{Typical}

It's typical that I put up with the hassle of growing my hair out and then I change my mind... What do you think?

My traditional a-line cut or the longer hair I'm sportin now?

{8}

Yesterday, June 29 Th was our 8 year wedding anniversary. We hope to celebrate this weekend when we're out of town, because things just weren't going our way... I had a long work day, Maisey stripped the finish off the dining room table, I contracted an eye infection which presented itself as pink eye, Maisey vomited from 11-12 PM, and the remaining events aren't worth mentioning.

However, I will mention the fact that I am married to a wonderfully patient man who puts up with me. And, he said knew he was in it for time and all eternity... He is crazy!

Valentines 2009- I dislike the camera and this is what I came up with.

{Tapper}

Maisey is the best little tapper! We are so proud of her.

{Patience}

The other day at Costco an adorable little boy I know was really testing my patience. After trying to buckle him in a cart outside the entrance, I carried him to the car, crying uncle before I even made an attempt to visit the store. I placed him back in the car so he could "do his thing." As he smiled at me while pretending to drive I decided he should be buckled up. Come on, if he was going to punish us by keeping me from entering the store, he needed to know this wasn't a game. Once I finally got him buckled up I decided I would make an attempt to physiologically soothe him (raise his blood sugar).

So, I opened a brand new bag of trail mix and before I could distribute any

I dropped the whole bag!

Rather than get huffy about it, I just took a picture. I practiced being patient and less dramatic- something I am consciously working on each day.

Ryley got the point, "Don't mess with Mom or you don't get a snack!"

{Entertainment}

Today started out with Maisey's tap dress rehearsal. She is performing on Thursday (don't get me started on the day of the week, really). She will perform in the first of 4 recitals. Since she is performing on a Thursday, rather than the usual Saturday, she will not have a big crowd of out-of-towners to cheer her on. However, Chad and I are her biggest fans, and we are probably enough!

Maisey loves to perform, and it is super fun to watch her. One reason she loves the stage is because she gets to wear mascara and red lipstick!

*The theme this year is "Think Global, Dance Local."

The music was very cool, in all different languages and styles.

This song is from Lilo and Stitch: "He Mele No Lilo."

Maisey looks a little ahead here; however, she was right on watching the back stage instructors while everyone else was slowly copying them. I am not sure how to tell her to slow down in order to fit in for the final performance.

***************************** After we ran home for a quick lunch we picked up the boys for a movie first. I really thought Ryley would sit through a movie (although he's only 26 months), but I was wrong! I am still really surprised he wasn't interested since he will watch other Toy Story movies and Cars (I do not condone media in any way, but I am not always home and Chad is)! Since this was a kid-friendly "Father's Day" outing, I spent at least half the time in the lobby watching Ryley drive car and snow mobile arcade games.

Initially he was happy to be there!

And I'm almost embarrassed to say, but I am excited for this!

{June 13, 2003}

Seven years ago after 52 hours of labor, this beautiful little girl changed my life forever...

I was elated when I found out Maisey was a girl, especially since I spent the second half of my pregnancy in denial (I made the technicians "double check" each time I had an ultrasound which averaged to be at least one a month).

Each day I give thanks because I am a mother and because I have a daughter. There are many people out there who don't experience the joys and pains that come from motherhood and I feel sad about that. Being a mother defines me- and I am proud to be in this role.

Maisey is a strong spirit, and I hope she always stands for truth and righteousness. Maisey teaches me new things every day as she enriches my life. I know she will always be a good friend and example to others. She is such a special girl!

We started our Saturday morning with a scavenger hunt in search of her big birthday gift (which we decided to give to her a day early since the weather was so gorgeous, and since her birthday falls on the Sabbath.

This is what she found- a new bike. She said she thought it was going to be an I-Pod. She really does seem years older and I have no idea what she will be "in to" when she actually is. She has never been into toys much, despite the fact she's had everything. We were out the door for a bike ride by 8 AM. It was gorgeous and we even woke the ducks up! It was a Saturday.Maisey wanted me to take this picture and capture a small fraction of the beauty at this nearby park; plus she just finished studying everything about frogs and habitats at school.A couple hours later we packed everything up, cake and all (she pleaded for a homemade cake despite the fact I wanted to buy a beautiful one), and headed to the ice skating rink. Somewhere along the way with feeding 9 little girls and 1 little boy, I failed to get group pictures. But, here are a couple of Maisey's friends.SageAaron and Ana (without Aaron's steady feet and help all the girls' would have been crying due to crushed ego's; only two girls had ever skated on their own).

Lexie, Maisey, Zoe

Maisey, Hailey, Chaney

* I failed to get pictures of Peyton, Colby, and Alexis but they are just as cute as the other kids!

So far it has been a great birthday weekend. Today we have church and Oma and Opa are coming to visit and have dinner.

{Bridging Up}

This past weekend Maisey became a "Brownie" after two years of hard Daisy work. Troop 40401 celebrated with a "Bridging Ceremony" at beautiful Rood Bridge Park. The march to the bridge.
The girls reciting the Girl Scout oath and Pledge of Allegiance.Ryley was Maisey's biggest fan. He kept running up to the girls to line up with them.

The conclusion before the fun at the park began.

We are so thankful for Maisey's dedicated troop leader. The amount of time she spends with this troop does not go unnoticed!