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LAST day for our countdown, sweet girl.  30 days!

Our days are so busy right now (in the midst of moving) so it’s especially nice to take time just to be with YOU.   Today we walked around a local orchard and gathered Minnesota’s best: honeycrisp apples.   We sat on a blanket in the middle of the orchard…ate apples…sang songs…talked….laughed…and played ‘I spy’.  You asked me to tell you about all of the things we’ve done during our countdown to kinder and I shared all the details that I could remember.  I’m so glad that we have pictures to look back on (even though some days I didn’t feel like bringing my camera on our outings).

30 special days.  I am so thankful that we made time for fun moments together in these last days before you become a school girl.  It was a great reminder each day to enjoy the small moments and savor the last days before you start school.

I have mixed feelings today.  I  can’t help to feel some tugs at the heart strings as we face this transition.  How is it possible that my baby girl is already going to be in school everyday???  Real school.  With a backpack…lunchbox…recess…new friends…homework.

Tomorrow you start kindergarten!  I am so excited for you – you’ve always loved to learn and there will be so many great experiences ahead.  I am proud of you and feel blessed to be your mama.  xoxo.

Only 1 more day!  We are now in MN and having fun exploring our new surroundings.  Today we went for a walk in the woods and started making plans for a weekend camping excursion.  Hopefully we can make this happen before it gets too cold!

For several weeks I have intended to interview Madelyn to capture a bit of her thinking at age 5.  The plan is to ask the same questions every year and reflect on how things change over time.  Since we are currently en route to Minnesota I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to start this tradition.

Interview with Madelyn: age 5

Favorite color: pink, of course

Favorite foods: Boca burgers with cheese, apples, ice cream, lollipops, cotton candy

Favorite person: Justin Bieber…and my mama…and Thomas…and Julia…and Dada…and Amma…and all my cousins…and ALL of my family….and the whole wide world

This comment reminded me of her good-night prayer.  EVERY. SINGLE. NIGHT she has the same prayer… ‘Dear God, Thank you for my mama, Thank you for my Dada, Thank you for my baby brother and my sister, Thank you for my Amma and Papa, my  Grandpa Larry, Grandma March, Auntie Kjerstin, Auntie Stina…(and then she goes on to list every cousin, aunt, uncle, family member)…. and thank you for all of my family (even after she already listed every single person by name)…and the whole wide world.  Amen’.

Favorite thing to do: Hug my mama and kiss my mama (yes, I’m melting…)

Favorite person to spend time with: My mama…and dada…and Julia…and Thomas…and I like myself too.

Favorite Friend: Madison Schotz (she always calls her oldest pal by her first + last name…and has since she was 2)…and Rebekah…and Rorek…and Julia (even though she’s really my sister)

Favorite thing to wear: Fancy clothes like pink and flowers

Favorite Toy: Minnie mouse

Favorite thing about preschool: Taking pictures with my teacher

Favorite thing to do with Mama: Hug, kiss, cuddle and just everything!

Favorite thing to do with Dada: Hug, kiss, cuddle

Favorite thing to do with Julia: just play

Favorite thing to do with Tommy: Play and make him laugh

Favorite movie: RIO! RIO! I love Rio!

Favorite place to visit: Target…and the Princess Palace (New digs at the Chandler Disney store)…and Pandamania (Bible school)…and the Lazy River

Favorite Day of summer: My pool party and the 4th of July

Favorite book: Sleeping Beauty and The Bear Hunt

Favorite trip: To Minnesota to be with my cousins

Favorite day: When my new baby brother was born

Worst day ever: When Julia fell and got hurt

Something funny that happened to you: I got locked in the jail with Amma at Rawhide

Something sad: When you got mad at me

Something happy: When I went to the princess castle and Cinderella appeared in the mirror when I waved my wand – it was magic!

What I’m most thankful for: My family

My favorite drink: Milk, water, juice…but no pop!  (my daughter is actually learning a good habit….is this really happening????)

OK, that’s it for today…but I’m hoping to do another series sometime soon.  I have more questions for my sweet 5 year old!

If you’ve never done an interview with your kiddos, make sure to take the time for this.  It’s an amazing experience!  I am thankful that we will always have a record of her comments at age 5.  I wish I would have done this earlier (luckily I can with Julia and Tommy).  I am SOOOO glad that we did this today and plan to do the same every year.

Major packing day….mixed in with a few trips to Goodwill and consignment stores.

The kids love packing boxes but they also like to UNpack the same boxes after they’ve been organized.  We’ve had our hands full for sure!  Preparing to move cross-country with 3 little ones underfoot is quite the challenge…but I’m glad that the girls can see and understand this process.

Madelyn wasn’t sure exactly what we meant when we first told her that we were going to be moving to Minnesota.  She was very sad right away and told us she didn’t want to leave her house…her room…her friends…her school.  Once we started putting everything into boxes she could understand that we were taking it all with us and she started to get excited.  She loved that idea that Minnie Mouse would travel to Minnesota in the truck and reunite with her there.  She is also talking a lot about having her AZ friends come visit us in MN.  I hope they do!

Super chic necklaces, right???

Made out of gumballs!

Kinda sticky, yes – but cute nonetheless!