Maya's 8th year recap

Dear Maya,

Eight seems like such a big kid age. I can't believe we're here already! Every day you make us so proud and in awe of the intelligent, caring, interesting person you're becoming. We're so happy that we get to be your parents!

Today we did the interview we've done for the last several years (7th year, 6th year, 5th year, 4th year, 3rd year) and here are your answers:

Favorite toy: allllll the Beanie Boos
Favorite game: the dragon tower game
Favorite thing to do inside: read books
Favorite thing to do outside: play in the snow
Favorite place to go: to the butterfly conservatory
Favorite book: Catstronauts
Favorite TV show: Zig and Sharko
Favorite movie: My Neighbor Totoro
Favorite song: Fly, fly to Mexico (since you just got Monarch Butterfly wings for your birthday)
Favorite animal: big cats
Favorite breakfast: pancakes (esp. fish-shaped pancakes--see last post)
Favorite lunch: grilled cheese with curry sauce
Favorite dinner: Mama's soup with potatoes
Favorite fruit: grapefruit
Favorite vegetable: carrots
Favorite drink: Shirley Temple (you had one on our Mystic vacation)
Best friend: Juliette, Emerson, Kameryn, Clara, Gianna, Elio, Dominic
Biggest fear: getting my flu shot
When you grow up you want to be: lots of things! English teacher in Japan, police officer, teacher, firefighter, etc.
Things you take to bed: lots of pillows, lots of blankets, 7 stuffed animals, and a dragon tail :)

And here are some of my favorite photos of you from this year:

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

We're looking forward to another beautiful year with you, my sweet! Love you!

Maya's 8th birthday trilogy

Dear Maya,

You're 8 years old! Whoa! This year was the first that you really wanted a friend party, so we had one. But we also had a small family party at home. And we also had a third party for you today at your great grandparents' house. Personally, I'm good not seeing cake again for a while!

For your friend party on Saturday, you decided on a dragon theme! We had the party at our friend's shop so we could do a craft workshop. You and your friends each made a brown paper nest, then decorated dragon eggs with glitter glue and gems before putting a little dragon toy inside. We had cupcakes with dragons on them and you handed out favors of felt dragon masks and Japanese candy. One friend's mom also initiated some great games with balloons at the end. It was a blast!

In lieu of gifts from your friends, you asked for donations for the humane society. On Sunday afternoon, your actual birthday, we went to drop off the donations. You got to meet lots and lots of kitties and see some cute dogs, too. It was sweet to see you wanting to help them.

For our family party Sunday night, you wanted a ninja theme. We got some mini ninjas to put on your cupcakes, mommy found a throwing star magnet to put on your little cake, and everyone pitched in to make a throwing star garland so we'd have at least one decoration up. Grandpa was here (he'd been visiting since Thursday night) and Matt and Rhi came over (for the second night in a row). The rest of the family wanted to join us but they were either sick or avoiding Emi's pink eye!

And finally today, we went to Nanny and Poppy's house to celebrate once more. They even ordered a pretty cake for you. It was good to see them again so soon after Christmas and you and your sister got some good hugs and snuggles in.

Well, mommy really needs some sleep now. Love you, my big girl!!