Big Sisters

As you can see these girls were in absolute heaven meeting their little brother for the first time. They intuitively and lovingly welcomed little Evan into our family without any hesitation. I think they both could feel that he was with us all along- the belly (my pregnant belly AKA Evan) finally had a face and such a kissable face it was (and is). I am happy to report that even a month in, these girls are still completely smitten with their brother- they jump at any chance to rub his fluffy head, kiss his chubby cheeks and tickle his teeny toes. We all love our little baby Evan and are so happy to finally have him here.

A couple more photos for good measure:

Maisie-isms #3

I just came across this list, the third edition of "Maisie-isms", in my draft folder started in summer of 2015 and added on to November of the same year. Oops, I kind of (most definitely) dropped the ball on this one... and probably so many other posts as well, but better late than never! I think I will continue with the "isms" because the girl's crack us up daily with their banter and silly sayings. :)

I dropped an apple in the sink while I was peeling it "shoot!"  Maisie came in and said "I'm sorry mama" and I told her "that's ok baby it's not your fault, you don't have to be sorry." Maisie then responded "but you always say you're sorry when I fall down and get hurt and that's not your fault."

Ellie was walking in the backyard by the lilac bush "Ellie is bonding with nature right now."

Maisie: What do you think Ellie's favorite color is?

Me: We don't know yet because she's not old enough to tell us.

Maisie: it's probably the color of your tummy.

Me: What?! Like skin color??

Maisie: No. Like the INside.

(Like when I was pregnant with her haha)

Sitting outside around the fire pit watching a couple of the resident pigeons (the creatures Austin openly despises most) strut around on the roof of the house.
Maisie: (knowing how much Austin hates the pigeons) Why don't we just get a knife and halve them? When you halve them, they die. And then we will see their guts.

Austin: Ew I don't want to see pigeon guts.

Maisie: I do!

Maisie pretending to be Dracula "I vant some beef jorkey (jerky)

Playing with her school erasers "This is Professor Hoots-bird"

When we were walking home from school "Uhg... It smells like a cat's toot."

Upon hearing Austin say my middle name is (which is Ashley by the way).

Maisie scoots in real close and puts her face to mine- practically nose to nose and in a loud whisper says: "Your. Middle name. Is. Hash brown?!"

"It's about to get real stinky." (upon tooting)

We were scoping out places to take our family pictures pretty much in the middle of no where Idaho, when Maisie said:

"I hope we don't get lost because we don't have any food in the car... Well, we do have mommy's milk." --this then led to an interesting conversation about how long I could keep my whole family alive solely on breast milk. Haha!

Watching Star Wars:
"Who would be on Darth Vader's side? Not me! I'm on God's side!"

"Luke Skywalker is awesome, cool, a Jedi and awesome." It seems Maisie has a bit of a crush on Mr Skywalker

Maisie's teacher told us a funny thing that Maisie had said while they were talking about Pilgrams and the Native Americans in Kindergarten and how they were the "first" people. Maisie then raised her hand and astutely said "No. Adam and Eve were!"

Catching up: May 25th, 2016 - Kindergarten Graduate

In the last 11 days this little girl turned SIX, graduated Kindergarten and is getting her first permanent molars. I can vividly remember and recall each emotion the second she was born and It's beyond confusing and terrifying that that moment was over six years ago. How can that be? 

I have this love-hate relationship with time. It seems to pass impossibly fast and I find myself trying to grasp it and save it from slipping by, but then I see the changes my daughters make in that time that I'm so selfishly trying to hold back and I'm forced to let go. The older they get the more I truly see them and know them so why would I want to try to prevent that? Knowing them is my greatest joy and that will never change.

