YAY! It makes my life so much easier. Now I can do all my work stuff while Makayla is napping. Plus, I am going to try to be better at getting on here and posting more about the Gragg family. Until next time....