Super Sleepover!

Last Friday night, one of Grace's dear friends spent the night with us. It was the first time Abby had stayed overnight at our house without her mom, and the girls were so excited about their sleepover! They felt so grown, I could tell! After a dinner of pizza and applesauce, then several rounds of tea party and dress up, they were ready for bath and bed.





We read some stories and the girls said their prayers. They were asleep by 8:45! It was the easiest sleepover in the world!



The next morning was our town's annual Gold Dust Parade, and we go every year. This was Abby's first year to go, and both girls loved getting the candy, beads, and popsicles given out. They each ate five or six pieces of candy and had 2 popsicles! After the parade, it was time for jumping in the moonwalks and riding the train. It was very hot, but the kids had a great time!













After the parade, the girls enjoyed playing for a while Saturday afternoon. Suddenly, in the middle of playing, our house was serenaded by the joyous sounds of the ice cream man. Naturally, both girls decided they needed a snack right then, so after much deliberation, they finally chose a huge blue popsicle...which they enjoyed very much.







I have a feeling Abby will come for another sleepover real soon!

GRANDparents- They really are grand!

Grace's Pre-K class hosted a Grandparent's Day Breakfast on Friday. The actual Grandparent's Day is Sunday, September 12, but we celebrated early. They all enjoyed a meal together, and then the kids performed songs for the grandparents. And as we all know, Grace can really perform! They sang and danced, and Grace was quite animated, to say the least. Her favorite song to sing is the Peanut Butter song, primarily because it has the word underwear in it. (Bathroom humor is apparently an absolute riot at this age) Her favorite dancing song is the Chicken Dance! Considering how many weddings we've been to this year, Grace was already a semi-pro at this dance, and has since perfected her moves. She certainly chicken danced with abandon, all over that cafeteria.











My parents have always been my biggest supporters and have pushed me to succeed and do what's right. They're my rocks, and I thank God everyday for giving me to such wonderful people! Thankfully, they're serving that role in my daughter's life as well. She gets a few more treats that I did and gets away with more stuff than I was allowed to, but no child could be more loved. They are awesome grandparents!



Grace is blessed with several sets of grandparents, but unfortunately, they mostly live too far away to be involved in her daily life. We're thankful for them all though!

Can I Slow This Ride Down?

Have you ever had one of those moments when you look at your child and SEE them? I mean, not see them as in you didn't know what they were wearing, or anything mundane like that...but rather, look at them and see your future?

I had one of those very moments this afternoon.

Grace, DJ, and I have been discussing for weeks the idea that she get a haircut. Her hair grows quickly, so any change we make is not going to be life altering. She has been in so many weddings this year (the one in October will be her FOURTH), that we have had to keep her hair longer. Finally, wedding or no wedding, we decided that it was time!

So, I called the salon that I use, and she fit us right in (because Jamie is awesome like that, and probably also because I teach at the school her son attends). Grace behaved beautifully, shockingly well as a matter of fact, and was charming as Jamie snipped and snipped. And snipped and snipped. And yes, she continued snipping until Grace had two lovely layers framing her equally lovely face.

And when Jamie spun the chair around, and I saw Grace full on with that very grown up hairstyle, I could do nothing but smile at her beauty and her obvious delight with her new "bouncy" hair. But internally, I sighed deeply with the realization that not only is my baby growing up, but I am probably going to have to hide the bodies of a few teenage boys once she turns sixteen.