Catching up: May 14th, 2016 Maisie's 6th Birthday & Tavaci Performance

Maisie's sixth birthday was chock full with excitement. For one Grams and Gramps came to celebrate with us and secondly, Maisie's Tavaci class (performance choir) had their final performance ON her birthday. Maisie loved the excitement, she adores performing so I think that was just one extra gift to her on her birthday. Speaking of gifts, Maisie was very spoiled this year! It was quite the birthday weekend. How in the world is she SIX already?!

p.s We didn't have a birthday party on her actual birthday because she wanted a "Summer party" post on that coming soon :)

"Let it go"

A few months ago Ellie (and Maisie... again) went through a big Frozen obsession. It all started when Maisie would come home from school and the girls would watch it (wearing their princess dresses obviously). It then turned into excited Ellie screams every time she saw anything related to Frozen any where (Elsa and Olaf being her favorite, but she doesn't discriminate). Then one day a couple months ago, I hear them bouncing on Maisie's bed belting out the famed and way overplayed "Let it go". I walked in as they finished, sat down on the bed and started another round of the song, but this time recording it. I still laugh when I watch it- Ellie's hesitant face at the beginning and then her enthusiasm as she hits her stride. 

Enjoy!

Purple Cheetah Glasses

Maisie had been waiting for the day that she could pick out some fun glasses and not the ones our insurance covers (boring ones). And as scared as I was to give her that much power because my child is very capable of picking out bright and flashy things, I am pleasantly surprised with her pick. She did an awesome job! Not only are they super cute, but the purple leopard (she calls it cheetah because she thinks they will make her fast) really suits her don't you think?

Amblyopia

-crazy dilated pupils-

In November Maisie came home from school with a letter stating that after a simple eye screening, they felt she needed a full comprehensive exam. I made an appointment with the doctor who had done her school check up and upon walking into the building, the staff instantly recognized Maisie. The assistant excitedly remembered her because Maisie had held open the door for her (which Maisie does every morning- she holds open the door for at least a minute every morning for the kids and parents. It always makes me smile seeing her sweet act of kindness). Maisie was extremely brave the entire time. The dilating eye drops were quite painful, but she dealt with it like a champ. After a couple hours Maisie was diagnosed with Amblyopia aka "lazy eye", but not that her eye looks off in a funny way, but that her left eye being as blurry as it is, her brain started to ignore it and therefore didn't use the eye at all. So now we need to try to strengthen her eye with patching for 6 hours a day and an extreme prescription lens (+4.25) then after the Doctor determined the course of action, Maisie was fitted with her glasses that wouldn't arrive for a couple of weeks.

The second week of December her glasses arrived and boy, does she look cute in glasses:

For awhile I couldn't quite put my finger on why I was somewhat upset about finding out Maisie needed glasses. It wasn't a vanity issue because I think glasses are darling on kids and I have plenty of loved ones with glasses, but I did feel upset. It wasn't until I started to feel emotional about it that I kind of honed in on the cause. Now I know it was because I felt guilty as her mother that I never realized sooner that she couldn't see out of her left eye. She never displayed any of the signs I have associated with needing glasses, but Amblyopia can be hard to catch and I was reassured by many friends and the Doctor that it's quite normal not to catch them until their first eye exam, which can sometimes not be done until middle school or later. So I am thankful to have caught it when we did and that we can be helping her now. While she isn't a fan of the patching, she is already having so much improvement with her left eye getting stronger and by her next appointment she will already need a less severe prescription! :)

An email from Santa

About a month ago I took the girls to the university to have lunch with Austin. As we walked though the bookstore we noticed a little letter station with a mailbox that directly goes to Santa. Maisie couldn't stop thinking about it the entire lunch so we had to swing by before we left. Maisie penned her letter stating in messy kindergartener handwriting that she wanted Star Wars toys. At the bottom of the letter it asked for the parents email so I wrote ours down and then Maisie slipped the letter into the mailbox. Honestly I wasn't thinking much about it until a couple weeks later there was an email from Santa Claus. I started to tear up as I read the letter because it was so personalized and sweet. Maisie's eyes as I read it to her were full of magic and wonder. 

Here's the letter:

Ho ho ho!

