Ten

 

 

Enchanted by the fairy Grandpa Gene made for the birthday ring. 

"Mama, Grandpa Gene is so talented! This may be my most favorite one ever!" 

 "Grace, it's you and your sun pet!"

 A beloved book from the library was the perfect gift from Emma to Grace.

 Her most favorite page.

 

She was thrilled to be gifted a kit to make a needle felted unicorn!

 Opening her gift from Mrs. Fadden.

 "Mama, they're sister fairies!"

 We had intended to plant a tree after each girl was born. Since that sadly never happened we decided to begin a rose garden instead! This is the rose Grace chose in honor of her tenth birthday. On our way home from the garden center Grace decided that she'd like to use her birthday money from Gramma Terri and Grandpa Gene to buy a second rose for the rose garden (most likely a light pink English Rose).

 After an absolutely magical gathering with her friends (more on that tomorrow) we ended our day with the birthday ring and cake. We clearly need to come up with another way to display all the lovely birthday ring pieces my dad has made over the years as there's just not enough room for them and all the candles!

And, of course, no celebration is complete without a cake. This incredible creation came from our most favorite ice cream shop!

It was an absolutely amazing day and the perfect way to celebrate ten years of this sweet soul walking the earth! Everything about this day was "so Grace". From the plants and book Emma chose for her, to the felting kit, the rose for our new rose garden, the celebration with her friends and the sweet and enchanting fairy carved by her grandfather. As I tucked her in last night she said to me: "I had a great first day being ten, mama! I loved everything about this day!" I couldn't agree more! Happy birthday, sweet girl! xo

Dear Grace

 

 

Dear Grace,
Ten years ago you made our dream of becoming parents a reality! You and your sweet ways entered the world on a lovely July night at 6:56pm and we have been all the better for it ever since. Thank you for all the love, kindness, compassion, generosity and sweetness you have brought to our family and to the wider world as well. The world needs more of this always, but especially lately where it just feels like there is not nearly enough goodness to go around. Thankfully, in our sweet old farmhouse there is always more than enough!

Our wait for you was long, longer than we would have liked, but goodness darling girl, it was so completely worth it. Being your mama is such an honor and truly the best job I've ever had. Being able to spend each and every day with you and your sweet sister is more amazing than my wildest dreams could have conjured up. I have loved witnessing every new milestone, every age and every stage you have gone through. While some of them may have had some more bumps in the road that we both would have liked I cannot say that there is one age that I haven't loved. Each one is just more amazing than the last, and I have no doubt that ten (and this next decade) will be just as magical!

As the years go on and life throws you bigger, more complicated emotions and issues please know that we will always be here to help you navigate them. There will surely be some things that you experience that we cannot fix (as much as we might like to) but the one thing that I can guarantee you is that we will always be here to listen and hold you safely in our arms as you figure out those things that only you and your heart will know the answers to.

Sweet girl, as you head into this next stage of life I have no doubt that you will continue to spread sweetness and love wherever you go and that you will continue to make this world a more beautiful place. You are a rare soul, Grace Elizabeth, and we are all the better for knowing you. I've often said that you and your sister are "old fashioned kids living in a modern world". I'm not sure that there is a better way to describe you (both). I hope that as you get older that you will continue to hold on to that "old fashionedness" and pass that knowledge and skillset on to those who come after you (and even those who came before you who might now have had a chance to learn these things when they were younger).

I wish you a magical rest of the day and a wonderful year ahead. Thank you for an amazing ten years. I look forward to a lifetime more.
XO,
Mama

Let The Birthday Celebrating Begin!

In our family July is known as the "birthday month". It used to be that David kicked off "birthday month" but now that our nephew Henry was born on July 5th he'll take the first slot and then David will follow on the 15th, Grace on the 16th, my brother on the 19th and my mother on the 26th. Even though we did not celebrate Dave until this evening I thought it was only right to start this post off with his birthday one final time!

 This picture is so them. It captured their personalities perfectly!

 Our day really began with a trip to Hartford to meet up with my parents to acquire the newest addition to the birthday ring. And since we were in Hartford on Grace's birthday eve it seemed only right to celebrate with a stop at the Bushnell Park Carousel. If ever there was a perfect way to end your single digit birthday's this is it!

 And seeing how we were together we couldn't pass up the chance to bring Gramma Terri an early birthday present. Please pardon the less than stellar pictures as the lighting in the restaurant was not grooving with my phone.

Presents from Gramma Terri and Grandpa Gene for the one who made them grandparents ten years ago!

My dad truly never ceases to amaze with each new addition to the birthday ring! I cannot wait for the girls to see the fairy with the 10 tomorrow morning! This piece is sure to be an instant fave (goodness knows it was for me)! xo

Time Flies

 I came across this picture of the four of us taken in August 2009 the other day. Grace was three, Emma was eighteen months. Crazy to think that on Saturday Miss Grace turns ten! One one hand it feels like just yesterday that this picture was taken, but on the other it feels like a lifetime ago. xo

At The Lake

Today was our first trip to the lake this summer! It's hard to believe that we waited this long to go, but we thought it might be wise to wait until after the initial summer rush was over (i.e. after the 4th of July). Our dear friends Jennifer and Abigail met us there, and since Abigail will sadly not be able to attend Grace's birthday celebration this weekend she brought a little something for her to the lake today. It was such a lovely surprise! xo