Angel's School Play

Angel's class at school has been studying penguins for the past several weeks.  Recently, they (along with the other First/Second grade classes), put on a little 'show' to display what they had learned.  It was adorable and a lot of fun to watch! (And, from the looks on their faces, a lot of fun to perform, as well!)  My camera was having problems focusing / dying battery / etc. so I got some very poor quality shots, but they're better than nothing. :)  The pictures make very little sense out of context of the performance, but the actor who put the performance together was very creative, and did a beautiful job putting to life all the various facts they'd learned!

Angel had 3 'roles' in the performance.  Role number 1: The Flag (her friend 'raised' her, and she then 'flapped in the breeze')

Role Number 2: Computer Screen - She held up her arms in a screen-like fashion and made 'screen pictures' with her face while a classmate 'typed' on her knees.

Role Number 3: Papa Penguin - She 'sat' on her 'eggs' (some friends) and fought off the squa (a predator bird).

Angel

Dear Angel,

Happy Birthday!  It literally seems like yesterday that I was writing you a letter on your 6th birthday!  It truly seems that the years fly by with increasing speed with each year that passes!  Oh, how I long for time to stand still, so that I may enjoy you as you are at this moment!  You are spectacular!

1 year old

I heard a quote once that always reminds me of you: "A girl is innocence playing in the mud, beauty standing on its head, and motherhood dragging a doll by the foot."  You are precocious and wise beyond your years, yet innocent and naive. You are beautiful on the outside and inside, yet completely unaware of it, and unconcerned with keeping up appearances.  You are confident yet unassuming, strong and brave yet sensitive.

Age 2 (with a 6 month old Grins)

Earlier this year, you told me that someone in your class said to you, "You talk quiet."  I couldn't believe this!  I don't think I've ever heard you speak softly unless you were specifically trying to whisper.  It surprised me so much, because at home, you are bold, outspoken, and determined to make your opinions and voice heard by all, particularly if you perceive the least bit of injustice.  We are constantly reminding you to 'calm down', take a breath, and try to see things from someone else's view.  Your father and I often think you will be a lawyer or a judge - your need for justice and equality and your ability to argue your case are that strong!

Age 3

You excel in learning.  You are an excellent reader, writer, speller, and mathematician.  You love learning - you asked for a science kit for Christmas!  You enjoy playing the piano, dancing (you LOVED the ballet class you recently finished), singing, and crafting.  But I think that, if it were up to you, you would spend all of your time reading or drawing.  In fact, we often have to remove your books from you to help you focus on things like getting dressed or doing chores.  Your books and art supplies are your constant companions.  You especially like to draw pictures to portray how you are feeling.  If you are angry, you often will draw an angry person acting out or saying angry words, and then by the time you get it all out, you feel better and cross out the picture, and draw a happy one.  Your art truly is your therapy.

Age 4

You are fire and ice.  Incredibly dramatic.  When you are happy, you will do anything to obey and please me.  You are as sweet as can be.  It's as though you are floating on clouds, and you walk around smiling and singing.  When you are angry, there is no talking you out of it.  I must simply give you time to cool down, and let you come around on your own time, in your own way, on your own terms.  But fortunately your anger usually leaves just as quickly as it came, and you are back to your sweet, angel self. :)  One surefire way to dissipate your anger, though, is if someone is crying.  Your nurturing compassion simply can't stand to watch someone suffer or hurt, and you are always the first in line to comfort and console anyone in need!

Age 5

You are snuggly and cuddly, with the biggest heart I've ever known.  You treat all of your dollies and stuffed animals as if they were delicate newborn babies, and you can't bear to part with even the dirtiest, most ragged of them - as if they were living members of your family.  We've had to limit you to 2 at night - we would find your bed FULL of them, with scarcely enough room for you.  I asked you once why you insisted on having so many toys in bed, to which you responded, "They aren't toys.  They are people and animals.  They have feelings too, and they feel lonely and left out when they're just in the bin all night."  I remember thinking this too, as a young girl, and I love how you keep the magic alive in your heart.  We are working at channeling your creativity just a little, as you tend to get lost in your own thoughts.  But when your creativity is focused, it is intense and inspiring!