Well Maisie, I bet you can't guess who this is! I hear you've been a good girl this year. Thanks for listening to your mommy and trying your best to be good. I'm sorry I can't write you more often, dear. We've been pretty busy here in the north pole! Rudolph has been getting sick, so I've had to take care of him to make sure we're all ready to deliver presents Christmas night! Oh how fun it is to fly through the night sky, visiting all of the homes and dropping off toys. You all are just so great! 

Can I ask you one huuuuuge favor? I need your help with something! Now, you must keep it a secret. I was talking with Yoda (him and I are good friends) and he told me that kids can have the force! Did you know that? I'll tell you how. You smile :) When you smile, and say thank you to your mommy, the force starts working on your mommy and daddy. They start smiling, your friends start smiling, all those around you start smiling!! It's the force! Betcha didn't know I use the force all the time on those grouchy elves ;) It's how I helped Rudolph feel better, though he was pretty sick so I had to use a little laughing to help as well. 

Well Maisie dear, you keep being a good girl. I sure am excited to drop off presents if you keep being a good girl! Remember to smile :) 

With a big ho, ho, ho, and lots of love, 

Santa Claus

Maisie after we read it stood in silence for a minute (very unlike her) and with large eyes she whispered "he IS real". I nodded my head and smiled back assuming she was talking about Santa and then she said "Yoda IS real!" I laughed so hard. I guess Santa was never in question, but Yoda? As Maisie would say "is he myth or fact?" but I guess this letter from Santa was all the confirmation she needed.

Star Wars Fanatic

Notice the Darth Vader on her shirt too.

For the last month Maisie has been OBSESSED with Star Wars. We finally introduced her to the original trilogy (which is far superior to the prequels- in our opinion) last month. It all came about because we couldn't agree on a movie to watch. We wanted something tame, but with a more intricate storyline that Maisie could keep up with. So we borrowed them from our friend and decided to give it a go, completely thinking Maisie would lose interest within the first half hour. She fell in love the second the opening song and credits turned on. She begged to watch a Star Wars movie every night until we blew through the whole collection. She has been begging to watch them again, but unfortunately we don't own them yet so we have to get creative with blaring the soundtrack in our home and in the car (who needs Christmas music right?), watching "The Clone Wars" and the Phineas and Ferb episodes "May the Ferb be with you 1 & 2" on Netflix, YouTube clips (these are her favorites, she calls them R2 funnies- 1 & 2), playing the Star Wars Lego game on the iPad and just by Googling/Pinteresting anything and everything related to the movie.

Maisie knows the entire story, who every single character is and has since developed an undying love for R2D2 and although she won't completely admit it, she totally has a crush on Luke Skywalker because "he's awesome and cool and awesome". Her words, not mine.

Every night before bed we tell funny stories about Maisie's adventures with her friends R2D2, C3PO, Luke and Darth Vader (yes, once again Maisie has a thing for the villain). Some times Wickett, Leia, Chewie and the Sand People get in on the action too. Often times she pretends one of them is coming over to dinner. The nights she invites Darth Vader are the especially fun because she's scared and excited all at once and she wants us all on our best behavior so we don't get forced choked.

Her Christmas requests this year are all Star Wars related items and you better believe I am so thankful the remake came out shortly after her obsession began because it would have been much more difficult finding the items she would like to have without "Star Wars VII The Force Awakens" coming out.

Speaking of "The Force Awakens" we took her to see it today as an early Christmas gift. We were going to wait to take her after Christmas because we obviously got her a couple Star Wars related gifts and we wanted her to have them for the movie, but the timing worked out better to do it today- our babysitter was available to watch Ellie and we were already going stir crazy with Christmas break just starting. We ended up letting Maisie open one present before the movie so she could proudly wear it- her very own R2D2 shirt (conveniently in her favorite color and also with glittery letters). Taking her to see the movie has been one of the most fun times I have had as a parent. She was so excited. I can't tell you how many times she cheered, clapped and made happy little screams during the movie. Seeing all her favorite characters and also BB8? Man, how do they make these little droids so lovable?! The movie was 6 thumbs up (two for each of us) and made our nerdy little family very happy. Now we just have to wait two more years until the next one... Oh boy.

