Gracie Turns 11

 I'm not sure how it's possible but Gracie is 11! I think every year I feel like it sneaks up on us because of Christmas and New Years. I'm always glad that I do her birthday shopping when I do Christmas because everything can be pretty picked over after the holidays. She has really gotten into Harry Potter. She was the first one to show interest in watching the movies and reading the books. She got the books for Christmas and we have been slowly collecting the movies from the DI. When I asked Gracie what she wanted to do for her birthday she had 2 plans one celebrating at home and a little party out. So Friday on her birthday we had dinner at home, opened presents, set off lanterns, and finished up with cake and ice cream.

I have always wanted to try the floating lanterns and I decided it would be a fun surprise for all of the kids to set these off. They each took the time to write or draw on their lantern before we lit them and they floated off into the sky.

Gracie is fun to ask every year what kind of "cake" that she wants because every year its a little different and often times she doesn't even request cake. This year she wanted to do better than anything cake.

A fun night at home celebrating our girl. She is so unique and helps keep peace in our home. She is everyone's friend and the first one to offer or ask for a hug. She is a silent succeeder in the sense that she excels at pretty much everything she does but doesn't need the attention or praise when she does. She loves to play games and do puzzles. The kids spend hours in the foam pit making up shows or teaching rock climbing wall class or in the play room playing legos. She's also a great helper and loves to cook and bake. She is the only one that consistently gets up with her alarm but is the first to have a cluttered room.  She also loves reading and regularly can be found cuddled up in a blankie doing so.