Happy Birthday, Maiya!

Maiya turned 8 years old on March 30th.  I keep telling her to stop growing up, but she just won't listen.  ;)

For her birthday meal, she chose homemade pepperoni pizza, Resurrection Rolls, strawberries and ice cream.   (Click here for the recipe I use for Resurrection Rolls.)

She wanted a gymnastics party this year.  Grandma Le Ann did a great job on her chocolate cake.

She wanted a gymnastics party this year.  Grandma Le Ann did a great job on her chocolate cake.

Our party was smaller this year.  We invited family and a few friends.

Part of our "gift" to Maiya was allowing her to start on the competition gymnastics team in May.  I made this ribbon full of words and stuffed it in a box with some tissue paper.  It took her a while to get it out and read it.  She was in disbelief!  About 20 minutes after she opened it, she came to me and asked quietly, "Mom, do I really get to start competition gymnastics?"

Our friends, the Conard's, have been doing competition for two years now, with the same coach Maiya has.  Gayly found these jackets on clearance at a uniform store and because she knew Maiya was gong to start competition, she bought this jacket in Flip Zone team colors for Maiya and for her own daughters.  It looks a lot like the team warm-ups, but Maiya will not get her team uniform until late this summer.

Papa Greg made a trundle bed for Maiya's American Girl dolls.  It looks just like her own trundle bed!

Maiya received clothes for her American Girl Dolls from us and from Papa and Grandma Shelor. We also gave her a chair for her AG Doll that can hang on a table or counter edge so she can sit with Maiya at meals.  Grandma Marilyn gave her a large dry erase board and the game Beat the Parents.  Grandma Marilyn and Maiya love playing games.  Maiya especially enjoys beating Grandma!  Uncle Justin's family gave her a tank top with matching running shorts.  She loves running shorts!  From her friends, she received a Hello Kitty shirt, fingernail polish, fingernail stickers, and hair bows.

Over the past year, Maiya learned how to do a round-off back handspring, has become really good at walking on her hands, attended a basketball camp, memorized Psalm 1:1-3 and most of Psalm 23 and snow skied for the first time.  She helps prepare meals, sets the table and helps with clean up, including putting away clean dishes from the dishwasher.She is a very good reader and has started short chapter books.  Her favorite toy is her American Girl Doll; her favorite game on the Wii is Just Dance; her favorite food is pizza; her favorite colors are still pink and brown; her favorite outfit is shorts and a tank top.  She still loves checking cows with daddy.  She colors a lot with me and we play card or board games.  She has become really good this past year at Solitaire. Her favorite cartoon character is Sofia the First.  Maiya and I also traveled to Colorado Springs last fall to see the gold medal women's gymnastic team perform.  (Thank you, Gayly, for driving and allowing me some rest time!  I couldn't have done it without you.)

 I think she is happy to share being an 8 year old with her brother!  Only until June 13, of course!