It's like butta'!

Dear Maizy,

I haven't written to you in far too long.  Soooooooooooooooo much has been going on, you have matured a ton, we have been doing lots of fun stuff and I am super worried I am going to forget to tell you something important.

Ok let's start with this.

You are addicted to butter.  Yes, that's right you LOVE butter.  You want it on everything including your finger just to lick it off!  You won't eat bread, toast, waffles, rolls, etc. UNLESS you can see the pad of butter on it!  Seriously.  It kind of cracks me up but at the same time I am worried about your cholesterol levels. Lucky for you you're always a movin' and a shakin' that I don't feel guilty fulfilling your request.  Um, I guess it also makes sense since you are your father's daughter and he loves butter!!  It goes You, Me then Butter for your dad!

When Aunt Brittany was here she showered you with gifts and one of them being silly puddy.  Well after a few days not much of it was a round because either A) I would find a piece stuck on the bottom of my sock or B) find a junk of it stuck in the living room rug.  Anyway, you had a little bit of puddy left that you were playing with and you were calling it "silly pup" - CUTEST thing EVER!!  I loved hearing you say "silly pup, silly pup" over and over again!
Well you were playing with it and I asked you what you were going to make and you said "hot dog", then "hamburger" and then "donut".  Ha!  You crack me up!  Not only do we not eat those things at our house - hot dogs on a rare occasion - I just thought it was super cute for you to name those things!  I love you my silly pup!!

A while ago when we hung out with Aunt Tina she gave me some wax vampire teeth to give to you.  I had them in my purse for weeeeeks!  Just waiting for the right time to give them to you when I could supervise you with this odd, messy, candy type stuff.  Well I found the right moment!

You have always been funny and showed a great sense of humor, as of late you do things intentionally to make me and your father laugh.  

I want you to know that I can't stress to you enough that your father and I both know we are truly blessed and ask ourselves and each other how we got so freakin' lucky to have you.  We feel so undeserving at times.  

I love you!

Love,
mommy

Catch-up Part: 4 A wedding and a funeral

Dear Maizy,

I can't get over how much you change and grow!  I love being your mom and that I get to witness you becoming this amazing little person with a big heart and personality.  

Aunt Brittany came and went.  We had some fun while she was here.  You and her even had a sleepover one night. See............................

She had the opportunity to experience your late night demands! Ha!  "Aunt Brittany I'm hungry!" at um, one in the morning! She came in town bearing gifts like always.  She gave you the most darling winter hat that will also keep your ears warm, silly putty which you call "silly pup", and a darling Strawberry Shortcake pez dispenser. 

Last week was kind of a somber week with the passing of Bear.  I still cry when I think about what a great guy the world has lost. I received the most honorable request - to be bartender at his wake. Bear's wake was held Friday November 2nd at the Greek Market's banquet room. I was really excited and not sure what to expect.  Connie, Bear's wife, asked one of her previous students, Holly, to come bar tend as she has had formal experience.  The drink requests starting coming and Holly hadn't arrived yet!  Yikes!  I just poured the drinks like I do at home and Voila!  People liked them and came back for more and more.  Holly arrived and she was freakin' awesome.  Her and I got along beautifully and had a great time.  I had a blast as crazy as that sounds.  The celebration was Ah-MAZING!!  They showed pictures on a big screen of Bear, his family, his great accomplishments (kids) and doing the things he loved, it was really moving.  His contagious smile was seen in most if not all of the pics.  Grandpa Glen spoke of his dear friend and he did a fantastic job.  I cried several times throughout the evening.  I saw friends, co-workers of Airgas and met new awesome people too. 

It's events like this that make you realize how short and precious life really is and it's not to be taken advantage of.  It makes you want to hug people more often, say I love you more than usual and make it known how much you mean to each other.  Bear was an amazing person and he adored you!  He is now free of pain and lives on in peace. 

