Maggie is 8!

I'm a month late on this post, but hey, I'm getting it done now, and that's what counts, right? Right.

He's not a red-headed Scotsman and I guess people don't arrange marriages anymore.... but.... 

Maggie is eight! It's hard to believe that my tiniest baby is now eight. She is still very small for her age, but don't let her stature fool you. Maggie has a larger than life personality.

This year Maggie is in second grade. She has a late August birthday and was a premature birth so we ended up holding her back a year in school by doing pre-first since she struggled to learn to read. I'm happy to report that the extra year was exactly what was needed and she is now a fantastic reader.

Reading to sisters

Maggie is playing soccer for the third year. This is her first year on U10 girls for Solanco. She is the smallest girl on her team (although there are a couple girls not much bigger than she is). Maggie is also the least aggressive player on the team. It's interesting to watch my children grow up and see how they are similar to me and how completely different from me they are (as in I had uncontrollable rage on the soccer field).

So glad these two are on the same team!

In many ways, Maggie's personality is very much like mine was at her age. She loves almost everything and has so much joy and zest for life. But she can also have rather wild emotional swings where she feels like everybody hates her and it's the worst day ever. Or maybe that's just all girls? haha!

Maggie is going through some tough "phases" right now. She has become a very picky eater, she doesn't like to be called Magdalena (even though it's her full name and very beautiful), she cries a lot, the smallest things set her off, argues with her oldest sister, despises cleaning up ("But I didn't get it ouuuuuuuut!!!") and she can be tough to parent.

However, while I hope these negative things will turn around in the near future, there is so much joy in who Maggie is right now. Maggie really loves the simple things in life. She often tells me that she doesn't need presents, being together with family is the best gift. (But she does like receiving a well-thought out gift). Maggie loves toads; if being a toad catcher was a job, she would be rich. When Maggie grows up she hopes to discover a new kind of bug that hasn't been found before. She still hopes to marry a red-headed Scotsman and have a dozen red-haired, freckle-faced kids. As you can likely guess by her desired number of children, Maggie loves babies. She is very good with both of her younger sisters, a natural little mama.

Creature lover!

It's tough being the middle child (that was me!). She wants very much to be doing what big sisters are doing and not be thought of as a baby, but she still loves to play. While Abbey and Anne tend to want to read quietly or play a game in their free time, Maggie still is creatively imagining new worlds, making her animals talk, and going on adventures. Thankfully she has two younger sisters who are now benefitting from her guidance into all things creative. Ruth and Carrie really look up to Maggie. The three of them are creating a special bond this school year. Some of Maggie's work is too simple for her, so to make it a little different she is reading those assignments out loud to the younger girls. Not only are the little girls getting added Bible lessons taught by a dear sister, but Maggie is practicing her reading aloud skills. I've noticed since they started doing this four weeks ago that these three have been playing together more regularly. Carrie has asked Maggie to read to her before nap instead of mommy.

It's always so interesting to see family resemblances between my sisters' kids, my cousins' kids, and my own. Maggie shares similar features with several cousins and second cousins on my side, yet doesn't share any of those features with her siblings.

Second Cousins with matching eyes

On her actual birthday the girls and I all drove up to Hershey Children's Hospital to donate the Build-a-Bears we had made. Since we were in the area, we went over to Hershey Chocolate World and did the free tour. All the kids loved it. We got a light lunch (Burger King fries count as a light lunch, right?) then grabbed slushies from Turkey Hill. It was her best day ever. Oh, and we didn't do school that day, so also a big win in her book! For her date with her dad they went to That Fish Place where she got a beta fish she named Lava, then Isaac's for lunch. She spent a glorious weekend at her Mema's house where they did untold number of enjoyable things. Trent's parents have started taking the birthday girl to do something special when they turn eight. They took Maggie on an Amish buggy ride, and got Amish root beer. As you can clearly see: Eight is Great!

Maggie is a sweet, sweet girl! We are so thankful to have her as a special part of our family. Happy 8th birthday! We love you and can't wait to see what this year holds for you!