Visiting Santa

We went to Build-a-Bear so Maggie could spend her birthday money and Santa was already set up at the mall.

Family Birthday Party for Maggie

Maggie was very excited for the family birthday party, because she got toys instead of Humane Society donations :)  Maggie does not appear to like being the center of attention; she delayed opening her gifts because she didn't want everyone looking at her!  She was excited for the new doll clothes and the new Lego sets that she could immediately play with.  The next day we drove to Build-a-Bear in Omaha so she could spend her gift cards and cash.  She was able to buy 2 outfits and a wardrobe to hang all the clothes for her animal in.  All 5 of the cousins enjoyed playing together after we ate the cake and ice cream.

Happy 7th Birthday, Maggie!

Maggie was worried because the candle wick was pointing at her!  She was excited to be given a brownie for breakfast on her birthday :)  She couldn't believe it when $5 fell out of her card from Grandma Olson.  She was so excited to find out that I'd given her a $25 Build-a-Bear "credit card," plus a $10 Build-a-Bear card and a $10 off coupon.  I helped her add it all up and her eyes could have been dollar signs :) haha

Noah's Ark

Maggie stacked her craft sticks and used cut sticks to make her curved bottom when making Noah's ark. 

Mena made her ark open to show the outline of the ark.  She drew windows at the top for the birds in the story.

Maggie's Friend Birthday Party

 

Maggie had Charlotte, Paige, and Kaylee over for her birthday party.  Aaron again agreed to Holly coming for a birthday party at my house.  I am so glad that he and I are able to communicate and help bridge part of the gap with our girls' 3-part family.  Mena and Holly played together while Maggie played with her friends from school.

Band-aids

Email from Maggie's teacher:

Hi Jennifer!

I fell like the worst teacher ever. Your sweet Maggie picked at one of her ouchies and made it bleed while we were doing a read aloud this morning. Like the respectful student she is, she waited until we were done reading to ask for a band aid. She wiped the blood on her pants instead, and I feel terrible that they are bloody now! I told her to definitely let me know right away instead of waiting next time :). Just wanted to let you know!

Thanks and happy Wednesday!

Ashley

-- 

Ashley Rueb

Kahoa Elementary School

1st Grade Teacher

My response to Miss. Rueb:

Thank you for the laugh! That is certainly my "resourceful" child!

That night:

I picked up Maggie from daycare and there were blood spots ALL OVER her pants.  I didn't say anything and she didn't say anything.  A couple hours later Mena asked Maggie what was on her pants.  Maggie responded, "I don't want to talk about it."  Mena asked again and Maggie said, "Mom didn't notice so there's no reason to talk about it."  I yell from the other room, "Yes, I did notice.  Also your teacher emailed me so I know what happened."  Mena asks, "Did you spill milk?"  Maggie responds, "Mena, milk is white and this (pointing to her pants) is red!  It's blood from picking my owie."  I tried stain remover but when it didn't come out on the first try, I just threw them away.  It was one of the few remaining pink pants.  There's a reason I quit buying pink pants!