Wow – What an incredibly fun time we had!! I wasn’t sure whether or not it was the best idea to take you on Madeline’s field tirip that Daddy Jim and I were chaperoning because a) it was supposed to rain both days and be cold; and 2) I wasn’t sure if I would be able to focus on Madeline enough while also making it fun for you… but I knew I REALLY wanted to take you camping and the teachers were very encouraging…. so I gave it a shot – and I am SO GLAD I DID!!!

WE HAD SUCH A FANTASTIC TIME!!

The kids in Madeline’s class – including Madeline – embraced you with big, open arms – including you enthusiastically in so many of the activities, games or crafts, swimming or meals. And we were surprised and blessed with WONDERFUL weather!!

Here are some pictures from our wonderful time!! Thanks God!!

A few times during the 2 days, you stopped what you were doing and said, “Mama? This is such a fun trip!!! Thanks SO MUCH for bringing me!” (I melted each time.)

Excited to be here!

Played many team-building games

Some of the games were better for the big kids, so you and I just escaped and played together!!

A first experience with a tire swing!! Wow!

Althea’s Boots

You and Althea became FAST friends – you hung out together a lot over the two days! At one point she said to me, “April? You are SO lucky!! Maya is SO GREAT!” I told her that I totally agree – I feel so grateful for you every single day!

Doing art

Our Chores – Making Pancakes

Best Time at the Lake!!

S’mores over a Fire – Of course!

Friends, family, fun, sun and God’s beautiful world – it doesn’t get better than that!

Grateful and peaceful

We can’t wait to go again!

out of the blue, you said (during dinner at Great Northern after an afternoon of skiing):

“Mama – I want to be just like you.”

I melted in every way possible.

Then today I heard this song and melted some more:

I so love being your Mom!

What would you like to dress up as for Halloween, Peanut?

A Princess!

Are you sure? Maybe a lion instead? A penguin?

No! I want to be a princess.

And a princess you were – the most wonderful princess of all!

Daddy and I took you trick-or-treating tonight with your dear friend Marlie after a quick pizza dinner together. You were SO excited to put on your BEAUTIFUL dress complete with tiara, earrings, boa and a light-up wand!! WOW!!! Talk about pretty in pink!

You were so excited. You and Marlie chased ahead of one another and yelled “Line Leader!” (This must be a day care role that everyone covets.) You yelled “Trick-or-treating!!!” and “Happy Halloween!!” at the doors and seemed to be able to talk EVERYONE into a second piece of candy.

Here are some pictures of our wonderful night!

A highlight was DEFINITELY bumping into HANNAH and family!!

Peanut, you are SUCH A JOY to be with! Thank you for being so wonderfully you!

You are SO cute when you say it… “I’m not a Spruce. Now I’m a Cedar.” You have graduated to Al and Angela’s room. Maritza and DeeDee have been SO wonderful! You couldn’t wait to go to school every day – even on Saturday’s and Sunday’s, you asked if you could go. You were so persistent when Oma and Opa stayed with you that they walked you to school to SHOW you that all the teachers were home resting. 🙂

This is what Maritza wrote to you today:

Today is the last day of Maya as a Spruce. Maya gave us extra hugs and kisses! She seems very interested and ready for the Cedar Room. Maya has grown a great deal, not just physically but emotionally and socially. Maya is a beautiful girl with a great personality. She’s loving and caring. She has a very special place in our hearts and we will miss her greatly! Thank you so much for the opportunity of working with Maya. It has been our pleasure! -Maritza

And Dee Dee wrote this beautiful letter (typed on very pretty letterhead with the title “Time to say goodbye!”):

Dear Maya:

Our year has come to an end. I am heart-broken and full of numerous emotions.

I feel very lucky because I had the pleasure of getting to know you. Delighted for having the opportunity to see your grow and change from day to day… getting a couple pounds heavier and a few inches taller, smarter, more responsible and the list goes on and on. Sad to see you move on and no longer having the opportunity to spend almost a full day with you. However, I will see you around and I am sure you will have time to share all the amazing things you are learning in the Cedar Room.

