The Older One

Kate just keeps staying her sweet good self.  This can't last forever, I realize.  I get glimpses of what is upcoming- an eye roll here, some back talk there, the occasional emotional meltdown...the teen years are not far off.  Until then, I don't have much to complain about.

Kate considers her cousin Elise to be one of her BFF's for life.  We try not to pass on any chances to make the trip to Pocatello for cousin bonding.  Sometimes the BFF's even include pesky brothers and sisters.

Kate, too, has thoroughly enjoyed Grandpa George's new puppy. 

We went to see a U of U gymnastics meet- we give the night a:

Kate loves art- she spent her Christmas money from Grandma Hatch on an easel and some real pastels.

This kid is so skinny!  The sweats she's wearing here were purchased when she was in kindergarten, only back then they were regular sweats.  As in, they reached to her ankles.

My mom, friend Steph, and I had our annual piano recital a few weeks ago.  Kate did great! She played Lady Allison's Minuet by Melody Bober.  She loves taking lessons from Steph and is really progressing nicely.  

Maybe, if your self esteem is a little low from parenting, you should let your kid get an email account.

Then you can get notes like this.

  Kate loves to cook and helped me make a St. Patrick's Day feast.  We had a fruit rainbow, grilled chicken, and green flatbreads and basmati rice.  

Kate's report card came and she had all A's except for one A-.  She's got a little of her Aunt Liza in her because that A- has been BUGGING her.  She tested for the advanced learning lab at school and we are waiting on the results.  I feel like I've been walking a parenting tightrope because I want her to take chances and reach for high goals, but at the same time the program is super competitive and I'm trying to manage her expectations.  

The Little One

I can't believe my little Maggie is 7!  Sometimes when she is sleeping, her face still looks like her baby face to me, but I know that it's probably my imagination.  

She still loves the dinosaur museum.  Her scope of interests has expanded beyond reptiles, though.  She loves to play Barbies and Build-a-Bears: especially if her sweet friend Kara is over.

  

We went to Pocatello to visit the Shelton's.  This was her sleeping strategy.

I took her picture on this particular morning because she DID look so grown up to me.

She is constantly wanting her hair done different ways: She gives very explicit instructions delivered in a tone of voice that seems to insinuate she's dealing with a person not in full possession of their mental capabilities.  (She could be right.) I do my best, and then she'll say, "Is it even cute?"  

Motherhood can be real hard on my self esteem.

Part of her schoolwork this spring has been to read 100 books.  The kids have to read on their own (for the most part), and when they do, they get a t-shirt.  The whole first grade participates and it is a big deal.  She was so thrilled the day she earned her shirt that she changed right into it at school.  

This child cannot save her money.  The instant she gets her allowance she wants to go to the store and spend it.  The decisions are hard ones.  Also, sales tax seriously ticks her off.

We got to go to a fun birthday party for cousin Theo at Chuck E. Cheese.  These two won more tickets than they ever have in their whole lives.  

Kiki always wants to go with me and "run a mile."  I came back from my regular run and she wanted to run her mile, so I told her to go get dressed.  She came out in her twin running outfit- right down to the zebra print leggings.

It's best not to wonder just how many zebra print leggings we've got around here.

Her birthday was quite tame this year- based on comparisons to the last two- the reptile show and Hong Kong Disneyland.  Frankly, those were the anomalies and I felt it was time to return to Earth, as it were.

I think she was still spoiled rotten!

She had a full day of presents, and early check out for lunch and Build-a-Bear with friends, plus cake and presents with the family at night.

She loves pizza!

Report cards came out last week- after a brief misinterpretation on my part which led me to believe I was going to have to punish her severely- and she is doing great in school.  She is still working hard on her reading, but has consistently progressed.  She also got her first 100% on a spelling test last week- something she has been hoping for all year.  She used her birthday money to buy her own Razr Scooter and has been speeding around inside and out.  All in all, even though she's older, she has stayed the same fun cutie that she was as a baby. 

The Animals

Our pets are part of the family- there's no two ways about it.

Here's LaBoeuf happily sleeping on my new couch.  He climbed on up and made himself at home within minutes of delivery.

 Kiki begs every day for a new puppy- Papa George had to provide it for her (the puppy is George's- Kiki is just the babysitter).

His name is Ace and he's naughty!

 The most important thing to know about Ace is that George told Maggie he was getting a puppy on Christmas day.  Then he told her to keep it a secret, and I'm telling you, that kid did not breathe a word!  No "I have a secret" teasing or anything.  When George called in January to tell us he had a puppy, Maggie said, "Yeah, I've known since Christmas."

Your secrets are safe with her.

Beefy had his one year check-up (a little late).  He is up to 87 lbs and got a little "bitey" during the shots.  He had to be muzzled, which he found to be very humiliating.  

 This is a typical position for Beefy and I.  Don't get a Doberman if you can't handle this kind of closeness.

I came home to find Daisy and a stuffed dog engaged in a serious stand-off.

This could have been going on for hours.

 Daisy is starting to eat more fruits and veggies.  It's a relief- crickets are expensive!

She still costs more to feed than the dog, however.

While we spend less on LaBoeuf's dog food, we spend MORE on his woobies.

He has to have a fleecy blanket at all times- he sucks it like a binky when he is falling asleep.

I wondered aloud why my left bicep is always sore, but I think I have the answer.

Oral fixations aplenty.