An American Girl Party

This past weekend, Lily Grace had her 8th birthday party.  The theme this year was American Girl. 
This year, the party was extra special.  Now living so close, Lilyana was able to come.  Lily Grace was beside herself with excitement.  These girls had the best time this weekend and it's always heart warming to watch them together.  The rest of us have a great time too! 
Lily Grace invited the girls from her class as well as a friend from our neighborhood.  (On a side note, Kathy and I got the biggest kick out of Lily Grace and Lily very matter of fact letting the other girls know they were China sisters and watching the other girls try and figure it out.  What a special bond they share.  So sweet!)
Now let me just say, with 13 girls in a room, wow!!!!!!!  Kathy, I can't thank you enough and owe you some serious painting time or whatever else you may ask for.  You have earned your wishes.  HA!  
Matt, as always, you are an amazing dad and you hang in there like a trooper.  (Scott and Max you were cowards smart. HA!)
Lily Grace, daddy and I cherish party days with you.  The memories we make are certainly special ones that we will think back on always.  We love watching your excitement and seeing that big smile across your face.  We love you!

When Lily and her family arrived, Gracie got to open two gifts from Max.  The first was this cute and very special t-shirt.  Max had a friend draw a picture of him.  He then had it printed on the front of this shirt.  On the back is printed little sister in Chinese.  I think the smile probably says it all.  Lily Grace adores Max and he is so good to her.  He takes a lot from these girls when they are all together and he does so with a smile and a big heart.  

Max also gave her a pair of Nerf Guns, in pink of course.  

After a few lessons from Max, none of us were safe from her and Lily. 

Two cuties ready to party

8 years old

This is one of mine and Lily Grace's favorite party decorations.  Who knew you could sew paper?  Lily Grace you did an amazing job cutting out all of these circles and painting the banner boards.  I loved working on this with you. 

This year's cake- it was a delicious vanilla cake with strawberry filling

Guest had their picture taken in this girl sized golf club box that we turned into an American Girl box, making each girl the girl of the year.  Lily Grace will include a copy of each girl's picture in their thank you card.  Now that the party is over, this box is being used as a ship.  

Opening gifts: each time Lily Grace opened a gift, a party guest received a gift from her.  We sewed each girl a dress for their doll.

LG modeling the dress the party guests received.  Only difference was a blue ribbon. 

One of the party activities was having Cookies and Canvas come and lead the girls in a painting.  They set up in our basement and so did the dolls. 

The finished project

After painting it was on to cake and the dolls joined us

The girls with their dolls in their new dresses.  We printed a pic for each girl and placed it in the fabric wrapped frames we made for a cute keepsake.

Lily Grace and I love this fabric.

Selfie by Lilyana after a bubble bath and discovering a matching pair of American Girl pet pajamas waiting for them and their dolls

Cozy and cute

The scariest part of the evening- we discovered these two down in the basement doing their nails with neon polish and nail glitter.  They had the best time!

Even Molly got in on some girl time and loved every second of it!

After nails, the girls snuggled up next to each other in their beds, watched a movie until about 12:30 a.m. and then finally called this party day officially over.  What a special day with special people. According to Lily Grace, it was the best birthday ever because Lily was a part of it.  What more could you ask for?
 Blessed are we!!!!!

First Holy Communion

Blessed are those called to the super of the Lamb.

It is the LORD, who marches before you; he will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you.

...Deuteronomy 31:8

8 is Great!

This past Friday, Lily Grace turned 8 years old.  We spent the entire weekend celebrating and having a good time.

Lily Grace was extra excited to have her birthday fall on a Friday.  

Lily Grace, daddy and I are so proud of  you.  You are so confident and happy.  You enjoy being a little girl who's in no rush to grow up.  We wouldn't have it any other way. You are a blessing beyond words.  We adore you and love you very much!  
Special thanks to everyone who called, sent cards and gifts.  You made her birthday very special. 

