Fight

Mags Vs. The Monkey

When she gets going she takes no prisoners! Even adorable pink monkeys.

slightly distracted but then quickly back to business

So cute with his red heart. He was a birthday present

Body Slam!

Simple joy, in simple acts!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter from my family to yours, Easter would not be complete without a few traditions.

Homemade cards from Aunt Christa

(I may be Martha of the Kitchen but when it comes to cards and scrap booking it's all about Christa!)

And for Maggie an Easter Bunny!

I love Veggie Tales and lucky for me they recently released a new Easter DVD! It's really for Maggie... really I swear it's a kids show! Ok so the adults watch while the child plays with something else but who doesn't like Veggie Tales?!?

Flowers, are the essence of spring and nothing speaks to life, renew and rebirth like flowers!

School craft projects like soft bunny face mask - why not!

More flowers and crafty fun stuff!

EGGS! I have no idea where the tradition of coloring eggs started but It's fun and creative!

Baby chick - sure! At least it's not alive...

Someone is happy - and that is always nice to see!

(someone also lost another tooth!!! she does not have that many left)

Happy Easter from Myk n Mags

iPad

This is the story of how the iPad saved me from going insane. It all started innocently enough. My Dad pulled out this $10 plastic fish aquarium, my aunt had purchased at Walgreens, to entertain Maggie with. She was hooked like a heroin. One time and then the world revolved around fish. This wasn't a problem till the fish tank died. The light went off and it started to rotate very slowly until - nothing. It was a huge meltdown of epic proportions and I do not wish to drag it from my memories so skipping a few details.

My aunt went on eBay and found a few backup tanks... The things we do for the ones we love!

It was getting to the point of ridiculous. Eventually My birthday rolled around and my dad who knows me very well and how much I love my apple toys, gave me an iPad! It was exciting! I found a fish aquarium App. (awesome mom award - I'd like to thank the academy)

Oh it has made a world of difference. She can take it in the car. She can look at her fish while waiting at therapy appointments. It's the perfect bribe, sorry Motivator, for her.
This is what the living room floor looks like every night now. Pure Happiness watching the fish swim and winding down so she can sleep. It gives her the sensory input she needs and provides me the sanity I so desperately need. Now if only I got to play with it more.... maybe an iPad 2 is in our future.

Car Rides

I used to refer to my child, in a most lovingly yet truthful description, as a 10 lbs terrorist.

From day 1 it was an absolute nightmare driving in the car with her. She would scream and cry- then I would get worked up trying to calm her down as my head was about to explode from noise. When we would finally arrive she would fall asleep out of exhaustion. I HATED going anywhere with her. When we finally moved her from the infant seat to toddler seat it slightly improved, however still miserable 85% of the time. In the past year she has improved immensely. And a few weeks ago we got her a big girl toddler seat. So I apologize for the quality of the pictures, they are from my iPhone. But she was so happy, laughing, enjoying looking at all the cars, trees, 'Big' trucks, houses & people, I had to take pictures and share.

2 words...

MARCH MADNESS

(I don't have any pictures, because my camera is not liking me recently and decides to act up when I really would like it to just work, but that's a whole other issue.)

Maggie and I, more Maggie then me but I enjoy watching her, have been watching Basketball - Maggie's beloved Basketball boys. I admit I prefer college basketball to Pro basketball and this time of year is exciting because you could want to watch a game at 2am and It's On! or at 3 in the afternoon, theirs a game on! Yesterday I think we saw 3 different games that were cut into a 2 hour span and boy let me tell you - Best 2 hours in Maggie's life, well best 2 hours this week at least!!!

Now Football seems to be her favorite, Basketball a close second and I think she really enjoyed going to the baseball game - however it wasn't for the baseball it was more for the music and her grandpa bought her "HER OWN" diet coke - and MAN - she takes after me and loves her diet coke!!! (I know she's 4 probably shouldn't have had any in her life but she sees my silver can and goes crazy so yes she gets a sip, A sip only) so the fact that she got "HER OWN"

WOW - she drank it over the course of the game and then chewed on the bottle and death gripped it till we left. It's the little things.

