You were mad at me this morning because you lost the battle about wearing a strapless dress (that falls down because it is too big for you) to school on a cold, rainy day.
After a bit, I reminded you how very much I love you.
You responded with “I love you more” and a quizzical look on your face. I asked you what you said, because the statement and the look were confusing together. You responded with the following as you continued to wear the same sincerely perplexed look:
I love you more than anyone else, Mama. And I’m not sure why that is.
Just thought I’d log what we did today, as we had many fun adventures together, and because Daddy Jim was out of town, we snapped pictures or videos of most events to share with him.
Before I do that, however, there are a few things I’ve been meaning to share with you…
A beautiful story of about a week ago:
I was waking you up for school by gently rubbing your back and telling you want an amazing human being I know you to be. I said things like, “you are so beautiful, so wonderful, no one melts my heart like you, you are my little girl, i treasure you, i love the way you make me laugh.”
As you woke up a bit more, you reminded me “Mama, it’s not about what’s out here (waving outside yourself) that matters; its’ what’s in here (rubbing your chest.” I smiled warmly (melting a little more), and asked, “Maya, when I tell you that you are beautiful, do you know what I mean?”
Without hesitation you responded,
“Yes, you mean I have a beautiful heart.”
“Yes, sweet girl, that is exactly what I mean.”
Big, amazing, deep, wonderful sigh.
*****
Jo Ann M, our dear friend who works with me, invited you over to pick flowers anytime you want from her beautiful, diverse and extensive garden around her home. Last Monday we decided to take her up on her offer, as it was your turn to bring in some centerpiece for the classroom table.
A little history is important to share with you here so you understand your reaction. On a daily basis – especially in spring for at least the past 2 years (probably more), you asked permission to pick a flower from our front yard. As there were rarely more than 5 or so blooming at a time, the answer was sadly no most of the time.
So we stop by Jo Ann’s on the way to school, and she enthusiastically escorted you around the yard encouraging and helping you pick the best of the best, one after another after another. The girl who has historically been allowed 1 or 2 flowers, carried a full bouquet of12-14 beautiful blossoms to school that day. As we were driving to school, you were grinning and wiggling with excitement. After about a minute, you said,
“Mama, ya know sometimes you can’t help smiling. It just keeps coming out!!”
*****
Our time with Siobhan started last night with a sleep-over!!
* Hot tub in the cold rain with lots of giggles
* Flossing! (Who’da thought that would be a highlight – check out the video below!)
Next morning?
* More hot-tubbing – this time with Mommy
* Craft – we worked together to make a huge flower out of Peeps
* A break to watch a movie: Beethoven 4
* Lunch – fish, baby cukes, mac & cheese and apples
* An impromptu bath to defrost after making a bird nest (in fancy dresses of course) in the freezing rain!
* Craft – you and S made beautiful pictures; yours was made with love for Oma & Opa
* Swimming at the Y – what a ball!!!!
* Dinner just the 2 of us
* Lots of chapters of Junnie B
* Snuggling in together in my bed (Daddy Jim’s out of town)
We were both ze-zausted! đ What a wonderful day.
We knew this day was coming – and coming soon, but we were still thrilled today when it happened!!
Hi Maya⌠itâs daddy jim.
Tonight was such a wonderful night. We have had a really wonderful week (lots of fun things including the Cobblestone teacher appreciation day and Mommyâs new car, Kiki!)⌠and you made it extra memorable by riding a bike on 2 wheels for the first time tonight.
We have been practicing a lot for about a month. We started with the first bike that Madeline ever rode (she was about your age, but she was a little older because her birthday is in February and sheâs just a bit bigger). We tried to help you ride that bike on a bunch of evenings and you were making good progress, but Mommy wisely decided that you would be better off with a bike that was a little lighter⌠so she took your training wheels off the bike you rode last summer. She raised the seat a little and read some things on the web about how to teach you. Last weekend, you made great progress riding down a grassy hill in our neighborâs lawn for about 30 minutes laughing and riding and falling down. Mommy practiced with you a few times this week, too⌠she would help you stay upright on the driveway and the street by holding on to your shirt to make sure you didnât fall over!
The three of us had had a yummy dinner at the King & I, and Mommy and I were pretty sure you could just start riding by yourself. Dan & Madeline did their best practicing at a church parking lot on Highland Parkway where there were no cars and big open spaces⌠so tonight we took you to the Edgewood church parking lot. Almost immediately you were riding by yourself. It was a bright sunny night. We took pictures and recorded video. You turned in circles and almost ran into Kiki a couple times. You rode fast and laughed and then ran off the parking lot and crashed. Finally it was time to go home because you were tired (and maybe there was an âow-eeâ).
We sat in the hot tub and looked at the pretty sky. We are very lucky to watch your great successes and listen to your little voice and your big laughter.
**********
The next pictures and video were taken the very next day – You are a rock star!!! -Mommy
Look at that confidence!!
Puddles and Jeffrey joined you and Daniel for a well-earned drink of water after a successful time biking!!
We couldn’t have Daniel’s rock climbing party on his birthday (or even the same week), because he strained a muscle running around a gym…. so we waited a couple extra weeks.
