Celebrating Gracie

She's my friend. She's my twin. She's my sister. Introducing Elisabeth Grace Hacking. :-)

So Facebook informed me this morning that three years ago I became friends with Gracie. I had to just sit there and laugh. Our families have known each other for ages. Like.... before this picture.

2007 pic from Mrs. Hacking's FB

So today doesn't just celebrate 3 Facebook years of knowing Miss Hacking, but it is also her birthday. I'm sad I'm not in Washington to celebrate her special day with her. I didn't think I would even get to see her before I left, but I got to spend a wonderful couple hours catching up on Saturday. I think we may or may not have talked the entire time without stopping....We might have breathed. 

There is a lot to love about this one. Some of my favorite things about this girl are: 

1. Her smile

The time my Ipod was being stupid and wouldn't take the picture...

2. How we plan to do things together on paper, on Pinterest, on Facebook, in person... We actually make some of them happen, too! 

Planning a hopeful trip to Crater Lake... Still ironing out details.

3. How goofy and carefree she is. 

Leavenworth with Victoria, John, Gracie and Ian 

Gracefully photobombing at Fort Worden

4. She's a good listener. No pictures here. :-) Seriously, though, she listens to what I have to say and helps me work through problems or just lets me vent when I need to. We never have a boring conversation, that's for sure! 

5. She loves people and understanding different personality types. 

Her and Ian having quite a serious conversation years and years ago.

Fort Worden, April, 2016

6. Her work ethic is amazing! And we have worked together TONS!! 

7. Her love of food and being gourmet. Serious, what other person "whips" up a batch of maple doughnuts or makes croissants for fun... Her love of cheese is probably the reason we are friend. ;-)

She stored a cucumber in her bag at camp.

That is one hunk of cheese. :-D

 Okay, well, sometimes, she loves being gourmet... Not in these pictures, however!

8. How she goes from tomboy to girly girl. She strikes the perfect balance between the two, which is awesome, cause, let's be realistic, dressing up and acting like a lady all the time kinda sucks and airsoft is fun! 

On FB these three pictures are side by side. :-)

9. How she loves adventures and dates! I've lost track of how many dates and adventures we've been on. I look forward to our future adventures together.

The many times we waited outside The Cabbage Patch!

The time we took 10 kids to the zoo. We're insane.

When we did a crazy venture to Leavenworth with John, Ian and Victoria

10. Her love of nature. Whether feeding random animals, enjoying the beach or admiring flowers (or fleurs as she dearly likes to call them)

Feeding a rabbit

Walking the beach at Fort Worden

 12. Her love of notebooks and how she writes things down. I wish I was steady enough to journal or write down everyday things like she finds time to do. Her collection of notebooks both new, completed and partially used is absolutely hilarious. She owns sooooooo many!

13. All our ridiculous inside jokes, nicknames, pranks, and humor in general. :-)

Queen of the cardboad at CAMA camp

Cascade Falcon Alcohol Impairment goggles. 

14. The fact that we're "twins" and able to convince people that it's true.

14. And just because there is soooo much I love about Gracie, I'll stop here and leave you with my favorite Gracie Hacking picture of the year. If you know Gracie, comment and share something you love about her!

Happy Birthday, sweet friend. So glad you're in my life and that you are so awesome!