Hi Peanut –

I have written many times about our wonderful stops at our dear friend Jo Ann’s house on the way to or from school to pick flowers. Her yard is a mystical wonderland of the widest array of flowers you or I have ever seen. And she is the most selfless person in the world with sharing the blossoms as they emerge. This year alone, I think she has helped you choose, pick and assemble more than 7 bouquets – gifts for teachers, centerpieces for the classroom, and bunches for you to bring home. You are absolutely giddy about spending time there. In addition to the flowers, Jo Ann is our friend and adviser. When we were struggling with strategies for how to lovingly deal with a friend at school who was getting under your skin a bit, she sat down with us for quite some time to help us brainstorm… and days later, she asked us how things were going. As we left her house each time, she would say – give me your forehead, and she would give you a sweet kiss and tell you she loved you.

One day when we arrived, Jo Ann had a task for us. She had done some research about how to press flowers, and found some conflicting results. Some people said that pressing flowers in wax paper was best. Others advocated for the use of card stock.

So, Jo Ann gave you the challenge to conduct a scientific experiment and figure it out.

We picked 2 of many different kinds of flowers (more than 12), and pressed one of each kind in wax paper and one in card stock. All of our samples were stored safely in a large book she had ready for us. When we came back the next week, she had the book ready to give to you along with…

your very own science journal

complete with the protocol for our experiment all written out!!

Today, we completed our study – here are photo representations of our data and your analysis. Wax paper won, 7 to 5 – a pretty close result – perhaps we will have to collect more samples to increase the trustworthiness of these conclusions. 🙂

We had such a ball!

Sample 1: Cardstock “came off easier”

Sample 2: Wax – “came off easier”

Sample 3: Wax – “has more color”

Sample 4 – cardstock – “bigger”

Sample 5 – wax – “flower was more transparent”

Sample 6 – cardstock – “stayed together”

Sample 7 – “stem shorter”

Sample 8 -wax – “not sloppy”

Sample 9 – cardstock – “smaller”

Sample 10 – wax – “Stayed together”

Sample 11 – cardstock- “Smooth”

Sample 12 – wax – “More color”

Hey Sweet Pea –

Tonight was your observation night for gymnastics. You wanted me to invite Judi & Jim – so I did, and they enthusiastically came! Daddy Jim, Daddy, Judi, Jim and I were your cheering squad on a set of bleachers. We cheered as you did somersaults and handstands, the bars, the long trampoline, and the vault! You seemed very happy that we were there to watch you!

Guess what happened at the end!! You got a medal for all of your hard work this semester!!!

Then we went to dinner to celebrate! And YOU got to ride in the convertible!!

What a wonderful time!!

After dinner, Jim and Judi drove to our house so you could show them the new playset and the chairs you and your friends painted Monday when Cooperative Play was at our house. You fell asleep rather quickly (no surprise) on my belly after a quick chapter of Magic Treehouse Book #3.

Love you Peanut! Happy Dreams….

A few weeks back (May 12), you had your school music night and Madeline had her opening night for “You’re a good man, Charlie Brown.” Here are some pictures from the night:

On our way to gymnastics, you said,

“Mama, ya know, my armpits get sweaty sometimes when it’s not warm yet.

“At gymnastics?

“Yeah

“Well, you’re working hard at gymnastics…”

“No Mama, it’s before we get started.” And then you went on to explain how you used to be nervous about whether or not you would be able to do gymnastics… and that “beginning part” would make your armpits wet. Pretty sweet.

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Today at Billy Elliott (a Broadway play we saw in Toronto that had way too much swearing) – a character swore and I whispered in your ear, “You know we never say that, right?”

“I know, Mama.”

The next line was something about hating someone or something, and I repeated, “We don’t say that either.”

“I know, Mama.”

The next line involved another, worse swear word. Without skipping a beat, you said, “And we don’t say that either… I know, Mama.” I laughed.

hey Beautiful Girl –

About 4 weeks ago, you started back at gymnastics… and it really seems like you’re loving it. You go FULL FORCE for 1.5 hours every Wednesday night from 5:30-7pm. You don’t want to leave when its done. You’re still learning some of the basics, but one of these days, you will just TAKE OFF!! You are soooo strong and coordinated. You are so graceful with your hands and your feet when you dance. In no time, you are going to be doing back flips down the mat!!

And LOOK HOW LONG YOU ARE!!! It’s crazy how much you’ve grown in just the last month!! Wow!! Don’t blink for sure! You are already wearing a size 13 shoe!! Nuts.

Enjoy the pictures!! I sure do! (Though I got yelled at for trying to take them… :} ) Love you Beautiful, Stong Girl!

Whew! And I’m tired just uploading all of these!! 😉

Love you Bugadaboo!

I could not love you more…

You were mad at me this morning because you lost the battle about wearing a strapless dress (that falls down because it is too big for you) to school on a cold, rainy day.

