TWO

Dearest Cuatro, though it is now December and you turned 2 back in September, I will still pause to share some things about the ways that you have been growing.

Yesterday we were sitting around the kitchen table when I noticed a roach on the floor.  I exclaimed, "Roach - get it!!"  You are well trained in this regard, and so you jumped up crying, "roach, roach" and ran over to get a napkin.  When you came back to pick up the roach, it started crawling away.  Your expression of surprise and joy was so appropriate that everyone else started cracking up.  Then you threw back your head with gusto and proclaimed, "That was hilarious!"  Your pronunciation was perfect, and your timing right on.  None of us had ever heard you say hilarious before, and so it sent us into a round of uproarious laughter.

I share that story because it is so representative of the joy you bring to our family.  You are full of wonder, you laugh and play hard, and you constantly keep us on our toes.

Some of our favorite phrase from this past year are:
pancan (pancake)
Limby (your name for yourself)

SEVEN!

Birthday date with Papa

Dear Raindrop,

Tomorrow you will officially turn seven, though we have already celebrated your birthday twice now.  The first celebration was at Abe and Bethany's house.  We shared dinner together and ice cream pie, then exchanged gifts since you and Caroline have birthdays a few weeks apart.  They gave you a blue Timex watch, which you had been wanting for a while now.  Then you and Caroline stayed chattering the night away.

The next morning we all piled in the van to drive to the mall where you got your ears pierced.  You had been wanting to pierce your ears for a long time, and you were so excited to finally be doing it.  You did a great job with the actual piercing, but the after pains kind of surprised you and you started to get panicky.  You looked all flushed and I worried you might pass out.  But after talking to Marit on the phone you felt a lot more at peace.  She shared her ear piercing experience with you, which made you feel like your experience was more normal.

Your second birthday was at Gran Jan's house.  She fixed your favorite meal of chicken squares and peach Bavarian salad (A.K.A. jello).  Grandmother Woodard joined us and gifted you with $17!  GranJan gave you film for your polaroid, and Corrie gave you a beautiful Japanese washcloth.

Tomorrow morning Papa will take you out on a breakfast date, then we have a few little gifts for you, and we will enjoy the freedom we have as homeschoolers to start school after your birthday. :)

I was remembering your birthday last year in Honduras, and how the students made you a birthday cake and sang to you in class.  I think that trip was truly transformational for you - giving you a vision of how you can help and serve - young as you are.

This past year you have grown in both discipline and imagination.  When you asked to get your ears pierced again at Christmas we said we wanted to see you grow in the daily disciplines of making your bed, brushing your teeth and doing your morning chores without having to be asked.  That incentive really increased your motivation, and I have truly seen a change in you in this regard.

You have also grown in imagination through your relationship with our very own Lucy Mountain fairy - Glory.  I love watching you respond to stories with joy and surprise, and the way you look for whimsy in unexpected places.  You are our first child who is willing to believe in fairies, and I think you might actually get to meet one someday...

This Summer you spent a significant amount of time reading out loud to me, and I feel like you are on the cusp of the reading magic taking over and making reading more enjoyment than work.  I am so excited for this for you, as you love stories so much, and I am excited about many of the great stories you will get to listen to with Ambleside Online Year 2 this year.

You have really blossomed in your love for soccer, participating in a week-long camp with your siblings, yet you still enjoy dressing up and accessorizing.  You are a mix of strong and tender, and I love you so very dearly.  You and I will always share a special third child bond...

I love you,
Mama

Instituto El Rey art class

My Girls!

1st Grade

Michaelmas with the Phillips

After Aida's winter piano recital

In a cave atop Kennesaw Mountain

A day of sewing Bible bags

Atlanta Botanical Gardens with the Boggs!

Annie graduates from KSU!

Lots of time this Summer with the Boggs

Barnes and Noble with the Phillips and Okie girls

Butterflies and the Chattanooga Aquarium

.49 cent ice cream with Papa

NINE!

Dear BRO,

You are 9, and life is speeding quickly by.  You are a climber, a runner, a soccer player, a jokester, and a friend.  You are both serious and wildly funny.  You are a hard worker - extremely diligent when you set your mind to tasks before you.  You love working in the garden and checking on the crops.  When we come home from a trip, you can't wait to take a walk in the yard and inspect the plants.

This Spring we had the opportunity to go on migratory bird walks with the Audubon society, and your knowledge of birds doubled.  I loved watching you identify new species and enjoy learning more birds by sight and sound.

You have been playing Homeschool soccer for several seasons now and are thoroughly enjoying it.  This Summer the World Cup was taking place in Russia, and we were able to watch a lot of the games from home.  You were quickly able to learn the major players' names and distinguish between teams - learning the country flags and understanding the official rules of the game.  It was so much fun to watch alongside you.  When the games were over you would rush back out to the yard and practice dribbling and shooting some more.  We decided to sign you all up for a British soccer camp for a week, and I've never seen you so exhausted before.  But you loved it!

Speaking of camp - you went to camp Westminster this Summer with sister for the first time.  Although you enjoyed the camp, you said you were homesick and couldn't wait to get back to the house.  Maybe you were missing the yard and the plants in particular?  Either way, we missed you, too!

The Sunday after camp, you were baptized and joined the church.  It was such a beautiful thing to witness this growth in your life, and to hear you articulate a desire to share your faith with the church, and to participate in the life of the church more fully - starting with communion.  One of the most beautiful things about it was that it was done in community.  This Spring during small group the parents were praying for you boys - that you would grow in knowledge and insight as well as in grace and love.  Your friend, Daniel was baptized before you, and then you stood up alongside William and Miller to all 4 become communing members together.  I hope you will be encouraged by their friendship and community for years to come, and that when you "remember your baptism" you will see it in this broader context.  It is a gift.

This Summer Kara assigned you your first jig on the violin.  You learned it in one day and couldn't wait to share it with others.  I think it has inspired you, and I can't wait to see what will come of it.  You have moved into a 3/4 size violin, and the sound from the instrument is so much clearer and sweeter than your old violin.  Some days I just sit and listen and am amazed.

You love listening to The Green Ember series, and just finished reading your first novel - Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nihm.  You went from that to Beowulf, and I can't wait to see what you pick up next!

I love who you are and can't wait to see who you become.

Love,

Mama

Holding the sloth with joy

Trying to get Cuatro to participate in a first-day-of-school picture

The Boggs and Fire Making

Booth Western Art Museum

Thanksgiving hike

Fall Violin Recital

The big snow! (14 inches in Kennesaw)

Caddie Woodlawn party with Writing Co-Op