Trip to the Fire Station

Yesterday morning we joined a few other families with the Moscow Parent Toddler Cooperative on a field trip to the fire station. Maggie was a little unsure about Fire Fighter Joe and his really big trucks, but she did climb into one all by herself! We learned that the Moscow fire department is a volunteer department, with 100 volunteers, saving the city a considerable amount of money. The Fire department also houses volunteer U of I students providing very nice room and board. The students work one day out of five---what a great option for students!

Here's some pictures from the field trip...

Maggie next to one of the fire trucks.

She did it! She climbed into a big fire truck!

Maggie's friend, Morgan, graciously volunteered to try on fire fighter Joe's jacket and helmet.

Catch Up Post-Maggie's Airplane Ride

Here's a video I took for Zac that I hadn't gotten posted yet...

Maggie's second time on an airplane during our trip to Boise. She did fantastic. She wasn't scared at all!

Everywhere Baby

Frequently little Mama Magnolia insists on taking one of her babies with us on outings. She'd been asking me if she could take her baby to the park to swing her, so we headed to the park today to do just that. Only once did Maggie put down her baby so that she could swing herself, the rest of the time she was a very devoted little mommy making sure that baby got to enjoy all the fun there is to be had at the park!

Enjoy the pictures with Maggie captions...

"Pushin' baby to the park"

"Swingin' baby"

"Goin' through a tunnel"

"That's when I was goin' down the slide with baby."

"When I was laying down with baby."

Happy Mother's Day 2011

One of the best things we've discovered at our new home is the abundance of flowers! Maggie is very into gardening, and everything floral! We have picked many beautiful bouquets, and we were so excited to pick Mother's Day bouquets today for all our mom's, aunties and grandmothers! We know we can't give them to you in-person, but we sure do hope sharing some pictures will brighten your day!

Loves,

Melissa and Magnolia

Tube Out, Infection In

Magnolia developed a cold a few weeks ago, but it didn't seem to be bothering her too much. Once during our trip to Boise she really started to act irritable and I thought she felt a little warm, but within an hour or so she was busy playing at Grandma Amoo's house and acting fine. Then Saturday evening after all the crazy events were over, she started to really look like she didn't feel well. Zac took her temperature, and sure enough a fever of 1o1. Almost everyone we know is sick, so I didn't think too much of it (and that's a fairly low fever for Maggie, who's fevers usually run around 103). On Monday morning though, she told me that her right ear and throat hurt. I had remembered that Dr. Ally said we'd be lucky if Maggie's right tube stayed in place through the winter (the tubes usually fall out on their own), so I decided to take her in to get checked out. Sure enough, her FIRST ear infection since tubes! And that little tube in her right ear has popped out, and is just hanging out in her ear canal. Her tube in her left ear is still tightly in place. I called Dr. Beck (Pediatric ENT) and her nurse said we won't be concerned until she's had 3-4 ear infections in that ear after the tube has come out, and the tube will eventually just fall out on it's own. We'll be travelling to Boise for her three year well-baby with Dr. Ally in August, and her yearly appointment with Dr. Beck on the same day. Maggie's on her first round of antibiotics to treat an ear infection since she was 17 months old! She's fairly happy one minute, and fairly irritable the next---no real in between. I'm REALLY hoping we don't have to deal with 3-4 more ear infections soon!

Daddy's Gift

Magnolia and I decided awhile ago that Daddy's new office was in some serious need of some decorating. We thought a nice piece of Vandal art would go nicely in the space, so we made a plan to get him a little something as a surprise when we were in Boise. After sharing our plan with family, we were humbled by those that wanted to contribute, and that shared how proud they are of Daddy, and how much they love him. He's been working so hard, and this was our way to say WE LOVE YOU SO! And we do.

Thanks Grandma Amoo (Ann), Auntie Julie, Sara and Brad, and Grandma Tara!!!!

Maggie even wanted to use her own money, and donated to Daddy's gift as well!

She of course picked it out too.

She's got such a kind heart, and she sure does adore her daddy.

Maggie wanted to go see "Daddy's picture" in his new office. She also insists on "typing my letters" when at Daddy's work.

Trip To Boise

We are back home after a busy, busy 4 day trip to Boise. Our goal was to get some much needed items for baby brother or sister, to attend Maggie's graduation from the infant toddler looping program at BSU, and for mommy to get a good chunk of work completed. We got most of the baby stuff, about half of mommy's work done, had a fantastic graduation ceremony and managed to get a little bit of fun time in too! Maggie loved going to Sage's last swimming lesson. The instructor was kind enough to let her participate, and she even got to go down "the big, big swide two times" at the end. She got some time in with her grandmothers, spending a day with Grandma Crist, and a night with Grandma Tara. We stayed with Grandma Amoo, who as always pampered us, and made us feel extra loved! We were excited to get an early breakfast in with Jesikah, Pennington and Piper as well!

We wanted to do so much more, but there just isn't enough time in 4 days!

Enjoy the swimming pictures...

Uncle Brad, Magnolia, Aunt Sara and Baby Cousin (Sage)

Magnolia and Sage practising their swimming skills

Maggie and Aunt Sara got to lead one of the group activities

I couldn't believe she wanted to go down this huge water slide!

There they go---under the water!

And believe it or not, the first words out of her mouth were "I wanna go one more time!"

Uncle Brad's turn

Coming up from another dunk in the pool!

And now, the graduation pictures...

The graduate! A three year looping student!

The full graduation ensemble.

With the Peppa and Doudou accessories!

Magnolia and Mommy

(Oh, baby sister or brother's in there too---almost 35 weeks now!)

Entering the graduation ceremony with Teacher Chris.

The finale! A rainbow of cupcakes!

And breakfast with Jesikah, Piper and Pennington...

(Pennington wasn't up for hanging out with the girls for a picture)