Grace has celebrated her birthday since Sunday October 3rd (see the Smoky Mtns post)...At first, I thought it had gone to her head. You have to understand. It isn't natural for me to throw a big ole bday bash for the kids, do treat bags (don't get me started), rent out an expensive place...point in short: I think birthdays have gotten way out of hand. So this year, when Grace asked for a hayride party, I had to ponder it. I knew we could have a basic, simple "farm" party, so I acquiesced (Shawn is the polar opposite & might spend our savings on such things if not kept in check). Everyone was happy (though I was still apprehensive). Just as I suspected, the day of her party, she said, "TODAY IS MY PARTY...MINE...NOBODY ELSE'S." I gave her a speech or ten, and then paused inwardly. The thought going through my mind was, "Maybe she needs this party more than I realize." As soon as her first friend arrived, she asked politely if they could go outside and play. The plan was to be outside the whole time (we just hadn't made it there yet)...so off they went. This is where the truth sank in. She thought the lil girl who arrived was the only one coming (I am pretty positive about that) and she was happy as a lark. It wasn't all about the fanfare...it was about playing and enjoying her day. I heaved a sigh of relief that I wasn't turning her into a narcissistic kiddo afterall. About 15 minutes later, the yard was full of kids and mommas and even some dads who came along. The kids played in the sandbox, on the playground, on the little kiddy slide, rode the kid-sized Gator and Tractor, pulled each other in the wagon. They just played and played and played. Even the ones who normally have the big parties! They climbed all over everything--the hay bales, provided at least 45 minutes of fun. You name it. They ran back and forth from the chicken coup to the playground. They chased the cat (Grace later commented, "I didn't like my friends chasing my cat. I felt sorry for him. Next time, I'm going to tell them to stop.") PS She WILL follow through (she means what she says and says what she means, just like her momma and her great gran). My mom played her mandolin and sang songs to the kids. We all sang happy bday and she blew out the candle on her strawberry-flavored Care Bear cupcake. We loaded onto the trailor for the hayride. The kids picked pumpkins in the dark (I think this is an accidental yet fun tradition now...we have done this twice by accident...it's been so dark you could hardly see ANYTHING -even the orange pumpkins)!!! It was nice to have Shawn w/ us on the ride instead of pulling us (Papa Dave pulled us). Everyone seemed to have fun. And nobody left with a treat bag or had moments of panic b'c they weren't gifted on someone else's bday.
Finally, the post's title has less to do with G's 13 day bday celebration (3rd through 16th) as it does just Grace being Grace. Of course, I so completely and unabashedly love who God has created her to be. She is a special little girl. She likes to hold hands with her friends, snuggle with her mommy before nap and bedtime, LOVES books and is adept at puzzles, loves her daddy to turn her upside down and carry her to bed that way, is a natural learner (fast too--and MANY people have noted this to us), likes to sing gospel music (is on-key too!), loves sweets, and thinks her nonna Charlotte and poppa Joe HUNG. THE. MOON. She is also independent and knows what she wants and why she wants it (and usually has good reason). All this to say, she is precious and priceless. She forgives fast, too, which is a good thing, b'c I make MANY mistakes in rearing...THE QUEEN!!! A question I ask her regularly is, "Who is in charge?" Last week, without a moment's hesitation and with zero malice intent, she pointed at herself.
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