At the end of August, Oma and Opa came to visit. Every morning they took you to YMCA camp, and at 1pm each day they picked you and played until I was done with work. You did a lot of swimming, jungle gyms, A LOT of coloring and puzzles, many stories – new and old. We all wished they wouldn’t go home. Here are some wonderful pictures from the week… Come back again soon, Oma & Opa!! We love you!!

Hey Baby Girl –

I’m trying to play catch-up, so here are some pictures from a pretty random family day.

After church, we all went out to eat at the Cheesecake Factory. Then Madeline joined you and me for “Pinkalicious,” a musical based on the famous book. The actors are professional, off-broadway performers. They are always very good – today was no exception. Before the play started, Madeline re-read the book to you. At intermission, they sold VERY LARGE, VERY PINK cupcakes – neither you nor Madeline could finish yours 🙂 (which was fine with me!)

THEN… we joined up with the guys and headed over to the Strong National Museum of Play – CLEARLY a great time for all!! It was Madeline, Daniel and Daddy Jim’s first time there since the renovation… so none of them had experienced the butterflies before – What a GREAT blessing to have in our town!

We just happened to bump into Marlie and her Mom as they were headed out… just time for one quick ride.

You’re dancing with Daddy Jim… can you tell?

Madeline had hurt her ankle… she’s all better now…

You LOOOVE the time you get to spend with Madeline and Daniel – it never feels like enough!! I agree.

We had dinner with them at Julie’s last night and then jumped in the pool for a quick family swim before their lessons. What a GREAT time!!

…started with you taking us out to the deck… first thing! And a wonderful not-quite-awake-yet snuggle in the cool beautiful sunshine. We told God thanks for all the beautiful things we could see from our second floor deck – the lilacs, the GREEN trees, the sunshine… Good morning God indeed!!

Breakfast was watermelon and blackberries, “Mommi, would you like my last blackberry?” What a great sharer!!

Then you helped me water all of the plants in the kitchen and 3-season room, giggling with delight. We decided this would be your new job. The 2 on the ground that you could reach would be yours to do, the hanging one would be mine.

I ran upstairs to grab shoes, and you came running up saying you had something great to show me. Plants were growing in the planters outside that you and I had planted together. So we watered them too! And then you used your spray bottle to water the grass. (I’m sure the grass that received your precious attention was grateful… not so much the plant whose large leaf you yanked out to show me. sigh. we talked again about how plants need their leaves to make their food – they will be hungry if you keep taking off their food-making machines.)

I had accidentally taken Jaydon’s coloring picture b/c his cubby is next to yours. You told me that it was Jaydon’s, so of course we planned to bring it back. I asked you if you wanted to make a copy of it first for you to color (it was a picture of a princess). “What’s a copy, Mommi?” So I introduced you to this machine and showed you how it worked. YOU WERE AMAZED AND DELIGHTED!!!! Giggling, you said, “This is so much fun!!” We made 8 copies for to give your friends at school.

On the drive to school, you decided to try to count cars you saw – and you really tried. You seem to struggle with the four numbers after 13… You say 13, 17. I say 14. You say 13, 14, 17. I say 15. You say 15, 17. I say 16. You say 16, 18. Hmmm… When we got to school, you bumped into Bonnie and the first thing you said to her was, “There are too many cars to count.” (She was a little lost.)

After saying goodbye in the classroom, you crawl into the corner window of the classroom to wave goodbye. I can hear you yell, “Goodbye Mama! I love you!!!” the whole walk to my car. Then I pull the car up and we blow LOTS OF KISSES to each other!! “Have a wonderful day Baby!!!” “You too Mama!!! I love you!!”

And this morning was typical… It was wonderfully typical!! I am so blessed! (Tears are running down my cheek as I type this.)

I love you Baby!!
*Mommi

You know Daddy Jim is away at a conference in CA – His friend and student, Dave, sent this email and picture:

“Maya, Daddy Jim looks so nice in the bow you picked out for him!”

“He’s so handsome!!” (you say this about Daddy Jim often. I agree.)

You DID choose this “bow” for him (as you call it) completely out of the blue. Daddy Jim feels very loved – he told me so!! Thanks for spreading your joy to so many, Peanut Butter! Now to the many in California who get to hear the story!!

Couldn’t love you more…

Oh – another cute story. Today you said “Mommi – I was just thinking something happy in my head.” “Yes Sweetie? What was it?”
“I saw two people kissing. And two people smiling at each other. They were getting married. It was you.” “Oh yeah?” “Yes, Mommi. You and Daddy Jim.”
🙂

So this is the email that my Dean sent out to everyone yesterday:

Subject line: Good News

The Board of Trustees has just voted this morning on awarding promotion and tenure to MJ Curry and April Luehmann – congratulations! Raffaella

This tenure andpromotion thing is a very big thing where I work – and not so easy to achieve. You are telling people “Mommi got tenure” but you also asked – “Mommi, what IS tenure?” I tried hard, but I don’t think I was successful in helping you understand. The wonderful thing is that you are still very happy for me! Really what that means is that I will be more able to spend time with YOU!!