Well needless to say after the celebration of life I did not feel so hot the next morning and we to do nothing but go, go, go!  Sara and Todd were getting married.  As her "maid of honor" or sorts I had a lot to do and all I felt like doing was sleeping in and cuddling you all day.  We woke up early took dad to work, went to Wal-Mart, went to Costco to buy flowers for Sara's bouquet, then I had to drop you off at Grandma Shelly's while I went to the ceremony.  Ugh!  It was a way busier day than I would have liked.

Luckily it was such a BEAUTIFUL fall day.  It really was a great day for Todd and Sara to get hitched.  After the ceremony I went home and the three of us hung out for a little while then we took you down to Grandma Annette's house for the night since the wedding reception was at a bar.
I didn't like dropping you off!  I miss you a tremendous amount when I am not with you.  Plus I really worry about you when you are at Gma Annette's - that's a whole other blog post!

Well we had a great time at the bar for the reception. We danced a TON!  Then Aunt Brittany got back in town from her little excursion which was great because she drove me and daddy back to Grandpa Frank's.  We slept over there.  Daddy went and picked you up pretty early from Grandma's and brought you back to Grandpa Frank's.  It truly was such a beautiful day!  We hung out there all day, listened to music, play in the yard, soaked up the sun as much as we could and had a delicious breakfast!! 

Thank you for the wonderful weekend.  For being my sweet, happy and loving daughter.  I love your creativity and your brain.  I have so much respect for you.  

I love you with all my heart!

Love,

mommy

Catch-up Part: 3 HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Dear Maizy,

Halloween finally arrived.  I think I was slightly more excited than you. I had to wake you up to take you to Grandma Donker's for the afternoon.  We kept saying "Happy Halloween" back and forth.  You were in a great mood as always.  With Bear's passing we made different plans and so my heart was heavy.  Dad was taking you to Grandma's then was picking you up around 1ish, going home, getting you dressed in your costume then coming to my work to Trick or Treat at 3:45 p.m.  Dad was late last year bringing you and since he messed up the pressure was on.  

Everything went as planned.  Dad even sent me this pic for proof that you were in your costume and on your way to my work.  Woo hoo!!

Then you got to my work - on time, and the trick or treating began.  I was such a proud mommy taking you around my office and showing you off.  EVERYONE loved you! They commented on how beautiful you are, your eyes, your sweet voice as you said "thank you!" "Happy Halloween" or Trick or Treat!"  You were absolutely precious and breathtakingly beautiful - nothing new there!  See..............................

See how the crease in your arm is all red. Well your bag of candy was getting SO heavy but you refused to let one of us carry it for you.  Even though we weren't going to eat any you would not part with that bag!  Ouch!

This picture is just precious!  My friend, Sheridan, took the pic.  You were in the midst of saying "Happy Halloween!" even though it looks like you are praying. Ha! I love this pic. 

We trick or treated around the office for about an hour, then we had to head to see Grandma Annette and Sienna.  Sienna had to go to the doctor since she wasn't feeling well, so Aunt Debbie was the only one home when we arrived.  Photo shoot!!!

See..........................

Grandma and Sienna got back from the doctor's - finally, just in time for us to leave.  We saw them for maybe 5 minutes then it was time to go to Grandma Donker's to see Grandpa Donker, G-ma Shelly, G-pa Glen and Aunt Laurie. They couldn't get over how darling you looked!! We had KFC for dinner and then it was time to open presents.  Yes, presents. We are the only family that I know of that exchanges presents for Halloween.  I still got presents from my mom and Grandma until you arrived.  You got the new Tinkerbell movie, a magnetic Minnie Mouse dress up game, candy and an adorable My Little Pony train and train track!  Too cute!

You were being a little ham that night.  You hardly ate dinner and just wanted to play and play.  Can't blame you!  We never did end up going trick or treating but we'll leave that excitement for next year.  

We had a wonderful and busy Halloween, it was the best one yet! Thank you!

Two weeks later and you are still saying "Happy Halloween!"  We're working on "Happy Thanksgiving!"  

Thanks for being so fun and well behaved!

I love you! 

