5 Days left until Mari-Grace turns 3 !!!!!

Well ... we celebrated Mari-Grace's first birthday tonight in GRAND style !!!


The Uncles cooked a fabulous fish dinner !!! Actually ... Tom and Mike aren't related ... but they are like family ... so they count as uncles !!!

We had Fried catfish ... corn fritters ... hush puppies ... fried jalapenos... fried chicken ... fried shrimp ... fried pickles ... baked beans ... cole slaw ... potato salad and BIRTHDAY CAKE !!!!


At first, Mari-Grace was a little over-whelmed by the crowd. 46 people friends and family ( this was the Grown-Up Party) came over for dinner and play. We actually had 5 kids total here. It was fabulous !!!


After eating a plate of shrimp and pickles and onion rings ... Mari-Grace decided it was ok to leave Mom behind and head out to play in the playhouse and on her swing.

It didn't take but a couple of minutes for her to dive into the birthday cake icing !

She was loving every minute of it.



And then came the presents! All I can say is WOW !

• Baby Doll


• Stuffed cow


• little people nativity set


• little people camping set


• tinker bell and friends chair


• a playdoh back pack set


• 24 cans of playdoh


• moon dough


• a golf set for outside


• crayola color bubbles


• a Hello Kitty tutu skirt, shirt, bike shorts and barrette


• a cute gymboree outfit complete with bling, bows, and sunglasses


• a lady bug 2 piece summer set


• a lady bug dress


• a sprinkler for summer play


• 2 gardening kits


• 
  
  refrigerator magnets


• 
  
  and MONEY !!

Mari-Grace was so tired she could hardly move ... but we were up until 11 pm ... she had to play with everything!

We had a great time playing with Wiler (age 2&1/2), Adyson (age 18 months), Kinleigh (age 3), and Chloe (age 3). Chloe holds a special place in our heart ... She is Mari-Grace's orphanage sister.

Her mom, Laura and I shed a couple of tears tonite talking about how far our girls have come in the last 10 months.

And to think that this time last year ... Mari-Grace was on the other side of the world .... waiting ... not really knowing how much her life was about to change !!!

Pictures to come soon !