A week of Grace!

Hi Landon and Mason! 

Excited to hear from you both today!  How was your week?  Excited to hear about Elder Utchdorf in Austria and the exchanges that happened in Los Condes this week too.  

Well the Jeep is insured and registered again.  We figured we should get it official so we can drive it more and possibly let Lydia drive it for a little bit before you guys get home.  It's doing well and Dad took this picture of Lydia in it holding some Papa Murphy pizzas:)

 Over the weekend the Hatches were here.  They came Thursday and left Saturday.  This is the only picture I took when they were here.  We didn't do a whole lot just cause they were here for Alyssa's tryout for the BYU cheer squad.  It was an anxious weekend cause the try out went both Friday and Saturday.  Unfortunately, Alyssa came really close but didn't make it.  Not sure the reason why but there were only two spots and she didn't get one.  They were disappointed but all will be ok and she is just grateful she is going to BYU in the fall.   Caleb had fun hanging out with Jacob and Grace.  Jacob and Caleb even went to a BYU baseball game together.  Here you can see them hanging out with him at the Brick Oven. 

This is a picture of Gracie on Sunday!  She's been so excited to wear this dress.  All winter she would ask me and it just seemed like a funny dress to wear with snow outside.  So this Sunday she was so excited to wear it. She looked so cute! 

 One thing Gracie really wanted for her birthday is a fairy garden.  When Grandma and Grandpa were here they bought her a few things to go in her fairy garden.  On her birthday we got her this pot and some dirt and we put it all together.  She likes to go outside and play a little bit with her garden each day.  Hopefully when it's warmer we can plant some really flowers in the pot. 

On Wednesday Gracie turned 4!!!  The much anticipated day for this little girl had arrived.  She came into my room that morning asking "Is today my birthday?"  She was very glad when I told her yes.  

Here requests for the day was banana muffins for breakfast, rice crispy treats to preschool, strawberry cake for her party and pizza for dinner.  She opened a gift with this cute outfit for her to wear for her birthday.  

 
In the afternoon was her party!  She had a Fairy Birthday Party!  It was very cute! 

Sunshine needed to come a little bit early, which Gracie was very happy about!  

I made these funny fairy crowns with silk flowers.  Some girls loved them, so did not.  They were cute and funny.  

 We played pin the wings on the fairy

 Gracie had 5 friends come to her party.  It was the perfect amount of kids.  

 They walked across the water using lily pads. 

 Colored pictures of fairies

Freeze dance with balloons

 Jacob (and Lydia) both came home a little earlier from school so they could be at the party.  Lydia had to leave a bit into the party but Jacob was there and was a good helper.  

 Cake time! 

 Presents! 

 Cute little fairies! 

Then I gave them little containers with glitter and we called it pixie dust.  They sprinkled it over the plants and grass outside. We also did bubble wand outside but I didn't get picture of that. 

Gracie loved her party.  At one point during the party she said "Mom this is the best fairy party ever".  It was a happy day for her.   

 That night was mutual so we ate, sang, gave her some presents and called her birthday a good day.  Then I crashed on the couch cause I had forgotten how much work a little kid birthday can be. 

 Spanking machine and Dad helping Grace put together her new scooter that she wanted. 

Sorry that this post is mostly about Gracie's birthday.  I took lots of pictures of it and thought I would share.  Hopefully you enjoyed them. 

On Sunday we also had a youth/parent ward fireside with Jon Bytheway.  Dad sat on the stand with him and it reminded me of the time Landon sat on the stand during the stake fireside when he spoke in Mapleton a few years back.  It was a great fireside and our ward filled the chapel.  He's sister Becky Wengreen who is in our ward also has a son in law that is in the Nashville Tribute band.  He played the A Poor Wayfaring Man on the piano for a musical number.  So it was special fireside. 


I saw this the other day and thought it was very profound.  Sometimes it's hard to know why we have to experience hard times, but I do know if life were just easy we would never learn the lessons we are meant to learn.

We pray for you each daily!  You are amazing men and we are so grateful you are part of our family!  Keep working hard and know your family 1000's of miles away loves you very much!