Maggie is Three!

I can't believe I have a three-year-old now! Actually I've had one for a week. And since we have officially finished all the cake, it is probably time to post about it.

Maggie was super excited about her birthday this year. She was looking forward to it for months, asking when it would be her birthday and when she could have a party. We finally decided to have one the Saturday after her birthday, and Maggie, always my little princess, decided a Cinderella theme would be fantastic. She helped me make and mail Cinderella invites and for the week before her birthday told anyone who would listen about her upcoming "Cinderella party."

When Maggie woke up on the eighteenth and I told her it was finally her birthday, she was nearly bursting with enthusiasm . We made her a yummy birthday breakfast and let her open a present before Dad left for work--a Cinderella dress and magnetic Cinderella playset. She couldn't have been more thrilled. She played with them all morning. For lunch, her dad called and asked her if she wanted to get "China food" (as she calls it), go out for pizza, or eat peanut-butter sandwiches at home. After some brief discussion, in which we explained what it meant to go out for pizza (we don't eat out a lot), Maggie decided that was her pick. We sweetened the deal--literally--with Dairy Queen ice cream cones afterwards and Maggie thought she was in birthday heaven. Later we had a quick dinner and then headed to mutual. But Maggie made sure that we still had her cake when we got home. She was not going to miss out on being sung to and blowing out those birthday candles.

The Saturday following her birthday, we had about ten little people (and their various caregivers) here to celebrate, including several of her cousins (who still rank as some of her favorite people). We colored Cinderella pictures, read the Cinderella story, played games to Cinderella music and "stuck the slipper" on Cindrella. Aunt Nadine was sweet enough to cut out slipper, castle and crown sandwiches (from my dear friend Amber's cookie cutters) and the kids enjoyed those with grapes and carrot sticks, while the adults enjoyed my mom's easy crescent ham-and-swiss roll-ups. Then came cake and presents. Maggie was only too happy to be sung to again and glowed in front of her castle cake (which while perhaps not a work of art, was definitely a labor of love :) ).

It was especially fun for me to remember a couple fragments of my own third birthday, which was also Cinderella-themed and at which we also played "stick the slipper on Cinderella" and ate castle cake, made by my mother. I'm glad Cinderella was Maggie's current favorite princess too. Like mother, like daughter I guess.

Anyway, enough about the celebrating. I am just so grateful for the three beautiful years which I have had to spend with my little Maggie thusfar. (Can you believe she is one-sixth of the way to eighteen? It is going way too fast!!) My little Margaret is a treasure. She is the most caring big sister I have ever seen. She is the most compassionate toddler I have ever met. She is my sweet daughter and friend.

I love to hear her happy greeting each morning. I love that she still calls us Mama and Dada. I love that she is always using words like testimony and covenants and "reading" the scriptures. I love that she always wants to help and hold her little sister. I love that she laughs when I laugh and cries when I cry. I love that she is ever singing. I love that she is timid on play equipment and in large groups, but won't stop talking if you get her in a small or familiar setting. I even love her little "angry" voice when she says things like, "I'm just frustrated at you right now." And most of all, I love when she says things like, "I'm so 'yucky' [lucky] to have you and Kate and Dad" or "You are such a good Mom" or "Thank you for making this good dinner for us--that's so nice of you!"

No Maggie. I'm the lucky one.

Mother's Day

I am a lucky mama. My Mother's Day was perfect. My two-year-old and one-year-old greeted me with sweet choruses of "Happy Mother's Day" as I showered and readied for church. Mike was there as morning meetings were canceled for the occasion and could help getting off to church go smoothly. Kate, at seventeen-months, was invited to join the nursery class a month early and enjoyed playtime with Maggie. Maggie was only too happy to introduce everyone: "This is my sister Kate," she said as she ushered Kate around. I, in turn, enjoyed not having to battle an adventurous toddler during Sunday School and Young Women's and got more out of the lessons than I had in a while. So it was definitely win-win. :) And we went home after church and enjoyed a delicious steak dinner prepared by Mike, Maggie's favorite game "family hide" (we all go under a blanket and enjoy making faces at one another and laughing in a new atmosphere), and a family nap. And before bed the girls graced me with a musical number, which I made them try to repeat for the camera. I especially liked their impromptu choreography (they love to twirl to Primary songs) and Kate's attempts at singing. Mike had also tried to tape the girls the night before, so I included the clips he got as well. I have the best family. I am lucky to have a pretty terrific Mom and mother-in-law as well, who have helped pave the way for me. Incredibly grateful for their love and examples. Blessed, blessed, blessed.