After the movie and just after a refill on our bucket of popcorn. How cool is Maisie's shirt?

P.s Maisie is already planning a Star Wars themed 6th birthday party... only 5 months early.

Maisie starts Kindergarten!!

First day of school pictures:

Her pictures in her classroom:



These were from early June when her teacher came over to our home to visit with Maisie.

So it happened. The day I have been dreading has come and gone. Maisie has been a full fledged Kindergartener for over a week now. I still find myself distraught by the passing of time, but Maisie is so excited to go to school every morning and that makes things much easier on me. She is so proud to tell me what she had learned about and the fun little songs and quirks of the classroom like "name on the paper, first thing" to the tune of "Shave and a haircut two bits". She has made some friends and she tells me about how she and her group of boys (figures) play "aliens" together at recess.

I look forward to my "jump hug" from her every day when I pick her up and Ellie, while she appreciates the quieter and low-key mornings, is always so excited to see her big sister after school is out.

Our days are busy now, but our family has worked into a nice rhythm. We feel closer to each other and use our time more wisely than before. While I still miss my Maisie Moo every morning, I know she's right where she needs to be and because of that I am happy. And have I mentioned proud? Because there aren't enough words to describe how proud I am of this little person who makes every one so happy.

Last day of Preschool

Today was Maisie's last day of Preschool EVER. She was sad to be done, but the prospect of Kindergarten is keeping her happy- only a little over a month until she starts! Eek! I wasn't nearly as emotional as I thought I would be (I think I'm saving it all for the first day of Kindergarten. It's the calm before the storm haha). Honestly, I feel relieved that we can almost officially kick off summer. I say almost because Austin has a week left of school- so it's finals week yayyyy. 

A little before 8 am Maisie made a little sign and then we went around the side of the house to take pictures of her last day. All I could think of was my little 3 1/2 year old baby who took her first preschool pictures in the freezing winter and now here she is a full fledged kid! She has grown leaps and bounds in that short year and a half- not only physically, but intellectually as well. While she is still her silly self, she has grown more confident and capable and we couldn't be more proud of her. 

And a comparison:

Maisie-isms #2

-Maisie cracks us up every day. If it's not what she's saying it's how she says it, but lucky for us, she says funny things all the time. I don't think we will ever be short on material that's for sure! So here's a new batch of Maisie-isms to remember:

-Maisie's lullaby to Ellie:

God loves me,

God loves you.

Hollywood, Idaho, French, Oregon.

He loves everyone.

-While in Primary in church:

Teacher: what does batman do?

All the kids yelling: flies!

Maisie raises her hand reverently and when she's called on replies: he glides.

All the teachers were impressed and so one of them asked: wow, how did you know that Maisie?

Maisie: my mom told me.

That's right baby! haha

-Playing Doctor Maisie & Ellie.

Maisie: ok you need a heart transplant. take these pills so you can go to sleep.

 (she then lifts up my shirt exposing my stomach and proceeds to to create a long incision the width of my belly.)

Me: (whispering because I am supposed to be sleeping) Maisie my heart is up here.

Maisie: (whispering back with squinty disapproving eyes because I am not supposed to be talking) I know, but that's where your boobs* are and you need privacy.

Also, through the duration of my extensive surgery Ellie kept trying to climb on me and Maisie kept saying "Doctor Ellie, don't climb on the patient!"

*we mostly refer to them as breasts or just chest, but it caught me off guard that she said boobs and was so nonchalant about it and that's what made it so funny. 

-We put a red lightbulb in a lamp in our room when Ellie was in there in case of night time diaper changes or when we needed to find something (pluggie) because it provides enough light to see, but doesn't wake you up like a normal lightbulb would. It's a lot softer. Anyway, Maisie would always say it looked like blood. She wasn't creeped out because Maisie likes anything and all things creepy, but one day as she turned the light on she turned to Austin and I while we were laying down and she said:

"I'm dying to see you."

-Teaching her how to count to ten in German.

