Lucky Number 7

Gracie had more of a birthday WEEK instead of just a birthDAY {she's learning early :)}! She visited Grandma the Sunday before her birthday and among other treats, she received her first Easy-Bake Oven...no time to waste...we were making cookies that evening!

I have to say, they're not just super fabulous tasting, but they are pretty!

The next day, we tried chocolate cake...this is the crew patiently waiting for the microwave to *ding*

Same taste {eh}, same terrific decorating skills :)

Friday morning, her day had finally arrived...she began anticipating this beautiful morning 57 days, 12 hrs and 13 minutes prior...trust me...I had daily...and sometimes hourly...reminders! The alarm went off extra early so that she could open some of her presents before school. The alarm was extra, extra early for Mommy & Daddy, as we were making cupcakes for the second time until about midnight after our dear, sweet, new Boxer puppy, Bandit, decided to pull the 3-tier Tinkerbell-inspired cupcake stand off the kitchen island and scarf down nine of the cupcakes before we could get to him. Cleaning chocolate cupcake vomit off of our area rug in the wee hours of the morning was extra fun, too! Seeing this face the next morning though...yep, it was worth it!

Being silly with her horsie cap....

Sleepyhead modeling her new horsie shirt!

Jack and I both had this game when we were kids, too. That makes it extra fun! My forty-year- old hands are no more nimble than my nine-year-old's were!

That afternoon after school, the party was continued...one of her classmates that couldn't attend her party gave her this Paperoni craft set. She made this little mouse-looking guy that evening that was super cute! :)

The DVD of "Tangled"...her favorite! Oreo's face looks like, "Not a bone...next..."

Saturday, she opened her gifts from Marmie & Popi...lots of horse books to read this summer!

She also got this cloisenne bracelet that was blessed by the Pope when Marmie visited Italy last Fall.

Sunday afternoon, thankfully, the weather held out for us. It was a bit windy, but NO RAIN! Yay!!! The kids enjoyed Mr. Sergio's jump house and...

...the petting zoo! There were pony rides for the kids and turtle rides for the goats :)

Chicks, ducklings, baby bunnies, big bunnies, goats, sheep, a calf, a donkey, fluffy chickens, two South American cavies...wow! The whole farm was here!

Mr. Dan showing the kids how to be brave, but gentle...

"Bunny ears are soft, Mommy!!!"

Pony ride!!!

Gracie's cake...designed by her. Pink zebra stripes with her bown farm animals and fencing on top...even a little girl bottle-feeding a calf...yep, looks just like home...minus the pink zebra stripes :)

Mommy is thinking we need a bigger closet!!! Where are we gonna put all of these gifts??? Time to clean out our older stuff for donating! She was so happy...she got lots of craft stuff which will be great for this summer...bracelet making, suncatchers, journal decorating and writing...She also received handmade bows and a necklace which she absolutely adores and some clothes, shoes, jewelry and nail polish...which is all positively right up her little girly alley!!! Pool toys and other outdoorsy accessories, sidewalk chalk and washable sidewalk paint with some $ to buy more (you can never have too much sidewalk chalk, right?!) were the cherries on top of the cake! Best of all, she loved hanging out with her buddies and eating some of that yummy cake...

I think we pooped these poor little fellas OUT!

Even the fluffy chickens can't bear the thought of standing any longer!

It was so funny to see Mr. Joe just open the trailer door and have them all jump, hop and scoot in...Mr. Turtle was air-lifted. After all of the goat rides, he deserved the break!

The princess requested Chinese food for her dinner and it didn't take long for this little family to find their beds after that...must rest...many thank you notes to write! :)