3rd birthday!

The most counted-down day of the year....Gracie's birthday!

Grace has been asking when her birthday was since LAST September 16th (the day after her 2nd birthday.) 

She knew exactly what she wanted....and she'd tell anybody she met: "I'm having a PINK birthday".

It was kind of a lot of pressure to fulfill her birthday expectations, but I think we did an ok job.

We got lots of pink balloons, wrapping paper, streamers, etc. and made sure it was the first thing she saw that morning:

 Her reaction, "My PINK birthday! Happy Birthday to me....Happy Birthday to me...Happy Birthday dear meeeee." Here she is first seeing everything:

 I gave her a birthday crown and a little gift to open before breakfast. She had to wait for her party to open the rest.

 Happy as a clam on her favorite pink birthday. She colored her little picture for about an hour, then requested to watch Beauty and the Beast and eat swedish fish. As you wish, birthday girl.

 My friend Kelly came over to help me decorate the cake, then we headed to Party Hardy with some other Moms and Gracie's friends. She always asks to go to the jump house, so I figured her birthday was a great time to go! Lucy had the time of her life too...

 Here she is watching Avery's puppet show, which was very entertaining.

 Mom and Gracie going down the big scary slide! She loved it.

 Having fun with her friends!

 A few of the kids slowing down for a second to pose for a picture:  

 Avery and Preston brought Gracie a gift to open! She loved her new princess dress up stuff, of course.

 After partying at Party Hardy we headed home and both girls crashed. Luckily they woke up in time for our next party! The family party was at 6:30 with both sets of Grandparents, her Jones cousins and aunts and uncles. We had pizza, pop and lots of fun (and presents!).

 Grace had a mountain of presents to open. We thought about hiding some for Christmas...

She was very serious about opening presents this year. Her face was so serious and determined and she'd rip the paper as fast as she could. She hardly would look at the present for maybe 5 seconds then say, "Give me another one!" We kind of had to calm her down a little bit and remind her to say thank you once in a while....:)

 Finally the time came to open the big present that has been sitting in our breakfast nook for a few days. She's been itching to look under that paper, but thankfully was able to wait until her party...

 Jared and I made her a little dollhouse. He built it and made lots of the furniture, and I decorated it. Grace loves it. She's played with it nonstop ever since. 

She got lots and lots of fun toys that will easily keep her busy for years to come. 

Next was cake time! In keeping with the pink theme, we went for a pink castle this year.

 Her first reaction to seeing her castle cake:

 Everyone was singing Happy Birthday......

 And she blows out the candles!

The party was a success! She had such a fun day.

We love Gracie and the big personality that comes with her. She is so spunky and fun, such a great big sister, and a loving daughter. Happy Birthday sweet girl!