Maya turns 4

 For Maya's birthday we surprised her with a play date at the ice skating rink with her very good friend Zoe. Maya has been wanting to go ice skating at the pond forever! But last winter, the pond never froze over completely, and this winter... it's still too early in the season. And so we headed to Campion Ice Rink to skate with two cute little girls!

After Ice Skating and lunch at Moes ("Welcome to Moes!") we gave Maya one of her birthday presents from both her grandmas - Ballet Lessons! Maya wants to be three things when she grows up: An Animal Rescuer, a Mommy, and a Ballet Teacher. So we figured if she is going to be a Ballet Teacher, she'd better learn some ballet. Her first class isn't until next week, but on her birthday we went and picked up her shoes and white leotard. 

 All of this of course was after waking up to balloons and presents!

 

 The requested birthday breakfast was oatmeal, bacon, and toast with cinnamon on it.

 How did my baby get so big??

Since Rob was on Night Float this week, he got home from the hospital just in time for Maya to hand out her unbirthday presents to Daddy and Mommy and Mallory.

 We had such a fun family day together. Maya was so sweet and excited about all of her surprises. I love this little girl. I love her imagination and her very detailed description of our pretend scenarios. I love that she loves pink and purple and unicorns and babies and princesses. I love that she wants to snuggle with her mommy every night. I love that she helps her baby sister learn to say new words and shares all her toys. I love that she looks forward to adventures and gets so excited to try new things. I love that she has an amazing memory, and reminds me of things that happened in the past that even I had forgotten about... things that happened years ago! I love that she loves to twirl and dance and listen to music. I love that she can sit and color with her markers for hours. I love that she has favorite stories and favorite authors. I love how magical Christmas was this year, and the look on her face when Santa brought her two American Girl Dolls. I love that she dresses them and does their hair every day. I love how Maya misses her daddy every second he's not home, and wants to call him and go have lunch with him every chance she gets. I love that she and her sister wave to Daddy every time he leaves for work. I love how Maya wants to wave at everyone who leaves our house, and always asks them to come back again tomorrow. I love that Maya asks to watch a show every day, but has to earn her show by doing a chore. I love that if you ask Maya what she gave her mommy for Christmas, she'll respond, "I'm going to listen to my mommy!" And more so I love that she has followed through with her gift, so so well. I love that she is constantly asking to move to Utah so she can play with Claire and Sydney Tyler. I love that her favorite breakfast is oatmeal. I love that when I cry, and tell her my tears are "happy tears" - she says, "Oh, like the tears you cried when I was born?" I love this little girl - more than she'll ever know.  She is funny and sensitive and cares about people and their feelings and is anxious to do good. I love that she is a Sunbeam! She made me a mommy, and for that, I will always be so grateful. 

Happy Birthday Missy Moo!

  Our snowman taking a bow for Maya's birthday!