Age 6

You are smart, creative, artistic, and compassionate.  You are talented, loving, and strong.  You have many emerging strengths and characteristics which will serve you well in life.  I couldn't be more honored or grateful for the privilege and opportunity of being your mother.  You've taught me more in these past 7 years than I learned in the 23 years before your birth!  It is a joy to know you, and a blessing to love you!

Age 7 (almost) 

Love, Mommy

Angel turns 7!!

It is hard to believe that our Angel is 7 years old!  Where has the time gone?  And yet, I can't even fathom life without her!

Her birthday morning started out with a little snow storm and school cancellation (you can see the start of the snow on the back deck - I always keep the deck clean, so this was all fresh, and we got a few more inches throughout the day).  She was disappointed not to be able to go to school, but we managed to have a very fun day at home together, preparing for her puppy party!

Our 3-generation birthday tradition is choosing a breakfast cereal on your special day.  Not the healthiest tradition but at least it's only once a year!  She chose Lucky Charms! Yummmmy!

After breakfast, we got to work setting up for the party which would take place later that night!  Angel, the party-planner, was thrilled to be able to help (I would have done most of it during the day while she was at school).

I constructed a dog house out of a large box, and it proved to be time well spent!  The birthday girl and all of her guests enjoyed it immensely!  We are still enjoying it today, more than a week later!

Of course, assembling the 'doggie bags' was a lot of fun!  Grins and Angel love this sort of thing

Silly Angel wanted a picture of what went in the bags - dog bone necklaces, 'puppymint' BARK, puppy chow, loli pup, dog stickers, and doggie bookmarks.

After setting up for the party, Angel opened some gifts, we enjoyed some stories and games together, plus a lot of play time, and anxiously awaited the upcoming party!

Finally, the blessed moment came and guests began arriving.  (As a side note: Our family rule is that the birthday child may invite as many friends as years of age - so Angel was allowed 7 guests.  Of course, the decision making process was very difficult on her - there were several close friends she was sad to 'leave out' (though of course they didn't know about it) - but I was proud of her for making a little 'list', writing everyone she'd like to invite, and then systematically narrowing down the list.  She made special little notes to give to the friends she didn't invite to her party, inviting them for a playdate, or telling them she was glad they were her friend, since she felt badly about 'excluding' them...completely her idea.  She is so thoughtful and concerned with the feelings of others.)

First, guests were transformed into 'puppies'.  They glued spots onto puppy ear headbands, and then the Mr. painted their faces.  It was adorable to see how they all chose different colors/styles, and all looked so cute and unique!

Here they all are with their ears and painted faces!

We also took pictures of all the 'puppies'.  They were adorable!  Of course, my children's pictures didn't turn out well....I may have to do theirs over (they wouldn't mind, since they are sporting the ears almost daily still.)

Next, we played "Puppy Pile-up" (similar to "Twister"), and then "Give the dog a Bone" (Similar to pin the tail on the donkey - on a poster Angel drew herself!)

Since many of our guests were excited and full of energy, towards the beginning of the party, I was nervous that I wouldn't be able to handle the group.  Fortunately, I realized very quickly that these little puppies were very eager to please.  So, whenever it got loud or rambunctious, I would simply hold up my hand and say "Puppies, quiet!" and immediately, it was silent.  It was unbelievably effective, and so much fun!

After our delicious (ha!) dinner of hot dogs, etc, we played, "Doggy, Doggy, Where's your bone?"  We should have played this first - it was the highlight of the evening!  No one wanted to stop, and we must have played 20 rounds at least!  I was finally able to end it only with the promise of refreshments and gift opening, otherwise, I think it would have lasted all night! :)

Finally, we ate cake and ice cream, and Angel opened her gifts.  Of course Wiggles wanted to play the role of puppy and stick her tongue out, showing the blue frosting (which I got against my better judgment...)  Angel had wanted a cheesecake topped with 'puppy chow' (cocoa crispies), but I was worried not all of the guests would enjoy cheesecake, so we had a cake/cupcakes as well (she would have taken the cupcakes to school were it not for the snow day).  

