Lauren's Fifth Birthday Party

Maggie's friend, Lauren, celebrated her fifth birthday Saturday afternoon with a Princess Party. Maggie had received an invitation to a "Ball" and was excited to attend the party after recovering from her soccer game.  

When Maggie arrived at Lauren's house, Mr. Lare met her and ushered her and the other girls into the dining room for snacks and explained to them that there was going to be a ball and they were going to get dressed for it.  However, before they could get dressed, the Evil Step-Mother (actually Mommy) arrived and told the girls they all had to clean before they would be able to go to the ball.  After lots of giggles that Ms. Kathy was talking and acting so funny (not to mention the crazy makeup), the girls "cleaned" the house until the Fairy Godmother (Lauren's Mommy) arrived.

The Fairy Godmother whisked them upstairs for hair fixings and beautiful dresses.  The girls had a blast getting ready for the ball. The moms in the room commented that it felt like Prom, which gave this Mommy a few heart flutters (the girl is just growing up SO fast).  

Once dressed beautifully and with gorgeous hair and tiaras, the girls went outside to the backyard where Mr. Lare had set up a lovely area for the ball. It was there that the girls got the biggest surprise.  All of their Prince Charmings had arrived in the form of their Daddies.  Not only that, but the Daddies were all dressed up and ready to dance with their Princesses. The girls danced, twirled, and had an absolutely amazing time. 

Second Soccer Game

Maggie finally had her second soccer game.  After two weeks of rain outs, this afternoon was nice and sunny and perfect for a soccer game.  At the beginning of the game, Maggie was hesitant to get in the gaggle of girls and get the ball.  However, as the game progressed, Maggie got in there and got her foot on the ball.  She even scored a goal!  It was lots of fun, and the girls did a great job!  She continues to be an observer of the game and spends a great deal of time watching what's going on and predicting where the ball is going to go.  How amazing to watch yet another side of her personality grow.

Lemonade Stand

Maggie continued her quest for raising money for Relay for Life Saturday during the neighborhood garage sale.  She asked Mommy to bake some cookies on Friday night, and she made some lemonade.  She then set up a stand at the foot of the driveway selling lemonade and cookies for 25 cents each.  She also put out a jar to raise any donations for the cause.  All told, Maggie raised $24 to give to her teacher who is doing the actual Relay for Life in May.  Again, Mommy and Daddy were very proud of her willingness to give to others. We are loving watching her grow into such an amazing young lady.

Mini Relay for Life

Maggie joined many of her classmates in raising money for The American Cancer Society with a Mini Relay for Life at her school on Friday.  The kids walked around the blacktop during the specials time while music played, bubbles blew, and fun was had.  Mommy and Daddy were so proud of her for wanting to participate and help others. 

Mommy and Daddy came to walk with her Maggie and her friends and had a great time!

Scavenger Hunt Sculptures

Maggie is very into scavenger hunts lately.  She enjoys others making them for her and making them for others.  At the beginning of the week, Maggie asked Mommy to make a scavenger hunt for her that would culminate with making something from what she had collected.  Maggie really likes hunts with riddle clues, so Mommy hid some ingredients for a cookie bar around the house and typed up some riddles to help her find them.  Once they were gathered, Mommy and Maggie made a special treat for Daddy.

After the cooking was through, Maggie decided she wanted to make a scavenger hunt for Mommy.  Mommy let her at it and "hid" in the office while she heard Mags rummaging in the pantry and giggling with delight at her ideas.  Maggie then put the stuff in the same places Mommy had but put the clues in a different order and started Mommy on her hunt.

Now, Mommy here wasn't too sure what she was going to find, but was awed by the forethought that went in to this.  After helping Mommy gather marshmallows, Oreos, toothpicks, gummy lifesavers, and a cutting board, Maggie directed us to the kitchen and explained that we would now be making sculptures.  

Mommy had the idea to pull out some icing that was in the fridge for glue, but other than that it was all Maggie.  Mommy was most impressed by the inclusion of the cutting board in the plan - she had a canvas for the art, not just the art supplies.  

So, Mommy and Maggie made sculptures to surprise Daddy. Maggie ate one sculpture for dessert, and Daddy took the other to work and gave it to Mr. Luke as a house warming gift.  What a fun afternoon. :)

Maggie's Kitchen

Time for Maggie Salad.
Maggie's first cooking show video.

Spring Break 2008

Spring Break - gotta go to the beach right?! Of course you do!

We are blessed enough to have relatives that live near the beach, so that is where we headed. David's dad and step-mom live in Edisto Island, SC. It's about an hour from Charleston and a beautiful area. There house is on the marsh, about fifteen minutes from the beach - perfect!

Maggie and I drove over on Sunday, caravanning with David's sister, Katie, and her two adorable children, Gray (7) and Riley (5). That's right, the girls are actually only eight weeks apart. Because of crazy schedules, we don't get to see these cousins often, so this was a great time for three of them to hang out together. They had a wonderful time.

The weather turned chilly after we got there, so we spent our time playing Hide and Seek, Twenty Questions, and Simon Says. We also visited the island's nature center and explored a little around the grandparents' house.

The daddies flew into Charleston on Wednesday morning, so we drove into town. We lunched at Sticky Fingers (the best ribs anywhere according to David) and then visited the Children's Museum. The kids had an AWESOME time there and played for several hours.

Once Uncle Jamie arrived, the fishing poles came out. The girls had practice poles without hooks so they had a great time casting and reeling it right in. The guys did the more patient cast and then let it sit. Alas, no fish were caught, but not for a lack of trying.

We were able to hit the beach Thursday and Friday to the joy of the younger set. It was a little chilly for the adults on Thursday, but the kids were in the water anyway. Friday, the Aunts got in the action and I even rode the waves for awhile with Gray and Maggie. Ask them to tell you about "the big one."

Saturday, the Hills headed home to be ready for church on Sunday. It was a great trip with lots of family time, love, and laughter.