Grace is 12!

The day after Halloween always makes for a fun birthday experience for Grace.  More goodies and treats and celebrations?  What kid wouldn't want THAT, right??  Hahaha.  This year, things have felt not quite as celebratory yet due to the fact that Scott was out of town Tuesday-Friday of last week and we haven't had any kind of party.  Since it's a "friend party" year, those festivities will be forthcoming, but for now, she's been pretty chill about the delay.

Even though we haven't had an official party with cake, presents, and all the trimmings, I couldn't let last Tuesday go by without SOME kind of token gift to celebrate my firstborn daughter turning into a Young Woman.  ;)  Fun fact -- Grace has a thing for all things small and junky as well as all things soft and fuzzy.  When I presented her with the faux fur/fleece lined throw that I've been eying at Meijer for the last couple of months, I could tell she was super stoked.  Hahaha.

Adding to the fun of her big day, was her very first church activity with the Young Women that evening, where they took her out for ice cream at Dairy Queen to welcome her into the fold.   She was super excited to leave Primary yesterday and join the ranks of the youth for her final class of the day, and I'm excited for her.  Even though our youth group is small, I'm so glad to know that the young women who are in there are all really good girls, and the leaders are so great, too.

 {Also adding to the fun that day, was a package in the mail from Grandma, with a fun water bottle and a really cool, color-changing apple lamp.}

I think we have Grace's birthday party set for next weekend, so stay tuned to find out what she FINALLY decides on for the theme of her cake...  :)