Did I Tell You the One...

About the time Madi did the dishes...and her shoes?



- Posted using BlogPress

That's a Wrap on the School Year

Madi wrapped up a year of preschool with a fabulous program and a pony ride. The girls and I then headed straight to Arkansas for one of the most relaxing weekends we've had in a long time. Milestone: Meredith, Madeline, and cousin Hadley played on their own for long stretches of time and even made group decisions to go outside on their own and sprint back and forth expending large amounts of energy. Any parent reading this knows that this is huge. Yea for kids who play on their own and wear themselves out! 

Meredith and Patrick in their program attire, posing for a shot inspired by the elder generation, circa 2008.

Here we are sans Daddy, who was sorely missed. He was in Colorado, celebrating Kayle's graduation and doing lots of hard work. But, as I said, he was in Colorado. So no pity for him. 

And then we hightailed it for the exact middle of nowhere and enjoyed every minute of it. 

Sprinting with Hadley (and a bottle of bug spray). 

Practicing our spit-takes. 

 Learning about ocean monsters. So far, no nightmares. 

Free Swing

- Posted using BlogPress

Opening Night at the Levitt Shell

Madi winds it up.


 

Ballet at the Shell

New Ballet Ensemble's Family Night was at the Levitt Shell again this year and was full of great stuff. Flamenco, hip hop, and plenty of ballet. Most of the young classes followed the outline of Le carnaval des animaux—Mer's class were the kangaroos. 

The Family Night show is always a bit long, and the little ones (okay, and some of the grown ups) sometimes get a bit squirmy. But the school wants the young ones to have the opportunity to really watch all the older children. Hattie, Meredith, and Elizabeth loved it. 

The Future

Mer: So, I can't decide if I should be a teacher or a doctor.
Chris: Maybe a scientist? I think you should be a scientist.
Madi: Hey guys. Or, she could be Super Girl.

Posted using BlogPress

Madeline at 3

I'm tardy with this birthday post. Maybe because she's the second? Maybe because Madeline, by nature, isn't easily summed up in a birthday post.  


If I had to choose a few things to help describe Madi at 3, I would probably start with snugglepot. This is a noun that (as far as I can tell) Madeline invented to describe a cozy spot where cuddling could--and should--take place. She piles up blankets and pillows and asks us to get into the snugglepot with her. (We do.)


So, obviously, the affection in this child is not waning. She'll hug and kiss whatever she can reach, grabbing a knee or elbow for a quick kiss in the middle of a game or activity. Honestly, she's kind of like a doting parent in the way she just can't quit with the affection. And I have to tell you, it's a strange but lovely experience to be comforted by a three year old.


But as she'll tell you, she's a teaser, too. She loves to joke and trick. Since she was still in the womb, we've participated in a UT medical study. They're tracking mothers' habits and children's diets and doing yearly surveys and tests. A few weeks ago we went in for third year tests and during that time she did a lot of different activities--but there were 3 times that the tester returned to a poster with crayons on it. The tester pointed to individual crayons and asked Madi to name them--she got them right each time. On the third try, Madeline kept a straight face, pretended to think deeply, and switched each pair of colors as she answered the tester. She never let on that she was joking til she had done it 8 times. She wins staring contests too. Easily.





What else? She consistently reminds me not to pop my knuckles. She's a pretty picky eater--passionate only about candy and yogurt. She can count to 28, so Aunt Beth and I are breathing a sigh of relief that she may have escaped our math genes. She's working on her M's and A's, and writes lots of letter-like objects with great focus. She is greeted at school by cries of "Maddy-poo!" from her friends -- this is the name she has asked them to call her. Adults are not allowed to use the moniker, and are admonished if they try. 


Her imaginary friend (not as ever present as Meredith's friends Hanas and Jonas, but hanging around quite a bit lately) is Alice. Sometimes pronounced Alisk. Never yet pronounced correctly by me. 


That's our girl. Complicatedly perfect. 

Birthday breakfast. 4/11/12. Third birthday.