Happy Birthday 5 year old!

I just realized this morning that although I thought I had posted the pictures from Grace's birthday, I had not. It is yet another symptom of the half of a brain that I am functioning on these days. Oh well. It hasn't been a full month yet, so I am pretty sure I am still covered by the grace period. No pun intended.

Anyways, due to some unexpected circumstances, Gunnar and I were up until after 1 in the morning the night before, so we were pretty wiped out on the day of her birthday. Gunnar had bought her flowers and a pink donut and I had decorated the night before so when she woke up the kitchen was ready for a birthday celebration. She, of course, was thrilled.

Almost as soon as she finished her donut, the phone started ringing with happy birthday wishes. Her little cousin Elena sang to her on skype (video chat on the computer). There she is, talking to her Grandma while waiting for Elena to come online.
Both my girls love skyping with Ann, Elena and David!
Grace's birthday party was a costume cowboy party. I bought the girls new dresses. They were a compromise, as the more cowboy looking dresses were too blue for Grace. But I think the look worked.
My mom made a cardboard fort, for the girls to go in and out of. Grace had requested my mom make "The city of Jerusalem" out of cardboard, but of course, that wasn't really feasible. :)
Here we are, ready to yee-haw it up!
My sister Maria bought Grace pink roses, which she LOVED. She wanted to carry them around with her the rest of the night.
There are the cutie cousins. It is hard to get a good picture of these four, although they really are cute no matter what they are doing.
A family tradition at my parents house is a "love fest." Basically, the birthday person sits in the middle and everyone goes around and shares some "love." Either something the special person has done they appreciate, some characteristic that they appreciate, or...well, you get the picture. Something nice. This was Grace's first "love fest" as she was a little young before this. She LOVED it had smiled so big the whole time. I am so thankful for my sweet girl and it was sweet to hear everyone say such nice things about her. Especially since they were true. :)
Then came the present opening. She was very excited about each gift. I love that girls enthusiasm.
She scored playmobil's the best toys ever invented.
My mom hand crafted a barn. It goes with the doll house my mom made her a few years ago. Super cute and perfect for our little cow girl.
My sister Maria made the very best cake I have ever eaten in my whole life. Six layers of delicious chocolatey goodness. So delicious, I could have skipped dinner and just eaten that!
Lastly, Grace took some pictures with her guest. She had a slightly lower attendance than usual, as her Grandpa Dick had gotten sick. We missed him, but I guess that is a downside of having a birthday during cold and flu season. :(
No birthday for Grace would be complete without some baby David snuggle time. She is such a good baby holder!
Uncle Danny and Michael Sanchez, a good friend of Maria's, rounded out the birthday guest list.
Elizabeth loves her little cousin, David. She loves hugging him and trying to "hold him." It kinda looks like a case of the blind leading the blind with those two.