February Loves

Annie:
-Being so excited to create your own custom valentines
-Having fun creating our "crayon shaving hearts."
-Being so brave when you tripped on the sidewalk in Toledo, scraping both knees and putting a hole in your favorite leggings.
-Being the best reader in your reading group (which is already the highest reading group). I know this because I am your reading group leader. You are totally cool with me being there--I love that!

-Being so excited to sleep in a hotel during our family trip to Grand Rapids. You wanted to go to bed right when we got there!

-Not being too impressed with said hotel because it didn't have "bead curtains."

Jack:
-Being the continual "ladies man" at preschool. Your teachers told me all the girls are in love with you!
-Being fascinated with the Dinosaur maze at the Imagination Station. You are so interested in all things dinosaur. And space. Actually, you love learning interesting facts about everything.
-Your compositions on the piano are so awesome! You are the king of 5ths. Even though practicing isn't your favorite thing, you are always dying to perform.
-Frequently requesting the song "kick drum" by the Avett Brothers. You've got good musical taste, dude!
-Telling me you loved the music at my recital. Like I said, you've got good taste (and I'm glad you love Beethoven).

-Enjoying the Carniverous Plants portion of the Meijer Botanical Gardens.

Rosie:
-Switching your favorite show from Little Einsteins to Dinosaur Train. And singing the theme song all day long, complete with the "roar!" at the end.
-Constantly wanting to wear your Apple Dress.
-Embracing your sweet little top knot. Every morning as I brush your hair, you say, "How about a ponytail today?" And then I gather every last hair I can into that teeny little top knot while you say, "oooh, pretty!"
-Joining me in zumba class, and often leading me in your own little zumba class afterward at home. You can shake your booty!

-Holding a butterfly at the Botanical Gardens. So brave!

January Loves

Annie:

-Reading all 8 "Ramona" books you got for Christmas by the end of the second week of January.

-Having three loose teeth in your mouth but not daring to wiggle them. Also, having a row of "shark teeth" on bottom.

-Reading to Rosie at bedtime.

-Perfecting your Federation piece in one week, only to have the teacher switch pieces the following week....curse you, "Israeli Dance!"

-Catching you reenacting the Barbie Nutcracker movie.

-Marching off to school completely bundled and encumbered by huge backpack and snow bag when it's only 3 degrees outside. What a little trooper.

-Passing off your Addition Math Minute!

Jack:

-Celebrating your 5th birthday!

-Visiting you at school and seeing that you are a rock star: everybody wants to sit next to you and play with you during center time. Summer even wants to kiss you. Apparently this is also the problem in primary--the is a war between opposing factions on who gets to sit next to you every week, and you just sit there and pretend to not understand what all the fuss is about.

-Announcing that your favorite color is orange.

-A million games of kerplunk, but only one partial game of "tip-it."

-Trying to figure out what kind of "theme" to have for your birthday party, even though this was a non-birthday party year. You finally settled on Pirates the day before, so we quickly picked up some pirate decorations and party favors for our family party. You were so pleased!

-Asking if you can run around the house outside, when the temperature finally got above 10 degrees.

-Building lego airplanes and lego rocket ships and lego guns.....

-Turning everything into an airplane and zooming it around the house.

-Reading--you are getting better and better!

Rosie:

-Running to the bathroom stool in the mornings so I can do your "hair."

-Embracing the "top knot."

-Wanting to wear your "ballerina skirt" (leotard) every day.

-Also wanting to wear your "Apple Dress" every day.

-Wanting to wear your "nightgown, like Annie" every single night.

-Sneaking into our bed, cheerfully requesting our presence in your room at 2 AM every morning. Wait, is that a love?

-Taking "Lego" the kitty and "Kee" the baby doll everywhere you go.

-Asking, "Mommy, you happy?" And if I am not, you start crying.

-Princess dress-ups. I forgot how fun this phase is!

-When asked if your name is Rosie, you say, "I not Rosie. I princess!"