Here's to B

It was 5 years ago today that my sweet Mom left this earth. In tribute to her, Margaux and I made her famous chocolate pie this week. It was a fun way to talk to Margaux about Mom without it being a sad conversation. I did the cooking and Margaux licked the spoon, the same teamwork Mom and I always used! I had the experience I so often have when I am cooking and that’s that I can almost hear my mom telling me what to do next. I miss being able to call her and hear her actual voice, but I am amazed by how often I still experience her guidance.

Friends

Margaux and I just got back from a week in Fort Worth.  It was so much fun.  Margaux went to zoo school every morning, and while she was there I met friends at a nearby coffee shop.  Then, almost every afternoon we had a play date.  The best part?  The play dates were with the children of my lifelong friends.  Most days, I so enjoyed the moment that I forgot to take pictures. So, while there are no pictures of Harry, Lily, Gary, or Cody, there are pictures of Annie.  Here are Margaux and Annie swimming together.  I am truly happy visiting with my dear friends while watching our children play together.

New Mexico

We recently returned from Ruidoso, New Mexico where Margaux got to go on her first trail ride. Here are Margaux and our friends, Harry and Lily, before the ride.  Then, there's one more of Mike.  Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures from the actual ride because I was holding on for dear life. Not that the horse was wild or anything, but the trail was rocky and steep.  I hadn't ridden a horse since my summer camp days, so horseback photographer is not currently in my skill set. Maybe next time.

Family Portrait

Nantucket 2013

We just returned from our yearly pilgrimage to Nantucket.  As always, we had a fantastic time.  Here are a few highlights.

At Children's Beach

A rainbow cloud at Jetties Beach

Sigmund the Sea Monster

Riding tandem to the beach with Dad

On a rainy day we went to town instead of the beach

At the library

Sometimes you can live in a place for a good long while and make a new discovery.  It turns out that on the OSU campus there is a library completely dedicated to children's books. Margaux calls this the "secret library" because when we went, there was no one was in it but the librarian and us.  She thinks we are the only people who know about it.  The best part is that the shelves are filled with the very best in children's books.  Every single one we checked out was fantastic.  I have such fond memories of checking out books with my mom, and I am so happy to share this experience with my own daughter. We are about to sign up for the summer reading program at the public library, and I can tell this is going to be a great summer for reading.  If you have a favorite children's book we should read, leave us a message in the comments.  We'd love some suggestions.  -Cindy

Happy Fifth Birthday!

Dear Margaux, 

I cannot believe it has been a year since I wrote your last birthday letter.  Time has really flown.  This year has been full of changes for you.  The biggest change is that you have turned into a little girl and have very little “baby” left in you.  You got a big girl bed and started sleeping through the night. You started Pre-K at a new school, you’ve started to write, you’ve started to spell, and you’ve lost two teeth.  You’ve surprised your dad and I with your love of boys.  You don’t find most girls very interesting, but boys you are crazy about.  There is one boy you are particularly fond of.  About a month after school started, we heard you singing his name all over the house.  Further inquiry led to the discovery that you had a case of puppy love.  With awe in your voice, you told us that he taught you the word phalanges.  I love that you love the smart boys.  Please don’t ever let that change.  You have also divided the boys in your class into the good guys and the bad guys.  You say the good guys are kind and nice to everyone, but the bad guys use potty language and are only nice to each other.  You don’t realize it now, but this isn’t just true on the playground, so stick with the good guys.  But, Margaux, befriend girls, too.  Girl friends will support you and bring a richness to your life that cannot be measured. 

You still love pink, purple, and dirt. Your favorite show is a wildlife documentary called Growing Up Wild.  You will watch this for hours and never tire of it.  It has also inspired some questions about reproduction that have caught me quite off guard.  I am trying to answer your questions directly without providing more information than you are asking for.  We explained that you should keep this information to yourself.  You said, “It’s just chicken eggs and babies, doesn’t sound like much of a secret.”  Your favorite book is the Complete Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne.  I read this chapter book aloud to you every night for almost a month.  We now can spot an Eeyore or a Tigger from a mile away.  Turns out Mr. Milne had a keen eye for personality and pretty much every one you meet is represented by someone in the Hundred Acre Wood.  Your favorite thing to do is play with your stuffed animals. I’ve heard moms complain that their house is overrun with stuffed animals and they never actually get played with.  We are up to our eyeballs in stuffed animals, but every single one gets attention from you.  Sometimes they are sick and you treat them with your doctor kit, sometimes they are fierce and you are hiding from them, but nine times out of ten, one of them is having babies. 

You are brave, my girl.  Today, your fifth birthday, was your first (and I pray last) time to get stitches.  You had an accident on the playground.  It may or may not have involved one of the bad guys.  Dad and I took you to the doctor and you got three stitches in your forehead.  The anesthetic didn’t kick in until the last one, and yet you stayed still. Yes, you cried, but you never tried to get off the table.  I am often impressed with how tough you are.  I don’t where you get that from, but it will serve you well. You can be impatient, especially when someone doesn’t understand what you mean. We remind you to “put the love in your voice,” and you do for a day or two. You are famous for your hugs.  If you love someone, they will know it by your hug.  You say “I love you” to daddy and me thirty times a day.  You still climb into our laps and want to give kisses.  You wake up happy every day.  My mom used to say that my philosophy was “nothing is going to rain on my parade.”  I see that in you.  I told you that once, and you said your philosophy was hakuna matata.  Same thing.  I hope you always have that spirit. 

As I reflect back on the joy you have brought me in your 5 years, I am incredibly grateful.  You are a delight to your dad and me. I look forward to what this next year will bring, but I love this moment in time with you.