Abby's Journal

January 5, 2012
It is a beautiful day so I am letting you and Isaac do the coveted “skip my nap” activity. This works well on beautiful days because I tell you that you have to stay outside in order to be allowed to skip your nap. You took crayons out and colored for a while but just now I took out popsicles (yes, in January!) and you were in the sandbox. We played at the park earlier and you were hot in your long sleeves, leggings and skirt so now you are in shorts and a short sleeve shirt!

Last night you had your first gymnastics class. You wanted to give it a try even though it means taking a break from ballet. Really you wanted to do both but I made you choose. It was very tempting to me to push you towards ballet (because that's what I did), especially since you had a hard time making a choice, but I think I stayed admirably neutral. I hope you enjoy it – it was clear last night that you are very flexible compared to many of your classmates.

You absolutely adore the read-aloud portion of our school work (especially the Little House on the Prairie series) but phonics and handwriting have been meeting with a lot of resistance. I have such a hard time knowing whether to push you – since I think it's mostly a battle of the wills – or to pull back because you're actually not quite ready. You are more than capable but for whatever reason not excited about it. I am a blessed woman to be able to worry about such trifles.

We spent Thanksgiving in Minnesota. One day was at Grandma Drewry's, one day was the Flanegan celebration and one day Grandma Kim took us to the aquarium in the Mall of America. You got to ride one little ride too. Then the rest of the time was chilling out with Wii and movies and playing with Breanna's old Barbies. I'm so glad we were able to see everyone, especially Great Grandpa Ed, because he passed away on Christmas Day.

We celebrated your birthday with yet another “princess tea party”. You really seem to love all the girly things – pretty cupcakes, butterfly magnet crafts, pb and j sandwiches cut with cookie cutters, and china teacups. You got a Ken doll (which you really wanted after playing with Breanna's Barbies) and a scooter from me and Daddy.

We took the week before Christmas off of school and did lots of fun Christmasy things: caroling at a nursing home with our friends from church (Fagreys, Jacobs and Kennedys), decorating sugar cookies with cousins, and making gingerbread houses with Grace and Nadya Belcher. Christmas Day you got lots of Barbie things (including a pink car), some Legos, and some books, crafts and games. You actually wanted to stop opening presents after about two so that you could go play with them!

Then after Christmas Daddy left for MN again to be with his family and Elise and I flew out a few days later for Grandpa Ed's funeral. You, Isaac and Matthew stayed with Papa and Grammie. You got to sleepover at their house and they took you to Chuck E Cheese and the Storybook Island lights display. We are so blessed to have them nearby.