This is a picture of my science education master’s students and me today at graduation:

So, here is an interesting story – I try hard, as a Mom, not to sweat the small stuff. You want to wear your fancy dress to school? No problem. In the sandbox? Okay. Four days out of five in a week? Sure. I don’t mind you exploring what it means to handle “fragile” things, and if there is an accident, that’s okay too. All that said, here’s the situation.

I bought you a doll from Israel. (I secretly fell in love with this doll). I have decided it will be the focal point for your room, and eventually we will paint your room using the colors of this doll as a guide. I place this sweet doll on the dresser to protect it from all the loving the rest of your toys receive… Hmmm…

True to your 4-year old nature, that which is forbidden becomes MOST attactive. You really want to play with this doll. Sigh. What do I say? You can’t play with the doll I gave you? Silliness. Okay, I sigh. And as soon as you turn your attention, I place it back on the dresser. This goes on for weeks!

Then, the night before last, you asked for it yet again – and you took it to bed with you. Okay – I was tired – whatever.

In the middle of the night, you come to me b/c you had your first accident. Okay, we clean you up, get new jammies, put you back to bed. The next morning when I’m cleaning up your room… you guessed it. You peed RIGHT ON THE DOLL!!! I could not believe it!!! UGH! (Don’t worry, the story turns out just fine.)

When you were with your Daddy today, I gave our little doll a bath – Check it out:

The whole experience made my laugh so hard. All’s well that ends well. 🙂
I love you Peanut Butter. Thank you for the many ways you help me surrender.
You are so very good for me!!

here is a video of Maya and her dear friend Hannah… clearly a million years ago

While I was in the Netherlands for a conference (late June), Oma and Opa flew in from Minnesota to hang out with you. When I got back home, we all hung out for a few days – walked on the canal, had picnics, played in playgrounds… just had a wonderful time! Here are some wonderful pictures from our time together!

THANKS OMA & OPA!!! We had a FABULOUS time with you!! Come back soon!!

I know I am SO behind in posting pictures and events – even BIG events like a CA visit from Uncle David, but I’m trying to get my camera to play nicely with my new computer, and I just never seem to have the time to troubleshoot it… so, for now, I’m going to just write about tonight.

You had spent the weekend with Daddy. When you got home at 5:30pm you were FULL of hugs and kisses and playfulness. We had a fantastic time making snacks of cheese, crackers and black bean towers as well as cherry tomato chipmunk cheeks which I squished and you giggled. You played “sink or float” with many different types of toys in the sink, and then we headed up to bed earlier so we could read plenty of stories.

The new FAVORITE is a beautiful book loaned to us from “Uncle Jim,” our dear friend from church. it could NOT be more perfect for you! The writing is so fantastic for kids, and the illustrations are gorgeous. The BEST part? The stories are core Bible stories of Jesus’ amazing love, caring and power: Little Zaccheus; Bartimaeus’s sick eyes; the Boys and Girls and Jesus; Jesus shushs the winds and waves; and finally the one man who came back to say “thank you.” You asked for almost all of the stories to be read “again, Mama.”

After the last story of the one of ten who came back to said Thank You, we had the MOST PRECIOUS prayer time ever. You were sitting on your bed and I in the rocking chair. After I asked you if you wanted to thank Jesus for something, you started by looking up and saying “I love you Jesus.” I again asked you if you wanted to say thank you to Jesus for something. We took turns looking up toward heaven and thanking Jesus for something. You began “Thank you Jesus for chocolate.” I repeated it. Then you said, “Thank you Jesus for this book.” I repeated it. “Thank you Jesus for ALL my books.” I repeated it. “Thank you Jesus for my candy.” I suggest Daddy. “Thank you Jesus for Daddy.” “Thank you Jesus for Mama.” Thank you Jesus for Maya.” (all your prayers). “Thank you Jesus for purple B.” I almost cried… You words and your heart were so sincere.

Then you jumped to my lap and gave me the biggest hug and kiss.

Thank you Jesus for the love that you show both of us in the joy that is uniquely ours. We feel your love – it’s so clear. And it makes ALL the difference!

Peanut, you are exactly what Jesus was talking about when He said, “let the little children come to me… for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.” I have so much to learn from you in how you thoughtfully and sincerely receive the Kingdom of God. I will be humbly watching…

Good night Baby Girl… Thank you for a night I will treasure forever… Your Mommi