FIVE

Red Fish in the birthday crown I made her.

Four has been an awesome age for Red Fish. I can't believe she is already five.  Wasn't she just barely born? She is so smart and such fun to be around. I brag about her to the point of being annoying.  She is just such a fabulous kid.  How am I so lucky to be the mother to this beautiful, bright, enigmatic, little joy? I thank my Heavenly Father (and her birthmom) regularly.  A few things about Red Fish on her birthday-
• She is constantly asking for "projects."
• She loves to learn and asks for math workbooks, flashcards, practice sheets etc.  She has been learning about money and how to tell time.  She has also been learning how to write her letters and numbers correctly.
• She is obsessed with rhyming right now.  When we drive in the car she has me pick a word and then she thinks of as many rhyming words as she can.
• She loves to make complicated patterns out of blocks or drawings etc.  She will point out patterns everyplace we go.
• She is extra sweet to her little sister and lets her tag along everyplace.  She shares everything with her sister even when she isn't asked to.  If she gets two pieces of candy at school, she saves one for New Fish.
• She is turning into a great little reader.  She also loves being read to and could spend hours each day listening to stories or looking at her books.  She likes me to read her chapter books and art books.  She also loves the Curious George series and Clifford The Big Red Dog. 
• She is an animal lover.
• She loves giraffes, unicorns and rainbows.
• She loves color in general but is partial to purple if she must limit herself to one color.
• She adores creating.  She loves art and music.  She sings all day long.  I think she is going to start some official music lessons after Christmas.
• She loves school even though it is a struggle to get her out of the door in the morning.
• She cares deeply about her friends and adores her cousins.
• She loves her grandparents and great grandparents and talks about them all of the time.  All of her friends know all about them.
• She is extremely sensitive and empathetic.  She has a big heart.
• She gives wonderful hugs, often.  She expresses love easily.  She is very snuggly.
• She loves to be outdoors.  She loves camping, hiking, riding her bike and walking the dog.
• She figures out technology very easily.  More easily than her mother.
• She has the most darling freckles ever.
• Her hair is naturally curly. People always ask me if I have curled it.  It is wild hair and I'm not great at fixing it but she is so darn cut it doesn't matter.
• She knows when she is tired and will tuck herself into bed for a nap or an early bedtime.
• She still loves her two blankies "Petey" and "Teddy Bear."  Teddy Bear is most important.
• She likes adults.
• She is a fish.  She loves to be underwater.
• She likes rock and roll.
• She knows how to have a good time.
• She loves her Dad.  He is already training her to love Google.
• She loves the cartoon "Horseland."  It's her favorite show on Netflix right now.  She also loves Curious George and Busytown Mysteries.  She also likes He-man.
• She was recently in the Primary program in our church.  She had a speaking part and she did awesome.  She had it memorized and she wasn't afraid to get up in front of everyone and say her part.  She was adorable.
• She cracks herself up.
• Her imagination is incredible.  Her creative play has really developed over the last year.  It has been fun to watch.

I adore this little girl more than words can say.