let’s see – I want to try your new blog format – and there are about a million things I wish I had written down for you, so let’s see if, in my tired state, I can remember any of them 😉

funny story:
We were at a very loud restaurant Saturday night (mad, dan, you, me, daddy jim, daddy’s best friend dave, and our friend christine). You and I were sitting on one side of the table hanging out. You said, “Mom, let’s have a staring contest.” So we did… and laughed and laughed and laughed. Sometimes I won, sometimes you won. Once when you won, you looked across the table and excitedly told Daddy Jim, “I won! I won!!” He yelled back to you (so you could hear), “What did you win sweetheart?!?” “A staring contest with Mama!!”

He looked truly perplexed and yelled back,
“A Scary Cow Test?!?!?!”

We both immediately CRACKED up laughing, looked at each other and broke out in the meanest looking and sounding MOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! toward each other that we could come up with!!! Then we laughed so hard our sides split!!!! It took us many rounds of Scary Cow Test and laughter before we could breath enough to explain to Daddy Jim.

How fun!!

Started slowly with a lot of snuggles and giggles in bed… Then we watched two “Peeps” together. We really watched them together – I listened and we laughed together and commented and questioned together. Quack cracks me up!!! So “always confident, rarely correct.” He’s a trip!!

Our family has started measuring time in “Peeps” by the way. You’ll say how long is 3 hours? We’ll answer 6 “Peeps.” You’ll ask, “How long till where there?” We’ll answer, “3 Peeps.” It’s all quite comical.

Pictures from Peep-Watching

The following picture says it all – a very common image of our dining room table with your artwork on one end and my something-else work on the other end… Today it was 5 loads of laundry and going through all of your size 4 clothes and replacing them with size 5 summer clothes.

Then we went to shop for your friend Marlie’s birthday present, and stopped for a picnic at this fun bench along the way. Before we ate, we decorated Marlie’s gift bag with some of our original art. These benches are popping up all over Brighton – I wonder what the back story is…. Very fun!!

Picnic Pictures

Then onto Marlie’s belated birthday party… So many of your old friends from Asbury were there – Else, Natalie, Jaydon, Raine, Missy… It was a good time.

A few pictures from Marlie’s party

(You took the next picture)

(We did a lot of bouncing together – I’m pretty sure I was the only parent bouncing – what an honor…)

After the party, we changed clothes in the back seat together and headed out for a hike with Casey and her parents – I’ve told you this many times, but Casey’s Mom and I have been friends since prenatal yoga. We were all in the same “play group” for the first 2+ years of your life. It’s so fun that we have reconnected through Cobblestone! After our hike and some good tree-climbing, we went to their house for dinner and strawberry shortcake! : )

Some pictures from the park:

A quick snack, bath, teeth-brushing, book and chat with Daddy Jim, and you were out (me too almost… I’m struggling to stay awake to write this post, but I promised Daddy Jim he could keep tabs on us while he is away through your blog…)

As I told you Baby – Life with you is SOOOO MUCH FUN!!!

Maya: “what is this Mama, and why is it here?” (referring to the ironing board and iron that she is never seen in her entire 5 years of life)

Back when I was sick last Oct/Nov (with the swine flu – so really sick) and you, Madeline & Daniel weren’t allowed near me, you and Madeline made me a book. It was so sweet – you were so caring and loving. Check it out:

Me

Daddy Jim

Madeline’s self portrait

Daniel

Maya

Our family

And some drawings by you:

*******************
Some other artwork I love:

Maya’s self portrait back in October

“Daniel and me sledding down the hill”

The nativity you made in January

Rainbow and Birds

An article authored by Madeline Hannah

Jimmiqua, you and I and, of course, your doggie Macy (who is now 9 years old) headed to Ellison Park for the day sometime around November 15th… She took all of these wonderful pictures of you – Thanks
Jimmiqua! Highlights: tree climbing, trail blazing, watching Macy swim, and of course – the sand hill. Always so much fun… definitely one of our favorite parks!

Thanks Jo Ann – you’re the BEST!!!

Not only did you get to help sell tickets, you got to go up to the control room and start the movie!! You were so excited – talked about it for weeks…

(Back in September I think…)

we had some very treasured time on Wednesday –

it was just you and me as Daddy Jim was on a work trip.

we came home from school, and I had invited you to help me make dinner. We got out of the car and the outdoors sucked you in!

“Mama, play with me outside.”

“I have to start dinner, Baby. It’s 6 o’clock.”

“Come on, Mama – for just 10 minutes?!?!?”

I start to remind you of my grown-up responsibilities, thinking about how you might melt down if you don’t eat soon, but you were so convincing…

Long story short, we laid down next to each other in the grass and watch the clouds roll by. We named the clouds with familiar shapes and giggled hard. What a treasured moment….

Thank you Peanut. I love how you show me so many things I would otherwise miss… And you don’t just help me notice, you help me treasure.

While rocking tonight, “Guess what I did today Mama?!?”

“What Sweetie?”

“I kissed Patrick – Little Patrick.” (big smile)

“What?!?!”

“Yep… Twice.”

Sigh… and so it begins…. at 4.

[Since that day, you have told me many times how you plan to marry Patrick, that you drew a picture of the 2 of you and your “baby girl,” you had a play date at his house that ended with me asking you how it went in front of Patrick and his Mom:
Me: “How’d it go, Maya?”
You: “Terrible. He pushed me and hit me with a stick.”
I look at P’s Mom… she shyly nods: “Yes, it’s true.”
But you recovered… a few days later, your teacher said she saw Patrick standing behind you at storytime playing with your hair. Sigh. One conversation we had in the car went something like.”
You: “I’m going to marry Patrick, Mama.”
Me: “Why are you choosing Patrick to be your husband?”
You: “He thinks I’m pretty.”
Needless to say we had an extensive conversation about setting the bar much higher.]

I love you Baby Girl!!

A woman who works at your school and has gotten to know you through after school time told me today that she talks about you all the time outside of school – she said something like, “She is so very interesting…. she is so very special.” You are. Intriguing. Talented. Empathetic. Smart.

I cannot believe I get to be your Mom.

Here are some of the things you are doing and talking about lately:

* “I don’t be-member.”
* “I don’t know where it went, Mama. It dissed-appeared!”
* “I acc-cil-enty dropped it, Mama – sorry.
* “Can we go to “Welcome to Moe’s!” tonight?”

You are still collecting rocks and leaves for me.. almost every day You are still such an outdoor girl.
You are drawing people – faces and arms and legs… It’s so fun to see you grow.
You can name all of your letters, and count to 30 (although you consistently skip 13 and 15 – you don’t seem to like those numbers.)
You love school – and excitedly tell me about things like today’s report “Mama, I learned something today – the inside of an apple is called flesh!” You love the roles you get to play: “move the arrow,” “clipboard,” “dustbuster” or “calendar.”

Here are some random pictures I haven’t shared with you but wanted to:

Life is so fun with you!!

In a couple weeks, you will be the flower girl for my cousin Jonna’s wedding. She is marrying Rob in NYC the weekend of 10/17. While Oma and Opa were here, Oma and I took you to try on some “Princess Dresses.” The bridal store blew your mind!! There were so many women and little girls all dressed in princess dresses completely surrounded by mirrors. What a trip!!!

Here are some pictures from our adventure:

Nice shoe!!

You certainly ARE a princess!! I couldn’t love you more!