Horse Therapy

Well after too many months of snow, ice and bone chilling cold Spring is here!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wonderful beautiful Spring that bring rain showers, flowers and leaves in full bloom and best of all horseback riding! By far Maggie's favorite therapy and extremely therapeutic both physically and emotionally she is completely happy. Not to mention adorable in her skinny jeans and huge helmet.

Even after months off from her routine of weekly lessons, she got right on and immediately tightened her thighs and put her heels down just like she hadn't missed a week of practice.

(all the while waving to me with each lap just like the true equestrian princess she is.)

This is Stewart - the typical barn cat complete with absolutely no stranger danger, human or equine, and demands your attention with the utmost persistence... not to mention he has extra digits

Not lying - SERIOUSLY - extra toes on all four paws.....weird I know but he's so cute and soft and persistent, it needs repeating because I can't express how in your face and you will pet me now this cat is. In a good way :)

Before She gets to ride Maggie walks around the barn and greets the horse at the gate. These are big horses that are for the most part very friendly and to most kids intimidating. Not to Maggie though she just laughs and loves up on them in her sweet little way.

I love these photo's because they capture not only Maggie's sheer joy and delight in these animals but the expression and gesture of this horse also shows his joy is delighting her, bowing his head so she can pet him - a true therapy animal

She looks SO SMALL - fragile and breakable at any moment yet fearless and excited for the adventure

And to think this was just the last 2 days we have several weeks of this to come and I can already tell Maggie is going to have a fabulous summer! She has no idea all the exciting things I have in store for her :)

Andy and Maggie

I have always loved how Andy Loves Maggie. These are some of the ways He loves her.

He is sweet to her.

Gentle, always holding her hand.

Supportive, always encouraging.

Uplifting, he never puts her down or says something like "can't or she won't"

He is the first to clap for her.

When I tell him Maggie's new sign, he is the first to want to practice with her.

At soccer practice he waves and comes over to hug his biggest fan

He takes her on the trampoline - and doesn't bounce (he restrains himself so Maggie can bounce and he won't knock her over)

He reads labels and makes sure foods don't have gluten or dairy

He is also really concerned about calorie intake and sodium/sugar levels - it's cute

He sings "Vanilla Twilight" by Owl City

He loves the Beatles and wants Maggie to like his music too

He watches VeggieTales with her and is almost as entranced as she is

When we go out and people say things like "your such a good big brother" he just smiles and then says to me "they don't understand" - :)

He wants to go where Maggie goes, always and forever

He makes plans about the future and taking care of Maggie

He always is optimistic for her

He is always happy with a sign, or pointing or even a grunt - it's enough for him to understand her

He is hopeful, happy and the best Uncle I know

We love you Uncle Andy

Negligent blogging

Wow - have I been negligent in blogging.... My apologies

I wish I could say the past month has been filled with interesting and fun events. On the positive side I had a great relaxing trip to Chicago. Maggie was wonderful in the car ride and it was great to spend time with my dad and Kelly. I really enjoyed just having a break from the day in day out regular environment of MN.

Things of Note:

1. I cut my hair short - I cut off about 12 inches and more in the back - it's short of a messy blob - so quick to style and have had lots of compliments - see change is good.

2. Maggie is signing 'Please'

3. Maggie is also signing 'Movie' 'Yes' & 'Cereal'

4. My Ex ..... Oy (I thought he would go with some dignity but then he acts selfish yet again.... )

5. I received my court orders for the pretrial of my divorce (Prayers and hugs please)

That's the short sweet version - Stop reading there unless you wish to read my rant

Oy have I been in a rut. I feel like this endless cycle Maggie therapies, Maggie School, Maggie Doctors, finding Maggie's chewy and making sure I have Maggie rice cereal meanwhile I have nothing going on in Myk's Life - then I feel guilty for being selfish and then worse for feeling like a bad mother which leads to an even worse cycle - NOW I have to put some perspective on this situation. I have it so good, so lucky - amazing parents who have financially supported us through all this. Friends, far away though, who have been kind and generous. But it's the day to day activities that have just been weighing me down and making me feel like nothing is going to change.... I just needed to get that off my chest to try and be positive and know the light at the end of the tunnel.

we'll see

Love,

Myk

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 :)

Maggie's Birthday

Maggie turned 4!!!!!

And with every birthday a celebration is a necessity - and with any good celebration cake is involved... this posed a dilemma.

Gluten/Dairy Free Cake?!?.

Well luckily Betty Crocker was thinking the same thing I was and created this really tasty alternative for my little girl.

I dressed the table with really pretty mint green and pale baby girl pink, Maggie helped me pick it out. And then we placed the lavender and yellow flowers on the table for contrast - I think it turned out real cute! But the best part - We ate in the living room :) I laugh now however at the time I thought I did all this work and it's not being used....
Maggie was very helpful while I got the food ready... well Maggie helpful she was entranced with "Bug's Life" So I was able to do what I needed to get done with little interruption.

I <3>

BALLOONS!!!!!!!!!!!!

We had over our favorite friends "the Judges" and did just a same family dinner and gifts but it was so much fun and the best night for Maggie - she LOVES the Judges and when Maggie's happy - we're all happy!! She got a bunch of great board books and cute clothes.
Gran - MA ma ma(in a British foo foo accent) - is what we call my mother, she found this Mickey Mouse decor for the counter which looks cool, Maggie liked it - but WOW was it difficult to put together - seriously I needed a Doctorate Degree - crazy ridiculously difficult but for Maggie - ANYTHING
The Judges brought this "cake" which was really cupcakes for all the kids to devour - and did they! luckily they ate them and then went home so it wasn't so bad for us..HAhahaha

Sweet Maggie with her Favorite Uncle Andy and Clare Bear

Happy 4th Birthday Maggie

we love you

Girly

All things girly - Thought a little updating was needed.

And you can never have to much PINK -

and rhinestones and all things shiny and pretty :)

Birthday Eve

Tonight is Maggie's 4th Birthday Eve!

4 years ago I was pregnant and waiting for my baby girl to arrive.

I knew she was going to be Maggie, probably interesting, beautiful possibly funny - She is my daughter after all -

but nothing really prepared me for the 'Maggie' God had in mind for Me

That's ok

I've learned I can be patient

I am creative in finding realistic answers

I am actually good at organizing a complicated schedule

I can't always do what I WANT to do but I can do what I NEED to do

I Love my baby girl

My Beautiful, Smart, Adorable, Kind, Passionate, Loving, Gentle, Unpredictable Maggie!!!

(mastering walking up and down stairs!!!! Time heals everything is the normal saying and for me, TIme creates development in tangible ways)