Zoe is 8!

 It's your birthday, Zoe Kayte! Here's what you been up to over the past year: 

- You love art! You like to draw, color, paint, and create. You and Daddy do art videos on Sunday afternoons and have created many lovely paintings and marker drawings. We discovered Art for Kids for Hub on YouTube this year and you absolutely love it! You've probably watched and followed along with over 100 videos. It definitely shows as I'm trying to put away papers before the new school year and your art is everywhere! We are hoping to put you in an online art class for the Fall. 

- We went to breakfast together at First Watch back in February for special time. You are a great eater! Some of your favorite foods are strawberries, nutella, pizza, cucumbers, stuffed peppers, and grilled cheese sandwiches. But you are not picky for which I am grateful! 

- You love to play games -- board games, computer games, video games, tag, soccer, volleyball; even making up games with Levi or Naomi. You win consistently at Dutch Blitz and Trekking. You seem to have a good mind for strategy. 

- You enjoy baking with me in the kitchen. You have a brownie business this summer and it has gone quite well! You've made many batches of brownies. You have all the ingredients memorized, I just have to help a little with amounts because you make 8" pans and 9x13" pans, some are regular, and some are gluten-free. They are very good! 

- I took you to your first pedicure last Fall! It was fun for both of us. It's always nice to be pampered now and then. 

- Up in Maryville, MO for the homecoming parade and football game! We enjoy taking everyone there to see where Daddy and I met and got married. 

BIRTHDAY INTERVIEW! 8/2/23

What is your favorite color? Teal

... food? Enchiladas and grilled cheese sandwiches and pizza  

... movie? "Bolt" 

... TV show? "Tom and Jerry"  

... book? "Zoe's Room" 

... fruit? Strawberries 

... animal? Bunny

... instrument? Violin

... band or singer or favorite thing to listen to on Spotify? "Jazz, I mean my cds from Pop-Pop" 

... thing to do every day? "Art"

... thing to learn? "Art"  

... about Naomi? "She plays with me."  

... about Levi? "Hmm... I don't know actually. That he smiles in a funny way." 

... about Zeke? "hmm... that he lets me borrow stuff." 

... about Mommy? "That you help me and that you make my food." 

... about Daddy? "He colors with me and he sometimes plays with me and reads to me." 

What do you want to be when you grow up? "A painter or artist."

What do you like most about homeschooling? "That's it's not as long as public school. That's it" 

What are you looking forward to about being 8? "That I will do lots of fun stuff. And I'm sad I'm not turning 7 again." 

Zoe, you will be starting 3rd grade on Monday! You are becoming a better reader and making progress across the board in school. You are getting better at playing piano too. You like to come with me when I serve on the worship team at Restore, so you'll wake up early (6 am!) and help me set up, then help Aunt Teresa and other leaders out in the lobby, play with Miriam, go to Kid City and then to MVP during the second service. You have been asking questions about baptism too. I enjoy spending time with you Tuesday evenings. We take walks and talk, read books, watch YouTube videos, play games, bike up to Mission: Board Games, and spend time getting to know each other a little better. You like to sleep in, wear your pink nightgown, swim, dance, and generally have a fun time! You are getting your first pet on Saturday -- a Holland Lop rabbit! He is a 'blue otter' which means he is a blueish-gray color and has cream colored feet. You've named him Owen. Daddy and you have been working on building his hutch to set up on our back porch. You have been so patient, you have asked for a pet since you were 6, so I'm really happy that it's finally happening for you! You are responsible and kind and I know you will take great care of him. I can't wait to see what this next year holds for you. Love, Mommy