Wow, just typing 7, I can't believe Grace is that old! She had a good birthday and it certainly was eventful! The day before her birthday, my grandma (GGma to Grace and Davis) and my mom (Grandmama) flew into Charleston. So Grace woke up to company and her favorite kind: gift-bearing visitors! We'd made her hold off on opening the different presents that had come via the postal service all week long so we allowed her to open them when she first got up. She got some really neat presents, especially the butterfly habitat and her new bike! It's a mountain bike, with hand brakes and everything, so we're still learning to ride it.
After breakfast, it was time to get a move on. Grace's final soccer game was that day and let me tell you, she played like a champ! She says she had 3 goals, but I only remember 2. Either way, she was super-aggressive and did a great job. I can't believe I am saying this, but I am going to miss taking her to practice and the games. We really enjoyed her Upward Soccer experience.
When Grace's game was over, we went to my favorite restaurant, Three Little Birds, where Grace's teacher, Mrs. Branch, met us. I wanted her to meet my mom and grandma. We had a great visit with Cinde and enjoyed some great food, of course! Cinde and I are trying to become family via her son and my sister, Angie! :)
After that, we came home for a moment. During that time, I finished packing for our beach house vacation, my mom frosted cupcakes for Grace's birthday, Jasen loaded up the cars, and I don't know what else! But it was flurry of activity, I can assure you. Then we headed to the house on Folly Beach that we had rented for my mom's side family reunion. When we got there, we were quite pleased with it. We had marsh views on one side, semi-ocean views on the other (we were across the street from the beach), five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a huge living/dining room for us all to hang out in. I had been anxious about everyone liking it because we had spent so much money on it. But everyone seemed pleased.
Once we unloaded everything, Jasen went to the airport to pick up my cousins. Once he returned and the other two cousins arrived, we celebrated Grace's birthday for real. We had strawberry cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and yellow cupcakes with chocolate frosting. We sang happy birthday in the dark and Grace got all the candles blown out. Then she opened up more presents and enjoyed her cousins.
On that note, let me tell you about our girl and her cousins. Grace was so great with them all. She's always been good with Joe. She loves him so much and he's taught her to be more accepting of people with disabilities. Seriously, I am so glad she loves Joe and that she feels so bonded to him. This year, we also had Max, who is a month or so younger than Davis, Mason, who is Max's baby brother, and Maggie, who is Joe's one year old sister. Grace was glad to sit and hold one of the babies, take her brother and Max outside to play follow the leader, or entertain a fussy baby during a boat/carriage ride. Her "help" was so appreciated that my cousin, Jen, gave her babysitting money for time! Grace was so proud.
All in all, I think our girl had a great birthday. Time is flying by.