For neun (nine) she would say "annoying' so it sounded a little something like this... sieben, (seven) acht, (eight) annoying (neun/nine), zehn (ten). The first time she really thought we said annoying instead of neun, but subsequent times she did it just to make us laugh.

-Maisie cuddles up to me on the couch and says:

Maisie: I just have a question for you mama.

Me: Yes?

Maisie: What's romance?

Me: Well, it's love. A romantic story is about love or about falling in love.

Maisie: So the story of you and daddy getting married is romantic?

Me:Yep.

Maisie: Is it also romantic when you are in a love boat?

-I made corn on the cob and Maisie wanted the corn holders so she wouldn't get her fingers buttery but she couldn't remember or didn't know what to call them so she asked:

"Do we have any corn stabilizers?"

-Watching The Phantom of the Opera (Maisie is obsessed!) and when the phantom sings "in all your fantasies" from the song Phantom of the Opera Maisie exclamied:

"Fantasies?! That's phantom talk!"

Uno & Other Games

A few months ago we taught Maisie how to play the card game "Uno". She picked it up fast and really enjoys playing it. For a few weeks we couldn't go a day without playing a round or two (or six who am I kidding) before bed. One night after Maisie was already in bed and asleep, I snuck into her room to make sure she was tucked in nicely and to give her a kiss before I went to bed. She stirred for a second, shifting her head on her pillow, but still sound asleep. As I turned to walk out of the room Maisie in a groggy voice yelled "uno!" she must have been dreaming she was playing and was down to her final card. I covered my mouth to stifle my giggles and quickly left the room. The next morning Maisie and I had a good laugh talking about it. All day maisie would pretend she was sleeping and yell "uno!"

Teaching her how to play "Uno" has opened the doors to other fun games that Austin and I actually enjoy playing. I mean no offense to kid games like "Don't Break the Ice", "Go Fish" and "Sneaky Snacky Squirrel", but really there's only so much one can take. I'd prefer a quick paced round or two of "Uno" or a game of "Sorry" any day. 

"Scootering"

Maisie was riding her scooter out front when she decided to take a break by laying down on the sidewalk (silly girl can get comfortable just about anywhere). Then she started to pretend  to "ride" her scooter. She asked me if looked like she was actually riding it and when I stood up to check I was so surprised that it did actually look like she was, in fact, riding her scooter. So I had to snap a few pictures. And I love these pictures, they represent her current stage of childhood so well. She's becoming much more physically adventurous and yet still being the creative and imaginative girl she has always been.

Big hero 6 Party

Maisie's dream Big Hero 6 Party was a success! With the help from my lovely cousin Kerrin, Maisie's party went smoothly. I was bummed that we weren't able to utilize our backyard with fun activities and decorations, but the weather had other plans (come on SE Idaho... what is up with all this rain!?). We had Maisie's favorite food (Jimmy John's) and other treats that went along with the characters such as:

Freds visable "invisable" sandwiches.

Hiro's kung fu gummy bears

Baymax's healthcare chips.

GoGo's lemon cookie magnetic suspension discs

Honeylemon-ade

Wasabi ranch w/veggies

For favors we made movie watching treats, kettle corn with chocolate covered raisins, m&ms and mini marshmallow Baymax heads.

The main event was our robot fighting activity which turned out to me 100x more successful than I could have ever imagined. The room shook with laughter and screams as the mirco bristle bots buzzed around. We had intentions of making each kid one to take home, but we were only able to complete a few prior to the party. It actually turned out better because it would have been pure chaos with 10 robots running around.

Maisie was a lucky girl and got all of her items she asked for this year. Her picks this year... a Baymax stuffed animal from me and Austin, a sleeping bag from Grandma and Grandpa, a scooter from Nana and Papa,  roller skates from cousin Kerrin and Salt Water sandals and a yellow dress from Auntie Katie.

It was a really fun day. I am sad and yet relived it's over. Maisie is already talking about next years party... oh boy!

Maisie is 5!

It's hard to wrap my head around the fact that my little Maisie is now five years old. It seems like just yesterday that I first held her, but yet at the same time it seems like a century ago, like I have always known her. 

