6 months later...

Danica is 4 and in Preschool 4! Wow does time fly when you are having fun. The summer flew by just like Danica did on her bike- the fastest kid in the neighborhood. We did lots of swimming this summer, jumped off Grandma's diving board, and went down the slide. You continued with camp at maple park and soccer camp- which Mommy helped out with. We went to Santa's Village, to the Cozley Zoo, and played with lots of friends, especially around the 4th of July. We also spent a lot of time at the lake and in the lake. You and Charli loved that. There is an action  shot of Eric throwing you in off the boat that is priceless. I think that excitement and anticipation summed up every day of summer. Oh and I can't mention a summer without garage sales, you and Charli are my eyes for garage sale signs.

We also celebrated your 4th birthday in style with a petting zoo, ponies, and a huge jumpy house. This time the ponies were pink- it was awesome. I think you went on the ponies at least 100 times, you got on the pony, rode around the court, then got off and went on the other pony. You had the best time. So many friends came out to celebrate you and it was an awesome. This year we had a big rainbow and unicorn on your cake it was just beautiful, just like you.

 School started and all of a sudden you are in preschool 4! What a big girl. 5 half days, Tuesdays with Grandma and gymnastics, and end the week with some quality time with Kathy. You told me you are ready for full days so we will revisit that before Christmas. Speaking of Christmas...... an Elf just came to visit us! See you have had your princess day bed since you were born and I can count on one hand the amount of times you have slept in that bed by yourself. So Mommy and Daddy just got you your new big girl like Charli's bed! And guess what--- you slept in it by yourself. Now there was a little help from an Elf. The Elf came to remind you and Charli to sleep in your beds so your Elfs (Angel and Wishes) know where to find you when they arrive on the first magical snow. You also have told me that your brother will be coming around that time too! We are so proud of you for sleeping in your bed, but my bed is sad. I love holding your feet and waking up to your face, so don't tell anyone but you are always welcome to still sleep in my bed. (wink wink)

You are currently back in dance and continuing with ice skating and gymnastics. A natural at everything you do but the attention span of a pea. You would much rather goof around than do what you are supposed to. For example you are supposed to be skating on the ice but you are doing snow angels instead.

You are quite the story teller and everything begins with, " Do you know what?" You are detailed reporter on everyone's day. You are very proud of where you get clipped and just recently were clipped to pink and got to pick from the treasure chest and you picked a slap bracelet. Way to go Danica! Oh and that reminds me of what a great cleaner and organizer you are when asked.  When there is a task you want to complete you are laser focused. That goes with crafting too! The rest of the time you are just silly, so funny, greatest contagious laugh. Sweetest girl, sweetest heart. Already shedding tears in movies that are sentimental; you have the best soul. We are so proud of how smart you are, how advanced you are, and how compassionate you are. Your big blue eyes and long brown hair contradict your strong athletic legs full of bumps and bruises. And you cutest little voice and slight lisp make you ever more adorable.

Bumps and bruises OH MY! Charli kicked you in the eye-- black eye. You rain upstairs too fast and hit the corner of the banister--goose egg the size of a golf  ball on your head that almost split. Hitting the handle bars with your cheek- big bruise. The amount of boo boos is endless. Dr. Mike said you have the body of a healthy, happy, curious kid! He is right. You love to ask the Doctors and police so many questions. Remember when you were afraid, well those days are over! Well not when it comes to shots, oh my gosh you would have thought someone was torturing you and Charli --- and when you got the flu shot you both said you couldn't even feel it. The tears OMG!

You told me that you want to be a Hello Kitty when you grow up, not a lamp because lamps don't talk. These are different daily tips, comments, and advice we get from Danica. So funny!

I have been writing this blurb over a few months so at this point Christmas is near.... and Danica you are getting your wish and your prayer. Your baby brother will be here in May. We cannot be more excited. We told you the news while recording what you would say and when we asked you what you want, on the spot, on camera, you said " hatchimals, pants, umm a unicorn  doll" and many other random things, it was  So funny! we kept trying to prompt you and the more we did the funnier  the responses got.

Your expressions are priceless -- your elf Wishes has taken you through every emotion - the excitement and joy when he moves in the house is amazing. Every day for you is an adventure and your are full of life, joy, and everything wonderful. At 4 years old you are still baby baby- but you are so smart, so observant, so honest, so funny, so strong, so in love with your family , and have one of the purest hearts of anyone I have ever met. I love you honey. Your future is so bright and I couldn't be more proud.

* Let me not forget to mention that you love Charli, and want to do everything Charli does, and every sentence when you are told to do something has to do with Charli first and if she has to do it. Well Danica - Charli is now a Daisy and selling girl scout cookies and you my dear are the closer. She would not be the seller she is without her baby sister and after the pitch the statement by you, "So are you going to buy or what." You can  go toe to toe with anyone and you stand up for the truth and what is right. No one is going to mess with you and that makes for a very proud Mommy and Daddy.

