A Science Experiment, Mom!

Maggie was playing into my love of learning and science this morning.

Maggie:  "Mom!  We're going to do a science experiment!"

Me:  "Oh, really?  What are you going to do?"

Maggie:  "We're going to take Bode's cars and paint them, and see if they change color!"

Nice try, Mags.  Nice try.

Here's Four!

Our guy is 4 years old today!  If you've been following our new Twitter feed, you've seen what we've been up to lately.  Bode has the advantage of having his birthday fall around the annual teacher's state conference, which means three days with no school and lots of time to do fun activities.

Today we opted for a McDonald's birthday party.  Less for me to worry about - they take care of food, activities, and cake!  I did make Bode a Baymax cake to have later at home since, as you can see from his answers to the year birthday questions below, that is quite his favorite thing at the moment.

We love our Bode boy and all his smiles and cuddles and compliments, as well as his habit of turning any sort of long stick-like objects into weapons.  

Birthday Questions:
I am... 4.
The best show on TV is... Mickey Mouse.
My favorite thing about school is... playing.
The thing I'm best at is... wrestling.
If I could change my name, it would be... Big Hero 6.
My favorite color is... blue.
My favorite toy is...Baymax.
When I grow up, I want to work... with Dad.
I like to take these things to bed with me at night: my bear.
My favorite book is...Baymax.
My favorite movie is... Big Hero 6.
My favorite season of the year is... winter.
A food I really like is... pepperoni pizza.
My favorite animals are... giraffes.
My favorite sport is... Vikings.
My best friends are... Krosby.
My favorite holiday is...Halloween.
My favorite thing I did while I was 3 was... go swimming.

And Now We Are Six

Now We Are Six

By A.A. Milne

When I was one,

I had just begun.

When I was two,

I was nearly new.

When I was three,

I was hardly me.

When I was four,

I was not much more.

When I was five,

I was just alive.

But now I am six,

I'm as clever as clever.

So I think I'll be six

now and forever.

It's been six years since our beautiful spitfire made herself known in the world.  And our lives haven't been the same since!  We've come full circle as she was born on a Wednesday morning in 2009 and now this year had her first birthday since on a Wednesday.

She loooves birthdays (who doesn't?), so in preparation for today she made a checklist for us:

Wensday Plan:  Poptarts, Mom off (Mom does school drop off), Make cake, Watr (water?), Pant nils (Paint nails)

 So this morning after a breakfast of generic Pop-Tarts (her choice!), a quick shower and a change back into pajamas for the Homecoming week dress-up day, she requested that I do the drop off instead of riding the bus.

After Bode finished preschool, we joined Maggie at school for lunch.  Such fun to see part of her new normal day.

Birthday crown and cape.

She requested a sports-themed birthday party this year, which will take place on Saturday.  But she surprised us a bit when out of all the princess cupcakes available at Target Bakery, she chose these birthday treats to bring to school.

This afternoon, she and I got manicures before coming home to presents, spaghetti and meatballs, and cupcakes.  Then off to AWANA for crazy hair night.

A very full day!

As she opened her first present today, a gift certificate to get a manicure, she queried as to whether the nail salon was in Rochester or Stewartville.  "Stewartville," I replied.  To which she tried to clarify, "Pure Pleasure?"  Ahh!  Pure Pleasure is the adult novelty store located on the edge of Stewartville.  It's flashing billboard has quietly existed along our route to Rochester with no questions from our reading daughter, until today.  Thankfully the questions went no further this time. 

And here are her yearly birthday questions:

I am... 6 years old.
The best show on TV is... Alvin and the Chipmunks
My favorite thing about school is... library.
The thing I'm best at is... reading.
If I could change my name, it would be... Violet.
My favorite colors are... maroon and gold...and violet.
My favorite toy is...my new nail salon set.
When I grow up, I want to work... as a librarian at school.
I like to take these things to bed with me at night: my blankie.
My favorite book is...Frozen Fever
My favorite movie is... Alvin and the Chipmunks.
My favorite season of the year is... fall.
A food I really like is... pizza.
My favorite animals are... cats.
My favorite sport is... soccer.
My best friends are... Ava and Josie.
My favorite holiday is... Halloween and Christmas.
My favorite thing I did while I was 5 was... going to California and Disneyland and when Brooks was born.

