Gracie's birthday weekend

highlights:

• stretching our legs at Rock City


• shopping, shopping, and then more shopping at every story that caught Gracie's eye


• lunch at Gracie's beloved Sweet Tomatoes


• birthday calls throughout the day


• visiting the American Girl store


• more shopping :)


• dinner on patio at The Cheesecake Factory


• being serenaded at dinner


• swimming at our hotel


• roaming Ikea


• lunch at The Varsity


• exploring downtown Atlanta

Gracie absolutely loved her present from us- money to shop and time to visit any store she wanted. (Most of you know this already, but Gracie is all about clothes...and has been for years.) We hit all of the stores big on the seven-year old scene: Gap, Osh Kosh, Justice, Gymboree, Delia's, Build A Bear, American Girl, Disney, Pottery Barn Kids, and Claires. She was a happy kid. Her brothers? Not so much. ;)

So what does a seven year old buy with birthday money? A denim jacket, Silly Bandz bracelets, many headbands, a pair of skinny jeans, stick on earrings (after almost deciding to get her ears pierced and then changing her mind), a hoodie, a pair of rainbow flip flops, an art easel, a new art smock, a tea set for her American Girl dolls, a new American Girl mystery, scented lip gloss, and two new T shirts.

It was fun and I am worn out. Turns out it is a bit hard for five people to get a good night's sleep in a hotel room with two double beds. No complaints here, though, as we got the room for free using Ben's hotel points. So nice that something good can come out of Ben spending so many nights away from us lately! We even got a wonderful free breakfast the next morning. We're big fans of Hilton.

I think it is safe to say that the kids are worn out too- it is 8:15 and I am the only one awake! Between tired kids, rain outside, and a living room full of suitcases, laundry, and shopping bags to put away, I think we'll make it a quiet day at home.

Hope your weekend was wonderful too!