Easter and Birthday Celebration

Easter was combined with some birthday celebrations this year. Gracie was born on Uncle Brent's birthday and Scott has an April birthday too. I made a Spongebob cake for the celebration because he is one of Gracie's favorites. She loved it! She got some fun stuff...like the cute party dress that she's wearing in one of the pictures from Aunt Susan and Uncle Brent. She also got some fun coloring stuff from Uncle Craig...she loves to color and draw. I am grateful my extended family is as close as they are, and it's always fun to get together for celebrations like this!

Michael Buble Concert!!!

I was fortunate enough to go to the Michael Buble Crazy Love Tour concert in Seattle with my good friend, Kim. It was on April 3rd at Key Arena. I had been looking forward to this concert for a long time and it was definitely worth the wait!

The concert started out with this awesome a cappella group from New York called "Naturally 7." As with all a cappella groups, all of the sounds were made vocally. "Feel It" (originally by Phil Collins) was the song they came out singing. It was amazing how they could make their voices sound just like "real" instruments! They have an album coming out on June 15th and I will definitely be looking for it!

Then the guy we came to see came out! He sounds just as amazing live as he does on his album. This was the first Michael Buble concert I have been to, but wouldn't hesitate to go again! I love all of his songs! One cool thing about the Seattle concert was that his whole family was there. He is from Vancouver, B.C., so they all traveled to Seattle to see him there. It was fun to be there while he was also performing for his family. There was such a range of people in the audience...from young girls to crazy old ladies drooling over him and from men who chose to come to men that were dragged there by their ladies. We had a few crazies around us that kept us even more entertained (if that was possible). There was also a lame lady that stood in front of the stage the entire time. Michael referred to her as his "crazy a** fan" and I'm sure she loved that. However, I am pretty sure he was very annoyed by her. It was a great night and I am so glad I got to share that experience with such a great friend! :)

April Trip #1 to Seattle with Gracie

I am off-track right now. I love being off-track because I get to come home to Seattle. This time was even better because Kristen and Gracie got to come too! Here are some fun pictures of Gracie from this trip.

She loves getting in her doll's stroller...so cute!

Here she is riding Topper...named after Papa Richard's horse that Gracie loves!

She's also a good little mommy to her doll with Aunt Vanda's shoes on (this girl LOVES shoes!).

Sweet Tooth Fairy...YUM!

As many of you know, I love cupcakes. I don't know why...I just do! I am not big on cake, but give me a cupcake and I melt. Well, a new cupcake bakery recently opened in Draper. Kristen, Gracie, and I visited there. We got a chocolate/peanut butter cupcake, a vanilla cupcake, and some lemon cake bites. They were all good, but the vanilla cupcake was by far the best...it had a great flavor and just melted in your mouth! The chocolate/peanut butter cupcake was kind of dry and the lemon cake bites were just okay. I can't wait to go there again to try some of the other treats!

Birthday Party #3

I had one more birthday celebration. A few people in my family came over to my grandparents to help me celebrate one last time...I am so spoiled! :)

Fun With Gracie!

I love it when Gracie comes to visit! We have so much fun! I'm not bragging or anything, but she really does love her Aunt Vanda!

My Birthday Surprises!

So...back to my birthday. I know it was forever ago, but I never finished sharing about my wonderful weekend. You all know how it started (with the wonderful surprise party from my students), but it just kept getting better! A few hours after I posted about my party at school I got another great surprise. Kristen and Gracie were coming for my birthday weekend, but they brought another fabulous person...my mom! Can you believe that? My mom flew in just for my birthday! Isn't she just the best mom? I know...you are all jealous! Anyway, they came to school and visited for a bit and then went to my grandparents. I met them there after school. We were planning on going to dinner. They brought up Mimi's Cafe (home of the BEST grilled cheese sandwich). I had been there twice already that week with an awesome friend, but I was ready for more. Kristen said she had to go to the mall to get me my birthday present so we were going to meet her, my grandma, my cousin, and my two aunts there at the restaurant. My mom and I drove up with Gracie and, being the weird person that I am, I noticed a few cars that I recognized (they were not the cars of my family members). I walked in to a group of friends and family yelling "Happy Birthday" and "Surprise." My favorite sister, Kristen, had planned a surprise party for me. She had contacted my friend Tina (who is also the head secretary at my school). Tina got her a list of some of my favorite people. I am not a big fan of surprise parties, but I had so much fun...thanks Kris! Here are some pictures of the fun night!