Danica Liv

Oh Danica, Oh Danica.... sometimes there are no words for a girl who is larger than life. Honestly, you don't even know what you life has in store for you, but it is going to be awesome. Once you find the right gear it is going to be quite a ride. I saw the last time I posted you scored 4 goals, well just this past weekend you had another hat trick. Goal scoing in soccer is the norm for you and even earned you- the nike airmax's you had to have. You were getting them for your birthdya anyway, so the gaol scoring incentive was just a little added bonus ( wink wink) You are playing a year up in soccer and I have no doubt soccer is going to bring you amazing things. Gymnastics is still a thing, you had a good year, but as much as you have been growing physically it is impressive that you met the goals you set out for. Now next year we get a medal! You turned 9 this year and we celebrated at the Chicago Dogs game with some soccer friends. I think the players in the oufield what for you to come to the game. You have such a sparle in your eye and you live for the moment all the moments all the time. Fun is your middle name, that and the fact you are never not "On" and when you aren't I know that means you are on overload and tired and that perfect little self of yours need a break or a hug-- which you want but don't always hug back, like a wet noodle. LOL Speaking of growing you are legit taller than your sister. You have real boobs that you always wished for and now you want them to go away. Hair is there and we have to shave you pits. Is it fair to have hair when you can't staop laughing to shave them. Your body is maturing but you my dear are not. Your favorite word is, "STOP,"and when you say it 100 times a day it is like nails on a chalkboard. I can't handle it! Each day you start and end the day like clockwork. You always want to wear shorts, no matter the temperature. You wear the same clothes repeadidly. You always know everything that is going on about everyone else which doesn't give you the time to do all the things you need to do. Homework time is tough but when we get through it there have been some 100's! even on the states test so that was AWESOME! I love all your art projects you are so talented and you were so great in your musical! "PE TEACHER!" Great job DANICS! I was the mystery teacher at your school and you were so proud to have me there, boy did I feel special. I know our bond is unbreakable, but boy do we have a tough time with it bending to the limit most days. I do have to say I do enjoy hearing your stories most days but I would really rather just hear about you, and do things with you-especially homework. I want you to just be you. You offer the world so many things and once you are good in your skin the whole world is yours. I have never seen a physical specimen like yourself. I had you on my lap the other day and it actually hurt. You are just dense, strong, powerful, fast, agile, quick, easy to upset, sensitive, funny, beautiful, loving, goofy, dirty, just so many things wrapped up in one-- that there really only is one you in the entire universe and you are mine! I am so impressed by you. I don't get nervous when you do things I have so much pride in you. I just know your potential has no limit and I am along for the ride. Did you know that you are 9 and still can't sleep alone and have to have a night light on in order to sleep alone. You deadlock the doors, you are a scaredy cat, super sheltered, and at the same time the toughest kid we might have in our family which speaks volumes. YOU ARE A QUEEN! Those legs you have will be in a magazing one day- mark my words. Along with those blues yes, dimples, and a smile that can light up a runway! How much fun was 4th grade! I can't believe you are going to run the school next year! You accomplished so much and we did so much. Four gymanstis practices a week, 3 soccer practices and games every week. Winning tournaments scoring goals, learning new skills, getting good grades in school. You are getting is done and soon you wil see just how good you really are! How much fun do you have in Florida, how much fun do you have daily just being alive. "Mom can I have a special drink?" Oh Danica-- feeding your face when you aren't even hungry. Wanting everything you shouldn't... I guess they say this is my karma, whatever that means... but if it means you give me a run for my money-- every single day and every second and moment of that day then it sure is! And Danica, my ponnie, my packaracka, my pook--- I wouldn't change it for anything in the world. I love you more than you will every know I just want you to know-- you mean everything to me. I love you and I am so beyond proud of you. Watch out world she is going to tear you up!

4 GOALS in ONE GAME! EOM!

WOW!!!! DO I NEED TO UPDATE ON YOU!

Danica, the last time I caught up on All things Danica was your Communion which was a life time ago in your 8 years on Earth. You have finished 2nd grade and they let you move up to 3rd grade! Can you believe it, you Social Butterfly you! I can't evebn tell you just how busy you are, you would walk in to a pole or a building that is right in front of you for that matter listening to and watching other people. You are so fixated on others and can give a full report on so many people and things that went on I don't even know how you have time for school, learning, sports, or putting anything else in your brain! I mean I don't see how you won't be a sideline reporter or a news anchor! It is quite impressive when I look at it through this lens! Summer came and went, not without swimming and swimming and more swimming. Gymnastics and more gymanstics and more gymnastics. It seems like a lifetime ago that we had no cares and worries and just did what we wanted and spent way to much doing so. Epsecailly for little miss can we go to a restuarant, can we hang out with people, who are we going to see today. Every day is a party when your name is Danica Liv. 3rd grade has started with a bang, I am talking A+ on tests! Yes DANICA YES! I guess threatening you with staying in 3rd grade next year has really put a flame under your little buns. You celebrated, Well we ALL celebrated, you turning 8 in August. We invited all the girls in your class, some other class friends, girls from gymnastics and soccer and everyone came! Over 20 girls, for your SUPERPETS movie party! It was awesome and you were spoiled with so many amazing gifts I couldn't believe it. We have so many squishmellows, they and the America Girl Dolls really do need to start paying rent. I can't take it SMH. You started travel Soccer and WON the first tournament you every played! It was on your birthday and Coach Cesar made you the captian and let you pick out the trophy. It was the perfect day. You even scored 3 goals in the tournament or was it 2, we still can't figure that out! Sometimes I still wonder if you know what scoring a goals means LOL...baby stepr my dear babysteps. Once you get it, you will be UNSTOPPABLE, that I can guarantee! You have a tournament this weekend, GO SOCKERS! In Gymnastics you are now a level 3 almost 4 and you will have your first competition in a few weeks. I am wondering how much hardware will be filling up your room this upcoming year. I am also wondering when all of your teeth are coming in.... you have a crazy mouth of teeth in places that I didn't know way they go or where they should be. I can't help but laugh, you school picture this year sums is all up, no need for a retake! I mean some of the things you say or do we need a double take but that is what makes you , you, and I wouldn't change it for the worlD. I would like to improve on your hygiene and your eating habits but I guess that is part of being 8! Yes 8 you are 8! When schooll started this year you were 7 and the teacher had everyone fill out things about themselves. She then said to put 8 where it asks how old you are... you out 8. I asked why and you said becuase they teacher said too, and I said no she wasn giving and example- you are 7 so you have to put 7. On Danica, SMH! You love to ask Alexa about the weather every day, you love to call Grandma and talk on the phone. You love to talk over everyone who is talking and talk about everyone else. You get more gossip than US WEEKLY magazine, how is that even possible your school and our town are not that big! I mean you make everyone laugh, you are so animated, so goofy, so fragile and so compassionate. A drama queen with qauds of steal and the most gorgeous blue eyes. If you figure out your nutrition choices I can see you on the front a of fitness magazine...just gorgeous! Everyday you have a new story about someone, some days you like your friends sometimes you don't. Either way you don't miss a beat. You are as boy crazy as they come. OMG are you in for it someday sooner than later. In soccer you had to play goalie and it was the worst 10 minutes and 4 goals I ever had to live through, then this weekend you played it again and no goals went in! That is life...learning...and applying what you learn the next time. You are too busy to have us help you learn since you know everything but sometimes I can tell you are listening. I just hope you start listening more and eat your BREAKFAST so you are not a snacker all day. I mean you are addicted to candy, gum, sugar, I am not sure if you even like it or you just think it is COOL. "Let'Go!" That is what you say when you like something, just like the high school boys. I mean you kind of are like a frat boy. Like I said we are so in for it! I am proud of all you accomplish in that little body of yours. You are starting to sleep in your own bed, (it took Sarah bribing you with a candy jar) Your teeth and hair are lookign better. You have to be reminded to shower. I am not sure what is going on with your nails. I told you that until you can take care of yourself no earrings. I was going to let you get them pierced Christmas in Florida but we will have to wait and see...until then clip ons will do! The last one out from everywhere, "bye so and so, see you later so and so bye Mrs. Bye Dr." I mean if you could memorize your times tables like you memorize names you'd be a math genius. Baby steps I keep telling myself baby steps. Thank you for being my middle, for copying and annoying your sister, for bothering you little brother all the time, for feeling left out, for never wanting to be alone. For your constant touch and need for attention. For you snappy remarks back, for being bossy, and then for being so sweet, little, and loving. Thank you for your humor and making us all want to piddle in our pants a little. Please lets try to improve on that. Goal for being 8, hygience and cleaning your room. You love to teach in your room not you need to like to be with just you in your room. I love you so much Danica the destroyer dumpster... my little pona roana. Life would never be the same if you weren't in it. You have made my heart bigger than I every thought possible. I am sorry I am so hard on you, I just know that once you get it....Charli and the world better watch out. YOUR BIGGEST FAN! Mom LOVE YOU FOREVER

First Holy Communion

Danica, you celebrated your Firt Holy Communion on April 30 and you were just beautiful in my dress. You had said you were so nervous.... and then at the end you told me you "Want to do it again and again!" We went to Maggianos to celebrate your special day and you asked me, " are you celebrating me today." yes honey your special Day!

