Gracie's Birthday!

July 28, our Gracie Madelyn Shanks turned 11 years old. That is hard to believe! She is such a sweet girl..mature in many ways, yet still innocent in a lot of ways. She is responsible, self motivated, self disciplined, sweet to her 3 year old sister (sometimes sweet to her 7 year old sister..LOL), kind, easy going, quiet. I think her mind turns a lot of times, thinking about things, that aren't expressed aloud. She is a jewel of a daughter. Lest I give the wrong idea though, she also takes her turn at rolling her eyes, talking back, & having lots of piles of STUFF all over her room. We love her and are extremely blessed that God chose us to be her parents.

Here is Gracie, the last picture before her 11th birthday. She loves to read!

Birthday breakfast table is ready!

Happy 11th birthday! :)

Cinnamon rolls for birthday breakfast!

A hug for a sister!

Some more Vera Bradley!

She may be 11 and like Vera Bradley, but she also enjoyed getting a new outfit for her American Girl doll.

Birthday dinner table ready!

Flowers from her daddy!

Her requested birthday dinner: Chicken 'n Dumplings with broccoli.

with ice cream sundaes for dessert!

ipod charger/music player

The next evening, a friend & I took a small group, 2 of her friends, to The Melting Pot to celebrate!

It was a fun birthday!