Maya Gets Summoned to Hogwarts and Girl Scout Camp

Maya is enjoying Harry Potter books and is so excited about going to sleepaway camp for 3 nights.

 Maya gave us this letter about what she would need to go to Hogwarts (verbatim from the 1st Harry Potter book).

More from that letter.

Maya draws characters from the first book.  See if you can figure out who is who...

Welcome to Camp Bothin.

Maya arrives at checkin with Dex.

Her bunk room.  My picks the upper bunk on the right.

Not exactly sad to say goodbye.

Momma is having a little trouble with the goodbyes.

Dexter managed to come down with Strep right after Maya left.

Happy and sick.

Four days later, we return to find a very happy Maya.

Maya with various counselors...

...and friend.

Random Summer

Summertime fun...

 Dexter awaiting the removal of stairway gates.

How civilized!

Naked kids in the backyard.

Gathering with some of Maya's first friends from Momma's original mother's group.

Maya, Charlotte and Sadie.

Dexter getting artsy at school.

Maya's Birthday Party

Maya decided to have a backyard birthday party with friends.  She really wanted a treasure hunt which Ma and Pa created and there was a water balloon toss.  It was a pretty simple affair, but very fun!

 Pre-party...ummm...Dexter is helping water the grass?!?  Notice Momma watching her very sophisticated son.

Party time.

It was a nice sunny afternoon.

Enjoying using our newly improved back garage (building behind).

Maya and Dexter have fun getting rid of the ice after the party.

Maya at 8 Years

Here are the current stats:
Weight: 53 lbs (34th percentile).
Height: 49.5 inches (35th percentile).

Maya’s personality is blossoming with every year.  She is curious and has a very positive outlook on just about everything.  She’s funny and very compassionate.  It’s always interesting to hear how perceives the world around her.

Maya has become a serious reader and we’ve finally allowed her to begin reading the Harry Potter series.  Her obsession has begun. She devours books and her reading ability has really exploded in 2nd grade.  She likes to write her own versions of stories.  She wrote her own Diary of a Wimpy Kid and some stories about Elsa and Anna from Frozen.  She is fascinated with graphic novels and comics and makes up her own too.

She’s doing well in school and has a nice group of friends.  This year she started Brownies (which her mama is helping lead) and she’s enjoyed bonding with those girls.  She has a diverse group of friends and is still playing with both the boys and girls.  Maya likes coordinating games with her friends like timed races and spy games.  She likes diving into new activities and camps over the summer.  She’s looking forward to her first sleep away camp experience (for 3 nights) at the local Girl Scout camp a little later this summer.

Maya’s continues to take Karate and has enjoyed learning tennis too.  She’s also loves swimming and bike riding.  She’s been learning chess and is very into playing other board games.

She and Dexter have fun together.  She is extremely patient with him and they find lots of games to play together.  Dexter isn’t scared to do much as long as his sis is with him.  Maya will give Dex random hugs and loves introducing him to her friends.

We seem to be in the quintessential middle years of childhood where Maya hasn’t grown cynical or gotten too cool for us but knows enough to be so much fun.  We are really enjoying getting know the one and only Maya.

Eight!

Our girl is a little bigger.  Welcome to eight little lady!

Homemade cake.  Yum!

Where's Dexter?

Dexter had fun making this new bed...

 Where's Dexter?

There he is.

Fair and Fireworks!

Another year, another trip to the Marin County Fair.

 Riding the thrilling Caterpillar!

 More fun on the rides.

Waiting for the fireworks.

Silly!