Danica Danica Danica 2nd grade Danica

Are you 7? Still? I am not sure how to even describe you. You are so many different people in one little rock solid body. You are funny, talented, a tattle tale, emotional, needy and independent at the same time, so fast, kind, busy. You are such a gorgeous little girl with a huge imagination and a very fragile heart. Your favorite words are "rude" and "same." You have a hard time keeping a straight face when you are mad because then you start to laugh. You fake cry more than AJ, you yell, you lock yourself in your room. You hate to brush your teeth. You are messy. You try to wear the same clothes every day. You are a gossip, you tell stories about everyone. You talk over anyone who is gettin attention. You fake injuries to get attention. You get upset at everything... and YOU JUST WANT TO BE LOVED. WHICH YOU ARE MORE THAN ANDYTHING YOU WANT TO HAVE ATTENTION and I promise you get it honey, more than anyone else becuase you won't let anyone else have it! You cannot lay by yourself without touching someone. Your eyes are closing and you won't go to bed alone. You have very busy days even though it seems like you do not get much done. Let's see you wake up and have to be told to get up at least 3 times--- then told to get dressed, brush your hair, and your teeth. Which even though you do this it does not seem like you do this. Then I have to have you change your outift because you just keep wearing the same things. You have a beautiful closet of clothes and somehow you went from fashionista to what you think is a funky fahsionista. I am pretty sure it has to do with a boy. You care so much about what other people think. You are also an empath and you really want to be liked. Even though you tell me you don't like her or you don't like him; that is my way of knowing you do like them. We need to get back on learning about friendships. When you are around people you get so excited. You want to do soemthing all the time. " My girl likes to party all the time, party all the time!" You laugh so much and just can't control yourself, you are known to pee your pants from laughing. The other day out with friends you flipped your chair in the retaurant. Like I keep saying I only hope you continue to mature because 7 is a very goofy year. You love to teach to your class and you do such a great job of it, of acting so grown that you even have to put on my high heels to teach! Yes the highed bots you wear to teach your class. I guess that is a prerequiste for being an elementary? So you will get a book or go to your room and teach and have your Alexa on but when it comes to quietly being alone it just won't happen. Then when you go to bed in your sisters room , we can hear you just giggling and giggling...then we have to remind you to go to the bathroom so you won't pee in the bed. Then you laugh harder. You are the life of the party because you just want to be in it ALL THE TIME. Every day is a party, God forbid we don't have plans or a babysitter. You always want to GoGoGo. I can only hope that 8 will slow you down a little and make you sit back and enjoy the roses. You are also a big giver. From pictures to every teacher and coach to a bracelet for your Principal. You love to thank everyone for what they do."Thank you for your service." It is both adorable and a nuisance at the same time. If only I could have you give that effort to your appearance and your room. Your innocence is everything and makes you YOU. You are the purest of heert and I love you with all of mine. You make us laugh and scream every day without fault and then repeat it again the next day. You are now a level 3 gymnast and got your Kip! I know once you start to put your mind where you mouth is ( meaning listen and follow what is being taught rather than talking) you will be invincible. Your sister better watch out! With those legs of yours, those high calf muscles, every one better watch out! I can't wait for field day, bringing home the ribbons. Well, I won't put that much pressure on you, if you can just follow the directions and not worry about everyone else that will be a win in itself. With lack of focus at times you have still managed to do a really great job in school not all perfect work but work that shows growth and for being the youngest in your class I am super proud of you. Especially coming out of a school year where you were learning in your room! For you to be able to read and recognize words the way you do, the math problems you can figure out, all while being a complete gossip, predicting the weather, and planning all social events for the days ahead; like I keep saying you will have no problem being a CEO and running your own multi-million dollar company. You keep me on my toes and a million different expressions on my face! There is never a dull day with you or even a moment for that matter. Did I ever mention in this blog that you actually forgot to bring oyur backpack to school. Aj and I dropped you and Charli off at school and you went without your stuff, your bag, schoolwork, water, lunch.... and when I got home it was just sitting on the counter. Then we had to go back to the school to drop it off and there you were in the office waiting for it with your sweet little smile and the BIGGEST DIMPLES. During Covid, no one got to see those dimples and those crazy teeth ( one you just pulled out a few weeks ago) and now you light up the room with your smile and gorgeous skin. You love your sister and brother you you bother them all the time. Half the time you do stuff we are all laughing behind you back. I love when you perfrom. You twerk, you sing, you spin, you dance, you tell stories, you talk in the mirror to yourself. You change your clothes a hundred times and day and leave trails like you don't know how to pick the stuff up. You just don't put things away correctly. You definitely don't listen that math is done with a pen and not a pencil and when you use a pencil you leave eraser remininsce ererywhere. Oh Danica, just stay 7 and keep driving me nuts. Keep laying in my bed, takin gup my bed, drolling everywhere. Keep trying to wear shorts when it just snowed and then the sun comes out. Please tell me how you want to go to Florida but then you hate it. Just keep driving us nuts and we will just keep loving you more. I am so excited for the end of your 2nd grade year and for the new friends and teacher you will have next year and all the exciting things we can do this summer...because I know I better start planning now ( the end of April) for June, July, and August. We started talking about your birthday party and agreed on a theme and then a few minutes after you told me, " Nah I don't like that anyomore." Par for the course honey, par for the course. We all LOVE YOU SO MUCH DAN E CA--- Like AJ would say. You are our Franklin, lule, pannie, puka, toon... and I JUST LOVE YOU ! Even when you yell at me all the time, especially at Charli's soccer games. Just wait until you start playing sister, just wait. xoxoxoxoxoxoox

