Happy Birthday Sweet Pea!!!!

I can not believe that my little girl is already 8 years old! It seems like only yesterday when I was able to hold you in my arms for the very first time. You were absolutely beautiful!! Dad and I did have a very hard time naming you, which caused a very late night . I would not let daddy go home until you had a name. Finally, when I looked at you while daddy was out of the room Gracie Rae came out and I think it fits you perfectly!!!!!! This was a very busy year, which included many, many firsts for you. Here are some of the photos from your year, not all of them are in the correct order, what a great year you had!

We celebrate your 7th birthday party at Skateland in Fargo.

Here are the girls that made it to your party

along with the boys.

You had a very busy, but fun year in first grade. One of the highlights was when you were given the honors of being named Student of the Month. We were all very proud of you.

You also developed a true love of horses this year. Thanks to these two guys you have been able to continue riding and get a few lessons along the way.

Girl Scouts was another first for you, that included this fun tea party with all of your Daisy friends.

When the Daisy year was finished, you were bridged into becoming a Brownie for your second grade year.

You did a great job in your first year of bowling. You finished the year with an award for the highest game for girls, but you were also the leader in a couple of other categories too.

In May you competed in the Youth Track Meet and you were even asked to be in a relay with a few of your friends.

Your team included Erika, you, Paige, and Callie. You all did a fantastic job and ended with smiles on your faces. It was such a fun day.

Your summer was super busy, but you managed to squeeze in art camp, a lot of your brother's baseball games and you played in the Ponies Softball League. You turned out to be pretty good player and a big slugger.

In August you came along with dad, Jerrin, and I to Texas where the boys competed in the National Family Bowling Tournament. We had so much fun together and we were able to do many fun things. You proved to all of us that you were pretty brave as you climbed to the top of the highest waterslide we have ever been on and actually went down. Making it pretty hard for mom not to go down too. I did not think you would make it up the steps or down the slide, but once again you proved me wrong.

Then there was this amazing room. You FINALLY got to have your OWN room decorated the way YOU wanted. It was so much fun working with you as we finished your room. It looks great!

The first day of second grade is always an exciting time, but this year it was also your teacher's first day of school. Mrs. Ullrich was new to our school this year, so you began the adventure of the year together.

You can not the forget the new friends you have made this year. Your new bestest friend, Jordan was a new student when 2010 started and you have been hard to keep apart since.

Gracie you have really started to develop into your own over the past year too. You know what you like and do not like. You know what you want and you are not afraid to be yourself. This photo was taken at Uffda Days in Rutland after you purchased a pair of glasses, just because.

Nothing says attitude like a new pair of (fake) glasses.

You love, love, love to play in the snow.

And now here you are today. My daughter whom I am super proud of and love more than anything. I can not wait to watch you grow and mature over the next year and to see what 2011 will bring to you.

Happy Birthday Sweet Pea. I love you

Mom