Maggie is 6!

Maggie turned 6 years old this week!  Maggie is a genuinely sweet kid, who is pretty much always positive and smiley.  She’s really good at compromising with her little sister, and never has trouble asking us for more of something (which is exasperating at times!).  She loves to sing, but is very shy to do it in front of others, loves to dance, build legos, anything to do with horses, and loves dessert!  Maggie really enjoys tying ropes to “climb mountains” or “rescue animals,” and her imagination makes us smile everyday.

Six and proud

Happy-go-lucky

We had a birthday party at Stage Nature Center over the weekend.  Note – hosting 25 little kids while 30 weeks pregnant was perhaps an error in judgement.  So thankful to have all the grandparents there helping out!  Maggie had a ball, and I think the other kids did too.  We had pizza and games, and then Dan the Creature Man showed a bunch of exotic pets to the kids.  I really enjoyed it!  I told Maggie that if we had a big party with friends, then we were going to do a book exchange instead of everyone buying her a gift.  She was surprisingly totally fine with this idea, everyone got a new book, and I don’t have to find room for 25 additional presents at home!  Success!

The wild ones

Making a wish

Alligator!

Maggie said the two birds were her favorite

Hedgehog was definitely the cutest!

And winning the award for least-cute...
Maggie was not a fan

Cousins always know how to have fun

Pretty impressed that Maggie would even get near the snake!

Maggie got to dress-down at school for her birthday, selecting her new dinosaur dress from Grammer.  She had a great day at school and enjoyed her birthday crown (she specifically requested that I leave her hair down for the day so the crown would fit perfectly).  After school I made Maggie's favorite dinner of meatloaf (which she calls “meat-love”), and then Grandma, Grandpa and Uncle Jason stopped by with some presents and delicious ice cream cake!

Partners in crime

She's a jolly good fellow!

Going back time a bit (life has been a blur and I’m behind):  We had a really lovely thanksgiving at Amy and Rex’s house.  The girls are still scared of Finn, their goldendoodle, but warmed up a little bit throughout the evening.

Family photo... not too shabby with an iphone on a timer!

Evie really loves holding V

We went back a few days later for Violet’s dedication service at the Odglen’s church.  She was a little angel!

Happy family

Less happy with her aunt and uncle

Helping to babysit

Cousin sandwich

Snuggles with Grandma and Grandpa

The girls really wish we had a sweet tree swing like this

Some others:

Screams heard round the world when I brushed
her hair after this

Poetry in the tub?

Bringing out the Christmas decorations

My family convinced me to get a Christmas Unicorn
It is absurd and large.  But they love it, so I'm good.

Insisted on wearing her bathing suit all day despite
our 65-deg house....

Decorating cookie's for Foley's cookie walk

Pastry perfection

Taste tester