Oh how I laugh at thee... let me count the ways

Danica Danica Danica, There is no other Danica in the world. You light up every room. You are so funny, you laugh until you pee your pants....A LOT. You sing on the toliet every morning. You do nothing you are told to do. You talk all the time, you can't sit still, you can't sleep alone. You live for an event every moment of every day. You are an event every moment of every day and get this.... you just turned 7... now I need to tell you how we got here and recap all that has happened since the last time I posted. Let me start by saying that the pandemic roared on so family time was where we were, at home all day every day. School from your room, then back to school, then school from your room on zoom, and now school again in person with a mask and um excuse me 2nd grade! Yep second grade. So you rocked 1st grade with Ms. Dusold, you rock everything and you let people know you are there. There is nothing silent about you from your striking blue eyes, loud voice, incredibly strong legs, and beautiful olive skin and and overly contagious laugh. When you walk in people take notice. You continue to have the kindest heart and your innocence is without measure. 24 hours in a day you want to do things for 26 of them! You just told me one the first day of school that a fairy comes in to your classroom and checks your desk to make sure it is clean. Maybe I should get the fairy's number to do that with your room. For a girl who is really never in her room you can destroy it in moments. I am not sure what even happens and for that matter you want to wear the same thing every day so honestly I don't get it. Mornings are always difficult. You never want to wake up, you always tell me you are too tired. I think you are finally brushing your teeth daily but I hope you are actaully using toothpaste, wearing a mask might actually be in your favor. As far as your beautiful hair, I don't want to cut it...but I am not sure you are able to handle long hair. Today is picture day so we will see how that turned out. You have left with a beautiful style and returned home like you were in a convertible. Oh Danica there is always drama, stories, white lies, laughter, jokes, including this one, "would you like your corona with a lime or with a virus?" The pandemic was hard for you if you couldn't see friends every day. You love social events. We will be having your 7th birthday next weekend and coming up with a guest list was such a to do. As social as you are you don't really like every one. We are working on understanding what making friends means. You invited people because you like their hair, older girls from gymanstics. After inviting them I asked if you knew the girl. You told me no....then get this the Mom RSVP'd that she would love to celebrate you!!! LMAO You were a flower girl in Courtney's wedding and at the end of the night guests were saying good-bye to you by name and you knew thier names too!!! To top that off when we dropped them at a bar at the end of the night you got off the bus and walked in the bar too, Courtney quickly brought you back on the bus! The next morning after Courtney's wedding you told me that you wanted Matt (Chewy) to be your boyfriend, I told you that he couldn't be because he married Courtney. You replied, " I am just so jealous." This was similar to Charli's first Holy Communion when you told Grandma that you "wanted to eat the body and drink the blood too." You don't want to miss out on anything. You could be doing the activity and still feel like you are missing out. I do have to say that when you put your mind to something you do it and you are awesome. You are almost a team gymnast and you just turned 6. I know that you will be anything you want to be, especially a CEO! Junior Celtic soccer starts today so as soon as you master that I told you that you could play travel with Charli so we will see how that goes! Currently you and Charli train for gymnastics together one day a week so that is really awesome. You LOVE your big sister and there is a lot of "why does Charli get to do that," or "I want to go to that party," or "I want to wear that." Above all you love each other and get along very well. All of Charli's friends are your friends, mostly because they are neighbors, but you are making friends in your grade and are getting invited to your own parties so that is really fun! Also the caliber of work you are bringing home is excpetional, I am so proud of you. I am always proud of you...except when I am washing pee in your pants LOL! You love texting, taking pictures, making videos, face-timing. So many times I look through my camera roll and laugh. Same with my texts. This summer I got a message from your teacher thanking you for your message... I was like Danica how are you writing to your teacher !!!! I really can't believe you are in 2nd grade, it is crazy for me to write that! Second grade. Time has really been flying by that I am just adding to this incerpt now a few weeks after I started it. We are still living through a pandemic so life really will never be the same. We are still wearing masks to school and at stores. We are trying to keep everyone safe and doing our part. As far as you and wearing your mask you have no issue with it, I am not sure you are wearing it right but you wear it. You also want to wear the same thing to school everyday! You have a beautiful closet of clothes and you are not finding even a good outfit to keep rewearing. ( besides this romper that has been on repeat forever) I actually had to take you back home to change that day, it was not the best morning. Speaking of mornings, you would think doing the same thing every day would be easy. Well you do the same thing every day-- you struggle to wake up and yes you are sleeping in your sisters bed, since you refuse to sleep in your bed alone. Then you start talking about anything and everything. Then you sit on the toliet --- you just sit there. Then you stare in the mirror and complain about things. I am not sure when the hairbushing or teeth brushing takes place. Then you pick the same outfit that I have to make you change out of....etc etc. I mean how hard is it to do the same correct thing each morning and wear the clothes we picked out the night before. Oh Danica, every day is an adventure. One of the funnies things is that you call all of your coaches, "the teacher." So at a soccer game the other day you came off the field and said, "Mom, there was a little girl on the other team and I ran in to her chest, and I am pretty sure her glasses broke, and she fell down and was crying, and then teacher said - get up get tough." I almost peed my pants. You are the best story teller and your timing is spot on. The amount of stories we hear is a bit overwhelming about everyone all the time. The other day you told us that if some boys are mean to you again, they will get a minor. I don't even know half of the topics you are talking about. I do know that I am so proud of all you are doing in school. I love how you come home and still play school. In your last two soccer games, you had 4 goals in each game. You are so fast it is incredible. Once you start yo understand exactly why we do the things we do you will be even a bigger force, I am just not sure the world is ready for it yet. You love you sister and brother and I can see that sometimes it is hard to be the middle. Charli is a great big sister and AJ gets a lot of attention so sometimes you are not sure if you are a big girl or a baby and that is okay. You are the clingiest kid in the world so I am sure when you are 40 you will still be sitting on my lap, or trying to grab Grandma's boob. You are just too funny and I mean that. Your eyes scream curiosity and excitement. On Sunday you told me, " I wish it was Saturday so we could party." Even when we are doing something fun you want to know what is next. There are not enough hours in the day for you. Hopefully, we can start to contain this and learn to unwind and have our own personal time. This may be a hard task, that is why we keep you as busy as we can. Soccer, gymnastics, school, and religion...oh and brownies. Lots going on as a newly 7 year old. Currently you are selling fall product and I have earned you a tablet-- can't wait to see how that plays out with you and Charli. When you lost your tooth at religion you said that the teacher was too fat to help you, so Dad made you go pray in your room, he also said you weren't wrong. SMH! From dance parties, to building blocks, the clubhouse, to ziggling. There is always something going on with you and always something you want to do. I appreciate you keeping us on our toes. I appreciate your innocence more than you will ever know. From fake trips to Hawaii, to real trips to Florida, from your honest opinion which seems to always start with a negative connotation...you make my day every day. Saying hello to everyone, making a comments about everything, and always trying to lay on me next to me, and be by me. OH AND YOUR HONESTY- THANK YOU--I mean sometimes it takes a moment to get to the truth but you are pretty spot on when you do. I LOVE YOU PONNIE! Oh and thanks for yelling at me for yelling at Charli's soccer games, I will try me best not to embarass you anymore. Thank you for the sweet little faces you make when you are trying not to smile when I am so proud of you. Thank you for thinking when I disguise my voice as someone else that I actually am that other person and you ask if I can be Mom again-- innocence.... it is everything. I can't wait to hear what you want from Santa this year.... I can't wait to hear what you tell me about school today when I pick you up.... just in case I forget--- you want to be a witch for halloween- this should be very interesting... I LOVE YOU BEYOND WORDS!

And then there was Corona with a virus...

