Yesterday the sun was out!! Thanks God!!

After the last day of Religious Ed and youth group for Mad, Mama and Daddy Jim took a nap, and then we headed out as a family to the park. First, we went to one park that had large open spaces to shoot off Dan’s rocket that he got from Grandma Judy for his birthday. We shot it off last Sunday for the first time and yesterday for the second time. Really awesome – check it out:

Then we headed to Highland Park to smell the lilacs – it’s been a rough year for the lilacs, but we had a BALL anyway. It’s so amazing to see how much fresh air, climb-able trees, and big hills that invite rolling bring us together and encourage a ton of laughter – THANKS GOD!!!

You had so much fun on Sunday as we were ALL introduced to a brand new sport because you are such an adventure-seeker. I could not be more proud of your willingness to try things – all kinds of things! This time Siobhan asked if you wanted to try your hand at lacrosse, and you said Sure!!

Coaches Ashley, Mary and Amanda did an awesome job preparing for the 1-hour practice. Ashley and Mary are graduating from college this year and are going to be elementary school teachers, so they were GREAT with you and the rest of the group of 1st and 2nd graders!! Amanda is a high school senior – also totally fun! Some things they had you do (from what I could tell from the sideline):
* Pass and catch with a partner at a certain distance
* Stretch and do push ups
* Do a game where you stood in a tight circle, let go of your stick and grabbed another girl’s (from the left or right)
* Laps around the field
* More catch and throw – with coaches working more closely with individuals

* A final game of “Knights, Horse, and Caveliers” – in which you and a partner (a new girl name Olivia/Libby ran around. When the coaches yelled one of those three, you struck one of three poses. You and Libby laughed so hard and ended up winning the game!!

After practice, you and S stayed on the field to help the coaches move the nets. After S challenged you to run and extra lap, you and S challenged Coach Ashley to run one more and off you went!!

Go you, Little Girl!! Go you!!

This weekend is another weekend of firsts…

You starting sewing class today – AND LOVE IT!!!! You described the “Dream Pillow” you are making. All 4 girls in the class (Maya W, Makenzie, Siobhan and you) have to include a heart for a pillow. Then you chose 2 other things that make you happy to add to your pillow. You chose “sleep and food, because I am very comfortable with both of them” (you explained). 🙂 Tonight you said, “I cannot WAIT until next time!!”

And tomorrow you start girls’ lacrosse – that’s awesome. I know absolutely nothing about the sport. Today I bought you a stick and a mouth guard. 🙂 Both pink of course. You’re wearing a mouth guard… hmmm… should I be nervous?

I love your courage and the full-in way you do life!! I want to be more and more like you as I grow up!!

Love you Baby Girl!

Seriously – you got so long and strong and mature in, what seems like, over night. You have outgrown so many clothes in the past couple weeks! I think your hair cut makes you look so grown up too. And I have asked you a million times today and yesterday, “Maya, how old are you?”

You smile and say, “7, Mama”

I say – AAAGGGGHHHHHHHH

I blinked, and now you’re 7. Whew.

You are SUCH a joy to be with, I can’t even tell you! You are thoughtful and kind and SO WITTY! You make me laugh out loud!! And you melt my heart. You still love sitting on my lap, and I’m so grateful for that! Today we laid outside with our heads next to each other and talked – talked about the clouds, talked about Jojo, talked about whatever… 7. Nothing beats it!!

Here are some pictures from yesterday – your birthday – when you turned 7. Sigh. I’m sure I’ll have more pictures tomorrow from your party with your friends. These are sure fun though!! Highlights from yesterday: Jojo goes to school, birthday celebration with homemade gifts and “I wish”‘s from Ms. Suzanne’s class, a family dinner at Sticky Lips with 13 people – and the whole day with self-imposed crazy pink hair!! 🙂 You are so much fun!!

Enjoy Beautiful Girl!! Know that I love you so incredibly much!! You are SO DEAR to me!

Well Sweet –

Two days ago, we went skiing – for the second (and probably final) time this season. We have really strange warm weather all winter this year – snow didn’t stay on the ground for over a day when it did come.

But the weather forecast said “flurries and a high of 33,” so we went for it.

Some awesome videos (taken by me – a very amateur skier – sorry 😉 )

Hey Baby Girl –

Last week I sent this note to my family (aunts, uncles, cousins, parents, siblings, etc). Thought it would be good for your blog too, so we can look back and remember when “Lima” made her appearance – hopefully, soon I will write about her grand exit 🙂 as today she has grown, moved or something and I am in a LOT of pain:

Just a quick update on me –

A couple weeks ago I learned I have a relatively large fibroid tumor in my uterus making it about the size of someone who is 16-weeks pregnant. This “alien” inside my belly is symptomatic – giving me a constant sense of pressure in my belly, on my diaphragm and on my bladder. 🙂 Fun, eh? We call her “Lima” in our family (short for the scientific term “leiomyoma”) – everyone talks to her – patting her and saying things like, “Good morning April! Good morning Lima!” Or “Hi Mama! Hi Lima!” We were sitting in the front pew of church the other week – right in front of the Gospel Choir I usually sing with, and we were asked to say things we were grateful for. Maya lifted up my scarf, kissed my belly and said “Lima!” (She thinks Lima makes a good pillow). I quickly looked around to see who was watching, afraid the rumor mill might start cranking. Sure enough, “Nana Sherry” had her suspicious-looking eye on that whole interaction. Life’s a trip!!

After discussions I’ve had with my Drs and my Jim, I have decided to have a hysterectomy. Other treatments lead to many more complications, and Jim and I weren’t planning on having any more babies. I learned this morning that my surgery is scheduled for April 4 with an expected recovery time of 4-6 weeks.

Maybe a Happier Picture of “Lima” 🙂

I have no sadness or fear… Only gratefulness. I am very grateful for a very healthy body. This is just a relatively normal hiccup in the trajectory of getting older. There are no signs of cancer; the big ball is not touching the lining of my uterus, etc. etc. FAR too much to be grateful for to worry about such a small thing.

Just wanted you all to know –

Love, April

GO JOJO!!

Graduation from Puppy 1 Class – highlights: our puppy friends and their owners (Chelsea, Tully, & Wyatt were the dogs), Mary’s good teaching, our consistent attendance, and all the things we learned!

Skills we worked on and got quite good at included potty training (almost), sit, down and stand, come-when-called, and stay.

Maya, you came to 5 of the 6 classes – you are so great with Jojo!

Jojo really is a great dog! Very attentive, very playful, very smart, very sweet – although he peed or pooped at least once in probably 5 of the 6 classes. Sigh. More to work on, right?

On to Puppy 2…