I didn't get any pictures of the gifts - I was too busy barking out commands "Puppies, sit!  Puppies, stay!  Puppies, one gift at a time!" and writing notes on who gifted what....but Angel was much to enthralled in the gift opening process to have looked up anyhow. :)

All in all, it was a memorable and fun party, and enjoyed by all!

Angel's First Day of School

How has my little Angel grown into a first grader already?!  Time seems to speed more quickly with each passing day!

Angel was SO excited to start school this year!  She enjoyed getting her hair cut, shopping for some new school clothes, and was so excited to meet her teacher and new friends!

First day of school:

 (For some reason, she wanted me to take a 'back' shot....)

It was a rainy morning - so everyone was crammed inside.  But Angel paused for a quick photo shoot!

In front of her classroom:

Sitting at her desk:

And, after we dropped her off, I looked to see how she was adjusting....and she didn't even look back!

Finding her way through the crowd, after school:

When I asked how her first day of school went, she said "Great!  I made 5 new friends! And my teacher is really nice!  It's going to be a great year!"

Love is in the air

This morning I walked into Grins' bedroom to find him dressing in his suit.  I asked why he was dressing up and he replied "I'm going to marry (Angel)!"  A few moments later I found Grins and Angel together in the front room, with Grins trying to fit Angel with a 'veil'.  They then said "Clap for us - we just got married!"  (I later asked Angel why she already had a baby at her wedding, and this was her explanation: 'I adopted her from one of my friends, because she was my friend's ninth child, and my friend said that eight kids was enough.  She didn't want to take care of more than 8 kids.")  Where does she come up with this stuff?  Hilarious!

They are so adorable, entertaining, inventive and fun!  I often wish I had no other responsibilities than to simply sit and watch them and play with them all day long...what a wonderful life that would be!  I am very glad, however, to have my kitchen in the center of my home, which enables me to watch them almost all of the time (since the kitchen seems to be where I spend 95% of my time....if I installed my washer and dryer in one of the cupboards, I might never leave the kitchen!)

My children bring me more joy than I could ever have imagined.  I can't think of anything which brings me more happiness than watching them love one another and peacefully play together.  Life is good!

Alarming!

This morning at breakfast, Angel said "There are lots of people at my school that are much skinnier than I am.  Isabelle's a lot skinnier than me."

Immediately my heart started racing and I broke into a cold sweat.  (I must confess I have a bit of post-traumatic stress over having witnessed my sister struggle with an eating disorder for much of her life!)  How could my 6 year old daughter already be worrying about her body image?!  Especially when I am SO careful about this issue in my home! (no barbies, no Disney, etc - is it any wonder our children have body image issues in our society? ick!).

I spent the next half hour discussing that 1) More important than being 'skinny' is being healthy, and Angel is a very healthy girl - she eats lots of fruits and veggies, exercises a lot, etc.  So she should not be concerned with her body.  2) FAR more important than our outward appearance is who we are on the inside.  We spoke of how, some of our dear loved ones are not 'skinny' but we LOVE them because of their kindness, love, and because they are so much fun to be around.  I asked "Would you rather be friends with someone who is beautiful, but not nice, or someone who is not beautiful, but is very kind?"  Of course she chose the kind friend.  And then, to my relief, she said "I'm beautiful AND kind!  I'm the perfect friend!"

So, while she is noticing that everyone is different, at least she is maintaining her self-confidence, which will serve her well!  I hope this continues for a LONG time! :)

Upside Down Dinner

Angel LOVES setting the table for dinner. She prides herself on knowing where all of the dishes and flatware go, and on making things look nice. She ALWAYS uses EVERY possible dish in her place settings (cup, bowl, plate, fork, knife, spoon), regardless of what we're eating. And she often writes and decorates place cards for each member of the family and folds the napkins in a 'fancy way' as well. One day she decided to play a joke on me and, when I went to put the food on the table, this is what I found:

Everything was upside down. There is no tablecloth because she wanted to put the tablecloth on top of everything... How I love this girl! She is so creative and makes our home such a fun (and often silly) place! Our family would certainly not be complete without her!

Rock Sale

Apparently, our recent discussion about saving money to purchase airplane tickets to visit our loved ones across the country made an impression on Angel. Unbeknownst to me, her little mind has been hard at work devising entrepreneurial plans for how to make money for nothing (since, let's face it, what 6 year old has a lot to invest in starting up a business?)