A lot has happened since the last time I blogged about you, so I will try to catch us all up to speed. Your kindergarten year seems like such a long time ago. Mrs. Houk did such a great job as your teacher and you did such a great job in school and making the CARE program work. Although not alwasys on task I know you are alwasys doing your best. See the thing is that whole world changed in March when the Coronavirus took us by storm, and with this terrible virus we ended up getting the greatest gift....TIME WITH FAMILY. Learning became e-learning at home where Mommy and Daddy were the teachers. I'd say you did a great job although not all of the days were rainbows and roses. A social butterfly like you craves interaction and friends and defintely has FOMO. Looking back our neighbors were a salvation for us because you had an outlet and may I add it was an awesome outlet. Although you are the youngest of the girls in the hood, you sometimes make the biggest impact and they are not just Charli's friends but your friends. Sometimes I think you may be a little closer with them than she is. No issue with that! You are in it to have a good time and you wake up each day craving an adventure. Even your bike can't keep up with the spped you live life at, so we need to slow down and smell the roses a little bit. That is what we are trying to work on with you. You don't have to always be doing something or be with someone and you don't have to rush through things, we need to slow it down and enjoy things a little more. Even have some down time and alone time just to breathe. This is way easier said than done when it comes to you kid. There is a humor and a spunk in you like no other and you get involved in everything. Half the time you only understand half of what is going on so when things come out of your mouth they are hilarious, we never know what you are going to say. On the flip sometimes you share to much and you are still learning boundaries. One of the jokes you tell comes from Unlce Mike, " would you like a lime with your Corona or a virus?" not that funny, it is when it comes from a 5 year old. You were 5 for so long. No one even could believe you were 5 because you excel at everything and because you can hold a conversation with anyone. I am serious, public speaking- check! Writing this blog today it is September 28, 2020. You are officially 6 years and 1 months old. Now writing that I want you to be 5 again. Why is time flying by so fast? You bring so much joy and chaos to the day that days are way more than 24 hours with you. At night when you come in my room with soaking wet hair and want to lay with me I finally remember you are just a little girl. So very sweet, innocent, kind, caring, and loving. Not a day goes by where you don't have a new bruise or cut and even through tears of falling off your bike you still ell your friends you will be rigth back when we carry you in to clean up the blood and bandage you up. You are fierce Danica, Fierce! Summer days were filled with bike rides, and play dates, sprinklers, pools, and catching frogs. Made-up dances, gossip, and sunrise to sunset fun. Red cheeks and tan legs. An image that would sum up your summer is helmet on, right red, face, a cut up knee, asking if you could go ask another friend to play since the friend you were just playing with has something they need to do. There is no time for water or a break on Danica speed but there is ALWAYS time for ice cream or a snack. ALWAYS! The first thoguth of the day for you is a popsicle. Now that you are 6, we need to start understanding the food groups and that popsicles is not one of them! We started school 7 weeks ago from home, remote learning in your room. Ms. Dusold is your teacher and a veteran teacher is she. Dad and I have listened to her firmly keep 25 first graders in line through a screeen. Inclduding Even the kid who hangs from the ceiling fan! She is a Saint I tell you. She has kept you in line. I am not sure time management has been your best part of learning but we made it through because today you are in person learning! Yep today you went to school, mask on, and READY to go. SO READY TO GO! you have been talking about it since they gave the green light. Kindergartners and 1st graders only. You have been up early, talking about it non-stop- making sure all your supplies were ready. You started labeling individual crayons without us even knowing. I mean talk about prepared. You had your book bag ready( thinking about it we need to make sure to give you a coloring book for free time since you have to socially distance 6 feet away and can't touch other people's things etc.) lunch bag ready, sanitizer, sweat-shirt, outfit picked out, talk about ready. You had no hesitation of going back. No issues with wearing your mask. You are as strong and brave as they come, but just as soft and sensitive at the same time. It is so quiet at home without you. I miss you so much and I am jsut waiting until 3:30 to grab your face and give you a huge kiss! I cannot wait to hear all about it. Now let's back it up a month. WE had a HUGE birtday celebration for you on August 28. It was Awesome. Balloons outside and balloons inside. A cake with a huge gymnast on it and a soccer ball buterrflies and more. We had all your friends and family and it was just awesome, just like you! So many gifts from so many people. You told everyone you want a bath tub for oyur American girl doll and bras and that is exactly what you got. When school started I asked what you want to be when you grow up and you told me "Big Boobs!" at the end of e-leaninng in the spring it started with wanting boobies and now big boobs! I guess that is my impact as an e-learning teacher LOL!!! So family got you bras and you have been telling me that your boobs are growing!!! I am pretty sure you have worn the bras underneath your gymnastics leos but I will have to ask if you wore one to your first day of first grade. See at this house solely becasue of you we get back-logged on laundry since you change 10 times a day and then put whatever yuo had on for a second in the laundry. You also like to pull up whatever pants or shorts you have on as high as you can and then model in the mirror. I am not sure what that is about but it is something else we are working on now that you are 6. I am hoping the boy crazy has started to cease but only time will tell on that. You are not such a fashionista on hair but definitely on clothes. If you could wear high heels not you would, but until then we settle on gym shoes that you manage to wear out or grow out of in a week! You have the best pair of legs, I don't know where these model legs came from, but they are strong and long. Then add you light brown hair to your piercing blue eyes and you have a masterpiece, pure genius masterpiece. I could not love you more. I shake my head and laugh thinkig about you. Charli celebrated her Communion this weekend and because of Coronavirus you and Aj could not come and stayed home with Grandma. You were crying that you "want to eat a body too and drink blood." It took Grandma a minute to figure that one out and that was the laughter of the communion party. Don't worry honey it will be your turn soon. It is really funny when you tell us that you want the party to be about you and celebrate you. I think you are all only children in your own right, so I guess we are spoiling you all equally. The interaction between you and your siblings is priceless. You are so good with AJ, still learning your boundaries but you love you little "buddy" or "AAAJ" as you call him. I love to sercretly watch you read to him, or sing to him, or play with him in general. You talk to him all the time and he jsut loves to run away from you and have you chase him. I love how much you adore Charli and want to dress like her, and whenever I ask soemthing you say, "Is Charli doing that, is Charli going, is Charli gonna do that to?" Without fail and I have to remind you that you are Danica and not Charli. You are back in gymanstics and you are so excited! I think you could live there, again activites, athletics, and people that is your perfect recipe. You started soccer and I think you should have your own team where you play against everyone because that is what you seem to do and on a side note you are a goal scoring machine! You told Grandma that people just try to stand in front of you when you kick it, but I guess they are supposed to wait behind the line and one sassy girl didn't listen :)That was your story to me. Sometimes when you get overwhlemed it is too cute but then you storm off, then you don't talk to us, or you come down hiding with something over your face, and we have to earn you back. You can really hold a grudge let me tell you. And without fail Daddy can still do no wrong in your eyes. You are Daddy's girl and it is Daddy's world and Mommy is just living in it. Well, except at bed time when you want to always snuggle with me. #winning I really think you are a remarkable little person. I am so intrigued by your magnetism, strength, compassion, creativity, and joy of life. There is never a dull moment with you and you always keep us laughing and on our toes. Even the neighbors know when you are a teenager watch out! You are only 6 and I have to watch out! Thank you for all the joy you bring to us. Thank you for making sure there is alwasy something else I can clean up in your room. Always a know I can et out of your hair, always soemthing that can be put away correctly, and always a new boo boo I can kiss to make better. I am so excited that you are so excited and I am beyond estatic that you love school..but if you come home with any tears today I am not sending you back. I missed you too much and I did it with pre-school 4, kindergarten, and I will do it again. Your happiness is my number one and I will change my life to make sure yours' is the best it can be! I know there are some other moments that have had us laughing I will have to remember. I know when I asked you what Grandma should get you for your party you did the best to describe you know that thing, its green, and kind of hard, and you lick it, and you went on and it...only for us to finally figure out you wanted artichokes which I think you called "chokie." I still have not corrected you on "capetillars" and you know what I might not. It is only once you get to be 6 and since you will never be 5 again I will cherish this year more than the last. I love you Danica poonie pon, FRANKLIN, I could not love you more and although sometimes you think that you are not number 1, you will always be number 1 in our book, I mean I think you are going to be numner #1 in a lot of people's books. In the mean time just stop taking all those silly sanp chat pictures, texting everyone, and making funny videos all the time... okay you can do that just no more of that Run Tom game! At least you ask my permission...some of the time. Love you! Oh and I cannot wait to hear about your day, you have continued to talk more than anyone we know and tell us every detail about everything. This is a reason why the neighbors love you too. You leave not detail unturned and tell the truth to a fault! Today's update: "School was okay. Our house is way better than Pleasant Hill because our sinks are way better. The sinks at Pleasant Hill Spray everywhere in my face and all over my jacket. Callan showed his boobs and kissed the wall and I told him he can get coronavirus and that is not appropriate but I didn't tell the teacher because he was going to cry. I couldn't open my lunch box for like 5 minutes and the teacher couldn't help but I figured it out. We can't touch anything at recess we just have to play on the grass or on the basketball court and run around in that square but not the playground that is off limits. I thought recess was going to be fun but it wasn't. I had a good day and the best part was eating lunch because it was more funner, actually the calendar, actually the end of the day you got to put your chairs up and your bucket and our buckets are over flowing. I had to go to the bathroom but the boys kept going like 5 times so then I went but only pee and then the water kept running. Then the music teacher wore all packers his mask, his shirt, and his black pants. He ruined the smartboard and Ms. Dusold said "uhh." She tried to write on it and it wouldn't work. New friends today, Sammy and Jillian. I learned a song about apples. My desk is in the way back corner and they call on me last. School is fun because we go to wear a name tag." I DON'T want to forget- we were talking about gummies at the Communion Party ( is that wrong?...) and that Grandma should take some- at that moment you went up in the cabinet and got everyone your vitmain gummies. It was priceless and not only that the next day you were upset that you shared all your gummies!!! Walking to school today, day #4, I asked if you were wearing a bra and you said you keep forgetting and that you will definitely wear one when you"take" a run with me or something :) and you laughed. You got a little teary saying goodbye so I told you that when you hug yourself you can feel me hugging you and then I was like "Danica you are squeezing too tight" when you started to hug yourself and I then I said "Danica I can't breathe." You started to laugh. I tried not to cry. Miss you like crazy~

Oh Danica

If I haven't said it before you were meant to be a middle child. I mean you are so opinionated, so busy, so cute, so strong, so emotional, such an actress, too much personality for words, and the greatest 5 year old in the whole world! You are imaginative, creative, compassionate, silly, all wrapped into a brown haired-most gorgeous blue eyed, brick house. I mean your legs are so adorable, so powerful, so full of bruises. You, Danica, are just outstanding.

We had your birthday party at the fire zone and you rocked the fire fighter suit and I got to see just how much personality you have. (I have to remember you want your next party at a gymnastics place you  tell me daily and it is currently December).You are so funny.You wear every emotion on your sleeve and you tell us about it too! "You don't care about me"- when we talk to someone else. " I have a bad cough" when you cough once. " You don't love me" when we hug your sister. You misconstrue what we say, you listen and gossip about what we say. There are no such things as secrets when it comes to Danica. Lately you are just full of gossip and BOY CRAZY!!! A boy named Max came over and when he was leaving you said, " I like that boy, I really like him with a star glazed look in your eyes." The struggle is real.

When I blog about you it takes me so long to think about what I am going to write so I am just going to jump around on topics like I did above.

