The Early Riser: Golden Girl

Saturday, August 21, 2021

Golden Girl

On one of her last days of Pre-K 3, Margaret got to celebrate her birthday at school. I virtually read a story to her class, Mrs. O'Hara crowned her birthday queen, and she wore her paper hat the rest of the day and week for that matter, claiming that she was now and forever a four year old.

She's been celebrating her golden birthday or rather, the anticipation of it since then. That is, until it officially came to a close last weekend, after Nana, Opa, and Aunt Dee said goodbye, after she dropped Aunt Erin off at the airport, after she received one more card from Aunt Kay, then Aunt Meg and then Aunt Bridget in the mail, and after Daddy pulled out one more present from Uncle Andy. Okay, it's over now.

She's such a sweet girl, it's hard not to keep celebrating with her. Margaret as an official four year old is such a joy. Peter said it last year and I can't think of a better way to describe her this year; she is just so loveable.

At four, she's bigger than the lobster we had for dinner on our last night in Martha's Vineyard. Although it doesn't look like it in this picture.

She has an extremely full closet of dresses and loves to wear just about all of them, often changing two or three times a day.

Despite her allotment of clothes, she loves when Mary opens her closet to let her 'shop.' She's already claimed certain things within my wardrobe as well.

She loves her dolls and can sit in play with them for hours, using a very vivid imagination that transports her worlds away. That is, until her cheapo plastic mermaid breaks yet again.

She loves to sing and dance and story tell and has the most amazing expressions as she does all three.

Whether it was dance class or Aunt Erin, she has learned how to pose. And when everyone else grumbles at another photo op, she takes center stage.

This is her preferred method of transportation.

She still loves shroot snacks, but her favorite food might now be shrench shries.

Too many times this year, she has fallen asleep in my bed as I work at night. She will sneak out of hers, into mine, and cuddle up. I could put her back in her bed, enforcing the rules, but I can't find it in me.

She adores her family. Her baby sisters, big brother, and 'best big sister' as she calls Mary. And guess what, here she is wearing Mary's clothes again.

There are times when she'll tell me to come closer to her. She'll get right up in my ear, kiss me on the cheek, and tell me how much she loves me. She does the same to Peter. And it melts both of our hearts.