Laurel turns 12

Our precious Laurel Ann turns 12 years old today!  We couldn’t be more happy with the young woman she is growing into.  Laurel is most happy when she is with her family at home.  She enjoys being with friends, but will often choose staying home rather than running errands with me. With restrictions in place this year, Laurel has been able to be home which she loves, but has also missed out on some things she really enjoys.  She has always been very friendly with and good company to elderly friends from church or when we visit assisted living homes.  This year, however, she couldn’t pop in on some of the friends we were visiting and she expressed several times how much she missed that.  She was also pretty sad that she couldn’t start middle school in the actual building.  That surprised me so much when she said that because of all the kids, I thought she would like doing school at home the most.  Despite those setbacks, Laurel continues to be pretty steady and graceful in her life.  She has a stubborn streak that only advances with age, but luckily so does her ability to analyze her situations and reactions and apologize or respond accordingly.  We are still working on how it would feel better for her to do less apologizing because of a knee-jerk reaction and instead just realize that when things change or upset her she could just roll with it.  Laurel always has and most likely always will require a very firm reason or explanation to base her decisions.  She is possibly the most indecisive child I have ever met and would much rather ask everyone in the room’s opinion of what we she should do/choose rather than just make her own choice.  Her facial expressions leave no room for imagination….you always know how Laurel feels.  She will never be a good poker player!  Her reactions to news, whether good or bad, are 100% genuine and you know immediately what she feels.  She never wants anyone to be hurt emotionally and does her best to consider others first.  Laurel loves accessorizing, pizza pockets, anything pink, dogs, staying home with her family, chocolate, soccer, winning, and swimming.  Laurel doesn’t like chores, hosting parties, clipping her nails, chicken pot pie, being the first to leave a party, or cleaning her room.  She loves loyally, listens expertly, cares genuinely, works diligently, and laughs contagiously.  Laurel is a bright spot to whomever she sees that day and we are so very blessed to walk with her as she grows.  We love you so very much Lolo!!

1. What is your favorite color? Pink

2. What is your favorite sport? Soccer
3. What is your favorite fruit? Watermelon
4. What is your favorite movie? We Can Be Heroes
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Pizza pockets
7. What is your favorite subject in school? 6th Grade Success
8. What is your favorite snack? S’mores Goldfish
9. What is your favorite animal? Flamingo
10. What is your favorite song? Sorry
11. What is your favorite book? The Human Body Book
12. Who is your best friend? Maddie
13. What is your favorite cereal? Cocoa Pebbles
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Explore
15. What is your favorite drink? Oreo milkshake 
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17.What is your favorite restaurant? Red Hills Market
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? McGriddle
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Hamburgers
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Physical therapist and animal restaurant

 

10 Years Old

 Ten years we have been blessed with Levi!  He is one of the most perfect gifts God has given us.  He brings such joy and fun everywhere he goes.  Levi’s wit and humor is perfect and continues to be far advanced for his age.  His one-liners and the timing of them throw us off sometimes because they sound like they are coming from an adult!  Levi picks up on everything….he has a great memory, listens closely, and can read between the lines in most instances.  Because of the nature of this year with no school, Levi has become even closer with his sisters.  He loves being on FaceTime and other video chats with his friends from school, but is so happy to just play with Erika and Laurel.  He was outside from sun up to sun down all summer.  He loves playing in the woods and climbing trees or swinging from trees.  Together with his sisters, they made up several games to play outside.  His imagination is amazing and he can find several things to modify or create to his exact needs.  He made a rocket ship themed skateboard out of scraps of wood and PVC pipe this summer, a pulley system for their tree fort, and other items I don’t know the use for but they are nailed to trees all around the property.  Levi is very helpful and continues to be our only child who will do his specific chores without being asked.  He loves going to the river, fruit bowls, trees, I Survived books, chicken, and hooded pajamas.  He doesn’t like shopping, sloppy joes, getting his hair cut, making mistakes, or soccer.  He is kind to everyone and never says anything bad about people.  Levi is in a stage where he is becoming the older kid in various situations, like at church, and it is a little weird for him to have that role since he is the baby of the family.  He is definitely trying out his independence more and luckily knows when he needs a break from the rest of the family.  In frustration, he will go to his room, close the door, and just be alone until he can come out and join the family.  There is no more discussion after those times….he’s just done being mad/sad/angry and is ready to move on.  He has such a forgiving nature and truly only wants to remember all the good he has experienced.  We are so lucky every day to be with Levi and witness how God is shaping him into a young man who will no doubt serve others and God for the rest of his life.  We love you little buddy!

1. What is your favorite color?  Green
2. What is your favorite sport? Swimming
3. What is your favorite fruit?  Blueberries
4. What is your favorite movie? Avengers Age of Ultron
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Peanut butter and honey sandwich
6. What is your favorite subject in school? Art
7. What is your favorite game? Monopoly
8. What is your favorite snack? Trail mix
9. What is your favorite animal? Dolphin
10. What is your favorite song? Wake Me Up When It’s All Over
11. What is your favorite book? I Survived
12. Who is your best friend? Cameron, Cooper, Leah and Brandon
13. What is your favorite cereal? Honey Bunches of Oats
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Climbing trees and swinging on trees
15. What is your favorite drink? Green Apple smoothie
16. What is your favorite holiday? Halloween
17. What is your favorite restaurant? Claim Jumper
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Waffles and a fruit cup
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Teryaki chicken and rice
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? An astronaut and explore Venus