Jun 8 2010

a staring contest…

Posted on 6/8/2010 by April

let’s see – I want to try your new blog format – and there are about a million things I wish I had written down for you, so let’s see if, in my tired state, I can remember any of them 😉

funny story:
We were at a very loud restaurant Saturday night (mad, dan, you, me, daddy jim, daddy’s best friend dave, and our friend christine). You and I were sitting on one side of the table hanging out. You said, “Mom, let’s have a staring contest.” So we did… and laughed and laughed and laughed. Sometimes I won, sometimes you won. Once when you won, you looked across the table and excitedly told Daddy Jim, “I won! I won!!” He yelled back to you (so you could hear), “What did you win sweetheart?!?” “A staring contest with Mama!!”

He looked truly perplexed and yelled back,
“A Scary Cow Test?!?!?!”

We both immediately CRACKED up laughing, looked at each other and broke out in the meanest looking and sounding MOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! toward each other that we could come up with!!! Then we laughed so hard our sides split!!!! It took us many rounds of Scary Cow Test and laughter before we could breath enough to explain to Daddy Jim.

How fun!!

May 16 2010

a sunday with my maya

Posted on 5/16/2010 by April

Started slowly with a lot of snuggles and giggles in bed… Then we watched two “Peeps” together. We really watched them together – I listened and we laughed together and commented and questioned together. Quack cracks me up!!! So “always confident, rarely correct.” He’s a trip!!

Our family has started measuring time in “Peeps” by the way. You’ll say how long is 3 hours? We’ll answer 6 “Peeps.” You’ll ask, “How long till where there?” We’ll answer, “3 Peeps.” It’s all quite comical.

Pictures from Peep-Watching

The following picture says it all – a very common image of our dining room table with your artwork on one end and my something-else work on the other end… Today it was 5 loads of laundry and going through all of your size 4 clothes and replacing them with size 5 summer clothes.

Then we went to shop for your friend Marlie’s birthday present, and stopped for a picnic at this fun bench along the way. Before we ate, we decorated Marlie’s gift bag with some of our original art. These benches are popping up all over Brighton – I wonder what the back story is…. Very fun!!

Picnic Pictures

Then onto Marlie’s belated birthday party… So many of your old friends from Asbury were there – Else, Natalie, Jaydon, Raine, Missy… It was a good time.

A few pictures from Marlie’s party

(You took the next picture)

(We did a lot of bouncing together – I’m pretty sure I was the only parent bouncing – what an honor…)

After the party, we changed clothes in the back seat together and headed out for a hike with Casey and her parents – I’ve told you this many times, but Casey’s Mom and I have been friends since prenatal yoga. We were all in the same “play group” for the first 2+ years of your life. It’s so fun that we have reconnected through Cobblestone! After our hike and some good tree-climbing, we went to their house for dinner and strawberry shortcake! : )

Some pictures from the park:

A quick snack, bath, teeth-brushing, book and chat with Daddy Jim, and you were out (me too almost… I’m struggling to stay awake to write this post, but I promised Daddy Jim he could keep tabs on us while he is away through your blog…)

As I told you Baby – Life with you is SOOOO MUCH FUN!!!

May 16 2010

what can I say… sigh

Posted on 5/16/2010 by April

Maya: “what is this Mama, and why is it here?” (referring to the ironing board and iron that she is never seen in her entire 5 years of life)

May 15 2010

mama’s graduation day 2010

Posted on 5/15/2010 by April

Today your Mama was the very proud, honored and humble academic advisor for 22 masters students and 4 doctoral students who walked across a stage to receive their diplomas. I got to tell their daughters, sons, spouses, moms and dads how brilliant, accomplished and fantastic each of them is!! What a wonderful job I have… I am so grateful for the things God asks me to do.

Pete, Vince, Ellen and John – my first for doctoral graduates! I couldn’t be more happy or proud!!

At the end of this busy day – after singing with the Gospel, we went to see a friend of Madeline’s in a play at SOTA with Em, Christine, Madeline, Daniel & Julie: School House Rocks!

A small sample of senior Em’s amazing artwork:

On our way home, we stopped at our dear friend Jo Ann’s home for a quick visit…. She TOTALLY made Maya’s day by inviting Maya to pick WHATEVER flower she wanted from her GORGEOUS garden – check out the one she chose:

Thanks Jo Ann!!!

What a wonderful day – we were both so tired when we got home… you fell asleep in my lap while rocking. How precious. I treasure my time with you.

May 13 2010

spring break II

Posted on 5/13/2010 by April

Daddy Jim and I decided we really wanted to do something special for our April Spring Break – we wanted to take the three of you to “Ground Zero.” Daddy Jim wants to tell you all about the trip, so I am just going to post some pictures to help him tell his stories.

“Hey Soul Sister…” by Train

May 13 2010

you LOVE to pick flowers

Posted on 5/13/2010 by April

One of your TRUE and consistent joys is exploring nature and collecting it. Now that spring is here, you SO LOVE picking and smelling flowers!!

Here are some of the beauties in our front yard. We planted these as a family (all five of us) last fall! So very wonderful! Thanks God!!

God is so good!

May 13 2010

mama had surgery tuesday

Posted on 5/13/2010 by April

Hey Baby –

You know this already, but on Tuesday I had Lasik surgery to correct the vision in both of my eyes. My biggest fear was that something would go wrong and I wouldn’t get to see every stage of your growing up. The next day when Daddy Jim brought you home from school, I just stared and stared into your bright beautiful eyes and touched your sweet face. We were both enamored with each other for quite some time… me because I could see so much more detail in your eyes and your face and your fingers and just everything… you because (I think) you were afraid something bad had happened to me b/c your teacher told you I couldn’t see well enough to drive and pick you up – I think you were a little afraid. You very quickly realized all was well, and we hugged and hugged.