It was amazing seeing you accomplish great things. Using hte potty, getting dressed and undressed, and girl, you learned fast! I remember that a couple times during naptime, I looked to check if you were sleeping and you, my little girl, were practically naked. I used to call you “my naked girl” and you would laugh and giggle and tell me I was funny and silly. Seeing you become more independent by pouring your own cereal and milk, making choices about the toys you wanted to play with,etc. And who can forget the look on your face when you were able to do all the above things on your own.

I’m sure it was very difficult for Mommy and Daddy because all of a sudden, in less than a blink of an eye, their little caterpillar was turning into a beautiful butterfly. Ready to spread her wings and fly in front of their eyes without being able to do anything about it. But I am sure they are very happy and proud of you like Maritza and me.

Thank you for being who you are, so caring, loving, sweet, respectful, polite, good-hearted, wonderful daughter and always willing to share with friends whatever you brought from home. Thank you for teaching me the butterfly and the nose kiss… for making me laugh, for those extra hgus and kisses when I needed them most, for all your love, your charisma, sympathy, etc.

You will always have a special place in my heart. I am very sure the Cedar Room teachers will fall in love wiht you the same way Maritza and I did.

I will miss you greatly. -Dee Dee

Ellen, Sheryl, Becky, Bonnie, Orlean and Missi add to Maritza and DeeDee to be your “village” – looking after you, helping you grow and loving you every step of the way. We are so blessed to have all of them in our lives, Peanut! Thanks God!!

Move-in day… You and I moved into Willowbend with Uncle Jim today. We have been spending almost every day with him (and sometimes Daniel and Madeline) since last Spring. You have a beautiful, new room at Willowbend that now has all of your favorite toys and books. We have new neighbors that we are beginning to know. Our very next-door neighbor has a 4 and a 2 year old little girls as well as a 7 year old little boy. We will be good friends, I can tell. We will miss our old home and our neighbors, but this change is going to be very good for us.

Uncle Jim loves you so very, very much. He loves to tell me stories about the funny things you say, the sweet things you do, and the joy you bring to all around you. And Uncle Jim and I love each other very much. Last April, April 5th to be exact, we decided we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. Because we are so much older and have been seriously involved with a number of others, we have a very deep understanding about the kind of relationship we want, the things that we value most, how we want to interact with each other and the world, how we want to parent our kids, and what role we want God to play in our lives. Uncle Jim and I share all of these values and priorities. We respect one another and learn so much from one another. We love to be with one another for all the right reasons – because we have fun together, because we support one another, because we challenge each other to grow, because we help each other be the person God created us to be.

Following our tradition, Aunti Judi brought over a move-in picnic to celebrate. She asked you where you would like to have it, and true to form, you said “OUTSIDE!!” We sat on the front lawn and had a LOVELY picnic of champagne and special juice as well as Dinosaur BBQ. Then you gave Auntie Judi a tour, and we built your new puzzle together. You did a GREAT job on such a grown-up puzzle! Then Auntie Judi gave you a bath.

What a VERY SPECIAL day! Thanks, God, for blessing us so richly!

After having a wonderful time at CJ’s MBA party, we enjoyed the rest of the Memorial Day weekend (yes, way back in May) by 1) waking up EAAAAARRRLY and heading out to Letchworth Park to watch the hot air balloon launching, and 2) gather a group and head to a Red Wings minor-league baseball game. You’ll notice a clear absence of hot air balloons (weather wasn’t right for launching); you’ll also notice that we didn’t mind a bit!!

“Take me out to the ballgame…”

Another wonderful field trip with your class to Springdale Farms. Dakota was our “guide.” We had a grand time, and the weather was wonderful! Check out all the animals we were able to interact with! Just like last year, you and I drove out separately and met your friends there. Then you rode the bus back with your friends.

“Wanna pet the pony Apryl?”

Holding a baby chick:

Happy to be together

Here you’re listening to a rabbit’s heartbeat – AMAZINGLY fast!!

Happily hanging out with the piglets

Taking a break

You and Elsa debate the difference between hay and straw

Time for lunch with the gang

Girlfriends

And you say you can’t be friends with boys…