And I have some exciting and related news, I should probably announce before it becomes obvious: Baby #3 is on the way!!! Due: November 5th. We couldn't be more thrilled. Maggie wants to name the baby Sophie, whether boy or girl, after her best friend's little sister. I don't know whether or not she will get her wish. (Though I'm sure she won't if it is a boy.) But I do know that this little baby will have the best big sisters ever. Kate just loves babies and Maggie just loves doting. :)

Had a few technical things I was trying to figure out with the video clips I took on our newer camera. Hence the delayed publishing. One day I am going to get with it again and start posting as things happen instead of two weeks later...

Easter

Last week Maggie and Kate enjoyed celebrating Easter. During the week they enjoyed several egg hunts with cousins, friends, and the Easter bunny.

On Sunday they enjoyed wearing their Easter dresses,

watching this video,

and eating this food.

Garden 2011

This represents our third attempt at gardening in Kansas. Our local deer population have proven to be prolific consumers of our produce. After extensive research and contemplation, we went with deer netting. By running the netting around the perimeter of the raised garden bed with tomato cages providing height at the corners, our garden is now protected.

Swingset

We got a swingset about a month ago. Previous to this, the girls' main source of entertainment while outside was trying to run out into the street. While this continues to be a source of much joy to them, the swingset has provided an alternative.

We got an infant swing for Kate, but Maggie has made sure to get used out of it as well. This has forced Kate to learn how to stay on the big girl swing. They also enjoy the slide.

15 Minutes

In fifteen minutes, I can...

Pray and read my scriptures. Run a mile or two. Or take a shower and dress.

Clean the tub. Scrub the toilets. Or organize a closet.

Chop veggies for dinner. Cook up a stir-fry. Or mix a batch of cookies.

Load the dishwasher. Pick up the living room. Or fold a load of laundry.

Write a blog post. Make a journal entry. Or plan a Sunday lesson.

Read a story to my daughters. Do a puzzle with Maggie. Play a game with Kate. Or talk to Mike about how the day went.

So what's my problem? Activation energy. Staying motivated. Not getting overwhelmed or discouraged by all the fifteen minuteses I know I'm going to need. Learning to focus on one task at a time and not spend time dreading chores instead of doing them. Planning and choosing my activities wisely.

Because when I put my mind to it, just fifteen minutes can really change a lot. Know what I mean?

Post-edit: I should add, in less than fifteen minutes, my kids can also do a lot. Of damage usually. How come activation energy comes so easily to them? But you all know how that goes. :)

Winter Pastimes

Well, it's another cold and rainy day, so we are back to our bag of tricks. Here are some things we have been doing to fight the winter blues. (These pics range from January to present.)

1. Celebrating Mike's birthday a few weeks ago. Yay for a wonderful husband and father--we're pretty lucky! (Yep, that's 27 candles.)

2. Climbing. Who needs a jungle gym or playground when your home furniture can suit the same purpose. I am forever removing Kate from tables and desks. (And sometimes Maggie too.)

3. Forts, puzzles, and books. My girls LOVE to read and do puzzles and we have done a bunch this winter--at home, at the library, and in their fort.

4. Painting--the kitchen walls (finally!), in the bath, and on paper. My girls LOVE to paint.

My favorite is making bath paint by mixing shaving cream with a drop or two of food coloring. I mix a bunch of different colors in an old veggie tray and the girls paint with their fingers or a paint brush on the bathtub wall for ages. And it's so easy to clean up. Just rinse. (We've also tried and liked the soap, cornstarch, food dye solution, but it is more of a pain to rinse off because it bubbles so much. But equally fun.)

5. Playdough and the bean box. (I am learning to put a big tablecloth underneath them when they play with either. And Kate still has to be watched to make sure she doesn't pop any in her mouth, so they are not completely self-sufficient activities.)

6. Playing pretend. This was a backpack expedition started by Kate's enthusiasm for wearing a backpack and fueled by Maggie's desire to never be left out. We play a lot of things. Little Bear, Princesses, Kipper, Dora, going to the beach...obviously, we also watch TV. Maggie always assigns the roles. Kate hasn't told us if she minds.

7. Helping with chores. Cleaning the floor. Feeding Kate. Unloading the dishes. Making the bed. Brushing teeth (Maggie always takes initiative. She gets them both in there, doses out toothpaste for Kate first, and then does hers. It's adorable). And unpictured: Helping with laundry (they are especially cute at this, taking laundry from the pile, climbing on their stepstool and tossing over their heads to get it in the washer).

They really do it all. I'm thinking of hiring them out.

The End.