Adjustment/Soccer/Ellie Lu's party/Sidewalk paint

Barbara has now been working for 2 weeks and things are going great. Barbara's mom stayed with Maggie most of last week and my mom will be here for a couple of days this week to help out. Maggie has done fine without us around and has adjusted well. She begins preschool on September 8th and I think she will do great. We have an orientation this Thursday so will see how she reacts at that time.

We had been expecting Maggie and Mia to play on the same soccer team with me being the assistant coach and Mia's dad being the head coach. On Saturday we found out that because Maggie's birthday is on August 1st and the cutoff date is July 31st, Maggie will actually be on a 3 year old team. Mia's birthday is on July 24th, so she will on the 4 and 5 year old team. We are pretty disappointed at the way things worked out, but will look forward to them playing together next year.

On Saturday we went to Ellie Lu's 2nd birthday party. It was a lot of fun and Maggie had a GREAT time. Elmo made a surprise visit and there were lots of activities planned for the kids. Maggie was not as shy as normal and had no problem going right up to Elmo. When he left, she asked if he had to go home to Sesame Street. The earring you see Maggie wearing in the pictures are stick on earrings. Both Barbara and Maggie want to get her ears pierced, but I am holding firm in waiting until she is older to make that decision.

The weather today was fall like so we went outside and played with Maggie's sidewalk paint. She had a lot of fun. The "Maggie" writing on the driveway was actually done by Barbara, the rest of the masterpiece is Maggie's.

Also this week, I was in Nashville for training from Wednesday to Friday. Maggie did fine while I was away, and was not standoffish when I returned, which I was a little worried about.

Mia's birthday

Yesterday we went to Mia's Curious George Birthday party. Although a little shy at first, Maggie had a great time helping Mia celebrate. They colored on the wall, played a Curious George bean bag game, played pin the banana on the log, got candy from a pinata, ate cake, cupcakes, and banana splits, and played outside. The weather was beautiful and we all had a great day.

Barbara started back to work on a part time basis last week, and Maggie did great without her. I was able to take some time off work to stay with Maggie, and Barbara's mom and aunt helped us out one day. This week, Barbara's mom will be watching her most of the week. Maggie's school doesn't start until September 8th with orientation being on the 3rd.

We got Maggie's soccer cleats a couple of weeks ago when we met my mom, sister, nieces, and great nephew Skyler for lunch and shopping in Knoxville. Maggie and Skyler get along so well, it's a shame they don't live closer. We have been practicing Maggie's soccer skills and it is going to be so much fun watching her play.

Maggie's 4th Birthday!

Today was Maggie's 4th birthday. I know, because she told us at least 234 times that today was her birthday. We had a great party this morning and everything went great. We had a wonderful turnout of friends and family and the kids had alot of fun. They played games, rode the carousel (several times), got candy from a pinata, ate a pull apart Minnie Mouse cake, watched as Maggie opened presents, and some stayed to play in the fountains afterwards. Maggie got everything she wanted, and then some. We came home and played and played and played with all the gifts that she received. We are blessed to have the family and friends that we do and we thank everyone for the cards, phone calls, gifts, gift cards, money, etc. that Maggie has received. We cherish each and every word/act.

Also this week - Beth gave Maggie her piano and Brandon and Aron were so nice to deliver it to us this week. Maggie LOVES it! We signed Maggie up for soccer. I have requested to be the assistant coach for the team that Mia's dad will coach, which will make it possible for Maggie and Mia to play on the same team. The first game is on September 12th and should be a lot of fun. Maggie will begin preschool in September as well and we all went by the school on Friday afternoon and I am very impressed with the program. She should learn alot and have so much fun. It will be so good for Maggie.