To celebrate her birthday at school, she requested chocolate cupcakes with pink icing and white star with a number eight.  Her birthday party this year will be an American Girl theme so the cupcakes are just a prelude. 

Birthday Morning (She actually asked to sleep in the queen guest bed so that she would have "room" to enjoy breakfast in bed.  Gracie, dad and I are sorry that twin bed has been confining your breakfast in bed for the last 6 years. HA! HA!) 

At the top of her wish list, Kaya.  Lily Grace admires how brave Kaya is in her stories and loves her long hair which, has already seen several new styles. 

 

This year's requested breakfast: strawberry crepes

Kaya went to school with Lily Grace who asked me to braid her hair to match Kaya.  So cute!

All smiles as her class sings Happy Birthday to her

Arriving home from school, she was greeted with gifts from family and her requested homemade Red Velvet Cake.  

She received some new outfits for Kaya and wasted no time trying them on her. 

Out to dinner for shrimp and almond crusted walleye

After dinner we returned home for cake and Gracie blew out the candles making it official.

Saturday brought a trip to Sky Zone for some jumping.  Thanks Matt for taking one for the team.  

On a funny side note, Matt has been complaining of a neck ache since our visit Saturday morning.  According to him, he went way outside his capabilities.  Too funny!

Matt and Lily Grace also chose birthday weekend to get in their annual camp out.  However, this year they did it in the basement.  They did at least sleep in the tent.  Really roughing huh! Especially when you consider that Gracie is wearing a mermaid costume. - HA!

Happy Birthday Gracie Cakes!  Peace be with you, today and always!

Happy Easter!

One of the gardens at church just before the Easter Vigil

Lily Grace and Molly woke to treats from the Easter Bunny.

We enjoyed a special Holy Week and a beautiful Easter Sunday.  
We are blessed indeed!   

Spring Break

After just returning from China a few weeks ago, we couldn't think of  a better place to spend Spring Break than HOME.  
We had one of the best Spring Breaks ever.  Lily Grace had put together a bucket list of things she would like to do.  
Gracie, I had the best time completing your bucket list with you.  I had so much fun!!!!!

Lily Grace used fabric markers (while listening to Frozen- of course!) to decorate a piece of canvas to add to the pile we put together to create one of the most anticipated activities on her bucket list.

A Tee Pee- Matt took a day off to help us during Spring Break.  He did the the drilling and wrapping of the poles for us.  He even helped with a little fabric cutting.

After an entire day of cutting, wrapping and hot gluing the fabric to the poles, Gracie ended up with her very own tee pee.  

Her tee pee even has security.  (which happens to be sleeping on the job- ha!)

One of our most delicious activities involved making cupcakes.

Chocolate cupcakes with a raspberry frosting- yum!

Lily Grace loves washing the dishes as much as she does cooking

A little bike riding

Yes, this is how she looked at least 3 days out of 5 over Spring Break.  She LOVES frozen and this shirt.  However, the outfit just wasn't complete without a tiara, diamond bracelet and her fashion glasses.  She wore this outfit wherever we went.  That's one of the things I love most about her.  She is so confident and marches to her own beat.  By the way, she asked me to take a picture of her in this outfit because she liked it so much and wanted to send it to her daddy at the office.  She then breaks into poses and calls this one her, "I'm thinking with my glasses on pose."  Too funny!!

We hung with Molly

Lily Grace also did some pet sitting for our neighbor.  She did an amazing job and took it very seriously.  Matt and I were so proud of how responsible she was.  She even created herself a business name, LG's Pet Pals.  The "S" family treated our family to dinner and gave her a gift card and picture of her and Duchess as a thank you for doing such a great job.  

We also managed to sneak in some time for sidewalk chalk.

Our 13th President

Lily Grace recently completed a really big project for school.  Her class drew names of presidents to research and give a presentation on.  
She did a wonderful job researching, creating a poster, and putting together a presentation on our 13th president, Millard Fillmore.  
Parents were invited to attend the presentations that each student was required to give.  Lily Grace did an amazing job and I couldn't have been more proud of her!