You are doing a great job in school your teacher said you care about everyone else. She also sent me an email privately about your excitement when "Elfie" your class Elf came to visit. Your pure innocence warmed her heart and it warms mine too. When your Elf, Wishes, arrived this year you welcomed the elves and said, "Welcome back it is so great to see you." You talk to your Elf and it is honestly the sweetest thing. Your eyes are full of magic. When the elves had to leave for the night for you being naughty, when they returned you said your bed smells like the North Pole! You also have seen the reindeer and Santa in the sky, you are definitely the world champion of Eye Spy!

Mornings to get to school are quite a pain in the butt. You don't want to get up, you waste time, you don't like sweatpants , your hair is knotty. Somehow we make it through. You are somewhere between Pig Pen and fashionista but we are getting there. I am thankful for becca brush and for good tasting tooth paste.

You no longer complain that you don't like CARE so that is a relief. No more tears in the mornings. We have had a couple mishaps on the bus but nothing compared to your sister. You just stand up before you are supposed to. I know you know the difference between right and wrong and I know you can feel people's energy. Your compassion level is very high and you are very emotional.

You are also very funny and you love to laugh. I mean you love to laugh and you still pee your pants when you laugh! Then you make everyone else laugh. You don't show fear or remorse when we punish you so we have a long road ahead of us. You compare yourself to Charli all the time so another thing we need to work on. When Dad and I went away for a quick weekend for Auntie Jenny's wedding Charli got so worked up we were leaving and you just followed her lead. You had no idea why you were crying! It was hard to even console you with out trying to laugh. Shots were jsut as bad full of tears but good think Dr. Mike has invisible no hurting shots!

"No, No" you say sometimes. "I'm not, I didn't, I swear, I promise."

You have become addicted to takin gour phones, IPads, you want to text people and then voice text, face time, snap chat pictures! You found a game that you have become addicted to playing so we had to stop that! It was becoming equivalent to your gum addiction. You won't even get Dad when I call and need to talk to him, you say, "What Mom?!," when you answer! Every day is a new drama with you Danica!

You love your brother, he is like your newest favorite toy and you want to hold him as much as you can, and read to him, and play with him. The other day you were pretending you were in so much pain because AJ pushed you! AJ is 7 months old and was in his high chair, LOL, get a new story sister!

You have started Daisies and you were the fall fundraiser top seller (or Mom was)! You are starting to make new friends and go to parties even though you really have no idea who they people are! It is so cute when you say their names wrong like Cindy for Sydney or Mrs. Reid when it is supposed to be Mister. You are still have a little issue with the gender identification labels, and guess what honey so is the world right now!

Since you were little you like to say hello to everyone multiple times so that too we need to work on. You also bombard us the minute we see you with all kinds of information and full on reports, but somehow I really don't get the crucial information I need!

Right now you have continued with weekly gymnastics and you did a back walk over- WHAT! guess what Danica, that is before Charli did hers so if you want to compare put a check in your box.

You are coloring better than ever. You can count to 100 by 10's we are working on by 1's and 5's. You have close to 50 sight words you are mastering. We are starting a little bit of  addition and subtraction. I am impressed with your ability of knowing letter sounds and starting to sound things out. I love the projects you bring home and sometimes I can't believe you did them alone. You, like your sister, excel when it comes to art!

I am so looking forward to your Christmas show!  You won't believe it you and Charli had the same line,  "I celebrate Las Posadas, Children carry me at night." AND OF COURSE FLORIDA. Like that it went from August to December. You went from 4 to 5 and have started to change from a toddler to a kid. Your independence has really blossomed and you have started to sleep in your own bed, partially with help from your Elf.

You are truly a complete ball of energy that goes in every direction at every time and keeps us on our toes. I just hope you know that you will always be my most favorite baby girl and I cannot believe how it went this fast. My goal is to make sure I spend quality time with you alone so you know just how special you are and how amazing you are. A lot of your days seems to be about everyone else and I want it to be about Danica. We have to find ways to keep you busy, but I hope above all that you have fun because when you have fun, we all have fun!

I love when you come home on your bike like a speed demon all sweaty with scratches, a bright red face, a helmet on your head ,and ask for a Popsicle. That will forever be your poster for being 5. Please always be 5 and please always come home. I love you sweet baby girl.

I hope you get what you want for Christmas, American girl doll, jewelry LOL, a puppy to only live in your room! We will have to see what is under the tree.

I just want you to know that I sooo wish your Grandpa could have met you, but I know he is in you Danica and I know he loves you more than words! Plus you have Grandma to love you for both of them!

Watch out here she comes.....KINDERGARTENER

Right out of the gates, here she comes around the turn, Kindergarten beauty Danica Liv. Nothing is going to hold you back. Busy, feisty, smart, full of grit- you are ready to take over the school. You picked your outfit out, you knew what to do, you walked in like you owned the place and left me in your tracks. My little ponn, a kindergartener like that, the Principal better be on his toes.

Taking you to school you were so excited. Charli started yesterday, so you were all bent out of shape why she gets to go first, but not today. Today was your day. 4 years old, you want to be a teacher or waitress when you grow up, full of life ,and ready to get it done. You will ride on a school bus today, meet different teachers, have snack, hopefully poop and wipe yourself...but most of all learn something new, listen, and make new friends. I hope your compassion shines through and you make a great first impression.

When I left you, you were trying to act like you knew Razz kids and what to do...I'm not sure you have a clue what is going on but I know you will let me know everything and I cannot wait to hear every single detail! And I know you will tell me every single detail :) Missing you so much!


Kindergarten update: Day one was "not that good" you said. I didn't know you cried for Momma after I left. That was sweet honey. I hugged you tighter today and walked you and Charli out to the playground so I hope that made it easier. You did not want to get up today but you let me pick your outfit out, brush your teeth, and do your hair so that was easier than most mornings. Yesterday, you had a total wipe out on your bike so you are scratched up mess from shoulder to knee and it even looks like it hurts-poor girl. This all happened before you got to pick where we went to dinner...can you guess where? Moosey of course! You were already exhausted at school's end so everything else for you was probably a blur including your wipeout on your bike.

So you told me the best part was "riding the bus" but then that wasn't so good either... so I think I will wait and ask you again today. You told me you did not get in trouble which is great to hear. You made new friends, and you are smiling when you talk about a boy in your class- Oh boy! Then you told me that your gym teacher was not good and Charli chimed in that her teacher is different than yours because there are two now because one teacher said I cannot teach all these kids. I mean the things you pick up on! You did tell me that you like all of the kids at your table and when we went through the pictures you knew a lot of their names and the other ones you said, "I have no idea." You are too much Danica!

Oh and don't let me forget, you let me know that the bathroom is in your classroom and you have to knock and wait- to check if anyone is in there!  Awesome lesson.

I am going to check day 1 as a success- especially because your teacher posted so many pictures and you look really happy! Mommy loves you- be a listener, be a learner, and be awesome! I will try again today to get more information especially because it is the weekend and you love the weekend!


I should mention that before you fell asleep last night, you asked "When I get bigger can I have coke and beer," then you asked about "vodka." Daddy and I just looked at each other not knowing if we really heard that right. You wanted to know why we get to have it, and you questioned all my rationale of why you can't, so at the end we all agreed that you can stick will Rootbeer, that was your suggestion. Oh Danica, my karma is hitting my right in the face. I LOVE YOU!

* month update: You did pee in your pants the first week of school at CARE. You tell me daily that you want to use your skip so as I was feeling helpless I went to pick you up early and you were at the wrong place! What a nightmare...but I can say as I am updating this a month later things have gotten better---- there are not more tears, you like going to CARE even when Charli isn't there, you just hate waking up in the morning.

*You asked me what a crush means and I told you it is when you like someone a little but more than others, maybe your heart beats faster when they are around or your hands get sweaty... to which you smiled and said "like when I'm around Daniel." OMG!!!!!--BTW he is a second grader.... and one other thing I should note is that you were all upset Charli got to wear an outfit you wanted to wear and you cried, "now all the boys will think she is prettier." I am shaking my head.

Oh and Baby Jake, you change him, hold him, feed him, even nurse him. You rock him in the rocking chair and you teach him too. You are the best teacher, you can entertain yourself for hours teaching---we just listen and laugh and when you catch us we are in big trouble!

Oh Danica your so fine....

