Happy 6th Birthday, Levi!

My dear Levi, you are 6 years old today! There is snow on the ground, you've been riding your new scooter around the house, and we're getting ready to go see the movie "Playing with Fire" this afternoon and enjoy birthday dinner with you. How do I summarize a whole year? How do I keep track of the multitude of things you've said that were funny or brilliant? This year has been a big year of growth and maturity for you. You are regulating your emotions better, expressing yourself more clearly, and have become a great helper!

 Birthday Interview -- December 17, 2019 
What is your favorite color? Purple and red
... movie? Wreck-It Ralph
... TV Show? Green Eggs and Ham
... Book? Flash Saves the Day
... Fruit? Bananas
... Animal? Cheetahs and lions and tigers and leopards
... thing to do every day? *Points to his scooter* ride my scooter!
... about Naomi? When she hugs me when I'm hurt.
... Zoë? when she plays peekaboo with me.
.... Zeke? When he plays with me and lets me build stuff with his own Legos.
... Mommy? When we have special time!
.... Daddy? When we go fishing! Woohoo!
What do you want to be when you grow up? Policeman or a Zoo Keeper
What do you like most about homeschooling? Doing my new books from humans.
What do you like most about KidCity? Everything!
What is your favorite food? Pasta

Your new LL Bean sleeping bag! 

 - You are learning to recognize and write your letters and numbers. We read aloud stories most every day during snack time. You enjoy the history stories and activities we do together. We play games, do arts and crafts, spend time in nature, learn hymns and habits, memorize Bible verses, and talk about how to live a healthy life. You are learning every day and I love that we are homeschooling and spending time together and creating a family culture that promotes cooperation, empathy, and a love of the outdoors!

Daddy and I worked on your birthday cake together this year! You seemed really happy with it. Holding your new cheetah "Fluffy" which you picked out at the Zoo on Saturday

Birthday party 12/15/19

 - You loved practicing for your song on stage and did a wonderful job remembering the actions and singing along. You were even careful to step back a little so you wouldn't run into the kids next to you.

You did an awesome job singing on stage at church! 

- You are very aware of the emotions and actions of those around you. You stand up for those who are being picked on or hurt and have a very strong sense of justice. You enjoy "peace and quiet" as you told us at your birthday party. Although, you seem to have a lot of fun when we're all noisy and listening to loud music as well!

KC Zoo trip -- watched Santa deliver presents to animals around the zoo. 12/14

Gingerbread House Cookie 

Mrs. Malia painted your faces at our small group Christmas party 

 - Within the last month, you learned to ride Zeke's bike! You'd been riding your balance bike for a long time, and I think once you saw Zeke learn to pedal and ride his bike, you thought it must be time for you to do it as well. :) {Not competitive at all} You fly down our hill in the back yard. I'll be interested to see how you do out on a trail. Especially since you'll be getting your very own bike tomorrow. {Shh!}

Pony ride at the Fall Fun Night at Alldredge Orchards 

Spiderman! 

 - You are a big fan of Superheroes! When we go to the library, you always pick out books that are written like comic strips; books about batman, spiderman, superman, the Avengers, and more. Your attention span has really grown and I'm glad you're able to sit and listen for longer stretches of time.

Picking out pumpkins at Red Barn Farm 

Jiu Jitsu stripes are a big deal! 

 - As of last night, 12/16, you have completed 80 classes for Jiu Jitsu! After you complete the next 20, you'll be participating in your first ever Bully Battle against your teacher, Mr. BJ. He'll act like a bully and you'll have to remember all the moves you have learned and protect yourself against him for 3 minutes in order to earn your first belt, a yellow one. We have it scheduled for March 25. At that point you'll have been taking jiu jitsu for an entire year! You have learned how to sit and listen, slow down your actions, tell a grown up what's going on instead of fighting back, and have gained lots of strength and confidence. I am so proud of all your hard work!

Working on your artsy side 

Catching bugs at Grandma's house 

Swim lessons went well this summer! 

Levi Olin, you love other people, talk to everyone, and are learning to make friends. Pretty sure you're an extrovert! Sometimes your energy seems boundless, but you are learning to reign it in at the right moments. Other people have told me you have great manners, which is a relief, because the past several months we've really worked on eliminating "poop head" from your vocabulary :oP You're not afraid of much. We rode on the Ring of Fire at Parkville Days in August -- not sure you'll ever ride it again, but you wanted to try it and you did. Probably not the best ride for a 5 year old to take, but since you are tall for your age you were permitted! You started fishing with Daddy this year and you LOVE it! You seem to be a natural as well because you have caught several fish already. You seem to be a natural around most all animals which always makes for an adventure when we spend time outside. You help around the house by letting the chickens out in the morning, checking for eggs, helping with dishes, vacuuming, feeding the cat, cleaning up the toy room, and tidying. You like when we have fires in the back yard and play hide and "Zeke" as you call it. Sometime you and I butt heads because we are similar in the way we view the world and handle our emotions. But hopefully we can spur each other on to loving big and always being kind. I love you so much and can't wait to see what the next year together will bring for you and our family! Love, Mommy