One day she mentioned to me in passing that we should have a 'rock sale' since we have so many rocks in our yard for which we have no real need. (She was probably remembering the time when, just about to mow the lawn, I told the kids I'd give them one penny for each rock they collected, simply to get them out of the grass...) I must have responded with some enthusiasm, because a few days later, she took me outside to show me the fruits of her labors: she had set up shop in our driveway!

I couldn't help but smile and even get a little teary eyed that my little Angel is growing up so fast. When did she go from a baby, whose very steps I had to coax and direct, into a young lady with her own little clever ideas and very creative spelling? Adorable.

I did purchase some rocks from her, as I was needing some for a project I was working on (Easter in an Eggshell). After that, she said "Mommy, let's go outside, to wait for all the people that will come to the rock sale!" She was so eager and excited about it that I didn't have the

heart to tell her no one else would be coming....so I simply explained that, since we live on a very quiet street, and it was the middle of the day on a weekday, we may have more success later, especially if we moved the sale to a more public location and included a greater variety of

merchandise (e.g. lemonade or popsicles). She insisted on sitting outside, however, and, though she did not meet with additional success for the first couple of days, Oma and Opa did make a purchase when they came to visit a few days later. So her efforts were not entirely in vain. :)

Food

Last month, I decided to elimiate sugar from my diet for one month. I find that the easiest way to 'eliminate' something from my diet is merely to focus on ADDING more enriching foods, rather than focus on what we are avoiding. The kids have done remarkably well with this.
For instance, at breakfast one morning, I made crepes (a weekly family favorite that I feel is relatively healthy when I use whole wheat flour and don't add sugar). The kids asked why there was no cinnamon & sugar or maple syrup. I explained that I just didn't feel right about feeding "plain, old, nutritionally empty" sugar to my children, whom I love so dearly, and who are growing; that I felt much better about feeing them fruits and vegetables which are RICH in vitamins and nutrients. They embraced my explanation and said "Thank you, Mommy!", and we all thoroughly enjoyed our fruit and (plain) yogurt topped crepes! Grins has since added "thank you for the very nourishing fruits and vegetables" in his mealtime prayers - so sweet! :)
Through this little 'experiment', I have realized that we weren't eating NEARLY enough vegetables and fruits - I was getting nearly 5 a day but have now been aiming for 9. Although my children like most vegetables, 9 servings a day has seemed excessive at times, so I've found sneaking vegetables into smoothies to be enormously effective! I began making green smoothies (spinach, plain yogurt, banana, and any other fruit I may have lying around), and we have all very much enjoyed them.

Yesterday, though, we were out of spinach, so I simply made a strawberry-banana-carrot smoothie. Angel said "Mom! What on earth is that pink stuff?" When I explained that it was a smoothie, she exclaimed, "Ha! Who has ever heard of a PINK smoothie? They are supposed to be green!"
I had to laugh...what a cutie! And, since I don't often photograph my food, here's a picture of Angel this morning on her way to school...she insisted on wearing a hat, sunglasses, and a beaded necklace, as if she were a little rock star. This girl does give me a 'run for my money' so to speak (come to think of it, both of my girls do!) but she is oh so worth every bit of it! How I love my little Angel!

Kids Say the Darndest Things....

I think I should probably start posting "Kids Say the Darndest Things" posts weekly, or something; I feel as though lately this is all I'm writing about, but my kids are just so stinkin' funny, I can't help but document these for later years....

Last night, the subject turned (as it does entirely too often with my children) to bodily noises of the southern variety (read: flatulence, passing gas, toots...you get my drift, pardon the pun.) Angel said "You know, when you go to the bathroom, you have #1 and #2, but they should really have a Number Zero too!" (Knowing I shouldn't, I asked) "Why?" "That's a toot!"

Seriously, where does she come up with these things?

Happy Birthday Angel!

Dear Angel,

How is it possible that you are 6 years old already? Slow down! It truly seems like just yesterday when I was rubbing my protruding belly in anticipation of your birth. SO much has changed

since you came into my life, and I am truly the better for it. Between you and me, I SO miss, and often long for, the days when it was just you and me. What fun we had!

