Levi is 10!

 Levi Olin, you  are 10 years old! We have entered the double digits -- woohoo! Here are some photos and things I'd like to remember about this past year. 

- You earned your first stripe on your white/orange belt, this month, for jiu jitsu! I'm proud of all the work you've put into this sport. You have worked hard and have learned a lot! 

- You love to eat and you enjoy baking and cooking too! You've become very good at making the green bean casserole for Thanksgiving each year. You also like to experiment -- you tried a few time to make some million dollar bacon at home (before you'd even eaten it!) and made some tasty breakfast for us. 

- You like to be active! You take yourself on jogs, we go on walks together, you like to ride your bike with Zeke around our family walk circuit. You enjoy playing football after our A&W hikes on Thursday afternoons and you like to play soccer in the front yard, especially with Lennox and her dad during Shay's piano lesson. You like to work on your slingshot skills in the backyard, you set snares around the yard in an attempt to capture squirrels (nothing yet!), and when we can find a court, you like to play basketball. 

- Your love of animals remains. You take good care of Sapphire and enjoy morning snuggles with Dora. The next pet you hope to get is a snake or another lizard. 

- You have worked hard at your Pet Care business this year. You have added two new customers that contact you with regularity to care for their dogs. That brings you to 4 consistent customers, with an additional 1 who will sometimes need help! What a fabulous start for a 9 year old. You are not afraid to pass out flyers, talk to strangers and ask them if they have pets you can care for, and meet new customers! I am proud of you. 

- In October, we had a screen-free month and you found several books at the library about staying busy without screens. You made tons of paper hats one Sunday morning. You made a pinata, a mustache, helped Zoe make a friendship chain, popcorn holders out of coffee filters, and more! I loved seeing your creative side shine through. 

- Squeezing beets to make a natural food coloring for our first Harry Potter baking project - his cake! 

- We went to Rocky Mountain National Park and you received your 4th Grade national park pass. It was a fun experience! 

- You love the outdoors! We did a very brief camping trip (due to thunderstorms) up to Wallace State Park in September. We'll try again next year! 

- You are getting better at playing piano (you've begun practicing daily!), you are still working on the ukulele and recorder. You enjoy listening to music especially Parry Grip, Jordan Feliz, Evan Craft, and Skillet. 

- One of my favorite special times -- going to a Monarchs game together each summer. This year we got a funnel cake and decided that would be a new special food we get to share once a year! 

Birthday Interview -- December 15, 2023 

What is your favorite color? "Green and Brown"

 ...movie? "Tin-Tin" and "Home Alone 2"  

... tv show? "Oh this is hard... Junior Baking." 

... book? "Right now it's probably the 'Who would Win?' books." 

... YouTube channel? "Dude Perfect and Snake Discovery" 

... favorite video game to play? "Legend of Zelda and Minecraft." 

... sport? "Soccer and football" 

... fruit? "Banana"

... animal? "Reptiles, specifically lizards." 

... thing to do everyday? "Nintendo" 

... about Naomi? "That she likes looking at the books I get her." 

... about Zoë? "That she asks before she takes something of mine, most of the time." 

... about Zeke? "That he helps me in Minecraft." 

... about Mommy? "That you're my school teacher." 

... about Daddy? "That he goes fishing with me." 

What do you want to be when you grow up? "I want to own my own pet store. And I want to be a vet. And a video game maker." 

What do you like most about homeschooling? "That we still learn a lot even though we don't spend a lot of time doing school." 

What is your favorite food? "BBQ Chicken pizza and Sausage, Green Pepper, and Mushroom pizza." 

Anything else you want to remember about turning 10?  "My 10 year old trip! Being in my two digits. Taking on more responsibility. And all sorts of things!"

Levi Olin, you make me smile everyday. You are an excellent helper, you pay attention to what's going on around you, you  are making good friends, you like to play games -- board and video, and you have learned to slow down. Recently, I was headed out on a walk and you asked to go with me. Typically I like some alone time on my walks, but I said it was fine for you to come along. Just a few minutes later, you came upstairs to get ready to go with me, and asked "Mom, do you want me to not talk? That way you can talk on our walk?" You are so aware of what's going on. You've always been my child who wakes up with questions and ready to converse, but you are beginning to notice that sometimes others aren't ready or need their space to talk as well. You are really maturing in this area and I am very proud of you! I look forward to the year ahead with you. I can't imagine our family without you in it! Love, Mommy