SIX years old!

 Happy Birthday Naomi Irene! You are six years old today! Here's what you've loved and done in the past year: 

- You love dance, especially ballet! Over the summer, you had a negative experience with another girl in class and it almost made you want to quit dance. I was feeling very sad because I know how much you love to dance, so we have talked through a lot of fear and worry and anxiety before each class this Fall. This past week (Nov. 8) was Parent Watch Day and I was SO  PROUD of you! You had been telling me over the weeks that you have learned new moves in ballet and that it is your favorite. But due to your bad experience over the summer, I hadn't seen you perform ballet since early in June because we left partway through because you would get worried and wouldn't go back out to dance during the second half. Your moves were beautiful and you know all your ballet positions. My heart was exploding with happiness for you! 

- For some reason you are really into wearing these Harry Potter glasses right now, Ha! We watched the first four Harry Potter movies in October and we got out some accessories that Levi had from his costume, and you think it is so fun to wear the glasses. You even insist you can see better with them :) 

- You like to play outside -- swinging on monkey bars, riding your bike (you learned to ride a bike with pedals this summer!), taking walks and hikes with our nature group, playing at the playground, fishing (sometimes), running, and more. You love to move and I am glad! 

- You had fun with your cousins Ben and Amelia when we visited Grandma at the beginning of Fall. 

- You like to bake and cook with your family! We try to have you kids cook once a month, so in August this was your contribution -- a cheesy puff pastry in the form of the Whomping Willow from Harry Potter. It turned out great and tasted good too! You also like to help makes snacks during the week, stir batter, decorate desserts, cut up fruit, and most anything I ask you to do. You especially love licking the bowl at the end! 

- You are silly! You love to joke, and make us laugh. You make silly faces and tell funny jokes. 

- You started Kindergarten this Fall! We are working on reading lessons, numbers, phonics, handwriting, and piano. You listen in on Bible reading, history, science, and all of our family topics too. You are taking dance on Wednesdays this Fall. We had a rough start due to a girl bothering you over the summer which almost made you decide to quit, but you have persevered and we've talked through a lot of your fears and today (11/8) I watched your entire dance class and I was so happy because the past 2 parent watch days we've ended up leaving before I watched you do ballet. And now you've decided ballet is your favorite and you're learning new things and you did awesome today! 

- You are fearless! You went out on the inner tube behind Bryan's boat this summer. You climb on high things. You are always willing to try things even if the other kids don't do it. 

- You are scared of spiders. And you don't like bugs of any sort. But you seem to enjoy other animals! Your current interest is getting a bird like a parrot or parakeet. 

- Your current favorite toys are: stuffed animals, magnatiles, kitchen/food toys, Barbies, legos, and most any open-ended toy that allows you to use your imagination. 

BIRTHDAY INTERVIEW! 11/11/23

What is your favorite color? Black 

... food? Meatballs and spaghetti 

... movie? "Sonic the Hedgehog" 

... TV show? "Cocomelon" 

... book? "Curious George" 

... fruit? Strawberries 

... animal? Parakeet (or some type of bird that can be a pet, that flies) 

... instrument? Ukulele  

... band or singer or favorite thing to listen to on Spotify? "Cocomelon" 

... thing to do every day? "Having my birthday!" 

... thing to learn? "The A book for school" (she means her new Explode The Code Book A for phonics) 

... about Zoe? "That we dance really hard!'  

... about Levi? "That we spin and I put my ankle, right here in the middle, and we spin around so fast!" 

... about Zeke? "That he lets me listen to music." 

... about Mommy? "That when it's my birthday, we have a good time together and also, we can do special time." 

... about Daddy? "That he sometimes does Group Therapy."  

What do you want to be when you grow up? "A teacher for piano, like you." 

What do you like most about homeschooling? "That we can get drinks of water." 

What are you looking forward to about being 6? "That I'm older!" 

Naomi, you add so much fun and joy to our family! Whenever I paint your nails, you pick them off within a day or two. You like to jump from several steps high off the stairs. You can make it all the way across our monkey bars. We cut your hair short this year and it was a good choice because now we can brush it more regularly and your curls look great! You like to wear dresses most days and decided to wait to pierce your ears. You still have all your baby teeth -- I will probably cry when you lose your first tooth, baby teeth are one of my very favorite things. You pronounce your 't's as 'f's and you like to kiss my face *repeatedly* as I brush your teeth at night! I look forward to watching you learn more in the year ahead; to watch you dance and make your family laugh. I love the way you use your imagination and love others big! I am very thankful to be your Mom! I love you!