I love you, my darling girl. I feel that sometimes I don't tell/show you that enough - so I am working on that. I struggle between worrying that I am expecting too much of you, versus expecting so much because you are so amazing and capable. You seem so wise beyond your 6 years, so I must constantly remind myself that you are still a little girl. You often help remind me when you come out in your pjs with a binkie in your mouth and say you want to 'play baby'

or when you come to me and say "I need a snuggle!" How can I resist such a precious little one as you?

I LOVE this! Christmas morning you received a pair of goggles in your stocking - then you disappeared for a moment and came back like this. Hilarious!

Though you love to be pampered, you also enjoy helping others. If anyone is ever hurt or sad, you are the first to do whatever you can to comfort them. When I was sick a few weeks ago, you made a little 'bed' of pillows and blankets on the couch, set the side table with a book and drink, and even went so far as to draw me a card saying "I'm sorry you're sick Mommy! I hope you feel better soon!" and then helped get the other children breakfast so I could rest. What an Angel you are!

You have made it through a lot this past year; our big move and starting school were both exciting at first, but have been the most difficult on you. Even though you love change, you also embrace consistency! But you have made lots of new friends, and even though you dearly miss your distant family, you love spending time with our own little family!

At the moment you often resist going to school because you miss me. But you enjoy playing with your friends, and you are excelling in your work - your teacher has had to come up with a new curriculum to keep you busy because you were bored with what everyone else was doing. You are an incredible reader and you love math. But your favorite activity is art. You could (and do!) spend hours writing notes, drawing/painting/coloring pictures, and creating masterpieces. I'm sure our walls would be covered at least a dozen times over if I kept everything you created! (Fortunately you allow me to selectively save and share some.) You also have an incredibly memory; you have long since memorized all of the Articles of Faith, and now that we are working on memorizing The Living Christ, you've got it down better than I do!

You love being silly. You and Grins can laugh for hours on end (when you aren't tormenting one another, of course.) You love telling jokes and your laughter can be heard for miles, it seems. You have a very contagious laugh and if you're happy, you do all you can to help others be happy as well.

Right now we are working on 'responsibility'. You seem to have many emerging strengths and talents but work is not an interest of yours at the moment. You are constantly asking why you must get yourself dressed/clear your own dish at dinner/pick up the toys you've played with/do "SO much work" when you would much rather stay in your pajamas all day, play to your heart's content, and have someone follow you around cleaning up after you. You just cannot fathom why you should be required to lift a finger. Though frustrating, it is actually quite comical. But you care so well for your baby dolls and little siblings, and take such pride in the work that you DO complete, that I have hope for you yet!

You are such a little sweetheart. So strong-willed (you've been called "bossy" which you did NOT appreciate....) and yet so sensitive. So determined, and yet, at other times, so timid. So confident while sometimes insecure. It is so much fun to watch your personality grow and develop. You are so much fun to be around! It is such a privilege and blessing to be your mother. Thank you for the honor of these past 6 years. I can't wait to see what the next 6 will bring!

I love you with all my heart, Angel Girl!

Love,

Mom

6 yr old "stats":

Favorite color(s): Pink and purple. And rainbow.

Favorite food: chicken nuggets and artichokes

Favorite dessert: ice cream or cookies or cake or pretty much anything sweet

Favorite book: I love all books.

Favorite 'things': butterflies, fairies, babies, dolls, horses, rainbows, hearts, flowers

Favorite things to do: write and draw, read, dance, play babies and house, watch movies

Favorite friends: Sophia, Emma, Mattie, Chloe, Claire, Anja, James and sometimes Isabelle

Favorite people: mom, dad, Grins and sometimes Wiggles

What do you want to be when you grow up? An astronaut, a petrinarian (a person that has a LOT of pets), or a Dr. that delivers babies. Or a dancer. And a mom, of course.

Quote of the day....

Today I asked Angel to help set the table for dinner. Her response (completely serious and matter-of-fact, without sarcasm or humor): "Me? Work? On the day before my BIRTHDAY? I don't think so!"

I had to hold back some laughter on that one. Can't wait to see what tomorrow (The actual Big Day) will bring from my little Princess.....