Happy Birthday Grace!

It's hard to believe that four years have passed

since this little angel was born!

I remember the three long flights it took

to get to Okinawa, Japan.

I left Thanksgiving Day. I wanted to make

sure I was there to welcome this little

one to the world.

I got there and we waited!

There were places to go and things

to see to help pass the time,

but the most beautiful site in that entire

country was this little girl's sweet face!

She was perfect!

And when the time came for me

to fly back to the states, I didn't

want to go. It's never fun being separated,

but I'm thankful now that she lives in the USA

and visits are much easier! And much

more frequent!

Oh, what joy she has brought to our lives!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRACE!

She had a birthday party at the gymnastic gym

she and her sister Olivia, now attend!

It's a really nice place. Her party was in

the part of the gym where Olivia's classes

are held. Olivia looked like she

felt right at home.

 I think gymnastics is good for her. You can see

that she enjoys it. And - she's getting

stronger by the day!

 This was Brilyn's first time to visit.

She got to see Grace and Olivia's new

house, their new neighborhood

and their new gym.

I think she had fun!

 Brilyn always likes playing with

Grace and Olivia!

 Isn't Olivia just darling in her little

gym suit.

 Here is Grace getting ready to perform a

trick on the bar.

 This gym is a pretty neat place to have a birthday

party. You get free play time on the equipment,

a coach that does a few things with the

kids as a group and a party room

and time to have refreshments.

And just look who Grace is playing with!

She tells me that she doesn't like cootie boys!

(and ALL boys are cootie boys)

But, if I didn't know better I would think

she liked Pete!

 She seems to give him a lot of attention.

Maybe she has learned that

boys can be fun to have as

friends, too!