How did this happen??

(Zac sent me this photo of her at her grandparent's house. She insisted she eat her dinner in the high chair. She looks a little too big for that, right?)

I know I've said it before, that she's not a baby any more, and, that I've accepted the fact that she's a little girl now. Occasionally it will hit me all over again though and I realize that I've still been lingering on how little she used to be.

Something like this becomes very obvious when leaving me for almost an entire week is no big deal.  Travelling to Boise with Daddy to visit family was something she just couldn't pass up.

I call her a few times each day and she's usually "too busy" to talk. She's doing great, and having so much fun.

She's big! Her new haircut even makes her look big. The words she says make her sound big.
Her not needing me like she used to---that's big...

Making Things Merry

Opening her Christmas PJs from Grandma Crist and Papa on Christmas Eve

Preparing her cookies for Santa

Adding the final touches...

I requested just a sweet smile, this is what I got...pretty sweet, huh?

The beautiful, organic and quite large carrot she picked out for Santa's reindeer

Excited again this year for her Vandal socks, it's quite nice that Santa knows she's a Vandal!

Opening her gifts from Santa

Kinda serious...

Playing store with her new cash register from Santa.

Building with Papa

Kinda silly...

Our attempt at a family photo.

Kinda...angry??

Winter Solstice 2011

Since Sara and Brad were heading to Las Vegas to spend Christmas with Brad's parents we couldn't really work out getting Magnolia, Sage and River together in-person; we decided solstice this year would be a virtual celebration. We set up Skype and enjoyed opening a few gifts together, and showed off our decorations in celebration light.

(Sara---I hope you got a picture of Sage in her golden crown!)

We all enjoyed dancing with Maggie's new ribbon wand from Aunt Sara, Uncle Brad and Baby Cousin---even Daddy!

Maggie choosing which piece of fresh fruit would be part of her breakfast.

Somehow Daddy helped her peel her orange peel into a sun---very appropriate.

A gift from Mommy and Daddy...a hydration pack in anticipation of longer days exploring outside again.

We completed the morning with a nice breakfast and a family trip to the library for story time 

(Maggie wore her Camelbak of course).

Wordless Wednesday

Her Favorite Things

As Magnolia and I sit here on the couch devouring a pint of cherry amaretto coconut ice cream in celebration of my first semester of graduate school completed, we've started talking about a few of her favorite things. We thought it'd be a good idea to share them on the blog with all you folks! (Oh---Maggie wants me to add that she just got ice cream on her hands!)

Favorite Ice Cream: Cherry Amaretto Coconut Ice Cream
Favorite Color: Pink!
Favorite Song: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and Miss Magnolia by Matt Costa
Favorite Food: Rice, Chicken Sausage and Broccoli...???
Favorite Friend: Isabelle!
Favorite House: Our house in Boise
Favorite Thing to Wear: Bella's snowman dress and her flower jammy shirts
Favorite Thing to do at Preschool: Riding bikes with my teachers...oh, and sandbox!
Favorite Thing to do at home: Play with Boston, run and chase her
Favorite Thing about the holidays: Sitting by the fire and talking to all our guests (I'm holding in laughter right now)
Favorite Drink: I love the milk I drank at my old school...soy milk.
Favorite Item to Eat at the Coop: Pesto Cheese Rolls!
Favorite Nature Item Discovered Outside: The Sun
Favorite Place to Eat in Boise: Mazzah
Favorite Snack: One of my favorite snacks is wheat crackers with HUMMUS!
Favorite Book: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star by Iza Trapani
Favorite Weekly Activity: The indoor play park at Eastside Mall...? (We've maybe gone here four times in the year we've lived here)
Favorite Thing to do with River: Laugh and Play, I just tickle him on his tummy and laugh at him, and he laughs at me!
Favorite Thing to do at the Park: Go down the slide and swing
Favorite Baby Doll: Old Baby
Favorite Place to Shop: Lilliput Boutique because they have a spot for me to play (How does she remember this stuff...?)
Favorite Animal: Tiger

Wordless Wednesday

The Day of Dancing and Fixing

At least she's still well rounded...from a fancy ballerina to a bicycle mechanic.

Kind of reminds me of the time her and Isabelle got all dressed up in tutus and jewelry and came out of the playroom saying "We're going backpacking!"