Happy Birthday, Grace!

Though we started celebrating Grace's birthday at the start of July (with gifts from Emma before she left for two weeks at PL and a trip the Lip Lab), we of course had to celebrate on the actual day as well! 

The book, paint and stickers were all found when we were in Freeport the day after the heart wrenching accident),

The Jellycat (the woodland floor) was one that Grace fell in love with when it released recently. We were thrilled to find it at our local Paper Store! 

After gifts, we got ready for our Grace and Mama day out. We started our day at MiniLuxe, had lunch at Sweetgreen (yum!) and then went in search of a dress for Grace's cosmetology school graduation next month (it's perfect!)! 

When we got home we started the preparations for her birthday cake and she opened the gift from my parents (eighteen pairs of compression socks! I am shocked my mom did not send twenty)! 

Once the cake layers had been baked and were cooling, Dave, Grace and I went to the New England Botanic Garden (Tower Hill) for dinner. They are open late on Wednesdays and Thursdays for people to enjoy the grounds, listen to some good music and have a picnic (that either you can bring or purchase). 

We were absolutely enchanted with the Glass in Flight exhibit that was recently installed. 

When we got back from dinner I dropped David and Grace off at the house so that Grace could decorate her cake while I ran to the store to get strawberries for the top of it. This cake came out so ridiculously cute!!! We used the recipe and directions from Teak and Thyme. 

And just like that she’s completed her 20th trip around the ! Happiest of birthdays, Grace Elizabeth! Thank you for choosing me to be your mama all those years ago and making our world a more beautiful place! Looking forward to seeing all that this next year, and decade, has in store for you! 

Sunday In Boston

 Today in Boston, Grace’s (early) birthday celebration continues. We began this adventure with a trip to Lip Lab Boston to create our own shades (so, so, so much fun! 10/10. Highly recommend!),

followed by dirty sodas from The Sweetish Fish

and then (of course) lunch at Flour. The only way this day could have been any more perfect would have been if David (who had to work) and Emma (who’s at camp) were with us! Emma was actually the one who kicked off Grace’s birthday month by giving Grace her gift before she left since she’s away for the next two weeks. Such a perfect start to Grace's birthday celebration! xo

Happy Birthday, Grace!

 

On Sunday, before I brought the girls back to PL for their week as campers, we had breakfast at our favorite place in Freeport. Blueberry Ricotta toast for Emma and me and an açaí bowl for Grace. Absolute deliciousness. Highly recommend! As this is the first year that Grace is not home on her birthday we celebrated all last weekend. Since no birthday celebration is complete without a birthday treat, we brought a small container of raspberry petit fours with us (along with candles and matches) to enjoy after breakfast. Unfortunately there was a slight breeze outside where we ate and no matter what we tried the candies would not stay lit. We went in, asked the owner if we could light her birthday treat inside to which he said “Of course! And if you want we can all sing to you too!” Everyone in the restaurant agreed and then one customer asked what her name was. The rest you see here! Thank you Wanderlust Juicery for being so kind and for helping us end Grace’s ninteenth birthday weekend in such a celebratory and sweet way!

This is Seventeen

This is seventeen. Seventeen is a wicked sense of humor. Seventeen is spt on observation of the world around her (and telling it like it is). Seventeen is Starbucks runs with her sister/best friend and learning to drive. Seventeen is researching make-up brands to determine which is cuelty free and worth her money, and watching Instagram reels and sendign them to her mama and sister all day long ("not the Instagram reels!"). Seventeen is Lord of the Rings and Hunger Games and Taylor Swift songs. Seventeen is amazinga nd I am here for it (even if it has all gone by way too fast)! Happy birthday, Grace Elizabeth! May this next year be full of wishes come true! xo 

On Grace's Birthday

 

The most fabulous sixteenth birthday for this sweet soul! It's hard to believe that she's sixteen already, as it truly seems as if it was just yestrday that she arrived earthside! These sixteen years have flown quickly by but have been full of magic, wonder, sweetness and love! Thank you, Grace Elizabeth, for making our dreams of parenthood a reliaty. It has been a true joy to watch you grow into the amazing young woman that you are, and it's the honor of a lifetime to be your mama! xo