Happy Birthday Aida

I know this is late, but this is one of those "special birthdays" for Aida. It is hard for me to believe that I have a daughter that is in the "double-digits", a daughter that seems to be moments away from being taller than me-a daughter that is immensely talented in so many ways. I could go on and on about all the ways that she amazes me but I have written many of those to her in my yearly letter to her. Mostly I am proud of the person I see her well on her way to becoming. A girl that is not only smart, beautiful, and talented-but a girl that has an incredible amount of compassion for others, empathy and patience. I have seen her voice her opinion and stand up for what she believes in-a higher "good" and decency that I am not accustomed to in my own personality. It never ceases to amaze my how much we can still learn from our children. It started out with a great humbling that now, at times just becomes a sort of jaw-dropping awe. I love you Aida and here is to being 10 and moving on to the next phase of life as you enter middle school. Here is a bit of Aida through the years. Keep a look out for pix of her ROCKING Party!


Aida at 2 months in her blessing dress made by her Grandma Penney. I can still remember all that hair-it just kept growing and growing. Aida looked like a little doll and was an inspiration to many to have their own children-she was THAT cute.

One Year Old
Still cute-one of the dresses I stressed over making for her. Look at those cheeks!

Two Years Old
Aida always loves the beach. Here she is learning "muddy mountain" building from her cuzzies.

Three Years Old

4 Years Old
The year we moved to New Zealand and had Maya. What a big help Aida was!

5 Years Old
Full of Idears.

6 Years Old

8 Years Old

7 Years Old
Finally got her nerve up to hold one of our butterflies.

9 Years Old
Aida was into monkey bars in NZ BIG TIME at this age.

The Big One-O
Celebrating her actual birthday with family.

Aida's Picture

Aida birthday post to come...

NH Post #1: Baby Pete & Windsor, VT

Lucy with Pete

Cute Picture of Pete

Ed and Pete Just Before Ed Tried to Chuck him back to Mark.

Aida and Pete

This time when we went to NH we were able to swing by ol' Windsor, VT to see baby Pete. This is the first baby for a couple I will call Mikris just for kicks. Baby Pete really is one of the cutest babies I have ever seen-tiny and perfect in every way. He has a great disposition and was a real champ when the kids all had a turn holding him and unwrapping him to see his little feetsies. He didn't even make a peep when he went for a swim with his pah-pah.
Of course it was fun to see his parents as well who do not at all seem like first time parents. They look too fit and are much to active hiking around, seeing movies and concerts to be new parents. I guess some people just figure it out faster than others and by others I mean me. It took me four kids to get to that sort of level! They took us to see a beautiful little river with several cool little rock towers.
I decided to post a picture of Ed so you can see how manly he was at the river throwing rocks in his sisters rainbow snoopy shirt. He loves that shirt-but again he was throwing rocks for sometime just like any other manly boy.
We really did have a great time and the girls miss baby Pete already-so Mike and Chris if you are ever looking for somebody to take him...
We also went swimming and Maya did some very impressive...leaps and pirouettes off the diving board. I would have and probably should have taken some pictures but they wouldn't have turned out so well since I usually had to squeeze my eyes shut, wince and turn my head away every time she jumped. It was only a matter of time before her luck ran out and that 1/4cm clearance she had wouldn't be quite enough to clear the board. So, thank you Mikris for the good times and hopefully we will see you again before baby Pete is Toddler Pete.