Happy Birthday, Boo!
You are a decade old. Can you believe it? This past Labor Day weekend, we spent the day in Spokane. I went to the temple, and afterwards we went out to lunch and hiked Tubb's Hill. It was beautiful weather, and we were looking forward to the family outing since Dad's been gone for a long week. The only problem was, you were having a REALLY hard time yesterday. Complaints, whining, meltdowns. NON...STOP. You were so disagreeable, and we couldn't do anything right or make you happy. I was thinking ahead to this Birthday post, and thought to myself, "What on earth am I going to write? This is going to be challenging." But, like I encouraged you to do yesterday, find the positive in things, or keep it to yourself. So, with that mantra in mind, here are some wonderfully POSITIVE things about you!
You are a smart, and you work hard. True to form, you plowed right into 4th grade, doing your very best work. You seem to be having a great time learning at school. You've got monthly book reports and homework packets that are due each week. You conscientiously start and finish your work. In 4th grade if you pass all your spelling pre-test words, you get to create your own spelling list. You got them all right, and this morning you wanted to "find some really hard spelling bee words like prestidigitation." I think you really thrive on being challenged, and love to have set and concrete goals and expectations. Dad challenged you to read your scriptures every day for a month. You remembered every single day, and at the end of the month you said, "Whew! I passed off my goal, now I never have to read those boring scriptures again!" Oh, dear. You love a competitive challenge when you're the winner. We're still working on loving the challenge even if you lose.
The first day of school you were given an assignment to do a Star Student poster. It was due in three days. You got right to work, figured out what you wanted it to look like, asked for help when needed, and finished it that night, to turn it in the next morning! Same goes for your music. You are assigned a piece, and although it might be a little overwhelming at first, you plug away and practice until it's perfect. I LOVE to hear you play! You have such a natural ability and have already passed me by. The school finally outlawed birthday treats, so you decided that for your birthday, you would play your fellow students some songs on the piano. You made a list of five of your best songs, and you plan to have the classmates vote on which one you will play for them! Wow. Confidence. Fourth graders get the opportunity to learn a stringed instrument this year with the Middle School orchestra teacher! You were excited about participating in that, as well as being a server in the cafeteria. :) You're still struggling to decide whether to learn the viola like Dad, or the violin like Grandma. One thing I know - you'll probably do really well at it.
You love to be in charge of a project. Nothing thrills you more than getting assigned something and then being able to creatively put it together start-to-finish. Party planning? Yes, please. Cake Decorating? Absolutely! Rearranging furniture? You thought we'd never ask! You are resourceful and tenacious, and will get it done, come heck or high water. The high water typically comes in the form of your younger siblings, who sometimes have ideas and/or timetables of their own. One of your challenges has been to try to find ways of encouraging differing personalities or finding the patience to "deal with it". :)
You are a loving, caring and protective sister. They know how to push your buttons, but you're learning strategies to remain calm and deal with the frustration. I thought it was quite sweet these past few weeks as Yaks started tackle football. The first day of full-dress practice, you read the medical release and learned he would be tackling and the possibility of him getting hit was uh... extremely high. I've never seen your face change into such concern for him. "Mom!? It says right here on the paper that injury or DEATH can occur when you play football. Ben's going to get a injured and DIE. How can you let him do that? Mom!?" Imagine your horror when he really DID get injured on the field in a tackle and injured his rotator cuff. "See, mom? I TOLD you this would happen!" You nursed that brother and brought him food and tied his scarf sling and carried his backpack to school, and I don't know what else. It was heart-warming to see that when push comes to shove, you really do love him and your sister, and enjoy their company too.
You are a defender of truth and justice. Some of your most common phrases are "It's not fair!" "What about MY opinions/feelings!" "So-and-so didn't have to do XYZ, I don't understand why I do!" After Yaks' injury, you told me you planned to "change the rules of football", where there would be no tackling allowed. You also thought that the "football company" should pay for his doctors' bills instead of us, since it was their fault he got hit. After yesterday's events, I realize you are growing and maturing, and your feelings are coming along for the ride! These happy/sad/angry feelings are very real and important to you, and although your feelings/opinions won't always change the situation or our decision, you need to be heard to feel validated. Once this validation is voiced, you seem to calm down, knowing you've been heard and understood. I'm like that too. I totally get that. Times you get the most upset seem to be when we throw an unexpected expectation on your shoulders with a tight timeline, or switch around seating in the car when you had in your mind you'd be sitting somewhere else. Punctuality is essential, and you dislike being late or feeling unprepared. Won't some employer be so happy to have you as their employee? No wonder every teacher wishes they had a classroom full of Boos! Lucky folks!
1. What is your favorite color? Pink, yellow, green and blue
You are a decade old. Can you believe it? This past Labor Day weekend, we spent the day in Spokane. I went to the temple, and afterwards we went out to lunch and hiked Tubb's Hill. It was beautiful weather, and we were looking forward to the family outing since Dad's been gone for a long week. The only problem was, you were having a REALLY hard time yesterday. Complaints, whining, meltdowns. NON...STOP. You were so disagreeable, and we couldn't do anything right or make you happy. I was thinking ahead to this Birthday post, and thought to myself, "What on earth am I going to write? This is going to be challenging." But, like I encouraged you to do yesterday, find the positive in things, or keep it to yourself. So, with that mantra in mind, here are some wonderfully POSITIVE things about you!