Love,
mommy

Catch-up Part:2 PUMPKIN CARVING

Dear Maizy,

You talked about the pumpkin patch all week and was always talking about the pumpkins and picking them up and saying "heavy!"  It was super adorable.  Well we decided to carve our pumpkins on Friday prior to Halloween.

Grandma picked me up from work, then we picked you up, went and got pizza and salad and met daddy at home to car our pumpkins!! YAY!!

Grandpa Glen was out of town, so he missed out on the fun, but I was really glad that Grandma was there.  You were cracking us up all night. 

 Daddy helping you draw a face on your pumpkin.

You got the biggest kick out of cleaning out the "pumpkin guts" and helping us get the seeds to roast.



We had such a great, fun night!  And can you believe that I didn't get one picture of our carved pumpkins!?!  Yep, I am so lame.  Our pumpkins were freaking adorable!  Grandma traced a kitty coming out of the top of a pumpkin - daddy carved it our for her.  I carved a skeleton coming out of it's grave and daddy was too busy helping us he didn't carve one which is too bad because he is fantastic at carving out pumpkins. 

You are blowing us all aways with all the adorable cute things you say and do.  You truly are remarkable!

I was more excited abut Halloween I think than you.  For two weeks you kept shouting "Happy Halloween!"  Happy Halloween Mom!" I was beginning to think you weren't sure if Halloween was ever going to happen.

Thanks for making each Halloween more and more fun and more and more memorable. 

I LOVE YOU!

Love,

mommy 

Catch-up Part: 1

Dear Maizy,

I am going to post these pictures before I forget or can't remember the details.

 You got the biggest kick out of playing in this box!!  It was super adorable of you.  i think we're just going to get you some boxes for your Christmas gifts!  Ha! 

Grandma stopped by and you were ready to go with her.  You kept saying "Bye Mom!  Bye Mom!"  Gosh you sure love your Grandma Shelly!! 

You instantly found and started playing in Aunt Brittany's makeup and checking out yourself in the mirror.  Sooooooo beautiful!  You say "beautiful" for everything, it's super, well, beautiful!

You LOVE brushing your teeth and I am SO glad you do!  Not only is it awesome for your overall health, it's super adorable!  You are so dang sweet!

Thanks for being so smart, fun, easy going and flexible. You just go witht he flow and trust your father and I that we will make sure you are always safe, happy and well taken care of.  Yur smile lights up a room and makes every one smile back at you.  I can't thank you enough for what you do for me.
Love you!

Love,
mommy

Lots of Sundays Ago

Dear Maizy,

I am still SO behind on posting.  AAAHHHHH!  October has been a super busy month and super unexpectedly.

Ok so a few Sundays ago dad's friend Paul let us know that his motorcycle group were all dressing up in their Halloween costumes and driving around town doing their stunts they do.  Then there was a bbq to follow and that we should out you in your Halloween costume too. YAY!  We were all about it.  We had to leave the house pretty fast and you wanted to wear your Dora dress as your costume.  Ok great! You look darling no matter what you are wearing.  We headed downtown, parked, explored and played until we saw the bikes drive by.

After the guys drove by we stopped by the house to get a few things and then we changed you into your pirate costume!  Super cute!!

While we were standing in line for food you grabbed my hand and walked me clear across the parking lot.  I had no idea where we were going and you walked right up to this pink bike.  You wanted it!!  You were so dang cute about it.  You wanted to touch all of the bikes - I know Papa Frank lets you touch and "ride" his bike but this doesn't go for everyone, it was kind of hard to explain.  I will say though that you do have great taste because that really was a cute bike!

After the event we went home.  Took it easy while you took a nap then daddy made us the most delicious mac and cheese for dinner and I made us yummy nutella cake for dessert.  We had a fabulous day and a great weekend!

Thanks for always being so great, going with the flow and always being in a cheerful, happy mood.  We LOVE taking places.  You got complimented a ton by the bike riders about how adorable you are.

I love you!!

Love,
mommy