And I don’t even know the story!!

I know you went to Art Camp today with a VERRRY wiggly tooth – and you were super excited about it for about a week now – We all have been so excited with you!!

And you came home so happy to show me!!

And I was so excited to see you and your sweet hole in your face that I forgot to ask how it happened!! I’ll ask you next time we talk and edit this blog post.

Check out that happy holely/holy face!! So love you!!

(Photograph courtesy of Jo Ann Morreale iPhone Photography)

Let’s see what I remember about our summer together – Summer 2012

First major hair cut
Cooperative Play
Learned how to jump rope and ride a 2-wheeler like a ROCK STAR!
Taiwan
Vacation Church School & Sewing Camp
Seabreeze with Jimmiqua & Da-Da
Delaware and the Beach

Doing a great job reading – next week is Cape Cod with Dad, Jen & Dan

Hey there Sweetie –

Tomorrow will be your first night in your new home. You and Daddy moved in with Jen and Daniel in their beautiful warm home. You have an incredible neighborhood with kids and sidewalks. You are a short walk from the Eric Canal. The play set in the back has all the normal stuff AND a hand-over-hand ladder thing that you are so good at! The backyard is spacious and green. You have baby robins nesting on your front porch – how awesome is that!!

You and Daddy and Jen created your room JUST for you out of what used to be a toy room. You chose the paint colors and the bedroom furniture and everything!! So sweet -so you!

After the tour you gave me of your home today, I said “I love it!!” You smiled up at me and replied, “I love it too!”

I am soooo glad Peanut Butter – I am so so glad.

(Pictures coming…)
G’night Precious – Mama

So we went to Cirque du Soleil this past weekend! Absolutely incredible – breathtakingly beautiful, stomach-hurting hilarious and INCREDIBLY talented.

During one act, one acrobat was lifting and maneuvering what looked like 2 very heavy hula hoops welded together in the shape of a sphere. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, and every bulging muscle was so well defined. You leaned over to me and whispered, “Mama, he’s cute!!” (pause) You leaned over again, “Not cute like a little kitten… cute like a really cute boy.”

Classic.

Ah, you are growing up way too fast. I love you wonderful girl!!

Today we had your 7 year old “well” child visit at your pediatrician’s office. You saw “Phil” first and then “Danielle.” We didn’t need an appointment to confirm this, but you are just perfect – height, weight, b.m.i, eyes, ears, heart, coordination, eating, exercise, school – all around, RIGHT where you’re supposed to be.

In addition to having all these wonderful things confirmed, it was SO fun to watch you answer Danielle’s questions brightly, with energy and while you were looking right at her.

You are growing up so beautifully, Little One!!

Here are your stats:
Weight:56 lbs 13 oz
Height: 49 1/8″
Blood pressure: 92/60
Vision: 20/25

You go to such an awesome school! Today, like every year about this time, you and all the kids in the whole school, walk a set route around the neighborhood of your school (and the school that is nearby) and you pick up trash. It was fun to watch how your friends so quickly developed a real eye for and commitment to finding and picking up ALL the trash along the route. You were excited about more exotic findings like lip gloss or lighters, you fought bushes, thorns, porches, and dirt to excavate varied pieces of trash, and you left the world much more beautiful than you found it!! We finished up, gave back the gloves and trash bags and headed to the car to go to your well visit doctor’s appointment – on the way to the car, you kept right on picking up more (even without anywhere to put it). So grateful for your school and for the wonderful human being you are becoming!!

Love you! -Mama

p.s.
Final amount of trash collected:
Ms Sarah’s class: 20.5 lbs
Ms Barbie’s class: 46.5 lbs
Ms Suzanne’s class: 29.5 lbs
Ms Bridget’s class: 46.5
Ms Kelly’s class: 65 lbs

Total trash collected: 208 lbs! Great job!!

Yesterday the sun was out!! Thanks God!!

After the last day of Religious Ed and youth group for Mad, Mama and Daddy Jim took a nap, and then we headed out as a family to the park. First, we went to one park that had large open spaces to shoot off Dan’s rocket that he got from Grandma Judy for his birthday. We shot it off last Sunday for the first time and yesterday for the second time. Really awesome – check it out:

Then we headed to Highland Park to smell the lilacs – it’s been a rough year for the lilacs, but we had a BALL anyway. It’s so amazing to see how much fresh air, climb-able trees, and big hills that invite rolling bring us together and encourage a ton of laughter – THANKS GOD!!!

You had so much fun on Sunday as we were ALL introduced to a brand new sport because you are such an adventure-seeker. I could not be more proud of your willingness to try things – all kinds of things! This time Siobhan asked if you wanted to try your hand at lacrosse, and you said Sure!!

Coaches Ashley, Mary and Amanda did an awesome job preparing for the 1-hour practice. Ashley and Mary are graduating from college this year and are going to be elementary school teachers, so they were GREAT with you and the rest of the group of 1st and 2nd graders!! Amanda is a high school senior – also totally fun! Some things they had you do (from what I could tell from the sideline):
* Pass and catch with a partner at a certain distance
* Stretch and do push ups
* Do a game where you stood in a tight circle, let go of your stick and grabbed another girl’s (from the left or right)
* Laps around the field
* More catch and throw – with coaches working more closely with individuals

* A final game of “Knights, Horse, and Caveliers” – in which you and a partner (a new girl name Olivia/Libby ran around. When the coaches yelled one of those three, you struck one of three poses. You and Libby laughed so hard and ended up winning the game!!

After practice, you and S stayed on the field to help the coaches move the nets. After S challenged you to run and extra lap, you and S challenged Coach Ashley to run one more and off you went!!

Go you, Little Girl!! Go you!!

This weekend is another weekend of firsts…

You starting sewing class today – AND LOVE IT!!!! You described the “Dream Pillow” you are making. All 4 girls in the class (Maya W, Makenzie, Siobhan and you) have to include a heart for a pillow. Then you chose 2 other things that make you happy to add to your pillow. You chose “sleep and food, because I am very comfortable with both of them” (you explained). 🙂 Tonight you said, “I cannot WAIT until next time!!”

And tomorrow you start girls’ lacrosse – that’s awesome. I know absolutely nothing about the sport. Today I bought you a stick and a mouth guard. 🙂 Both pink of course. You’re wearing a mouth guard… hmmm… should I be nervous?

I love your courage and the full-in way you do life!! I want to be more and more like you as I grow up!!

Love you Baby Girl!