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Audrey is enjoying 1st grade. She says she would rather go to school than stay at home because school is more fun. She's reading well and loves to surprise us with new words she has picked out on signs and billboards. Halfway through the year we had to give up spelling words to keep secrets and she was so proud that she'd beaten us at our own game. Audrey loved her Kindergarten teacher, Ms. Schrank, who turned 80 and retired at the end of the school year. She likes her new teachers pretty well.
January
February
February
March
Audrey played soccer on the Purple Ponies this fall. She had a great coach who somehow herded 9 giggly girls around the field for months without ever losing his temper. He seemed to be grooming Audrey to be a goalkeeper and she played that position at least a quarter every game. She did so well - was so calm about it and so focused. We were impressed.
Audrey loves the Duggars so we Tivo them and she gets to watch when her homework is done. It's nice to have her idealize a family that is even more conservative than ours and it makes her more attentive when I talk about things they discuss on their show - things like modesty and respect and gratitude. Her other favorite TV show is America's Funniest Home Videos. We watch and laugh and Audrey asks a million questions about why did that happen and did they get hurt and I don't get it, but she really enjoys it. I am happy way down deep that she has inherited my tendency to laugh at other people falling down.
She loves pizza, hot dogs and Top Ramen and that doesn't reflect on my cooking repetoire. She is trying more and more new foods and will occasionally admit to liking them. She's learning to do more things for herself and helping around the house emptying trash cans and folding laundry and she does a great job cleaning her room. It is sometimes a shock to realize we have a child who is actually reasonable. She dresses herself, makes great toast and can vacuum a little. Any day now she will be able to cook us all dinner and drive me to the grocery store.
Some other thing she loves: pregnant women, getting toppings at the yogurt place, her rain boots, Souplantation, her scooter, her friend John's dog Mooshti, making a bounce house with the couch cushions, daddy tucking her in at night, drawing, getting money from the tooth fairy, and cupcakes.
April
April
May
May
May
May
May
Audrey is a good big sister. When she comes home from school she is often grumpy I know it's because they are all Lord of the Flies out there on the playground and in her class of 30. I have remind her that she is home now and she doesn't have to fight for status anymore, then she snaps out of it and plays with Claire for hours. Audrey offers Claire much instruction and is always setting up rules that Claire will break instantaneously, and that seems to be working out for both of them - Audrey is learning a little flexibility and Claire is learning to cooperate a little or lose her playmate. Audrey wants everything to be fair and especially fair in her own favor. So when Claire gets a treat for a successful potty maneuver, Audrey says she should get one too.
These days Audrey is 50 pounds and doesn't know her own strength or size. Doorways get dangerous and her head is the same height as our kitchen bar so there are many bumps and bruises to be kissed. She does know she can pick up Claire - a party trick they perform all the time. She is always moving and so many of my pictures of her are blurry because she won't stay still. Her dad is the only one who can still carry her for more than 30 seconds and he is still glad to do it.
June
June
July
July
August
August
Audrey is definitely entering the little kids stage and it looks to be a great time for all of us. If we can convince her that being the oldest is as good as being the baby we are all set.
We are so lucky with Audrey, she has a resilience that serves her well at home and at school. She makes friends easily and everyone we pass walking home from school seems to know her name. She likes to know the rules and is very conscientious about following them. She has a ton of enthusiasm, curiosity, and creativity always bubbling under the surface ready to be put to use. Audrey is very forgiving of her parents, and that is good because we make a lot of mistakes. She shows us all her love in the way she dashes around the house, asking questions, sharing artwork, and playing games, because spending time and interacting are her ways of loving. She loves a good long hug. Happy birthday Audrey, big hug, and kisses, too.
September
September
October
October
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