8.

Grace turned 8 last Saturday.  On one hand, it seems unbelievable that she could be 8 already, and on the other, it seems like she should be even older.  She's so mature, so serious, so tall- and seems so very grown up.

But she's still our little girl, and I'm struggling to hang on to that as I watch her hurry up and turn into a lovely young lady.

We fitted her for a new pair of roller blades on her birthday, at Scheels.

Scheels has a giant set of escalators.  I have been terrified of escalators since I was a small child.  I absolutely hate them.  Something about the automated way they run, there's no control, and the thought of tripping and falling down, smashing my face on their hard sharp metal edges.... Chills.

I try to never say things like this in front of my kids- don't want to handicap their blossoming minds with unnecessary fears.

Grade did, of course, desire to take the stairs, though, like me.  The other kids were totally disappointed.  On the way down, Jim rode the escalator with three thrilled Kochs, and Grace and I, again, took the long way.  It's healthier, really.  Right??

On the way down, she looked up at me and said, "I don't like escalators because I feel like I'm going to trip and fall on my face."

I gave a hearty, "AMEN, SISTER.  THAT IS A TOTALLY VALID CONCERN.  YOU TAKE THE STAIRS, BABY."

Jim and I laugh about it all the time- it is crazy how much that girl is just like me. 

Here are some shots from your birthday, Grace-  Love you.