Crazy hair

Whoa!!!! I guess it was crazy hair day. She got the memo the rest of us didn't. : )

Uh-oh

Several days ago I came home from work to this.

Those poor, poor barbies...

Oh...and that long lock of blond hair?...

Oh...and who's that kid that suddenly now has bangs? Yeah.

Best Friends

Maya and Lily are best friends. They go together like peas and carrots, like a ball and glove. They can fight like sisters, but always make up and are two of a kind again. Our girls are so lucky to have found such good friends.

The Gift of Friendship

Friendship is a precious gift

That cannot be bought or sold,

But its value is far greater

Than a mountain made of gold -

For gold is cold and lifeless,

It can neither see nor hear,

And in the time of trouble,

It is tireless to cheer -

It has no ears to listen,

No heart to understand,

It cannot bring you comfort

Or reach out a helping hand -

So when you ask God for Gifts,

Be thankful if He sends

Not diamonds, pearls or riches,

But the love of real true friends.

Helen Steiner Rice

Maggie turns 6!

This time 6 years ago I was holding my hours old first child. I was absolutely pooped, but so happy that my little girl was FINALLY here! My mom and grandma were also here and were putting every ounce of their energy into jockying for position to hold tiny baby Maggie.

Today, she is a big girl. She is tall. She is smart. She is funny. She is helpful. She is reading, tying her own shoes, doing cartwheels and backwalkovers, started kindergarten and has just lost her first tooth.

How'd that happen?

How come when you're a child time passes so slowly, and when you're a parent, it flies by so fast? How come when you're a parent and you want to keep your babies babies for a long time, it seems like you blink and they're all grown up? It really makes you appreciate the time you have with them. Time that they'll let you hold their hand in public...kiss them goodbye before getting on the bus, actually wanting to hang out with YOU on their birthday.

Today Mags chose to be with me (and her friend Meghan). We spent the good part of the day at the Mall of America going on the rides at Nickelodian Universe. She didn't want Maya or daddy to come, she wanted to go with me. We lunched, we went on what seemed like a million rides, we ate cotten candy, we had a lot of fun! After an afternoon at the mall, we picked up daddy and Maya and headed out for a birthday dinner...at Applebees and had some neighbors over for cake and ice cream.

She told me tonight while we were reading that last night she wished on a star. I told her not to tell me what she wished for because her wish might not come true. She said that it had already come true. She said that she wished for a really good birthday. Enough said. Happy Birthday Mags! Mommy and daddy love you so much! Try not to grow up too fast.

Child Labor

Aaron believes that the reason we have children is so that they can grow up and take over the chores we don't want to do. Teach 'em young! : )

Today was Maggie's first day of Kindergarten! She had her outfit layed out, backpack packed.

She was all ready to go.

Not a word of nervousness has crossed her lips.

Only excitement and total readiness.

She had her Cove friends with her to show her the way.

Off she went.

Not a tear shed by mom or dad. Mom did actually dance a jig.

She's I'm sure doing fabulously.

I did realize however that I forgot to pack the 2 daily snacks. Oops. Hopefully that didn't completely ruin the day of Little Miss Sensitive. My bad. I'm sure however that I'll NEVER forget to pack snacks again. : )

Water

This summer was a HOT one. Lots of days with 90+ degree temperatures. You definitely had to get into some water to avoid melting! Some days it was the pool, some days the sprinkler and slip n slide, some days all of the above. On this particular day, we washed the car, then the girls got a hold of the hose and went bonkers. This was after we'd already spent 3+ hours at the pool and had come home and put on dry clothes. As you can see, they didn't stay dry for long!

We spent LOTS of time at the pool this summer, more than any other summer. We now have two swimmers! It was so nice not having to be in the water with them all the time. Maya picked the swimming up really fast. She also jumps in the deep end, dives to the bottom of 5 feet to do handstands or get dive sticks, does forward and backward rolls and tries to dive in. She's definitely not afraid of the water. Their favorite time though, is when daddy comes in. They LOVE to be thrown and flipped!!

But, the pool closes tomorrow and we haven't been in it since the middle of last week due to cooler weather. Mags starts school tomorrow and can hardly stand herself she is so excited. I can't believe she's actually sleeping right now. I can't believe she's going off to school, but I can't wait! She's SOOOOO ready. She's never expressed any kind of being scared or nervous, only confidence and excitement! I'm ready for a peaceful day without arguing!!!!!!! Ahhhhhh...