We had a ball last Saturday!! Check out some of the highlights:
Below is a typical email message your teachers send parents about what you are learning and doing at school. It is so very fun to watch you grow, my little girl! You are constantly stretching – your mind, your heart, your body!!
Love, Mama
Dear Parents, May 6, 2011
Happy Sunshine! We learned all about butterflies this week. Ask your child the following questions:
1. What are the stages of a butterfly? (egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly)
2. What is it called when a caterpillars sheds itâs skin? (Molting)
3. What do caterpillars do all day? (Eat, eat, eat and grow)
4. What is a butterflies tongue called and what does it drink? (Proboscis & nectar)
5. What are the little shapes in a butterflies eye called? (Facets or hexagon)
6. What colors can butterflies see? (Green, blue, yellow)
7. What eats butterflies? (Toads, snakes, baby wasps, etc.)
We finished handwriting book 2 this week. Look for it in their backpack tonight. Thank you to all of you that helped with Teacher Appreciation day! It was by far the BEST one ever. A special shout out to April for organizing it all ?! I need drivers for next Mondayâs filed trip to the Community Center. We will leave at 10am and be back by 11am. We will be singing songs and making tissue paper flowers with the seniors. Speaking of songs, next Thursday night is Music Night from 6-7:30. Hope to see you all there. Itâs a show you donât want to miss. The âsleepoverâ is tonight at school. I believe almost ever one in class is attending. It was the talk of the day. Mr. John will be in for me this Monday; itâs a portfolio day.
Here is what we did in math this week:
The students used model clocks to practice telling time. Children learned about both analog and digital clocks. We spent most of our time talking about times to the hour, and also times to the half hour. We talked about the concepts of “yesterday”, “today”, and “tomorrow”. The children are learning how to describe events in the order that they happen. We also discussed the days of the week, including a song and sign language! Have a great weekend! -Greg
Music Night will be this Thursday, May 12! I am looking forward to a fun evening with all of you. If anyone is unable to attend, please let your child’s teacher know or myself know as soon as possible. Every child’s part will be important, so it would be very helpful to know if anyone cannot be there. They may dress up for the occasion if they like, though short skirts might be a problem on the stage at Hochstein. You may arrive at the main Hochstein entrance (50 N. Plymouth Ave.) shortly after 5:30 and go to the performance hall. Your children (up through Ms. Suzanne’s class) will perform first and then sit with you for the remainder of the program, so please save room for them. Thanks so much, Sincerely, Ms. Charlotte
Feliz Cinco de Mayo! This week we took the opportunity to have a mini-lesson on Aztec art in honor of the holiday that celebrates Mexican culture in the US. The children learned a bit about the native peoples of Mexico and their imagery. With their reading buddies they colored their own versions of the two major Aztec deities – Quetzalcoatl and Huitzilopotch â Pia Cseri-Briones
Have a great weekend, Ms. Barbie
Pictures from Staff Appreciation Day – parents brought in food and covered staff responsibilities for an hour, we gave them coloring assignments and Daddy Jim offered a really wonderful, encouraging toast. A massage therapist offered 10 minute back massages, and a Mary Kay make-up person offered facials. Lots and lots of laughter – and you came up to check on me and the evolution of the event many times – which certainly made my day! Love you Baby Girl… so grateful that you have a warm, committed school community led by thoughtful and creative professionals!! We are so blessed!
Oma was in the hospital today – she had some extreme pain in her belly that no one really understoon. Daddy Jim thinks perhaps she passed a gall stone, and, after a rough 24-36 hours, she’ll likely feel better in the morning.
So… we decided to snap some pictures and take some small videos to give Oma and Opa a smile to welcome Oma home from the hospital…
Oma and Opa – know that we love you so much and are thinking about you!!
Enjoy!!
Hair cuts a few weeks ago –
Some fun ones from our MN adventure
Our outside girl
This is “Waddles” sitting on ice đ
Pictures from our hike tonight after dinner – looking for signs or spring. What a beautiful park about 4 minutes form our house – we are so blessed.
I woke you up this morning with a tender, “Sweetheart? It’s time to get up for school.” Without skipping a beat you responded with your eyes still closed, “I’m not going to school today.” I cracked up laughing!
I feel so close to you right now – we sing together, dance together, laugh together and really talk together. Today’s conversation on the way to school was about different people’s “cultures” and what that means. We talk about how to love everyone and how we are called to respond to those who seem a bit harder to love at first – and you totally live that! (Not all the time, but you can tell it really matters to you that you try hard.)
We were talking yesterday about Native Americans, and the difference between “Indians” and Native Americans. You said, “They were mean, right Mama?” I responded sort of shocked and confused and said, “Why would you say that?” You didn’t have an answer, so I explained that we were the mean ones. That they were living here in the Americas, and we came over and took their homes from them – their land from them. That we hurt them in wars and pushed many of them out – unkindly and unfairly. You got tears in your eyes as you listened intently to every word. You responded shakily, “Mama, if I was in a war, I would never hurt anyone. And I would let them keep there own land.” “I know Baby.” And then I explained why it is so important to know our history and the mistakes we made so we can be really aware and conscious about not making them again. After a pause, you said “Mama, can you change the music. This song is making me sad.” I hugged you, changed the song, and we talked about something else.
