The weasel part II: alms for the lame

Last week during our nightly family scripture time Austin read the story to Maisie in the New Testament in the third chapter of the book Acts, about how Peter and John heal the lame man on the temple steps. If you are not familiar with the story it goes essentially like this:

Peter and John were on their way into the temple when a man born lame seeks alms from the two men. Peter then says "look on us" (Acts 3:4) the lame man looked to them thinking he was about to receive the alms he had asked for, but instead Peter said "silver and gold have I none: but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." (Acts 3:6) and the man stood and began leaping, praising God as he entered into the temple with Peter and John.

Austin explained to Maisie what alms are and that he was asking for money because of his condition. As Austin reiterated the story in layman's terms Maisie carefully listened and then threw herself onto the ground. She held up her hands, squinted her eyes and said "I can't walk! I can't walk! I need money!" Austin after laughing a bit started to play the role of Peter. "I don't have money, but I can offer you something better! Rise up and walk!" Maisie didn't move a muscle and said "no I need money!" Austin tried to explain to her that the lame man wasn't healed with money, but rather with a priesthood blessing said in the name of Jesus Christ. Maisie listened and started over... "I can't walk! I can't walk! I need money!" Austin said Peter's part again, but the child still laid motionless. She then whispered "daddy, just give me some money please." so Austin pretended to toss a coin on the ground in front of Maisie, but of course that wasn't enough, it just HAD to be a real coin. Austin went into the other room grabbed a coin and placed it by Maisie's unmoving body. Maisie quickly snatched up the coin then leaped up and said "I'm healed! I'm healed!" Laughing, Austin put his head into his hands and sighed as that was not the point of the story. I just sat back and giggled and figured we would try again another night. haha she's such a weasel.

The weasel part I: free samples

A week or so before our trip to Oregon we ate at a local hot dog place called Skeeter's. As we were waiting for our hot dogs (a polish sausage for me) Maisie opened her bag of chips and proceeded to tell us that she was passing out free samples. So I held out my hand as Maisie promptly plopped a chip into my palm. Austin put out his hand and instead of getting a chip Maisie told him "the free samples are not free anymore". Austin chuckled as he asked how much she was charging. She proudly exclaimed "4 dollars!" so he pulled out his wallet and handed her 4 pretend dollars. Maisie gladly accepted the money and pretended to put it into her jean pockets. After Austin put his wallet away he outstretched his hand this time expecting to receive his "not-free-free-sample" but Maisie smugly looked right at him and as cold as a three year old could sound said "I'm sorry but we're closed now." haha! Where does this child come from?!

4th birthday - carnival party

Since going to the Oregon State Fair last September, every night during family prayers Maisie says "I'm thankful for the fair and the bumper cars." (Yes, she has said it every night for 8 months). So when talking to Austin a couple months ago, we thought it would be fun to have a "fair party" theme for Maisie's 4th birthday, but decided to make it more carnival style because we obviously can't have rides, but we could have food, games and prizes. We ended up inviting our whole neighborhood which has a TON of kids, which made everything feel even more carnival like with all the screaming, laughing and even complete with crowded food and game stands. Maisie was loving every minute of it, she would periodically run over to me and hug my leg so tight and smile so big as I patted her head and reminded her this party was all for her. It truly was so much fun and the weather was perfection. It was in the mid to high 70s all day long with a bit of a breeze so thankfully we didn't feel too uncomfortable, but unfortunately our decorations/banners didn't survive for more than a few minutes into the party. Oh well, that's life.

I also didn't get to go around and take pictures of everything because I was busy making sure we had enough food (pretzels and corn dogs don't make themselves you know) but I was able to take a couple randomly throughout the day. I think the memories we made will last a lifetime- this was definitely a party to remember!

phone picture- Maisie's invite & some of the decorations we made for the food.

Oh, how I love her.

Did I mention we did a pie toss? Austin was such a good sport. Haha

p.s mom fail of the year...bear with me it is semi-related to the party.

