Currently, Chief is... {5 years}

I just read through last year's post, when my baby girl turned 4.  I was preparing to sit down and write this year's, so I needed to remind myself of the categories.  It was probably true last year, too, but I realized she's just too big for those categories of questions.  Her life is defined by so much more than what she's eating or the way she talks.  So this year's post is going to be different.

Meeting Tinker Bell on her fourth birthday

Currently, Chief is in Pre-K at our parish school, where she's knocking it out of the park.  Her teacher confirmed for me what I have always expected- she misbehaves most when she's around me, and manages to (mostly) act like a little saint every day at school.  (I will sometimes call her "Angel", and she'll remind me- "Mom, I'm not an angel."  Right, sorry.)  Apparently her biggest behavioral problem at school is her overly aggressive displays of affection- hugging people when they don't necessarily want to be hugged.  (Her baby brother can confirm that yes, this is a problem for her.)  Her teacher has also confirmed that she is brilliant, and will be starting a reading program soon with a few of the other more gifted preschoolers. 

the beautiful ballerina at her second dance recital

Currently, Chief is absolutely loving being a big sister.  She has survived an entire year of living with her baby brother, and has only shown overt jealousy towards him twice- once near his birthday, she cried that everybody who came to visit only wanted to talk about him; and another time at dinner she was upset that we were more preoccupied with getting him to eat than with talking to her about her day.  We try to let her know how very special she is, and how loving Peanut does not mean we love her less; that hearts only grow bigger and more capable of love with each new member of the family.  She is very protective of him, and now that he's (finally) walking, she is so very proud of him and every little milestone he accomplishes.  He's a lucky little boy to have such a wonderful big sister.  (And she informed me the other day that she thinks Peanut is ready to be a big brother, so...)

enjoying a cupcake at her fifth birthday party

Loving her baby brother, and the responsibilities of being a big sister; dance class; cooking; reading; making art; board games.

Hating bed time; time outs; grocery shopping; anything boring; getting up in the morning.

How did she grow up so fast?

Much love,
The Geeks

Six

Photo by One Photo Gallery

You know, last night I made the joke that this anniversary post every year is pretty much just "I'm kind of a bitch but you put up with me anyway.  Love you!" and...yeah, that's basically the long and short of it.

We've grown so much since we were those two kids wearing grown up clothes and talking about giving ourselves to each other, as if we knew what that really meant.

Well, now we know.  And every day I'm thankful that the person holding my hand through this crazy roller coaster is you.

Happy All Saints Day!

Happy All Saints Day!

Today the Pre-K classes put on a little parade of saints, so I quickly whipped up this Saint Teresa of Kolkata costume over the weekend.  She got to pick her saint herself!  We talked about a few different saints, and Mother Teresa stood out to her because she took care of sick people, like a doctor.  (She's still trying to grasp the fact that Mother Teresa was not, in fact, a doctor herself.)  While the Missionaries of Charity wear saris, I needed to make a costume that she could take on and off herself at school, on top of her uniform, so I made a separate veil and sash rather than having her figure out how to wrap a big piece of fabric around herself.

Are your little ones having any saint celebrations today?

Much love,
The Geeks