The Ambitious Life

 Abi Ann, You decided to dye part of your hair a deep pink color right before your birthday and I absolutely love it.  It is just one of the ways that I am seeing you mature - willing to take some risks, willing to say what you want, willing to go for it.  I am so proud of that. In the past year I have really seen confidence develop in you in a new way.  You are starting to really own who you are and it doesn't seem to scare you as much to have opinions and ideas.  You are expressing yourself more and I am so happy to see it! You could spend the entire day with books if we let you and you'd be delighted.  I love how much you read and how much of the world and history you get to experience through books.  It's awesome.  You are also so creative and artistic.  You can sketch things that are detailed and gorgeous and it is amazing to see.  You do all the craft things so I generally send kids your way when they have a project to work on or n...

  Faith, You're 7!!  You told me today I'll never see you as a 6 year old again...and you're right!  Next time I blink you'll be 16! You are so fun and so insightful it makes me happy to hear the wise things that your brain thinks.  You observe things I think you might miss and pay attention to details.   We are one week into school and you told me your math is too easy and you are doing such a good job reading.  I think you're going to do great and I love how hard you are working without complaining!  You get excited to finish your school work and then grab out some of the extra workbooks we have and then sit at the table to work on them! You are working on finding the fine line between sassy and funny.  You still hate going to bed and require quite a few "hugs and kissys".  You love being included with the big kids in all the things they do.  I think your favorite is when you hang out with Abi and Grace in their room - you always ...

Rachel, You will forever be my Bean.  Rachel Bean, Beanie Baby, Bean, Beanie...you answer to all of it.  And I'm so glad you do.  You are big and so fun and I love you so much.  You give the best kisses and ask for kisses and hugs all the time.  You still love to be tickled on your stomach and back, especially when you're in a bad or sad mood.  You absolutely love to be in the water, in fact you got to spend the morning of your birthday at the pool with your big sisters this year.  You had such a good time!  You are also getting so brave at things like traveling playground and other places we go being able to do things on your own and ask for what you want. This was your last year as the school mascot as you start Pre-K this year.  I can't believe it.  I'm not sure how you got so big, but it went so fast!   You love to play on your tablet and you ask a lot about your Nintendo turn because you like playing in Minecraft.  Yo...

Isaac,  You're 10!  What an amazing kid you are.  I am so excited that you are mine.  This year, you went with your dad on your 10th birthday trip.  You went to Kentucky to visit the Ark and Creation Museum.  I know Dad also bought you some Legos to do while you are there and you told me you wanted Coca-Colas...which dad bought and you brought home to share.    You have a strong sense of justice - that is, you don't love it when your siblings get away with stuff.  You like things to be fair.  That also makes you pretty darn trustworthy.  You are such a great mix of goofy and serious and I love to watch how your personality is growing and maturing.    You love to build things on Minecraft and build Legos - a good mix of real life and pretend :)  You are a good problem solver, so creative, and ready to try new things.  You work really hard in school and do a good job but I know you don't love it...most kids do...

 Jacob, Young man, I am proud of you!  It is so interesting watching you grow and see how your personality continues to develop and change.  You have a deep sense of justice and what things to be "right".  You are also always taking in the world around you and trying to make sense of everything you see.  Sometimes you share "facts" that aren't really facts and it is interesting watching you have to sort out things that are true and things that "someone said once". You recently started playing the drums - Dad moved his into the laundry room for you.  It has been really cool to hear you practice and watch you figure things out.  I am excited you found something to deep dive into.  You prefer TV to Nintendo and you prefer Legos to books.  You don't like to read but you are always improving!  You are creative in coming up with games and competitions for the kids. I pray you continue to develop a heart that chases after God.  It is my pr...

 Levi, You are changing all the time and you are starting to look like a young man.  You have moved upstairs for middle school and church and are LOVING it!  Grandma gave you a camera for your birthday and you love to show me the pictures you are taking.  I see a creativity in you that is emerging and I love it!  You are thoughtful and analytical.  You are observant and try to figure out the world around you. You LOVE to read and devour books.  It is hard to keep you in good books.  You also like to play Nintendo a lot and it's been fun to watch you figure out different games and how to get past the challenging parts.   You are almost done (I think) with your braces and have done a great job with them.  I know it hasn't always been comfortable and you are probably really missing apples :)  I am excited to see how your mouth feels when you don't have to deal with any of it any more! I am so proud of who you are and who you are b...