Oh my sweet baby girl Danica. Now big sister Danica. There is not a moment where you don't have something to say, something to do, a different outfit on, some kind of snack, and the desire for gum, Slurpee's, icies, or ice cream. You are unbelievable. You are so full of life that I can't believe how much exuberance is packed in your solid as a rock little body. You are a truck. Beautiful light brown long hair, ocean blue eyes, dimples that can make anyone smile, and the cutest little voice full of the funniest stores. You are completely hilarious and I mean hilarious. You just cannot sit still it is impossible. You are like a news commentator and give us a play by play of life, everyday, you really do. I will never forget when you told Grandma that Jesus was killed for money and now people can't get married--- you were bawling-- not to mention the tears streaming down my face when Grandma asked me what kind of school I send you to- LOL!  The other day you put makeup all over your face and came down to strut your stuff and said, " I look insane." Like that's a good thing LOL!

You have a photogenic memory and remember everyone's names, what they were wearing, where you were when you met them, what they said. I mean that is impressive to say the least.

You are the smartest 4 year old I know, fierce on your bike, a force in gymnastics, and still the funniest ice skater around. I am so impressed with just much of a sponge you are and your ability to feel other people's feelings. You are very curious and want to know the truth. You are full of questions and want to be the boss, but more than that you want to be just like your sister. You are so sweet, you just adore Charli. You want to dress like her, so you raid her closet, you want your hair like hers, so you wait to see what see does, you want to be at all her parties and play dates, and although you cry when you can't, I know she'd rather be with you. You evem knew all her moves to "Hey Mickey" just as well as her!

This was quite a spring 2019 for you. Finishing preschool 4, performing in your gymnastics recital, and becoming a BIG sister. That is right. Your prayers for a baby brother came true in May and you are the best big sister. Although being on top of your brother would still not be close enough for you! You want to hold him, and kiss him, and grab his feet, and be by him, and out your face on his face. It is safe to say you LOVE him. If you could sleep in the crib with him you would. I am so blessed to have my children love each other so much and want to be together all the time. Even when you are fighting, you still want to be with each other. I love it.

You don't give mommy or daddy a minute to think and although you can make my head spin I love you more for it. It makes you stand out from anymore else. You are fearless and kind, and trusting to a fault. You are still my baby girl afraid of sirens and thunder but not afraid of the biggest dog or the high bar in gymnastics. You don't like to follow directions, but in school you were clipped up and picked out of the treasure chest many times so you are doing it right sister.

You manipulate for gum and candy and seem to come up with your own spin on things, but I know you know the truth is important!

And now pronouncing Danica! The sample!

When AJ was born and you came to the hospital you started to cry and were only worried that I wasn't coming home. It is the only reason you don't want another sibling, " because then Mommy has to stay in the hospital and I don't want you to."


This summer you, Charli, and I took Reilly  on a walk, to the court next door and you amde the comment. "how many times are you going to stop Reilly, geez?! I had to bite my lip.

Uncle Eric asked you who the President is and you answered, "Donald Trump but his is stupy!"


Nothing gets by you and nothing stays in your mouth either. No filter, no secrets, nada. You are nosy and you need to know what is going on repedidly at all times. Trust me when there is a secret to keep you tell me how many people you told, "but I only told, Daddy, Charli, and Grandma."

I can't keep up with you and your outfit changes and how you think you are in charge, still pretern cry to get your way, and complete make our lives a better place all day every day. I love you pee or are you poop LOL, you will always be my baby girl. I can't wait for you to start your elementary journey.

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!

Big Girl Danica

What a fall it has been. Danica started pre-school and after a month of tears we are all smiles!!! YAY! You are a little machine and you never stop whether it be talking, singing, laughing, moving, eating, drinking, changing your clothes; You name it you do it and without a break. You are like having 100 little puppies running around all in one little body. The cutest little body may I add with the littlest legs and a little bump in the trunk. What a strong little girl you are. You hair is so long and unmanageable and you love to brush every one else's hair but your own. Your big blue eyes have their own distinct color and your double dimples make me know you will always be up to something!

Your imagination is terrific. It is so great to catch you in the middle of looking at yourself in the mirror, being a  mommy to your dolls, or acting out some kind of script in your head. Frozen has surpassed Hairspray as your go to movie at this point. I don't know if anyone is cuter than you acting out the movie and signing the songs. You have such a soft, sweet voice when you sing and you are definitely on key so you are really captivating to watch, and I am so impressed with your ability to memorize and remember all that you do. You are a very smart little girl as well as super funny. You can really crack yourself up, you are what fun means, from the minute you wake up to the time you finally wind down. You giggle when you wake up talking  about toots, or just being silly. All day you say things that make you laugh and make everyone else laugh. You are so sweet with your I love you's, especially to Charli, she is such a role model to you. After Charli says something you will apply it to yourself and say it about you, but then it comes out like the telephone game and is so silly. When it comes to clothes like I mentioned you change a hundred times a day, and if Charli wears  something you have to wear it too!

When  I picture you it is always with your green frog. You love your green frog, it is hard for me to get the frog away from you long enough to wash him. Froggy goes to school with you, to Kathy's with you, he goes on car rides, on trips, and of course sleeps with you. He is your sidekick.

Preschool has given you the chance to meet new friends. You were star of the week in October and I came in to read a Halloween book to your class. That was really exciting. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I get to spend sometime with you when I pick you up and take you to Kathy's. On Fridays when I pick you up we go on a quick lunch date and lately your favorite thing in the whole work to eat is.....wait for it....... CRAZY BREAD from  Little Cesears! Even when it is scorching hot you put it in your little mouth and savor every bite. Honestly if I let you, you will eat the entire bag. What a fun snack. The first time we went to Little Cesears, you gave the guy $500 in monopoly money out of your wallet to pay for it. The he snuck it back to me and gave you a free cookie. How cool! It is such an  awesome break in the day to see your smiling little face, with your back back on, your froggy in hand, and your purple penguin hat and gloves. Every day you walk out and say, " are we going to Kathy's?" Then you ask for crazy bread, then you say, "You gotta see what is in my bagback."  Then you pull out the pictures you made and tell me you made them for Charli. You have made such wonderful projects and I love how proud you are of each and every one I on  the other hand are so very proud of you. Each day pick up is like groundhog day and I love every moment of it.

Phones calls are like groundhog day with you too. You still no matter who it is, you ask about someone else when you call them. We can recite when you will say it! You are such a little munchkin, I mean I don't even think you know how cute you are. 3 definitely looks good on  you and I keep asking if you can stay 3, and be my baby baby, and you simply say no and deceitfully smile. Oh do we have our hands full. All the little moments are the best moments, you say funny things, do funny things, wear funny things. You are always up for anything. And if you can believe it, although we have hardly had any, you LOVE snow! Your Elf came on the first magical snow and you named him, "wishes." He brought you socks and an Elf on the Shelf tumbler cup. That was so awesome, you and Charli had so much magic in your eyes. Then we were having a difficult time listening so Elf went back to the North Pole, and that was so sad. You had to keep saying goodbye to your ELF. Our listening and kindness skills resurfaced and so do ELF. WOW I am so glad they came back. As far as Christmas lists I think the only thing you have really asked for is Hatchimals but wow are you getting the gauntlet of gifts including a trip to Disney World. I am so excited. This will be your very first time as Disney and it will be fascinating to watch you. The cameras are ready to capture it all. I am so looking forward to our two weeks in Florida. NO diapers, full vocabulary, no fears of sand or water. Let the fun begin! Before we leave we have your Christmas concert tonight and you will be in your Chistmas dress, I cannot wait to see you preform. With Daddy taking some time away from wrestling we have been able to do so much more during the Christmas season. We saw Santa at Miss Jen's house, we went on the Polar Express, we went to the family Christmas party , and Auntie Terry loaded you all with gifts! It has been quite a fall 2017. Let me now forget your trip to the pumpkin farm and how you loved the pumpkin eating dragon you told me all about it! You also love going to the gym and school and all the new Jesus songs you learn. When you had the thanksgiving feast at school I am sure you were the best one, you knew all the words, all the moves, and you were definitely the cutest. You truly are thriving at school and I am so grateful. It was great having you latch on and love Mommy and Daddy so much but it is way better not having to leave you in tears. So glad we made through that. Now it is only Mommy's turn to cry every year you get older! Please time SLOW DOWN!

My wish for you is to continue to grow, stay healthy, be happy, and always feel safe, loved, and have fun. I want you to continue to learn, and explore, and sing as loud as you can for all to hear. I love you baby baby. Merry Christmas, I cannot wait for our amazing family trip ahead.

OH DANICA I ALMOST FORGOT-- we had you pick a square for a football pool and you picked 100--- guess what?! You won Mommy and Daddy $1000!!!!! We for sure celebrated you a little more that day. Champion Danica xoxoxo

Danica started Preschool 3!

