7 great years of Gracey

Gracey is 7 years old today.  I am still trying to wrap my head around that.  When I think of seven year olds generally, I just imagine little kids.  When I think of Gracey though, I see a little person that is kind, caring, fun-loving, and mostly obedient.

She has been looking forward to her birthday for months.  When she got her ears pierced last year for her birthday, we told her that she couldn't even consider changing her earrings for at least a year.  She remembered our little deal and has been hoping for some new earring for a long time.  Grandma Joyce pulled through for her and got her some sweet little flower earrings that she can change out with my help.  (Call me controlling, but I don't want earrings to get lost or dropped down the drain.  With her sensitive ears, those quality earrings don't come cheap!)

Some fun things to remember about Gracey right now is how much she is learning to love books.  She has become a great reader and absolutely loves the accomplishment of finishing a book on her own, no matter how big or small it is.

She loves her family very much.  She loves the family hug that she initiates each night before bed.  When I talk about an upcoming weekend and ask if there is anything she wants to do, she often says, "Oh, just do something as a family!"

She is a great student.  At her last Parent/Teacher conference, her teacher told us that she is well liked in the classroom.  She says that when Gracey finishes her assignment, she is eager to help other students when she is allowed.  If you ask her what she wants to be when she grows up, as of 1st grade, she now wants to be a teacher.

She is becoming pretty good at popping wheelies on her bicycle.

She is a sensitive soul.  Just last night, shortly after getting Gracey and Emily to bed, Gracey came out to me with tears in her eyes.  When I asked her what the matter was, she said, "I like birthdays, but they make me kind of sad because it means I am getting older and almost going off to college."  It made me want to cry too, because I know how fast time can actually go and I know I will be a mess when my children moves on to bigger things!  I assured her (as much as I was assuring myself) that we don't have to worry about that for 10 more years, so we can enjoy birthdays as much as we can.  It was so sweet.  Gosh!


Corky and I are so blown away with this little person.  Her enthusiasm is not only contagious, it is entertaining.  We say to her multiple times a day, beginning in the early mornings, "Gracey, stop making all the noises!"  Whether she is tapping her feet, drumming on the table, or making all sorts of noises with her mouth, she is ALWAYS making noise and being excited about something.  It drives us nuts often, but makes us laugh mostly!

Happy Birthday to our Gracey-girl!