Thursday was really warm and sunny in the 70s so while Austin was at school Maisie and I played outside for hours and hours and hours. We filled her kiddie pool and put on her new swimsuit. I lathered her body and face with sunscreen totally forgetting that Maisie is SUPER sensitive to most all sunscreens (give me a break- it's been awhile since we've needed it and remember I'm 31 weeks pregnant and pregnancy brain is for real folks). I found a bottle in the medicine cabinet (I think it was mine- it said for babies on it, but now that I think about it I don't think it was ever Maisie's because she can only use certain kinds) and continued to rub it into Maisie's sensitive skin. 5 minutes in, she started saying she was really itchy and so I told her to hop into the pool and get her skin wet, she stopped complaining, but I should have taken her in plopped her into the bath that very second and washed it off with soap, but it was so nice out and I knew she would still want to play outside and I didn't want her to get a sunburn, so we pushed through. After we were done outside, we ate some dinner and I gave her a bath and that's when I noticed the rash all over her upper back, neck and chest. I even noticed a few spots on her cheek, so I gently washed her off. The next morning it was even worse and had turned into a prickly heat rash which had spread to her face. So anyway, this is a really long story to say that on her birthday party most of her upper body was covered in a heat rash- which couldn't have been comfortable seeing how it was so warm that day (and most everyone got a sunburn). She didn't complain that her skin was hurting her until after the party, poor girl. I felt so terrible because I should have known better, but such is life. Today the rash is a lot less red and irritated and thankfully not bothering her, but now I have to drop $15 dollars on a small tube of sunscreen- worth it, but still $15!? Come on.

Snapshots

There are just a couple hours left of Maisie's last day of being a three year old and as I sit here and think about how that is even possible, I just feel so blessed.

Throughout the day I took mental snapshots of her. It's easy to remember moments on special occasions, but I wanted to remember little things about her on just an average day. Here are some snapshots of my day with my daughter.

#1

This morning as I was helping her put on her saltwater sandals (the very ones she wore on her birthday last year) I giggle to myself because I'm blown away by how much she has changed within the year, but yet her teeny tiny feet are still relatively the same size.

#2

I love that she can eat a tomato just like an apple. She would prefer a little salt sprinkled on top, but the girl just loves tomatoes.

#3

Watching her search for the perfect dandelion to blow into the wind. "It has to be white, fluffy and round like a circle mama!" And the way she eagerly puckers her little ducky lips and proudly jumps up and down as the seeds float away.

#4

We went out to lunch today and when the waiter asked us "if we saved enough room for something sweet" Austin and I both sighed and said unfortunately no, but as the waiter was starting to walk away Maisie sweetly said "don't worry I did!"

#5

As Austin and I were cleaning I heard Maisie playing in our closet with my shoes (always the high heels). I wanted to watch her playing without her knowing I was looking, so I stood back and watched her enthusiastically bicker back and forth with a pair of heels.

#6

When in said closet, she found an old pair of ballet slippers (like actual dance shoes, not ballet flats) and she slipped them on and plied and pirouetted around the room which led to run/dancing down the hall and yelling "Mommy! I can never stop dancing! Ever!"

#7

Playing our nightly game of "Go Fish" (her current favorite) not only is she so sweet about passing up her cards, but man, the girl is good. She genuinely wins almost every time. Tonight the ending scores were Maisie 10, Mommy 6 and Daddy 3

#8

The way she hugged me every time I reminded her that tomorrow is her birthday. She would throw her arms around my neck and squeeze so tight because her excitement was too much to contain.

#9

The last thing she did before falling asleep was give me three big kisses and telling me that tomorrow she will give me 4 because she will be 4. Oh and those kisses- a note to self never forget her big "summer kisses" they're truly the best.

Well, that's my little list for now, but looking back on our average day I realize that I am so incredibly blessed to spend my days (even just the average ones) with this little girl. She's my little ray of sunshine and words cannot describe how happy I am to be her mama.

Happy (almost) Birthday my Maisie Moo! I love you more and more each day!

p.s  Maisie's party will be on Saturday, but we will be sure to open a present or two and have some cake and ice cream tomorrow. I just can't wait until tomorrow morning when I hear her happy little feet run down the hallway to hop into bed with me and Austin- I can hear the excitement in her voice already. :)