This year has been incredible. I think we have have entered the realm of memory. I think you will start to remember parts from this year. We said goodbye to a foster brother and sister this last year, so have gone from being an older sister to having an older sister to being the only sister :)
You have started piano lessons and love to sing and dance. Music has always been a huge part of your life and you use it to entertain and comfort yourself and others.
You have also been doing swimming lessons this year. You are such a fish and have no fear of the water. You have had a hard time being away from me at times, but you have gotten over most of your separation anxiety.
Sleeping has been a hard thing for you this year. You have had a lot of fears that we have had to combat. The current combination that works is listening to Magic Tree House, music from the baby monitor, 2 nightlights, and your closet light on. In the past we have had to switch your beds, blankets, lights, toys, and other wonderful thingy-ma-jigs :)
You have continued to homeschool along side Deven. You can add and subtract numbers up to 10 and count to 100 by 1's, 5's and 10's. You can read at a beginning 1st grade level and love learning and experimenting. We have been learning about simple machines and your favorite is a wedge...I have no idea why...but it is.
We have traveled a lot this year. We have been back and forth from St. Louis and Kansas City multiple times. You have loved the children's museums in both cities. We have also gone to Nauvoo and Normal, Illinois, and our big trip out west. You love to travel and are great in the car...we have discovered audio-books and Magic Tree House is your favorite.
You dress yourself every day and as part of getting dressed you pretend to be something...a character from a tv show or an animal. Every day you pretend. Every day you create stories to act out. Every day you throw your non-stop energy into being something else.
You love animals...more than anything else, you love animals. Any kind of animal, you love to learn facts about them and pretend to be them. The other day to came to me with 2 baby dolls in your arms (a rare occurrence because it is always stuffed animals in your arms) and asked me to watch your baby foxes and proceeded to make them "growl". I guess the baby dolls were the closest you could find to a fox ;)
I am so excited for this next year. Every year has gotten better and I love the little girl you are becoming. You have a kind obedient heart and are quick to love and serve. We cherish you.
Love,
MOM
