Gracie is 8

Wow.  How did that happen?  Grace was the big kid today.  It made me smile and smile some more.  We had a detective party.  Fun times.  She wore a school uniform type jumper over a turtle neck - it was her best Nancy Drew get-up since her sweater vest was dirty.  Her little bob was held back with a pink headband.  She greeted her guests and was very careful to thank each person exuberantly when she opened her gifts.  She enjoyed our cheesy games of "what's missing" where they took turns dressing up and then taking off one item to see if the others could guess what it might be, whack the home made pinata until the candy spills out, and the mystery of the missing gift.  The gift was taken from the box sent from America.  There was a red fingerprint and a tuft of tissue paper on the floor near the door.  Another red finger print on the down arrow of the elevator.  The box, torn open was on the bench seat outside our door.  Obviously the water man had taken the box and then the gift.  Oh no!  Another red fingerprint inside the elevator going to -1 floor.  Down in the garage more paper, more clues... and then the nice thief left the gift in Mom's cart.  I'm not sure the Chinese kids ever knew we were trying to solve a mystery, but everyone appeared to like the running around and finding Gracie's lost gift in the end.

So, that was the party.  But it was all the subtle growing up things that I noticed today that I relish in tonight.  Like when our friend L who is almost 6 said it was a bit scary to think about a thief taking Grace's present (and she was obviously a bit scared) and Gracie responded that all mysteries are a little bit scary.  She had that glint of joy in her eye, and I remembered being the younger kid with the older ones feeling a little scared but noticing they weren't afraid at all.  Gracie was the older kid today.  We had one sweet girl here today who didn't know anyone else.  She comes over to play sometimes and we like her a lot, but she isn't from our neighborhood.  She seemed a little reserved and when I told Gracie to make sure she was included she immediately took her hand and had her come and be part.  So genuine, so sweet.  I smiled.  She was just on her best behavior in every way today.  I was proud of her.  She is a precious girl.  Love her to pieces.