Yep, I am 3.5!

3.5 years old is monumental for Danica especially because Charli just turned 6 and that celebration seemed to last forever. Don't worry Danica, we made sure we celebrated you, we do each and every day. You, my little monk, are a party, so it is hard not to celebrate you every day! We have done so much this spring and you just continue to grow and I mean that in all ways. You even told me your feet grew, oh what a big girl you are. You are just too funny. I tell you I smile the entire time I write about you, think of you , do anything with you. Your facial expressions are full of curiosity and speak volumes. This spring you took another Miss Wood class and although you are leaps and bounds more athletic than other kids, you are not really always a good listener or a sharer for that matter. That applies at home too, but at school, I presume you are an angel because I have not heard other wise and you let me know how all the kids are at school. You are an official NARC and I love it! You always tell me the truth and I can tell by your tone what is fake and real. I have you pegged munchkin.  Let me clarify the listening and sharing- you always have an excuse or reason of when you don't listen or share so sometimes I have to bargain with you on things, seriously. We all do, Uncle Eric said she negotiates everything, wonder where she gets that from?

Trying to keep you busy isn't the easiest thing to do since you are the busiest kid I have ever met, but I try. You are also in T-ball/soccer and can you believe it ... you are an ice skater. You asked me if you are going to keep falling on your butt? and how come the big kids don't fall? I told you the more classes you take the less you will fall so you agreed to enroll again. That's my girl! Strong and steady wins the race and strong is an understatement to describe you. Don't worry I have you in snow pants to pad your butt and a helmet just in case. Speaking of needing a helmet, Danica you on your bike is the craziest site and no one can take their eyes off of; you are SOOOOOO fast. So fast, that you blew the tires on your bike and we had to get another one. SO fast that you can stop on  a dime and don't seem to have a fear in the world! You love to ride bikes and so does Charli so if the sun is shining that is what we are doing. Cheers to living in a court.

Now let's talk about things you say; you like to tell me that your heart is beating and I tell you that is great because it means you are alive, but that doesn't really soothe you. You get this upset disappointed face, no sure why. You like to talk about the police and that they can help you, although you want nothing to do with them still. Well, you did tell me you are "going to be police" when you grow up... among other things. You do a little wink and finger point at Dad and I, actually you do a finger point motion in most things you do and it makes you look very official. You told Aunt Terry her food tastes like dog food. You repeatedly call and hang up on Grandma on face time and then have a fit when she doesn't answer. You text from our phones whenever you can get your sneaky hands on them! You have face timed my friends 30 times in a row and also take photo bursts of up to 300 pictures in a matter of a second, no wonder my phone is FULL. Kathy told us that while you were earning your dollar helping her she asked you to get something and you told her that this is the last time and she "needs to start doing her own job." Let's see, the other day you told me, "I don't love all of God's creatures," and I asked you why not, at that point you were looking up hands crossed and said, "God please get rid of the ants." You are definitely a narc and let us know what is going on with everyone in your class and at Kathy's. You are full time reporter at age 3 and it is so funny because we know when you are lying, you start to repeat things thinking of your story, and when you tell the facts you are very matter of fact and your eyes get really big and you say, "Did you know that." You have such an interest in families and people. Who is your uncle, who my husband is, if I love Daddy. Every day constant questions. My favorite is when you asked Grandma if she is married to Uncle Eric and she said no, and you asked if she would kiss Uncle Eric. You are so silly. Then you ask is Eric your baby,  to Grandma. Then you want your own baby. You pray for a baby brother all the time, and when I told you it was summer, you said yeah my baby brother is coming. Then you asked, where is he?" This is a lot with River too, you want to know when  he is coming back from the sky because you miss him. I think when I told you he is with Jesus and safe and healthy and he has to stay there it may have given you some closure, we will see. We are in that stage that we never know what you are going to say, so we have to pick and choose our places and audiences. You are very aware of people and your surroundings and people's characteristics which is a great thing, but we need a little more of a filter.

It is now official that you have finished preschool 3- and all you can say is," whooo hoooo party." You are always asking for " the weekend," so now my dear you have a 100 day weekend. You will be in so many fun things this summer: ice skating, gymnastics, swim lessons, cooking class, preschool sessions with your best friend, Maria ( best of luck teachers) and a few crafting classes if I can remember. Days will be filled with the pool because you have your puddle jumper and no fear so the big pool it is! You in your frog googles, the cutest kid at the pool, by a landslide.

When you developed a rash for two weeks this spring and we took you to the Doctor twice, for no reason at all, well yes for piece of mind. Dr. Charles said you have very healthy bruises... yes you are a beast. Well you told Dr. Charles as you tell many others, " you know what Dr. Charles, boys are bad news." No one can help smiling when they are around you, how could they.

