Time Capsule

Because I know I'll forget if I don't write it down, here are some unique things about Bea at almost 6 2/3:

*Gray is her #1 favorite color, followed by black.  Really. Been that way for months, but I can only recently admit it publicly.

*Her most often used adjective is "ginormous."  Uses it many times daily.

*Can't stand buttons.  Tolerates them on her uniform because it's not a choice, will never buy anything new with buttons, and only accepts them on hand-me-downs if they are in the back and she loves everything else about the item.  She doesn't like being in our bed at all because the current duvet cover has buttons underneath. She will not hug Anthony or me if we are wearing a top with buttons, looking at us with a sympathetic look and stating "no hugs for you today!"  or just points and growls...

*This most recent holiday season has revealed two great characteristics:  she is a super secret keeper and thoughtful gift-giver. Anthony was testing her the other day asking her what I got him for Christmas and, without skipping a beat, she said "do you want me to tell Mom what you got her?  Fine then, don't ask me what she got you!"  Also, for donations to anonymous children, she picked gifts that I know she would love for herself and doesn't have.  This used to be a huge challenge for her and she'd pick things she didn't like at all, but it appears empathy has begun to take root.  Hurray!

*After a five year love affair with scrambled eggs, she can't stand them. She sometimes eat eggs boiled or fried, but I'm just aghast at this.  I remember when she was two I asked our doctor what the maximum number a week was that she could eat!  Times change.

*She barely touches milk.  Even over chocolate or strawberry, she usually chooses water. Not a fan of yogurt anymore either, unless it's colorful and loaded with candy like the kinds I don't buy are.  Might explain her vitamin D deficiency that we just found out about. But, ice cream and cheese are a different story...

*A recent growth spurt has her size 5 pants getting to be "floods."  Still hanging around 36 lbs. though.

*She's uber-responsible about remembering messages from school, remembering to do her homework, reminding me of things I ask her to remind me of.  Great to have a young brain around!

*She doesn't tattle or tell any bad things about anyone from school.  Even if a note of apology comes home from a classmate, she makes very light of it.  Chooses to see the positive I guess. I  hope. Just pray she tells me when it is something important that I really want/need to know.

*She is an extremely humble girl, and talks about that character trait often.  Just the other night she said, sadly, that she thinks Rainbow Dash might not be her favorite of the My Little Ponies anymore because "he shows off a lot and brags" and she doesn't like that.  She's thinking carefully of getting a new favorite.

*She is so excited for Christmas, more materialistically than ever before, but still much less so than other kids I know. She's really into the fact that we're going to see family, that we're going to have a talent show, that it's my birthday, that many houses in town are beautifully decorated with lights, that she gets to GIVE presents she's excited about, and of course has very high hopes for that LEGO mall too.

I love this little character!

Visit with an "old" friend

We were so happy to get news that Quynh was in town.  She's on break from her graduate studies in Georgia, so she came over for a few hours yesterday.  Beatrice always picks right up where they left off last, even though it's been a year since our last visit.  Getting to see friends and family who we don't see often is one of the best parts of the holiday season!

St. Joseph's School annual Christmas Show

Kindergarten and First Grade combined to do a sweet rendition of "Away in a Manger," the words of which have been on our wall to memorize for months.

She practiced faithfully at home, and they had many rehearsals at school the week of the show, including two on the actual day of the performance.  Bea came home yelling "two rehearsals is too much rehearsals!  I can't get that song out of my head!" 

 "The Little Lord Jesus Lay Down His Sweet Head...."

Best Buddy

This year, Samm and Bea go together like peas and carrots, Mutt and Jeff, Ben and Jerry.  They are best buddies at school and talk about each other nonstop.  It is an easy friendship with little drama.  Just fun, smiles, hugs, and love.  After an evening date of gingerbread house building at the library last week, the  two ladies arranged their own playdate at the end of a half day and then convinced their dads to follow through on their plans.  Worked like a charm.

They decided to meet at the park at 2:30, run around on the playground, then head to the lake to feed ducks.

This is the stuff dreams are made of:  pinky promises, wanting to do things the same as twins, looking forward to school each and every day because it's a chance to see each other once again.

We signed up for a Family Paint at Artique Paint bar, where the girls painted Olaf on the beach and had a surprise visit from Anna herself! The time at the house before, and the time spent running around Victoria Station after though, made the day perfect.

 Bea loves this girl so much she not only wants to marry her, but she's even willing to share her, since Samm apparently wants to marry Bea and others. True love indeed. I'm so glad she has a friend like this.

Meanwhile, related to nothing in this post, Anthony came across this picture of Bea at age 3.  I never remember seeing this, never remember her owning blue crocs, but boy did it make me smile!

Let the Games Begin...