Danica you are officially a PREschool 3 student! The transition has not been necessarily smooth but we are in it for a month now. You started as a 3 day a week full day student and that turned in to a 3 day a week half day student after the first day. That means that Mommy gets to pick you up and take you to Kathy's and we get to go on dates on Fridays. We went on our first date to McDonald's and we had such a great time. I never knew that apples and ketchup are a combination, but boy do you love it.YUCK! I am excited for all the other dates we will have this year!

Each day we drop you off or pick you up you don't want us to leave you but we reassure you we are always in our heart and we will always be there for you. Daddy pretends that he stays outside the whole day because you told him too! Each day gets a little better but for the most part I think a lot of it is that you may be tired. At least I hope that it is and its just a phase because it is so hard to see your sweet little face sad. You told me last week that you are not going to school, you are going to stay home by yourself. I told you that you can't do that because you are only 3, but that didn't phase you the least bit. You told me then you will put me on the naughty list, I am pretty sure you have put Daddy, Me, Charli, and Grandma on the naughty list and the funny thing is you actually write something on a list! You let me know that you will cry at school but just a little,  it is only 3 and a half hours, kids your age, PE class, church, music, crafts, sounds so fun....no more tears I tell you no more tears. You laugh and tell me you will cry but like I said we are making it through.

The fall has really flown by with the beautiful weather ( a week stretch of 90' and 80' on 10/9) and the activities we have pack in the entire week, every week. Part of your schedule is dance on Mondays with Miss Jaime. You are doing a terrific job and again you don't want us to leave you so we peek through the curtain  and watch you do your shuffle steps! You have also taken a science class and really enjoy watching Charli play soccer.  Let's be honest you do so many things in a day I don't know how you don't fall asleep mid-action; wait actually you do!

You are full of scrapes and bruises, you are more tough than I could have ever imagined. Kathy took you to the park and you fell out of the stroller on your face, ROAD RASH so bad, and then she proceeded to almost run you over because she had no idea you had fallen. You questioned her, "Kathy are you trying to kill me," oh Danica she held you so tight she would never try to hurt you. A few little whimpers, a phone call to Mommy, and Daddy came to get you and we were all better. Your face has healed remarkably and thanks to almost a week of no school you wouldn't even know it happened. You told me last night you need to get the "raisins off" as you were pulling at what is left of a scab. You didn't want Mrs. Fisher to see your boo boo and you pulled it off and said you were all better! Yes, you are something else. Now let me remind myself that whenever I set up family pictures some kind of injury is going to happen with almost certainty and of course this happened Thursday and we had pictures on Sunday. I guess that's life. Either way, scrapes or no scrapes, you and Charli looked just beautiful. I cannot wait to see the pictures. The ones we took on Daddy's phone were beyond stunning. You and Charli are just BEAUTIFUL, words don't do you any justice!

The charisma you exude is almost too hard to describe as well. You really are your own little show. The excitement and wonder you have in your eyes makes life so awesome. The things you say and do leave us laughing and shaking our heads. You just talk and talk and talk all the time. The other day you used " Freaking out" in a sentence. Ridiculous is "diculous." Lighting continues to be flashlights. I even think you told me that someone "must be very crabby!"

You love to face time and talk on the phone, and the funniest thing and most consistent of all your conversations is you ask, "you coming to my house," and no matter what without question whoever you call you ask where someone else is." Example you call Grandma, your first question is always "where is ERIC?" It is still so funny. We know it is going to happen but it is still so funny.

The rebellious side of you comes from  your addiction candy and gum. You and Charli are manipulators with candy and gum. You are not to have candy and gum. Oh and suckers, it is an addiction for you both. I know they are yummy but it is almost like the real addiction is being defiant. I had to call Officer Mike to speak with you and Charli and though you were both hysterical and  in tears the lesson is yet to be learned. If that is the least of my worries right now than so be it. The biggest of your worries is changing your clothes at least 10 times a day and I am serious. I do more pink laundry than the pink panther's Mom and that is a fact. You love to wear Olaf shirts and Elsa Anna as you call it, with polka dot pants. I mean you look so cute and trying to stop you is like trying to stop a hurricane so it is what it is.

You are a little girl beyond your years. You are so bright, well spoken with your little lisp, compassionate, and caring. You are so concerned when something is wrong and so able to handle yourself if something happens. You tell us if a stranger comes and tries to get you ,  you will "punch them in the face, give them blood, and send them to the sky." You show us your tough punch your kick and your mean face, I am warning people, watch out for Danica! You are able to express emotions and this is so apparent when you read us stories and fluctuate your voice and tell us what the characters are feeling. You have some of the best stories and they are so captivating- theater might be your thing. We have gone to numerous plays and I have asked if you want to go on the stage and you say yes, we will see how that pans out. As for now, we are audience members enjoying both shows, one being you.

It is awesome how well you communicate because you give us every detail and are very articulate. Hence why you are such a good story teller and why you can never keep a secret which is the best thing. You even know your birthday how many 3 year old can say that!

Being in our new home for a year now, the past few months have proved to me that we moved to the best place for all the right reasons. You have so many friends on our street and you love all of them especially Mason.  There was a day you yelled out the window for Mason and he told his Mom he has to check on Danica and ran over.  Mason is also 3 it is beyond adorable. The girls we live by have such unique names and you make them your own. You love Vangeline & Mearbel. When you see anyone outside you think it is an open invitation for you to go outside and run to their house and I mean run. You are the most active kid on the block. You jump on your bike with your light up bug helmet and you are off, you have no fear and you are soooooo fast. Fast in spotting anyone outside, fast in getting out of the house, fast in getting to someone else's house, fast on your bike, fast on the ziggle, fast in all ways to be 3 and be FAST! You even wear fast nike's!  Oh and fast to get in the fridge, get snacks, and get Popsicles!!!!!!!

I think it is awesome how well you get along with Charli. I love how you look up to her but how you also stand on your own. You were so excited this week that both you and Charli were able to go to Kathy's for the day since we had no school, but Mom and Dad had to work. You asked about it for weeks! What a great day you had. We are so blessed how well you get along, how much you giggle with one another, and how much you love each other. Pink teddy in her hand, and Green frogy in yours we are the luckiest parents alive.

 I have to say you engage in competition, at times healthy, and at times not so much. This usually comes in expressing yourself when Charli is talking you try to talk  over her or when it comes to singing you like to sing alone and Frosty of course is your go to! Oh and of course "Good Morning Baltimore," since you cannot get enough of the musical Hairspray.  Can you even keep up with all of this, when I said you are busy I meant it, you even drive Auntie Ter and Uncle Neil's boat, how many kids can say that. With you and Charli my life is anything but boring and my days are always full but my heart is the fullest of all.

Oh and so I don't forget I did my own photo shoot of you in our backyard for turning 3. We hugged trees, we stood on the fence, we ate tomatoes. Just me and my baby girl, my baby baby Danica. Love you pannie- poohnie.

Halloween is around the corner, I can't wait for what is in store! xoxoxoxo

7 months later

Holy smokes where did the time go?????????? My little baby is already a big girl. Potty trained, no more woobie, starting school. All in the blink  of an eye.

Danica you have truly taught me things really are mind over matter. I have learned that if we put something in our mind we can do it or not do it. When you decided you would start going potty on the toliet that is exactly what you did at 2 1/2 years old and you are accident proof since. Potty is in the toliet! So is a roll of toilet paper some times, but potty is in and that's what counts!

When it came to mind over matter  in regards to your woobie well that was a little different because you LOVED all your woobies, you were a woobie addict, and an equal opportunity woobie addict as well. With that said, here is the final chapter and story about the woobie....We went boating on Uncle Neil and Auntie Terry's new pontoon boat on the Chain of Lakes, a beautiful day early June. Reindeer woobie was in the beach bag when we boarded and a few hours later reindeer woobie was gone....forever. You were standing with Charli at the end of the boat, you had dropped your woobie overboard, and honey that was the last time you saw woobie. You and Charli, her arm around you, consoling you, stood there for what seemed like eternity saying good bye to woobie, as it disappeared in to the lake. She explained to you that once the woobie went in the water it wasn't coming back and you seemed to understand. Uncle Eric sang an original score, "bye bye woobie" and we all mourned the loss of your beloved Reindeer woobie. Charli said to you we could get another to which you responded " that was my only one." We didn't talk much more about woobie after that, it was like the end scene of a romance novel made into a movie.