If curiosity killed the cat, I am glad your name isn't Felix.... because Danica no one could be more curious, interested in everyone and everything around them, or more vocal. The way you have found poopy and pee songs from Alexa - my head just spins. You are so smart, so interested in doing everything yourself, and so opinionated, that no one believes you are 3. You exceed in all benchmarks and I am so proud of your ABC's, songs, memorization, identification of letters, numbers, words, you manipulation of technological devices, psychomotor skills, speech ( even with you adorable lisp), and honey you are the sweetest little one who still wants upy! Grandma calls you little one, so that means you call all of us, Little one." Okay little one you say"- warms my heart. Every day you greet that day with enthusiasm of what we are going to do, even at 6 am and it is around that time you want an icy pop or popsicle. You are definitely your Grandpa! Boy would your Grandparents have gotten a kick out of you. I can only imagine you telling Grandpa you want to go to the race track, I can see him shaking his head now.

We are all waiting for what you say or do next. I love you Little Toonie. Keep brushing your teeth all over the house, ruining your bike tires, getting rid of the ants, eating popsicles, riding Reilly boots, and being as cute as you can be. WE love you always.

2018 Bring it on....

Danica the funniest of stories continues. Every day we have no idea what is going to come out of your mouth. You are so cute, so funny, so loving, and just so adorable all together. We also don't know what you are going to do next, well actually we do.....you are going to change your clothes no matter what, all day, every day. You are also going to face time and call people and while you are talking to them ask where someone else is. Those are your staples and they get funnier each time. Lately you are wearing my shoes to complete your outfits, always high heeled shoes, and you even used my huge camera as an accessory. I think you told me you were going to work, or maybe college. You were definitely going somewhere. HA HA

There aren't enough hours in the day for you but when you are tired look out. I think you can actually fall asleep in action, I have seen it with my own eyes. You are the life of the every party. You love to impersonate, make up your own stories, sing your own songs, have dance parties wherever you are, brush your teeth, make a mess; you beat to your own drum. You love Alexa and instead of asking her to play, Rudolph, you now ask for "Who let the dogs out," I mean who doesn't love a little Shaggy. The way you know how to manipulate an echo dot is crazy. This technological world is something I still have to wrap my head around, I think you and Charli can navigate through my phone better than I can! You are a terrific little girl in knowing the difference between  wrong and right, although you don't always follow the rules, you know the rules and are honest. On the flip side you are also a story teller so for the most part it is easy to tell when you are being facetious. The other day you were telling me how a boy in your class was being silly, and he took something from you, then you told the teacher....and you paid $150 for it.....I mean you are three--- and the story was so matter of fact. I just give you a silly raised eye brow look and then you do the same and shrug your shoulders with some kind of remark. Just so funny, honey. Another story, Kathy has a stray cat outside her house and you told Dad and I how the cat bit you. I said Danica? and you responded, "Well it did!" So we had to talk about lieing and telling stories.... that went in one ear and out the other, you were already on to the next thing. What I think is the most remarkable about you is your compassion. You have such a sense about you. You are truly a kind little girl. You are very aware of you feelings and others and that will take you very far. I think you are one of a kind.

2018 had a great start as we went to Magic Kingdom and you were in awe. It was quite the experience for you, and the characters were for sure your favorite part, that and the Dumbo and Aladdin Rides. Daddy and I are not the heights and thrill seekers kind of people,  so good thing you have a sister to do that with you when you both get older. Until then I think we should all keep our feet safely on the ground.

I can't be happier that your weekly schedule has continued to be a successful one. It is like a well-oiled machine except when I pick you up- I really never know what to expect. I don't know what you are going to say, what puddle you are going to jump in,  what snow pile you are going to soak your pants in, or what seat you are going to choose not to sit in. You also make sure you touch everything in my car. Then we have to talk about how we are going to Kathy's and when it is the weekend, and where your frog is, what is in you book bag.... oh and not to mention when we are going to get crazy bread. So to say the least, every day is an adventure, as it should be. May I add, we don't really go anywhere without froggy :)

As you continue to "get bigger," as you refer to yourself, you also get to start being in your own independent art classes so we will see how that is going to go. Oh and if you can  believe this, you and Charli will be a in soccer class together over spring break. So Cool! You also are starting to be invited to the same birthday parties as Charli so that is even more awesome. You went to Ella's party which focused on dance and pom poms and you were terrific... and may I add I thought you and Charli were fashionistas at the party and all parties. UMMM especially your dance parties with Daddy.

I am looking forward to the spring ahead and all the fun in store. There are times I just stare at you and can see you are just still a baby and I just squeeze you. I don't mind you falling asleep in my bed and waking up to your telling me my "breath smells like poop." I appreciate your honestly and every second I spend with you.You are my "baby baby" always. I love you!

What will you change in to today????? Oh by the way it is the weekend and we are going to celebrate at cook  in front of you.... a rain check from Valentine's Day that happened Wednesday this week. Family date night since you and Charli did crafts with Auntie Terry and Laura on Wednesday. We are going to go through your unicorn Valentine's box and have a party. YAY! Can't wait!