After a bit, I reminded you how very much I love you.

You responded with “I love you more” and a quizzical look on your face. I asked you what you said, because the statement and the look were confusing together. You responded with the following as you continued to wear the same sincerely perplexed look:

I love you more than anyone else, Mama. And I’m not sure why that is.

Hi there Beautiful –

Just thought I’d log what we did today, as we had many fun adventures together, and because Daddy Jim was out of town, we snapped pictures or videos of most events to share with him.

Before I do that, however, there are a few things I’ve been meaning to share with you…

A beautiful story of about a week ago:
I was waking you up for school by gently rubbing your back and telling you want an amazing human being I know you to be. I said things like, “you are so beautiful, so wonderful, no one melts my heart like you, you are my little girl, i treasure you, i love the way you make me laugh.”
As you woke up a bit more, you reminded me “Mama, it’s not about what’s out here (waving outside yourself) that matters; its’ what’s in here (rubbing your chest.” I smiled warmly (melting a little more), and asked, “Maya, when I tell you that you are beautiful, do you know what I mean?”
Without hesitation you responded,

“Yes, you mean I have a beautiful heart.”

“Yes, sweet girl, that is exactly what I mean.”
Big, amazing, deep, wonderful sigh.

*****

Jo Ann M, our dear friend who works with me, invited you over to pick flowers anytime you want from her beautiful, diverse and extensive garden around her home. Last Monday we decided to take her up on her offer, as it was your turn to bring in some centerpiece for the classroom table.
A little history is important to share with you here so you understand your reaction. On a daily basis – especially in spring for at least the past 2 years (probably more), you asked permission to pick a flower from our front yard. As there were rarely more than 5 or so blooming at a time, the answer was sadly no most of the time.
So we stop by Jo Ann’s on the way to school, and she enthusiastically escorted you around the yard encouraging and helping you pick the best of the best, one after another after another. The girl who has historically been allowed 1 or 2 flowers, carried a full bouquet of12-14 beautiful blossoms to school that day. As we were driving to school, you were grinning and wiggling with excitement. After about a minute, you said,

“Mama, ya know sometimes you can’t help smiling. It just keeps coming out!!”

*****

Our time with Siobhan started last night with a sleep-over!!
* Hot tub in the cold rain with lots of giggles
* Flossing! (Who’da thought that would be a highlight – check out the video below!)
Next morning?
* More hot-tubbing – this time with Mommy
* Craft – we worked together to make a huge flower out of Peeps
* A break to watch a movie: Beethoven 4
* Lunch – fish, baby cukes, mac & cheese and apples
* An impromptu bath to defrost after making a bird nest (in fancy dresses of course) in the freezing rain!
* Craft – you and S made beautiful pictures; yours was made with love for Oma & Opa
* Swimming at the Y – what a ball!!!!
* Dinner just the 2 of us
* Lots of chapters of Junnie B
* Snuggling in together in my bed (Daddy Jim’s out of town)
We were both ze-zausted! 😉 What a wonderful day.

This first video is from the night before –

We knew this day was coming – and coming soon, but we were still thrilled today when it happened!!

Hi Maya… it’s daddy jim.

Tonight was such a wonderful night. We have had a really wonderful week (lots of fun things including the Cobblestone teacher appreciation day and Mommy’s new car, Kiki!)… and you made it extra memorable by riding a bike on 2 wheels for the first time tonight.

We have been practicing a lot for about a month. We started with the first bike that Madeline ever rode (she was about your age, but she was a little older because her birthday is in February and she’s just a bit bigger). We tried to help you ride that bike on a bunch of evenings and you were making good progress, but Mommy wisely decided that you would be better off with a bike that was a little lighter… so she took your training wheels off the bike you rode last summer. She raised the seat a little and read some things on the web about how to teach you. Last weekend, you made great progress riding down a grassy hill in our neighbor’s lawn for about 30 minutes laughing and riding and falling down. Mommy practiced with you a few times this week, too… she would help you stay upright on the driveway and the street by holding on to your shirt to make sure you didn’t fall over!

The three of us had had a yummy dinner at the King & I, and Mommy and I were pretty sure you could just start riding by yourself. Dan & Madeline did their best practicing at a church parking lot on Highland Parkway where there were no cars and big open spaces… so tonight we took you to the Edgewood church parking lot. Almost immediately you were riding by yourself. It was a bright sunny night. We took pictures and recorded video. You turned in circles and almost ran into Kiki a couple times. You rode fast and laughed and then ran off the parking lot and crashed. Finally it was time to go home because you were tired (and maybe there was an “ow-ee”).

We sat in the hot tub and looked at the pretty sky. We are very lucky to watch your great successes and listen to your little voice and your big laughter.

**********

The next pictures and video were taken the very next day – You are a rock star!!! -Mommy

Look at that confidence!!

Puddles and Jeffrey joined you and Daniel for a well-earned drink of water after a successful time biking!!