Here is the picture of me and my docs – the one on my right is my surgeon/ophthalmologist and the one on my left is my optometrist – taken RIGHT after surgery. What a crazy experience!

Here is the description of the surgery I sent to Oma, Opa and all of my aunts and uncles and cousins:

I had Lasik surgery yesterday – It is QUITE the experience!!! Anyone out there do it? Since I turned 40 and had to switch to bifocal contacts, I have had nothing but trouble seeing.

We’re so blessed to have such an incredible medical center here, and a surgeon with an INCREDIBLE record and reputation:

http://www.stronghealth.com/services/strongvision/aboutsv/MacRae.cfm

Bottom line – the surgery went PERFECTLY. I had both eyes corrected. I can see things close in CRAZY detail – like the pores on Jim’s skin look like they are under a microscope! I can read the tiny print on receipts. You get the point.

I am far-sighted, so all of that is INSANE to me.

Here’s the bummer – Dr. MacRae said “Enjoy the Fountain of Youth” while it lasts – it won’t last too long. Far-sighted people have a strong tendency to regress, so they OVER correct intentionally – making my close vision super strong at the expense of my far vision. Over the next couple weeks I will see changes in my vision every day moving back closer to 20/20 – and slower changes over the next 4-6 months.

All in all though, no more contacts!! (I have been wearing them since I was 16!!) and no more glasses- except maybe very weak reading glasses eventually.

There is a still a bit of swelling on my cornea, so my far vision is still blurry and I can’t drive, but it’s getting noticeably better every few hours.

What an incredible blessing!! And, for those of you who are DYING to know – not that expensive – $1900 / eye with a $300 discount for University of Rochester employees and free 24 month financing. REALLY not bad.

You have been very tender and sweet with me as I heal. And I have spent much more time just watching you since the surgery – outside your classroom, while you’re sleeping, while you’re eating…. not that I didn’t simply adore being near you and watching you before. 🙂

Love you my Baby Girl!!

May 12 2010

Conferences and big planes

Posted on 5/12/2010 by April

Hey Baby –

You have had to give up your Mommy and Daddy Jim for short spells since you were born as we get on “big planes” for a few days for work meetings. The latest conference I attended was my largest meeting – the American Educational Research Association – this time in Denver CO.

I come back with stories of a BIG BLUE bear –

This picture came from this blog.

These are 2 pictures I took:

This is the beautiful hotel I got to stay in – I can’t wait to go to these places with you and enjoy afternoon tea with yo and go dancing with you and hear of all your adventures….

http://www.brownpalace.com/

And other adventures.

You left me the sweetest, sweetest message on my voicemail. Let’s see if I can upload audio…

mayamessage
“I miss you alot and I love you”

I love you too Baby. So much!

May 8 2010

looking back to your birthday

Posted on 5/8/2010 by April

We were so busy CELEBRATING you around your birthday that I forgot to post pictures of the wonderful events! In our family, we have birthday weeks (instead of just birth days) – so we can celebrate many days.

On the Sunday before your birthday, you had your birthday party at a local YMCA and invited all of the kids from your class including 2 of your teachers. You wanted it to be a pj party, so we all wore our fanciest pj’s and had a gret time.

On your birthday (a Tuesday morning), I surprised you by coming over to your Daddy’s house for all of us to share breakfast together. You and your Daddy made me what you call a “smooth-i-lie.”

We went to school together for your birthday celebration – a special thing your school does where you dress in a robe and crown and a friend parades in the room with you while we all wave pretty wands. Your teacher Barbie lights a candle for every year of your life, and your Daddy and I told stories of each of those years – something special that we remember from that year. Daddy Jim filmed the whole special event (I will see if I can post the video here). What a very special, special time. Then Barbie gives you a very special heart pin.

You, your Daddy and I made special fruit cup treats for your birthday, and you shared them with the whole first floor and many others.

Daniel’s class play was on your birthday – so we all went and cheered him on as he was “Francene” in a play about Earth Day. He got to dress up like a girl – everyone hooted and hollered and he LOVED the attention!!

I picked you up at 2:30pm when school was out, and we played in the playground for a bit before swimming lessons.

Siobhan, Johanna, you and I drove to swimming lessons together. You did SUCH a great job. Then we headed to your birthday dinner at a local restaurant. Your Daddy and Meghan had decorations on the table when we arrived. We had yummy pizza and salad, opened some presents and sang HAPPY BIRTHDAY a few more times!!

What a wonderful day! Happy Birthday Baby Girl.

Here are pictures from all these events:

1. The PARTY

2. Breakfast with Mama and Daddy @ Daddy’s

3. School Birthday Celebration

4. Daniel’s Play – He was “Francene” and was fantastic!

5. Playing with friends with slate after school

6. Swimming Lessons

7. Birthday Dinner

What a wonderfully full day!! Happy Birthday my wonderful love bug!!

Your little shoes next to mine melted my heart….

May 8 2010

5th year well visit

Posted on 5/8/2010 by April

Again – you are perfect…

On the way to the doctor’s appointment, I explained, “Baby, the doctor is just going to make sure you are healthy and growing up strong. She will check to make sure you are getting taller and are about the right size for a 5-year old.”

With all seriously you assured me, “Mama, I am only 4-year old tall. Five-year old tall would be this tall,” and you held your hand a good 6 inches or more above your head.”
So sweet…

Your pediatrician gave you far more than a clean bill of health. She said you were doing just terrific in your growing and developing into a wonderful girl!! We could not be more happy or proud of you!! At one point, she said “I bet all of her teachers love her!! She is such a great listener and has so much spirit and energy!!” What joy you continue to bring to everyone you meet.

Here are some very fun pictures from the day!