My heart swells with love for my Maisie. Austin and I have tried to come up with a word to describe her in the past and the word we always come back to is... sunshine. She is sunshine. She exudes light where ever she goes by being funny and happy nearly 100% of the time. She's quick to forgive and the first to give encouragement. She fills our lives with songs, laughter and love. And even though she has tried (and continues to try) every last inch of patience in my body, I am better because of her. 

Five years ago she flipped my life upside down, but Heaven knows I needed her to give me new perspective on life and for her and the incredible blessing she is to all those around her (especially to me, her daddy and sister), I am eternally grateful. 

Maisie's Special Birthday Surprise

Maisie's Grams and Gramps (Austin's parents) were planning on coming for Maisie's actual birthday, but with Andrew graduating law school that weekend, they decided to surprise her a little early. They drove alllll day Friday to get here around 10:30 that night. Maisie was already in bed, we tried to wake her up, but the poor little thing was exhausted and refused to open her eyes (I guess the first week of preschool will do that to you). So Austin's parents decided to set up camp and have Maisie stumble upon them in the morning. Maisie was so surprised! And so so happy! She was ready for adventures with her grandparents.

Maisie and "Grams" camping in the circus tent.


Trying hard to take a selfie haha this is the best one we could manage. Haha Ellie's head looks giant!


Ellie waiting in the car with me and Grandma while the men (and Maisie) exchanged something at Sam's Club before we went out for Maisie's birthday dinner in Idaho Falls.

Gramps- fire truck. Ellie- rocket. Maisie- bumble bee. Daddy- green VW. Mommy- blue star wand. Grams- pink star wand.

A picture from our traditional glow stick party where Maisie picks glow sticks out for each of us and then we run around outside like crazy people. Our last one was in November and it was freezing! Ellie was only 3 months old!

Registered for Kindergarten

Maisie mastering the art of selfies. I found these by surprise on my phone just a few days ago.

Well, my days of (selfishly) having both my girls home with me are coming to an end. Maisie is officially registered for Kindergarten, with a start date towards the end of August. I am having mixed feelings about it all. On one hand I am so excited for her. Maisie has been wanting to go to school since she was 3 and she is thrilled with the idea that she is going to be a kindergartener. You should see how she lights up when she talks about it. I'm looking forward to seeing the excitement on her face when she sees her classroom and classmates for the first time.

 On the other hand... I am dreading it. Seriously. I am having anxiety over it (and not the good kind). I want to keep her with me for selfish reasons because this is IT. Once she starts there's no going back  and that scares me. I have always thought the most terrifying word was and is the word irreplaceable. And I know that truly my time with my girls attached at my hip is in fact irreplaceable. Nothing will fit that spot the same. But I also know good things will come from the changing of seasons. I just need to focus on savoring the season I am currently in and not spend my time, thoughts and energy dreading the end of it. So that's what I am trying to do.

So here's to soaking up one more summer before school begins!

Big Hero 6

Love Baymax's fingers and Go Go's wheel shoes with "sparks because she's FAST!"

Maisie is OBSESSED with Big Hero 6... She wants to watch it all the time, or listen to the soundtrack on loop. The girl can listen to the song themes on Spotify and know EXACTLY what part of the movie it's from. Baymax is her current favorite thing ever, even surpassing Perry the platypus (from Phineas and Ferb). Trust me, thats saying something. Maisie has now decided that she wants to have a Big Hero 6 birthday party. Before, she was wanting a Lalaloopsy party which I was excited about because decorating would be so fun, or other party themes she was talking about- a mermaid or puppy party. But now she is 100% positive she wants a "Baymax party". So I am going to have to get creative here.

Anyway, since Maisie's other great love is coloring/drawing/writing/painting, she has put her artistic abilities to good use by drawing all the characters from Big Hero 6. She draws them at least once a day and lots of Baymaxs.

"nurse Baymax" on the left and "superhero Baymax" on the right (check out that kung fu pose).