On the flip of that emotional night we did have some pacifiers at home and you found them.....much to our dismay..... and used them for a few days but you knew you were a big girl and babies use pacifiers, you were not a baby. That is when Daddy decided Tuesday, Pat our handyman, who knows the pacifier fairy, would come over and take them to her.  Handyman Pat came over to do some work  that Tuesday as planned and when he walked in you handed him all the pacifiers and he took them all to the pacifier fairy ( the mailbox). Pat didn't know he had this magical role when he was greeted by you and all your pacifiers at the door, but with the wink of an eye he did~( how magical)  since then there has been an occasional thought or memory of woobie but you have moved on...well to green frog  or a yellow bunny or any other stuffed animal at nighty.... Or sometimes old pictures of you and Woobie!

What huge milestones have gone on these past months. All of this while constantly learning and overachieving. Your musical vibe is awesome girl, you have soul. You love having dance parties with Charli and Daddy, watching music videos, seeing live bands and you love to sing. The musical, hairspray, is at the top of your list and I don't think you even blink while watching and singing. You are non- stop with whatever you do and you are always making some kind of noise. We went to Lake Geneva this summer and Danica on the hour and 15 minute ride home you talked and sang who knows what the entire time. I mean the entire time! I don't know if Dad and I were laughing or crying or a little bit of both. I love Frosty the Snowman, and in my life I think I have now heard a version of that song a million times because of you. You love Frosty, Rudolph, and Jingle Bells soooooo much that they were on your 3rd birthday cake for your party! Yep and clouds because you love clouds oh and you wanted fireworks too because you now love fireworks. How things change!!!! Fireworks are another mind over matter for you. You were so afraid of fireworks and the fhunder ( thunder) and now you think they should be an every day event with the flashlights ( lightning). ( oh and the siren for stormy that brings you terror) Overcoming your fear of fireworks made for an awesome 4th of July this year; I wish you could teach Reilly boots the same. (Wink wink)

While you finished up the past school year at Kathy's you showed all of us how ready you were to start school. Everywhere we went people could not believe you were 2 because of how well you could speak and all the things you know and your completely amazing psychomotor skills. Being able to tell people your birth date and also manipulating your age to be able to do things, like saying you are 5 to do things with Charli, definitely put you in a class above the rest.

Your sense of humor is still just beyond. You can laugh at anything and make anyone laugh. One non-laughing matter is you and the term police. Having you keep your belt on in the car has become a challenge so we had to bring in reinforcements and that is where the police come in.  However, this has actually taken on a meaning we did not expect and now you are afraid of the police and you don't like them. OH BOY and to make matters worse when you do something wrong Charli makes siren sounds. SERIOUSLY! With that said we have had you meet fireman and policeman and tried to make friends. We let you know they are your friends and here to help you .... and your response is always " so I don't go to sky." The sky is a hard concept for you or anyone that is 2 years old especially when we have talked about so many people and animals that live in the sky. I am hoping that maybe in Preschool we can get more of a concrete view but for now this is where we are. I  am hoping and praying we have a lot less conversations about the sky and a lot less conversations about police....Ever.... and police don't make you go to sky.

This summer was one of the greatest summers I have ever had mainly because of you and Charli. We had so many awesome things to do,  places to go, and people to see. You took soccer classes, crafting classes, science classes, finished up with TOT rock, took Karate and tumbling, gymnastics, and swim lessons. We rode on Thomas the train and Percy in Union, IL. We went horseback riding, had your face painted, got a caricature, and a spider henna tatoo too!  We did everything every fest could offer! We enjoyed time at all the pools in Palatine and Grandma's pool especially. Wow did we do a lot!

You are your own girl and beat to your own drum and of course any drum you may hear. You are a copy cat of Charli and if she flips, you flip, literally. You are fearless when it comes to the things I want you to fear and you are so physically strong it doesn't seem to matter. The amount of black eyes and bruises you have accumulated this summer I am amazed no one has called  DCFS on us. You are a mack truck and the cutest one I  have  ever seen. You are resilient!

Danica you have the craziest head of hair and refuse to keep in your hair clips or ponytails in your hair and out of your beautiful blue eyes, but when it comes to being fashionable you must match, go figure. That or want to wear everything Charli already has on.....and princess everything including the healed shoes. You are still thinking that if you scream and fake cry you will get your way and for now it is still working. Bad Mom and Dad... hold up let me switch back to apparel... Oh and your swimsuits, we went to the pool so many times and each time your suit would fit right in between your cutest little bunnies. The cutest in the town! You rain outside naked in the summer and told Daddy you were tanning your bunnies!!!! I could talk about your bunnies all day but I will talk about pool days. You jumped in the deep, you swam, you rolled, and you even went down the water slide a couple hundred times and tried to go down the extra huge big kids slide....we found you in the line!!! Danica you are a troublemaker and the cutest one I know. I have to say that with how independent you are sometimes I forget just how fragile you are but there is something that will always  make me remember. You have the most adorable body type and have always had the cutest little legs. I was standing behind you and I leaned over you and saw your legs from a different angle and they just make you smile and then I squeezed them and realized you will always be my little baby!!! It was a moment I will never forget.

You are a bright happy star in everyone's day. We are so blessed to be around you and your captivating light. Even when  something is wrong you still make us laugh, and in the middle of fake crying because you were disciplined you still manage to tell the truth and know what you did was wrong. You are a terrific little tattle tell and when you yell at Charli or she is not listening  you call her Charli Reece!!! You are just so funny all the time.

Speaking of so cute and funny I love this story. Something was going on with your pinky finger, I am not sure how you hurt it or if it was a hang nail, all I know is something was wrong and you kept telling us it was your wiggly wiggly. It was really bothering you and I would move it, I cut your nail but you just kept saying it was wiggly and held it limp. I knew nothing was seriously wrong so we made a wiggly wiggly dance and we would wiggle our whole body in a wave motion and what do you know in a few days you said your wiggly was feeling better. Yeah baby Danica! Our baby baby!

Tangent of babies: you love them, think they are sooooo cute. You want to hold them especially baby Cole you love him. You would be a great big sister that is for sure.

Other funny things that come out of your mouth. Daddy and I were going out, you and Charli were having a sitter, and you asked us where we were going and I told you Daddy was taking me on a date. Your reply, "that's so cute." These replies are hilarious, when Charli does some kind of a project you tell her, "that's awesome Charli." I mean you are such an individual.

Your defiance comes from sneaking a sip of my squirt, going in the refrigerator to get whatever you want, brushing your teeth at all times of the day, putting dog food in Reilly's water dish, riding your bike in flip flops without a helmet... the list goes on and on and with every act of discipline your response, "cuz then I go to the sky?" To which I have to say  NO, because I said so that's why!

You ride your bike so fast, you cruise with Charli in the pink mustang, there is nothing you do that doesn't have intent and that is awesome. Even when you face time with Grandma you say, I'm ma hang you up now" and you push the button! There is no down time with you that is for sure! You are able to send mass texts messages and if we are on the phone with someone you have to be on the phone with someone too!

School is right around the corner for you and we already had meet the teacher. It was so great because you grabbed a baby doll when  we walked in, explored the room, colored a picture, gave your new teacher's hugs and then didn't want to leave. Danica, you are so excited for school and I am so excited for you to go to school because the world you are about to explore in regards to learning is going to be amazing since you are such a sponge!!! Pre-school 3 better watch out  for my my Baby Baby!

I can't even think back about you these past 7  months without smiling, laughing, and shaking my head at the same time. Even with how busy you are you have the gentlest heart. You love people and you love animals. Hold up.......you did not care for ants for a little while but I think ants are our friends now. You think you can just walk up to any duck, squirrel, dog, cat, skunk, and pet them... we are still working on that. I  think you would go to Arlington every day to see the horses! It is your great heart that gives me reassurance we are doing something right. We might not be the best at structure, boundaries,  and sleeping arrangements, yes Daddy and I still fall asleep with you in your bed, but hey you are only 2 once right! Kindness check!

We had your 3rd birthday party at the beginning of August like last year to try to have mother nature cooperate and this year last minute she did! It was a celebration with over 100 people! Pool  party, crafts, Lou's pizza and salad and a party that continued at our new house until 1am! Your parties are always a hit, I think it was the Frosty and Rudolph cake!!!! Actually it's YOU!

You are IT girl. You have the X factor and I am mezmorised by you more and more everyday. I can't even get over how big my heart is knowing you are mine. We are so proud of you and we love you so much honey and are so excited for what the future holds! I cannot wait for our next adventure but I know you will be making us laugh the entire time.

Let me not forget one big detail-------- how cute you are singing Pete the cat and the face you have when you do! I've got my red shoes, I've got my red shoes.....