Princess Gracie (Lance's version)

Jordyn, Owen,Kaylee, and Gracie starting the gym course


cute Kenna!!


um, first date?? Owen is making the moves on Gracie!


Jordyn and Kaylee chillin in car #2


Attempt #1 at trying to get all the kids in one pic


Red Robin Sundae, I think she's happy


this is what she said "Oh, my gosh" to


not anything to do with the party, but look at my Kami's eyes!
(by the way we passed the 2 month mark!)


Thanks Bella for the baking set (see apron and oven mitt). Gracie LOVED helping with the pancakes!


After she had opened EVERY present (SPOILED) she put everything on that she could and put the rest in the backpack to tote around. Man, it was cute!


Gracie turned 2 today. But we have been celebrating all weekend long!!!!!!!!!!!! We really have been, but there is kind of a method to our madness. Gracie didn't really seem to get what a birthday was all about and so we wanted to teach her that it was a special day that is all about her. So we maybe went a little (read- way too much) overboard in preparing her and teaching her what a birthday is all about...namely a long party. so we started on Friday by inviting some of our friends to go to Safari Sam's with us. We have posted about this place before, and once again we were not disappointed.
I had the opportunity (task) of taking the kids all around the jungle gym and crawling around with them and having fun. Jordan Chambers and Owen McFarlane were there at first and it was a definite challenge to convince all three kids to follow me over the ropes and up the different levels so we could go down the three story slide. I was relieved when Chad showed up with Kaylee and we could spread out the fun (responsibility). It was actually quite fun to play with all of the kids and watch them motivate each other to do things that they were afraid of. It was the cutest to hear Gracie yell " 'mon Jordan, 'es go der!" (Come on Jordan, Lets go there.) We developed a good routine of one hardcore climbing set and one break period (mostly for me) and even paused for some pictures in the cars (pictured above).
We played for three hours before we were too tired to play any more, and then to make sure that we didn't hit any traffic, we stopped by Red Robin with the Goodman's for some good eats. Gracie got sung to for the first time ever at a restaurant and she loved it! She stared at the Red Robin employees and clapped when they were done...and then she attacked her free sundae (oh yeah her meal was free too, thanks to her pediatrician's coupons). She ate the sundae for fifteen minutes and would lick it off of the spoon, her hand, the bowl, the table, her shirt, my hand, basically anywhere, but she had to do it herself. It was hilarious how independent she was being during the meal, wanting to cool her own fries and chicken down and drink her own drink! But she was also being really well behaved probably because she was sitting next to her friend Kaylee and they were both starving from the hardcore playfest.
Yesterday (Saturday) We got ready for her birthday after the girls went to bed by wrapping present and Em cooking a cake a-la-Ace of Cakes-style. She posted about that earlier. and we blew up 25 balloons and put them in her room all over the floor so she would have a surprise when she woke up.
This morning she woke up at 8:30 am (miracle!) and was so excited to have balloons in her room. Kami was still sleeping in her crib- she did not move all night long, not one muscle- so we decided to have special time alone with Gracie and brought her downstairs and Gracie was so excited to see her Cinderella cake. She knew what it was right off and said "happy Birfday Cake!! Cin'rella!!" she then proceeded to take her presents down and open them. Em and I looked at each other and exchanged an "Oh well" glance, because we had been planning on doing presents later, but when we heard her say "oh my Gosh" we pretty much let her do what she wanted.
Every present that she opened she wanted to play with immediately and it took a good 45 minutes until she was done (we stopped for mickey mouse pancakes).
The whole day was about Princess Gracie and she had so much fun. She refused to take a nap, and just sat in her room with the lights off and played with their toys. She was really good at church and started to break down right before some neighbors came over to help eat cake and ice cream, but she perked up, played and did so good. We sang Happy birthday to her and tried to get her to blow out her candles (her and I had been practicing) but she choked under pressure and Em and I helped her out.
Whew!!!!!!!!!! what a novel! I am worn out but I had a really good time, and am so happy that my girl had such a fun b-day. Em really planned out such a fun weekend and put in sooo much effort. She is the best and wants our kids to have great memories, which is so much fun, and she does so much for them. I can not believe that I have a two-year old! she is such a joy and I love every minute that I get to spend with her. She makes me laugh and is so smart it makes me scared for my future. From her kisses and hugs to her tantrums that almost make me crack up I could spend all my time just hanging out with my Gracie girl. I feel so privileged to have her in my life, i can't imagine where I'd be without her. Happy Birthday Gracie!! I love you! Te Amo!