Parties and Pretties

It's been a beautiful spring here in Texas.  Well, most days.  As Texas is wont to do, the weather is rather changeable, but the flowers are still dazzling.

My parents left Easter morning to go back to Idaho.  We were sad to say goodbye, but feel SO blessed to have enjoyed their company for 5 months.  Are we lucky or what?!

The last week, we made sure to have lots of fun together.

Before they left, the kids got to enjoy a last ride on Grandpa's motorcycle. 
 

Easter morning dawned with sunshine and candy.  We enjoyed a fun dinner with friends and reflected on our blessings from the Savior.

Last weekend, I hosted book club.  We read "Crossing to Safety" by Wallace Stegner.  LOVE him and loved the book.  The weather was perfect and we enjoyed a good three hours on my patio chatting away.  It was divine.

Gracie also celebrated a birthday last weekend.  She is the ripe old age of 10.  I can't believe that my baby has grown so fast.  I am not the mom of little kids anymore.  It's funny how fast that happens.  She had a few friends from school over.

She received lovely presents and money from her friends, including her newest pet, Cheerio.

Before my mother left, she helped me give Gracie's room a make-over for her birthday present.

Here is the before:

 

She just wanted it to be more grown up.  She felt like it was very babyish.  SO:

 

She was so thrilled when we let her in for the first time.  She jumped on the bed and hugged the owl.  She loves owls.

I love my little Gracie.  She is high-strung and can be all kinds of drama (can't imagine where she got that from!!), but she is also sweet and sensitive.  Yesterday, Derick poured a 1/2 gallon of milk all over my newly mopped kitchen floor and was in the process of emptying 4 tubs of yogurt.  I swatted his bum and yelled, "No, No, No!" and escorted him to his room.  Sweet Gracie said, "Mom!  Why are you getting so mad at him?  He's only a big baby."  I said, "Grace, I need to teach him that he can not get into the fridge and make these messes.  He has to learn."  To which, she responded: "Mom, he's here to teach US!  We need to learn from him!"  Ugh.  So true, Gracie.

This week, she was sick, so we spent a long lovely day together, enjoying the beautiful sun and flowers in our back yard and sipping peach tea.  She has been loving having me read "The Blue Castle" to her.  And I love reading it.  She is a darling girl.