Grace turned 9!

We can hardly believe it, but our "little" Grace is 9 years old!

March 2, 2003 in Blacksburg, VA

2 March 2012 in Graz, Austria

Grace received some of her favorite things!

The tradition here is that the birthday child brings a snack for the class. Grace requested that I make her chocolate chip cookies. Grace tells me that her fellow students LOVED them, which pleases me greatly. Grace said that she had a GREAT day at school and we went to our favorite pizza place for dinner. Grace's pizza came out in the shape of a heart, which Grace loved.  I told the kids they could have some leftover chocolate chip cookie dough for dessert and we all headed home for that and to open presents.

A cool thing about Grace is that she can be very generous.  She made sure Henry wasn't left out by giving him a gift ... a wooden car that she made in art class at school ... very cool, Grace!

Henry, admiring his new toy car from Grace

Saturday was supposed to be a family day outside on the slopes, but not skiing -- sledding, so that everyone could join into the fun. But alas, like in Fayetteville, spring came before Grace's birthday and the likelihood of finding good sledding nearby was going to be tough. So, instead Grace played with her new toys in the morning (and Russ did all the weekend shopping) and we arranged a "date" in the afternoon with her buddy Francesco (Mom from Argentina, Dad from Canada, and they've lived in Germany and Austria in addition to Canada). We went for ice cream and then to a big park with lots of cool toys. Sometime during the afternoon, Grace, Henry and Francesco hatched a plan to have him sleep over. And although our first inclination was to say no (hey, we're parents, right?), we realized we had no good reason not to agree. So, our first sleepover in Graz and with a boy-friend no less! :-)

Grace and German Class Buddy, Francesco

Sunday we were invited to a friend's house for a "simple lunch" (which turned out to be spaghetti Milanese, spaghetti with a chicken cutlet).  So, Grace and Henry played with Carlo while Russ and Sue took turns talking with Carlo's mom, Loulou. Loulou is an American married to an Italian living in Austria. It's hard not to feel inferior around these families we've become friends with!

Anyway, it was a busy weekend, but one that Grace enjoyed quite a bit.  Many happy returns, Grace!  We love you!

Russ