You're Beautiful

Watch out, ladies.

I already knew Bode was a charmer, but that sweet part of him is becoming more and more refined.

Yesterday evening when I returned from a couple of school meetings, Bode stopped in his tracks when I walked in the door.  He declared that I was just "so beautiful."  Heart. Melted.  He thought I looked so great, in fact, that I should just go ahead and keep the scarf I had on when I went to bed.  Perhaps he thought it was a nice change from the normal casual duds and messy pony I don on at-home days.

Yet again, as we were getting ready to walk to his preschool today, he reiterated his admiration of how beautiful I looked in my scarf from last night by requesting I wear it again today.  He was a little disappointed when I instead changed into my workout clothes for a post drop-off run with the babies.

Seriously, gals.  This one is a keeper.

Nature Lover

This past weekend, I recruited Maggie to accompany me on a run (you know - trying to instill a love of being active while she's young).  :)  She was more than happy to come along and we ran and walked for a mile and a half together.

We hadn't made it too far into our run, however, when she observed trash along the side of our path.  She seemed utterly disgusted that people would litter our beautiful world and dedicated the rest of her time to picking up the garbage we came across.  Not wanting to discourage her, I did mention that it would be hard to bring it along since we did not have a garbage bag.  That didn't deter her in the least and instead opted to carry as much as she could before we got to a trash can in Kiddie Park and then reload.

While I know we have talked about not littering (I mean, c'mon, Steve calls me a tree hugger), this is just one more example of all that she is soaking up in Kindergarten.  I love it!

First Day

I have a Kindergartener!  I know it shouldn't be quite so unbelievable since I had almost a whole extra year with my fall birthday girl, but seriously.  It's sinking in that it's an end of an era.  I am SOOOO thankful for almost 6 years with Maggie at home with me, both of us learning a lot along the way.

Last week was Meet the Teacher.  An already excited 5-year-old became even more pumped after seeing her locker, dropping off her supplies, meeting her teacher, and checking out a school bus.

After a full weekend at Grammy and Bapa camp, she was up early and excited this morning.  However, in true Maggie fashion, she asserted her independence and tossed out every plan that we had made in regards to her first day.  

Mom drive her to school?  Nope - bus!  And of course, she wanted to walk to the bus stop HERSELF!

Mom lovingly pack her lunch on the first day (so I could add a special note)?  Nope - school lunch!  I did still pack a special note in her backpack.

Eat homemade muffins with the family for breakfast?  Nope - eat with the class for mid-morning school breakfast!

Yes, she is certainly ready.  

We tried to hop in the van and spy on her entering school, but alas it was so busy and I had no idea where to park.  Instead, we came home, and I busied myself in the kitchen getting ready for a Boo Hoo Brunch with some other moms and young children while the older siblings were off at school.

The day seemed to fly by for the most part.  When she hopped off the bus at the end of our street, she raced towards our house.  The first thing out of her mouth?  "That was awesome!"

"The Night Before..." books sent from Grandma and Grandpa

My helper.

Exploring the bus on "Meet the Teacher" day.

In front of her school on "Meet the Teacher" day.

Had to do one last Caribou date last Friday morning before the school year started.

This morning, Maggie ran in to tell Brooks she got to go to school today!

First day of Kindergarten. 8/24/15

Maggie let Bode trail her to the bus stop.

Waiting with the others.

Bode needed a hug, so Maggie came back to where we were waiting.

Consoling.

Best friends.

Here we go!

She's off!

And she's home!

First day of school snack.  Tradition copied from my bro-in-law and sis-in-law.  Stewie colors.

West Coast Adventures

Are you sick of the videos yet?  This one is a little delayed in coming, but back in May we flew with all three littles to California to join the rest of my family in celebrating my brother Andrew's graduation from medical school.

It was Bode's and Brooks' first airplane rides, and everyone did great!  We flew into Palm Springs and spent lots of time at the pool and just hanging out.

We took one day to surprise the kids with a jaunt to Disneyland, which ended up being extremely crowded due to 60th anniversary festivities.  Despite the crowds and therefore limited number of rides we spent the time waiting for, Maggie and Bode were thrilled with their first Disney experience.