You are a smart, and you work hard. True to form, you plowed right into 4th grade, doing your very best work. You seem to be having a great time learning at school. You've got monthly book reports and homework packets that are due each week. You conscientiously start and finish your work. In 4th grade if you pass all your spelling pre-test words, you get to create your own spelling list. You got them all right, and this morning you wanted to "find some really hard spelling bee words like prestidigitation." I think you really thrive on being challenged, and love to have set and concrete goals and expectations. Dad challenged you to read your scriptures every day for a month. You remembered every single day, and at the end of the month you said, "Whew! I passed off my goal, now I never have to read those boring scriptures again!" Oh, dear. You love a competitive challenge when you're the winner. We're still working on loving the challenge even if you lose.
The first day of school you were given an assignment to do a Star Student poster. It was due in three days. You got right to work, figured out what you wanted it to look like, asked for help when needed, and finished it that night, to turn it in the next morning! Same goes for your music. You are assigned a piece, and although it might be a little overwhelming at first, you plug away and practice until it's perfect. I LOVE to hear you play! You have such a natural ability and have already passed me by. The school finally outlawed birthday treats, so you decided that for your birthday, you would play your fellow students some songs on the piano. You made a list of five of your best songs, and you plan to have the classmates vote on which one you will play for them! Wow. Confidence. Fourth graders get the opportunity to learn a stringed instrument this year with the Middle School orchestra teacher! You were excited about participating in that, as well as being a server in the cafeteria. :) You're still struggling to decide whether to learn the viola like Dad, or the violin like Grandma. One thing I know - you'll probably do really well at it.
You love to be in charge of a project. Nothing thrills you more than getting assigned something and then being able to creatively put it together start-to-finish. Party planning? Yes, please. Cake Decorating? Absolutely! Rearranging furniture? You thought we'd never ask! You are resourceful and tenacious, and will get it done, come heck or high water. The high water typically comes in the form of your younger siblings, who sometimes have ideas and/or timetables of their own. One of your challenges has been to try to find ways of encouraging differing personalities or finding the patience to "deal with it". :)
You are a loving, caring and protective sister. They know how to push your buttons, but you're learning strategies to remain calm and deal with the frustration. I thought it was quite sweet these past few weeks as Yaks started tackle football. The first day of full-dress practice, you read the medical release and learned he would be tackling and the possibility of him getting hit was uh... extremely high. I've never seen your face change into such concern for him. "Mom!? It says right here on the paper that injury or DEATH can occur when you play football. Ben's going to get a injured and DIE. How can you let him do that? Mom!?" Imagine your horror when he really DID get injured on the field in a tackle and injured his rotator cuff. "See, mom? I TOLD you this would happen!" You nursed that brother and brought him food and tied his scarf sling and carried his backpack to school, and I don't know what else. It was heart-warming to see that when push comes to shove, you really do love him and your sister, and enjoy their company too.
You are a defender of truth and justice. Some of your most common phrases are "It's not fair!" "What about MY opinions/feelings!" "So-and-so didn't have to do XYZ, I don't understand why I do!" After Yaks' injury, you told me you planned to "change the rules of football", where there would be no tackling allowed. You also thought that the "football company" should pay for his doctors' bills instead of us, since it was their fault he got hit. After yesterday's events, I realize you are growing and maturing, and your feelings are coming along for the ride! These happy/sad/angry feelings are very real and important to you, and although your feelings/opinions won't always change the situation or our decision, you need to be heard to feel validated. Once this validation is voiced, you seem to calm down, knowing you've been heard and understood. I'm like that too. I totally get that. Times you get the most upset seem to be when we throw an unexpected expectation on your shoulders with a tight timeline, or switch around seating in the car when you had in your mind you'd be sitting somewhere else. Punctuality is essential, and you dislike being late or feeling unprepared. Won't some employer be so happy to have you as their employee? No wonder every teacher wishes they had a classroom full of Boos! Lucky folks!
1. What is your favorite color? Pink, yellow, green and blue
2. What is your favorite game/activity? Sleeping Queens
3. What is your favorite
fruit? Grapes
4. What is your favorite
tv show? Good Luck Charlie
5. What is your favorite
thing to eat for lunch? Pepperoni Pizza
6.
What is your favorite outfit? Jean shorts and a t-shirt
7. What is your favorite
game? 4-square
8. What is your favorite
snack? Ritz crackers
9. What is your favorite
animal? Cat or dog
10.
What is your favorite song? Ho Hey
11.
What is your favorite book? Harry Potter
12.
Who is your best friend? Lily and Courtney
13. What is your favorite
cereal? Fruit Loops
14. What is your favorite
thing to do outside? Jumping on
the trampoline
15. What is your favorite
drink? Fruit Punch or milk
16. What is your favorite
holiday? 4th of July
17. What do you like to
take to bed with you at night? My pillow
18. What is your favorite
thing to eat for breakfast? Eggs, bacon, toast and Fruit Loops
19. What do you want for
dinner on your birthday? Spaghetti
20. What do you want to
be when you grow up? Vet or a teacher
We are so blessed to have you in our family. You are a bright, beautiful, intelligent young woman who wants to make good choices. You keep us all in line and on our toes. I'm so proud of you and the person you are striving to become. We love you so much! Happy Birthday! Love, Mom
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