A perfect 3rd birthday

Yesterday was Grafton's 3rd birthday, and I really could not have asked for it to be a better day!  From the moment she woke up, Grafton was on cloud nine!  We started the day off with a breakfast cupcake with candles then went to get some birthday donuts before school. We took cupcakes to her Mothers' Morning Out class, and Grafton wore her birthday dress which she was very excited about!  When school was over, we picked Grafton up with a car full of balloons, then DeeDee took us for a birthday lunch at Grafton's favorite place, and she even got some birthday ice cream before we left. Are we seeing a trend here???? LOTS of sugar....  We went home for naps, and I was lucky enough to get to nap with the birthday girl! 

On a side note, ever since the day she was born, one of our special times has always been nap time.  As a baby, she and I would nap together every single morning, and I cherished that time so much.  As she got a little older, we would nap on the couch each afternoon or cuddle up in bed together.  Now, as she has gotten older and James has come into our world, I rarely get to nap with her.  I still get lots of cuddle time, but I don't usually get to stay with her throughout her nap.  So for me to get to nap with her again yesterday, just like old times, was so special for both of us.  When Grafton woke up from her nap, she rolled over and looked at me with a huge smile on her face and said "Mommy! You stayed with me today!!  I LOVE my birthday!!" She was so excited that I hadn't left while she was asleep. It melted my heart and reminded me that it is the little things that matter....the little things are the big things.

After naptime we loaded up and went shopping!  DeeDee bought Grafton new dance clothes, tap shoes, and ballet shoes for her dance class she is starting this week.  Grafton was sooooo excited- I didn't think we would get the tap shoes off of her!  Then we shopped a little more, Pops came and met us and played with the kids while we shopped, and then off we all went to Chick-fil-a for Grafton's birthday dinner.  James and Grafton played on the playground way too long, we ate, then headed home for a few more presents.  It was a fantastic day and night, and I really wouldn't have done anything differently.  Grafton said over and over "I love my birthday!" and I know she felt so special.  I hope I never forget her sweet smile and laugh from this birthday and how excited she was all day long.  It was one of those days that I kept saying "Wow, God has blessed me so so much!"

1st picture as a 3 year old!

 making a wish

 and blowing out the candles!

Oh I just adore these kids!

Having fun celebrating Grafton's birthday 

At the donut shop!

DeeDee met us for a donut breakfast! 

Chick-fil-a dinner

Ready to open more presents! 

She loves playing games

The only family shot I could get!

Showing off her new dance attire! 

She would have worn these tap shoes all day if I let her!

Practicing her ballet! 



A weekend of celebration

We had a fun weekend full of birthday parties and early celebrations for Grafton! She had a fun time going to parties on Saturday and Sunday, then Sunday night we had a birthday dinner with DeeDee and Pops at Soulshine- one of Grafton's favorite restaurants. She opened lots of presents and began her "partying" early! We also made cupcakes for her MMO class and sang Happy Birthday To Grafton many many many times before the night was over! 

Last day as a 2 year old! Opening an early present!

So happy to open presents!

Daddy bought her a new dump truck! heehee

Grafton loves James' wedding

James loves to push Grafton around 

Daddy and his kiddos

Having so much fun opening presents

DeeDee and Pops spoiled her rotten

She is so careful...

She loves her new coffee pot

And James loves it too!

Books, books, books

DeeDee and Pops and the birthday girl!

Decorating cupcakes for school



Fun in the Sun

We have had such a fun time the past couple of weeks playing outside in the nice weather. We have been blessed with some sunny skies and warm temperatures, and the kids have taken advantage of it by playing with all their new toys.  Here are a few pictures from the week-

Graeber Family trip to Nashville

This year, the Graeber clan decided to take a trip to Nashville and stay at the Opryland Hotel for a few days together.  Everyone, Aunts and Uncles, brothers and sisters, cousins and kids, all came to Nashville the day after Christmas.  It was so much fun getting all the children together and there were a lot of activities for us to do while we were there.  We had a character breakfast with Shrek, took a boat ride through the hotel, and went to the ICE exhibit which has a huge ice slide to go down at the end!  We all had a fun time seeing each other and being our normal crazy selves! Looking forward to doing this each year!

On our way to Nashville, we stopped at the Casey Jones Train Museum in Jackson for a break. The kids had a blast playing with all the Thomas the train toys, and Grafton was so excited to see a real train engine and ring its bell.  She was in heaven!

Inside the train engine, ringing the bell

 Peaking out the windows of the train!

 At the Shrek breakfast

James did NOT like the characters!

 Grafton loved wearing her shrek ears!

At the ICE exhibit....they gave us these warm parkas to wear because the whole exhibit is 9 degrees!

 James was along for the ride

All the figures in the background are made of ice

 Grafton had a blast!

The big ice slide! Grafton is about to come down!

 Yay for Grafton! She is such a little rebel!

 Sleepy on the boat ride

Grafton had a fun time in the boat

 Pop, Daddy, and James

Part of the clan at Stingy Santa

 Such a little monkey

Grafton had fun with the big girls

 Aunt Gay is always fun to be around

Happy James

 Uncle Jack would cuddle all day with James if he could