Maya Monkey

Maggie's Meet

Maggie had her very first competition 2 weeks ago. The meet was in Eden Prairie at Legacy Gymnastics. It was kind of nice that it was an in-gym meet. The feel was much more homey and practice like than if it had been held at a highschool or something. She has 8 girls on her team - Makenna, Maggie, Lauren, Kendall, Haley, Quinn, Marina and Molly.
Here they are warming up for beam. Maggie's on the right with her arms out to the side.

She did great for her first meet. Floor was first and she did pretty good - a little goof on her round off back handspring, but a good start. I think her score was a 7.65. Next was vault and she scored a great 8.9! So close to that 9.0!!! Bars came next and that was a disaster. 2 falls, but what do you do. She only scored a 7.05 on that one. Definitely room for improvement and she has as one of her goals to make her bar routine this weekend at her second meet. Beam was last and she wobbled her way through, but stayed on. Yay! I think her beam score was a 7.35. Anyway, her scores were enough to qualify her to the state meet. All her teammates except one qualified to state in their first meet. Pretty good I'd say!

Maya really wanted to get onto the floor. She had to settle for sitting on the concrete floor though. We had to call the sister of a teammate to bring an emergency leotard, since she forgot hers. : )

As a team the girls took second place out of 6 teams! They were so excited to get that big trophy that is now proudly displayed in the gym.

Happy girls after the meet. Great job girlies! Their next meet is this Saturday bright and early! Wish them luck!

Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard

About a week ago when Grandma and Grandpa were visiting, we made the annual trek to the apple orchard and pumpkin patch. We went to Afton Apple for some picking.

First we hit the apple orchards.

We hopped on the tractor and made our way out to the trees.

Everyone got a little carried away and we came home with 2 GIANT bags full of apples!

There were lots on the ground.

Next it was off to the pumpkin patches.

The pumpkin selection was really good this year. Lots of really nice round, blemish free pumpkins for the picking.

Mags went all over that field searching for the perfect pumpkin.

Maya found hers right away.

Maggie finally found hers WAY out in the field.

Two happy girls!

Silly girls waiting for the tractor to come pick us up.

Off we go with pumpkins and apples in tow.

Looks like an empty bus. : )

While Grandpa stood in a very long line to pay for the pumpkins, the girls rode the cow train. Here's Maya riding in Kathy...

...and Mags in Misty the cow.

Finally we hit the cafe for apple donuts. Yummy!

All done!

Suprisingly it was about 80 degrees that day which was a little weird. Picking out pumpkins while wearing shorts and sweating just didn't really jive, but what do you do. Now the weather's changed and I even turned the fireplace on today. Winter is coming whether we like it or not. But first, Halloween...better get carving those pumpkins!

We still have apples sitting on the counter. We made applesauce, apple cake and I made apple cupcakes with caramel buttercream frosting a couple days ago. They are TO DIE FOR! The frosting just melts in your mouth. Mmmmmm......I'll post a picture later. Too bad you can't have one. I've had one to many. : )

80s Party

Welcome back to the 80s!!!! Last weekend we had a going away party for our awesome neighbor Davin, who just deployed to Afghanistan for at least a year. He chose the theme...an 80s dress up party! Quite a cast of characters showed up...

Michael Knight (from Knight Rider) and Hanz (of Hanz and Franz of SNL - We're here to PUMP YOU UP!)

The Ghostbusters

Bret Michaels (lead singer of 80s band Poison), and his groupie

Andy and Claire from the Breakfast Club

Maverick and Charlie from Top Gun

The guy from Better Off Dead.

Hanz and Franz from SNL - We're here to PUMP YOU UP!

Hanz and Franz showing off their muscles!

80s ladies!

There really is no caption for this one. : )

Getting geared up for Karaoke!

Even Rajeev was sucked in by the 80s ladies.

Awesome party...thanks Paula and Mary for hosting. Thanks for Davin being depolyed so we had a reason to do it! Thank you for serving our country...stay safe. The Cove will watch over Katie and the girls!

Birthday Girl!

Happy 7th Birthday Maggie!

We had to celebrate a couple days early due to Daddy going on a business trip, but she didn't care. Grandma and Grandpa were even in town to celebrate with her.

Lots of presents. Maya even contained herself and let Maggie open all of them.

Chapter books.

New game.

Easy Bake oven.

New gym bag!

Her actual birthday (today) consisted of school and gymnastics. I brought cupcakes to gymnastics tonight so the girls all ate those to celebrate. I can't believe she's already seven. Time flies. Happy Birthday Mags!

Maya's first day of school...finally!

Well, it wasn't when we expected, but Maya finally made it to her first day of school. She was sick on the official first day, but we made it today, barely. I was remembering back to Maggie's first day of 4 year old preschool with Mrs. Ringrose. She seemed so much bigger, and as I remember it, it went quite differently.
Maggie's first day - spiffy new school clothes
Maya's first day - hand me downs
Maggie's first day - showered body, curled hair
Maya's first day - chalky from yesterday's gymnastics, yesterdays slept on hair
Maggie's first day - arrived 10 min early to take pictures
Maya's first day - arrived with not a moment to spare, last kid in the class, a hurried picture at the classroom door.
Maggie's first day - drove right to the school
Maya's first day - took the round about way because I apparently was headed to the grocery store, not school.

But, we made it, she's happy, and I'm finally free! Good thing we don't have a third kid or they might not make it to school at all!

First of First

The first day of first grade...its a wonderful thing. Good thing school started or we were gonna have to kick her to the curb. Year round school isn't such a bad idea. : )

Hyped up and ready to go.

The Tri-fecta. (Kyra, Meghan N., Mags)

Addison Alcove bus stop this year. Quite a crew with four new kindergartners this year!

Ahhhhh....the bus is FINALLY here! See ya'll later!

Maya watching the bus go...wishing she was on it. Preschool doesn't start for 2 weeks yet. Bummer.