Libbie's birthday was last month (March 1). The day itself was low key--breakfast in bed, a few presents from us and grandparents, Ben and I took her out for lunch, then dinner at home with a movie of her choice. It didn't quite live up to her crazy expectations, but I think she had a nice time anyway. We celebrated with her friends a couple of weeks later when the movie Frozen came out so we could watch it and do a sing-along on our projector. She was in heaven, standing in front of the screen with her closest friends, singing their hearts out. It was pretty exciting.
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| H, Libbie, B, L, K--birthday party friends |
Libbie is just so much fun. She brings joy to everyone around her with her enthusiasm, smile, creativity, and sensitivity. She loves to draw/write, read, and do the monkey bars. Right now her hands are covered in blisters but she just keeps doing the monkey bars multiple times a day. I advised her to take a day or two off to allow her hands to heal but she just does it anyway, then comes home crying saying, "I just love the monkey bars so much. I can't stop, even for a day." So she suffers through and we bandage her bursting blisters together.
When she's not swinging around on the monkey bars, she is usually either reading (looking at pictures, or listening to us read--she's not quite reading books on her own yet) or drawing.
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| Anna and Elsa |
She loves to make books, especially the covers of books. Sometimes she makes them up, other times she copies ideas from other books, like with this one:
She has quite a collection of empty books with great covers.
She loves to play with her friends, and especially loves to play with and take care of her little sister.
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| Maya has become a bit of a mascot for Libbie's soccer team and class. They all love to see her, and often run up and hug her at pick up. Here is Maya joining in Libbie's class birthday celebration. |
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| Libbie is quite good at carrying Maya around. Maya is unphased, but the surrounding grown-ups usually jump up to help. I figure even if Libbie drops Maya, there are only like six inches until her feet hit the ground. Not that different from just tripping. (But she doesn't drop her.) |
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| If either of them is ever sad, the other immediately goes over to hug and comfort. Here, Libbie is helping Maya feel better after a fall. |
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| Maya was so sick several weeks ago. She just lay around most of the day. Libbie helped take care of her. |
This last Friday afternoon, Maya was asleep so it was just Libbie and I hanging out. We took a pile of books, a blanket, and a plate of apples to the sunny backyard and set up shop. We read several stories together, snuggled up and had a little rest, then we just lay there for awhile, talking right next to each other's faces, making each other laugh ("Ask me a question and I'll tell you a silly answer and then you tickle me, okay?") and lamenting that she will start kindergarten next year so we won't have as much time together. It's hard to imagine moments as happy as those, lying in the Spring sunshine with my Libbie.
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| Libbie is playing soccer this spring. The best part is that her team is all kids from her Pre-K class. |
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| A few of her teammates, also some of her best friends |
It's crazy to realize that she is five now. We have loved to watch her as she grows.
2009
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2011
2012
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And now, here are some of her words, in the form of an interview we did with her on March 3 of this year.
How old are you?
Five.
What grade are you in?
Pre-K.
Who are your teachers?
Mrs. Hoffmann and Ms. Susan.
Who's your favorite teacher?
Ms. Hoffman, because she teaches us to read and that’s why we are in school, to learn how to read.
What's your favorite thing to do at Pre-Kindergarten, and why?
Read bookies.
What are some of your favorite books?
Charlotte’s Web, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
What are your favorite foods?
Ice cream (birthday cake), apples (because I eat them all the time; I finish them so fast that I barely want to eat all of them. I’m the apple monster. And Maya eats her apples so slow that I barely take a bite of her apple), bananas, and noodles.
What's your favorite dessert?
Still ice cream!
What is your favorite color?
Rainbow. Rainbow is not a color, so I like all the colors.
What is your favorite piece of artwork you’ve done recently?
Making a heart on a piece of paper. I did that but I lost the paper.
What is your favorite piece of artwork anyone else has done?
Stella’s Mom made a basket out of paper and tape. She’s good at art!
What is your favorite math question?
L + L =
What’s the answer to that question?
2Ls!
If you could spend a week anywhere, where would you go and what would you do?
I would go to New York and play with Bug. (Big smile.)
If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it?
Save it up until I get a pink fishing pole! Or a bunch of fishing poles!
If you could be any animal, what would you be?
Butterfly, because they can fly away from things far away.
What makes you feel happy?
Doing art and math, and snuggling, and I think that’s it!
What do you like about being a kid?
That on kids' day we can do whatever we want, and we are the grownups.
Is it true that grownups can do whatever they want on other days?
Yeah.
What do you not like about being a kid?
That grownups be the boss of us. Like if Elliot wants to play a game, he has to ask.
What would you do for a job if you could have one?
Art. Maps of treasure.
What job do you want to have when you grow up?
An art job that makes me feel happy. I’m doing art and then if I don’t know what to do, then I’ll ask you guys what to do.
What's a happy memory you have?
That I live with my family. And going on a bike ride. The bike is really awesome because you don’t have to peddle down the hill. You just do one push, and then put your legs up, and then-swoosh—you go all the way down.
What do you like to do for fun?
Art.
What else do you do for fun?
Snuggle. Play with my baby sister.
What do you think you will be doing in ten years from now?
I might get a job and going to school and doing art.
What would be your ideal allowance and how would you spend it?
A million dollars. To get fifteen fishing poles. And a house. And some furniture: a bathtub, a projector, bookshelves, books, couches, lamps, speakers, radios, menorah candles, all things like that. And a bed, blankets, and pillows.
Name something you'd like to do with the family on a weekend:
You want to name Maya “Lucy.”
One word to describe you?
Butterflies.
Finish this sentence. I wish there were a law that said...
That I have a pink house when I was little.
What advice would you give your siblings?
To Maya, she’s cute. To Aaron, you are a good fisherman and cook. To Elliot, you have good piano playing.
Anything else you want to add?
No.