I digress but anyways if there are exciting sports on - Maggie is a happy girl so currently I have the happiest kiddo around

making me a Happy Momma :)

A Day in the Life. . .

A Day in the Life...

It's wonderful watching Maggie's big eyes get even bigger when she sees a horse.

I love how she stands on the railing and just watches, she waits patiently on the loading dock to get on her horse, as soon as she is securely on her little saddle she smiles and begins to laugh happily.

This equestrian princess rides like the rodeo queen she is!

Even when she is wearing an orange dress - mom forgot it was horse day - whoops

This picture reminds me of when I watch jumping events on TV and they show close ups of the riders face - completely concentrated, tongue slightly out or lips slightly separated, watching the other riders analyzing ever move...

So pretty . . . :)

After an exciting day of riding and exercise, nourishment is needed,

in the form of rice is best and messiest :)

You have to enjoy life, savory your food, learn from your experiences and above all laugh and love

Joy of Water

This summer has been filled with water from various sources. Water balloons, Water bottles, hose with and without spray attachment, lawn sprinklers, fountains, pools, and even the dog's water dish. While watering the flowers I sprinkled Maggie - and you would have thought she was at the comedy club (on a good night) she was laughing from her gut, falling over and almost crying from laughter!! The simplest joys in life . . .

And of course who is always there to 'Save' her, Uncle Andy! They were both soaking wet and having SO much fun! He was throwing a ball and she was trying to catch it and then she would throw it back, the whole time he was immensely patience and encouraging to her. I have joked about Uncle Andy - But honestly he has been written into Maggie's IEP (School Documentation for her special needs) Maggie's teachers just think he is too sweet for words and wish he could come to her class regularly.

(I'm going to get you, then you have to pick me up and you'll be all wet too!)

Oh I was on to her plan - :)

H2O fun

This past week when it was warm and summery (today's high, 59, feels more like September) we decided to explore the new water park at the zoo. 

Which is a double feature - Water and Animals -SCORE!

The combination of water sprouting from the ground and the sprinkling overhead is pure magic for a 3 year old. For Andy too - who, of course, was the utmost helpful uncle. 

This picture made me SO happy!! I was simply clicking away with my iPhone hoping to just get an image in focus and to my surprise when I looked through my images - A perfect mid-jump, in focus picture of Maggie practicing her awesome jumping skills. Kudos to Apple for creating a great camera phone!

If there was a medal, purple heart or Nobel peace prize equivalent for outstandingly patient uncle - My vote would be for Andy. 

It was a fantastic 30 minutes well spent. 

Even the Sunburn on my arms and chest was worth it for the enjoyment of watching them play.

Oh Trampoline !

First Trampoline injury of the year - very little blood

A few years ago I had an incident with a Trampoline - The Trampoline Won - I lost with a few stitches and a lovely scar to remind me.

But aside from that - who knew jumping was so much fun? 

Andy and Mags jumping their little hearts out - Thankfully not literally (that's a lot of 'lly')

They really do love playing together, watching TV together (Andy confessed that he does learn new things from Little Ensteins) pretty much everything one does the other will do -

What goes up must come down - That's right I paid attention in physic's class 

Seriously best money spent this year.

Ah I love Spring -  I hope everyone is having a wonderful Spring too!

March Madness

No one is more excited for March Madness Basketball then, 

Maggie

This sweet angelic face gets so rivaled up she fell back and hit her head, cried for about 30 seconds then saw a fowl shot taking place she could not miss, wiped those tears away and began jumping excitedly at the basketball boys

Who knows which team gets her extra excited but as soon as the college boys, not pros, come on she comes running towards the TV. Go Gophers!

Maybe a future in cheerleading? Or better yet sportscaster.... She could get me free tickets :)