Saturday, August 12, 2023

Happy 7 years, Anna!

Seven years for our baby! Anna is a fun big kid and works hard to keep up with her siblings. 

Weight: 58 lbs (79%)
Height: 4' 1.53" (77%)

Clothing: 7/8T
Shoes: size 2

Likes: singing, crafting, dancing, baking

An Anna Day:

7:00am Anna sometimes sleeps in, but usually comes right now ready for snuggle. She like most things at breakfast and likes to have what others are having. This year she learned to pour her own milk from the jug!

Morning: She dives into school. For first grade she needed a lot of guidance, but we saw a lot of growth. It is fun to watch her learn. Handwriting was her favorite subject.

Lunch: Anna likes to make two PB&J fold-overs more than one whole sandwich. She would be quite happy just eating fruit at lunch. 

Afternoon: She finishes school work, does any clean up necessary, and heads out to play with the neighbors. 

Dinner: Anna is a slow and methodical and either loves or hates what we have for dinner. Mac and cheese is her favorite :)

7:00pm: Bed time! She loves a soak in the tub. This year we introduced a little reading time. She gets to read/look at books until 7:30. She is super good about watching the clock and putting her book away right on time.

How we celebrated:
Anna was in TN with grandparents and siblings for her birthday. Before she left we had an "at home" birthday. She wanted to have her friend, Tessa, over for the day. So Tessa came over right when she woke up. Dave got donuts and we lit candles and sang happy birthday with the neighbors. She opened gifts from mom, dad, and Sarah, and enjoyed a unicorn mermaid birthday. 

Fun Things:
* She loved Moana this year.
* Anna is growing out of her funny sayings, but continues to delight us with her perspective on the world.
* She took swim lessons again this summer and made great progress.
* During the afternoon on CC days she took an art class and was exposed to many fun mediums.
* Mom was her tutor in her CC class this year- it was fun to spend that morning together!
* Anna loves to put together an outfit, and she does a very intentional job!

A Chronological Look at the Past Year:

Anna received a strider for her birthday last year.
She's gotten pretty good as the year's gone by.


Loves a good thumbs up.







She decide one season of soccer was enough, but boy did she look cute playing!
(snack:running ratio wasn't worth it!)






Her "schooly" outfit for an evaluation at the local elementary school.
Fashion was of great importance!

She loves pulling teeth.
She REALLY doesn't like the insecurity of a wiggly tooth.



She has the best of brothers.

Again, best of brothers letting her play in his room.

She went short, like her friend!
Much to her chagrin, she didn't get curls like her friend.


Xmas 2022


At the Statehouse

She asked for something purple.
She got a purple people eater.

Celebrating the end of Level 1 of reading!



Egg hunt, northern style






She dressed up to go see Sarah in Frozen.













Happiest of birthdays, sweet Anna!


Monday, October 24, 2022

Happy 8 years, Lydia!


She is EIGHT!

Weight: 74lbs (90%)
Height: 4' 4.5" (80%)
Clothing size: 8/10
Shoe size: 2/3

Likes: dancing, crafting, reading, playing with the neighbors

Schedule:

7am Lydia is usually the first one down in the morning! She likes to choose yogurt with granola for breakfast. 

8am (or before!) School begins. This year she is learning to type and loves it!

11am Lunch time. Lydia likes leftovers and turkey sandwiches.

After lunch she helps clean up, finishes any school work that is left, and reads or plays in her room. 

Once everyone is mostly done for the day she heads out to play with the neighbors. They like to draw with chalk, bike, learn dances, and imaginary play.

5:30pm Dinner time. Lydia loves mac and cheese and often doesn't love meat.

7pm She gets ready for bed and reads for about half an hour before turning off her reading light. We love spending our days with Lydia!

Fun things:
- She played soccer this fall and loved being goalie.
- She took dance over the summer and is participating in an outreach dance crew during the school year. Their season is a little shorter than most classes and they perform at nursing homes once a month rather than participating in the studio recital. 
- I'd say this is the year that she became a confident swimmer. Things clicked during swim lessons and she moved up several levels.

A Chronological Look at the Past Year

Riding the carousel at the Seminary Fall Fest

Receiving what has become a favorite

Apple picking

Starbucks school is the best kind of school

Halloween

Her portrait for her bear





Catching a wave at the Children's Museum

Helping cook


Easter

Goalie skills!


This little hole in the rock at Zion was a favorite

Bryce Canyon

Sunrise at Zion

Holding up Balance Rock at Arches

Canyonlands

Beautiful girl on a beautiful soccer Saturday


Checking Anna's ear with the otoscope

VBS

She passed several levels during swim lessons

Decorating cookies for 4H



Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL





Her friend made matching bracelets



4th of July face painting

Lydia wanted to decorate her birthday cake

She made a butterfly!

Eight years old!



Ended her birthday with a rainbow dinner

What a special year with our dear Lydia!