Daddy Jim was gone for the past few days, and so you and I slept together. It was a very sweet time – you would fall asleep holding my arm and usually having your little feet on my thigh. We watched some of a movie on Sunday before we went for a hike, and you just laid right on top of me like I was your big pillow.
Then we went for our hike with Macy at Ellison and had a BALL! Climbing trees, getting stuck in mud, climbing the sand hill, falling down (I mean hiking down) the steep other side, grabbing on to small trees as we came screaming/sliding down the hill – laughing so hard the whole time!! It was cold and sunny and wonderful.
More details to follow, but Oma & Opa – we want you to know that we’re thinking about you and loving you, so we’re sending these pictures to give you a smile đ
7:30am breakfast with Mom & Dad before school @ Panera
Making a friend feel very special by choosing her to be “Starry Guide” and inviting her for a play date after school
Mom and Daddy Jim share a memory from each year of Maya’s wonderful life as Barbie lights a candle…
After play date with Casey, we meet Auntie Judi and Daddy for dinner at Tapas – what a wonderful night!!!
Today we went to Bristol for the 2nd time this skiing season, and you are skiing like a rock star!! Mostly because we couldn’t get the timing right, we signed you up with a private lesson with Sam last time, and you did great! She took you on the chair lift and did a green with you, but even before that you were flying down the bunny hill with ease.
Today? You were crazy confident!! You were doing all kinds of stunts and silliness. You asked for a one-on-one lesson again, so we signed you up with Sarah. She was also awesome. You said you learned “big, medium and little turns” and parallel turns and parallel stops! (Though your spoken version of the word “parallel” was something quite indecipherable but cute). You were very proud of yourself and ready for hot cocoa… so that is what we did – took a break, during which it got dark. Then you and Daddy Jim did the bunny hill a few times, and I skied with Mad and Daniel. When I came back you and I had a blast on the magic carpet / bunny hill. Once I fell done on the magic carpet b/c you accidentally dropped your mitten. When I got back up (very ungracefully), I was facing backward on the magic carpet – sigh. You laughed so hard. Then I fell at the bottom of the bunny hill for no apparent reason – again we laughed our rear ends off!!
When it was time to go home I said, “Okay, Kid. You have a choice – one more time down the bunny hill or one time up on the ski lift to a green.” You really weren’t sure what to do, but you finally bravely chose the ski lift.
Mind you, you and I have never done this by ourselves before. What an adventure. The 2 young women at the lift helped us get on (including replacing your ski that fell off), and you were awesome getting off! You immediately wanted to ski between my legs like we did the previous (less successful) time we tried this (that time I skied you between my legs in a “pizza” all the way down a very very long green and we sang “Rudolph the red nose reindeer” all the way down). This time, I pointed out the hill in front of us and said – “Check that out Peanut – looks pretty flat, don’t you think? Just like the Bunny Hill? What don’t you try it, and I’ll be right here.”
And you did!! And you were a ROCK STAR!!! You skied all of this trail called “Infinity” by yourself… There was one hair pin turn that I just skied with my ski next to yours to help you get set up, but there rest was ALL you!! You were so proud when you reached the bottom – as was I – I yelled “YOU ARE A ROCK STAR!!!!!” and you were giggling and I was giggling!! We had a balll!!!!!!
Can we do crafts?
A week or so before then you asked, “Mama, can we do some crafts?” I said, “but you color and paint all the time.” “That’s not the same as crafts… I would really like to do crafts.” So we did. Five fun crafts over the holidays:
1. The dangling snowperson ornament – first made with Marlie and then you taught your cousins Niklas and Gabriela as well as Oma and Bianca in Michigan.
2. The marshmallow wreath – Madeline and I made this together one night after you headed to bed. We had such a ball! Laughing, talking, burning ourselves. And we were very proud of the way it turned out. Earlier that night we had a beautiful family night – home cooked meal, eggnog, fire in the fireplace, “Charlie Brown’s Christmas Special,” gifts of special ornaments from Austria – and then – a house filled with smoke with all the alarms going off and Mommy and Daddy Jim fighting about how to fix it. Sigh… I guess we aren’t perfect. We laughed about the night many times since. Anyway – here’s the wreath.
3. Melting snowman cookies – We weren’t sure what we were doing, but the three of us (Madeline, you and I) gave it our best shot, and I think they turned out AWESOME!!! Super cute! We took them to Daniel and Madeline’s piano recital, and they were a big hit!!
4. The Christmas card wreath – I was inspired by this idea because we really needed some way to share and see the Christmas cards we received… so we brought the stuff to Michigan and made our first one for Bianca and Mark. I think its pretty – what do you think? Next year we’ll have to make one for us đ
5. Singing carolers – Last one was a collaborative effort that turned out quite fun – what do you think? Maybe because it was the last of our crafts, maybe because it was the most messy – but few were still standing at the end – Gabby and I finished it up together.
