Dec 4, 2013

GRACE’S BARNYARD BASH

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For Grace’s birthday, I could think of no better way to celebrate her life — and so many dear friends who have meant the world to us these last years — than to celebrate… with cows!  You see, Grace loves animals.  Weekly, we visit our friends, the goats and chickens, to give them some animal crackers (ironic, I know).  We go see cows a few times a week (I live right down the road from a cow pasture!).  Couple this with my own love for chickens (my mom raised chickens since I was in fourth grade) and you have a little two-year old who loves all things farm!  So, Maple View Diary Farm was the obvious celebratory location : )

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I worked with Grey Snail Press to design these adorable barnyard invitations. 

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Stamps I got from Verde Studio on Etsy here.  The pink chicken backing I made myself.

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My parents and brother came to visit for the weekend to celebrate with us.  It was so special to have them there.

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Photos below by my amazing friend Faith.

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Meredith brought the balloons because, if I had brought them in our car with Grace, she would have exploded wanting to play with them!

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Can you tell she loves them??  She was saying “Mommeeeeeee!  Balloons!!!”

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We are so blessed to have Meredith in our lives!

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We started the party with a tour of Maple View.  It was chilly but all 40 of us snuggled together on the converted cotton wagon and off we went!

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Grace kept saying, “Hi cows! Mooooo!!!!!”

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She had so much fun with her buddy Mr. John.

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The highlight of the day perhaps was getting to feed a three-day old calf.  Grace is still talking about it!

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And all of our friends, young and old, loved it too!

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So, naturally, the Southern Weddings ladies were elated about this opportunity!

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We then got to tour the rest of the farm and meet the other residents : )  Maple View doubles as an educational farm, hosting classes and school outings.  So, this isn’t a petting zoo, but truly a place to learn.  It was great!

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And then Grace saw a giant tractor with lights on it.

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She and John were fascinated!  Who cute is he?

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We then went inside the Agricultural Center to get warm and have some goodies!

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Our friends from Southern Sugar Bakery made the most AMAZING barnyard cookies.  Oh my stars, they were so cute.

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And I got a carrot cake from Whole Foods.  Grace was pretty much created on Whole Foods foods : )

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Grace was making molars, so her hands were in her mouth most of the day!  But, she absolutely loved all of her friends singing to her : )

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Party decorations are from Oriental Trading.

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We all enjoyed fresh ice cream from the dairy farm, too!  Grace was crazy happy to have her own cup of Strawberry ice cream all to herself and sat silently eating the entire thing : )  And then, on her happy sugar high, proceeded to run around the room chasing her BFF TJ.

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We’ve loved the Hotdog Photo Booth from our Southern Weddings launch parties each year so much, so I asked them to join us for Grace.

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This is also such a great keepsake for guests to get a print out and a fun family photo!

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Nancy and Will below!

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I love this of Gracie and all of her little girl friends from church : )

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And then I coaxed my parents to get in : )

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Our 2013 family holiday card photo below….IMG_0549

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And the best series of the night…. Grace and TJ!

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It was such a wonderful celebration with friends — we are so grateful!  Here’s to another year of laughs and farm adventures!  Happy birthday, sweet pea!

22 Comments

  1. Rhiannon on December 4, 2013 at 6:52 pm

    Happy Birthday, Gracie! Priceless photos and perfect memories 🙂

  2. Mary on December 4, 2013 at 7:06 pm

    The CUTEST party I’ve ever seen! Grace faces are the best!

  3. Nancy Ray on December 4, 2013 at 7:15 pm

    Happy birthday Gracie! We LOVED being a part of your special day. (I definitely loved the hayride and feeding the baby cow just as much as the kids… if not MORE.) Love you and your whole family!! xoxox

  4. Jillian on December 4, 2013 at 8:03 pm

    Oh my goodness! What a special day. Such sweet photos and memories!

  5. Carly on December 4, 2013 at 8:41 pm

    I love these photos so much, especially your family’s Christmas card. Both of your parents, especially your mom, seem like such a joy to be around. It’s so special that they were able to attend with your brother! Grace is just the cutest. Happy, Happy Birthday!

  6. Kristen Ostow on December 4, 2013 at 8:56 pm

    Happy 2nd Birthday Grace!!! All your pictures are so sweet – you can really feel the love! :o)

  7. Anna on December 4, 2013 at 10:32 pm

    Love it! What a fun party and was an amazing little 2-year-old you’ve got! Thanks for including us in Grace’s celebration.

  8. Marilisa Schachinger on December 4, 2013 at 11:40 pm

    Awww I recognize TJ! His parents used to live and Athens and are friends with the Thompson’s? What a small world and these pictures are PRICELESS! What a fun memory for her and your family : )

    • Lara on December 5, 2013 at 2:00 pm

      Yes! Such a small world!! : )

  9. sarah tucker on December 5, 2013 at 12:58 am

    gracie! you are so so precious. loved seeing these pictures, Lara. thanks for sharing. muchos smoochos. xoxox

  10. Amy Stoks on December 5, 2013 at 2:08 am

    Happy Birthday Gracie! Cutest birthday party ever! I think the only thing that topped its cutness was Grace’s expressions! Love it!

  11. Jasmine on December 5, 2013 at 3:14 am

    Hey Grace, that was a FUN way to turn 2!

  12. melody on December 5, 2013 at 12:00 pm

    oh sweet Gracie! what a special way to celebrate 2! her face is priceless. and that baby cow?! how fun!! happy birthday little girl! you bring so much Joy to the world 🙂

  13. Natasha Gillyard on December 5, 2013 at 2:02 pm

    Happy Gracie day!!! I’m so glad that all of ya’ll had so much fun and made lots of memories! =)

  14. Jen Kessler on December 5, 2013 at 3:34 pm

    These are so cute!!! Grace is such a little light – Happy Birthday to Grace!!

  15. Catie Ronquillo Wood on December 5, 2013 at 5:01 pm

    Happy Birthday Gracie! That is the the cutest birthday party. Grace has the best expressions! I love that last photobooth shot!

  16. Morgan Jones on December 5, 2013 at 5:06 pm

    Lara! These pictures are absolutely precious. Such sweet memories for you and your family!! Nothing better than a baby moo moo cow 🙂

  17. Abbie on December 5, 2013 at 5:39 pm

    She is such a doll. I love all of her expressions. And I LOVE that your family is using that pic for your card!

  18. Natalie on December 5, 2013 at 10:37 pm

    Helllllooooo toddler years!!!! These pictures make me sooooo happy! I’m just sorry Preston and Gracie aren’t next door neighbors!!!!! Happy Birthday Grace!!!!!!!!!!!!

  19. Virginia on December 17, 2013 at 5:15 pm

    Grace is so beautiful!!! God bless her!!! Awesome party and looks so much fun .

  20. Hannah on January 29, 2014 at 6:06 pm

    Where did u get those adorable invites made ?

    • Lara on February 7, 2014 at 2:30 pm

      Grey Snail Press on Etsy : )

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