A New Era - Sleepovers

We are missing someone tonight...  and I can feel it.  We have entered the phase of "sleepovers" and Grace is off to a birthday party/sleepover at her good friend's house tonight.  This is her third sleepover and so far so good.  She loves them!  The one thing she told me this morning is that she hopes they don't go to bed too late tonight!  She can be so funny - she loves her sleep (unlike her little sister).  I have such good memories of sleepovers from my own childhood and I hope the same for Grace.  She has a few really good friends and I'm proud of her for that.  As a mommy though, I'm having bittersweet thoughts about how fast she is growing up.  I've said this before but I just want time to slow down! 
Grace's next birthday party will also be a sleepover and I'm looking forward to it.  It will be a small number of girls (thankfully) and I will have a few activities planned but mostly it will be the girls just "hanging out".  My opinion is that they should be able to find ways to entertain themselves - I remember dancing, planning airbands (oh my, what a blast from the past) and singing our hearts out. 

So in Grace's absence, we have rented movies and are going out to dinner.  At least we still have our two little ones to keep us company.

Grace is on the left... with her good friend (and distant cousin) Olivia.