Kindergarten Charli

MY PANY! You are growing like a weed. I am so proud of you. You are thriving in school, in gymnastics, in friendships, in crafting, in life skills, it is as if everything you touches turns to gold. Not a bad thing that's for sure. What an awesome transition you've made to Kindergarten and the CARE program.  The learning you have done this fall is incredible. You are reading! You are doing addition and subtraction problems all by yourself! You are drawing pictures, nailing sight words, creating projects, solving problems, discovering science, meeting new friends. YOU LOVE SCHOOL! Every day brings you brand new adventures to explore; the world is at your fingerprints. Charli, I told you that you can do anything you put your mind to and that you have all the skills to do anything. Guess what! The very next day you taught yourself to ride your bike. I said balance like you do in gymnastics and just like that , you were riding off in to the sunset, life skill accomplished. It was awesome! You were so excited and so were we! I am so proud of you everyday, I am so blessed that you are my daughter. I think you are all around amazing.

 Let me just take a quick step back....With all this great stuff, let me say we have had our fair share of struggles as well. Do you remember about a year and a half ago when you cut your hair at Kathy's, and we discussed that you will never do that again because you are not a professional.....well not too long ago Danica came running upstairs to find me and let me know "Charli cut her hair." Daddy left his clippers in the basement  bathroom and you just couldn't resist, you put them right up to your hair and cut a perfect line in the side. It could have been a disaster like last time but we didn't need to fix this cut with another cut, thank GOD. Honestly, with your blond hair and beautiful blue eyes it doesn't really matter. With your sweetest heart and kind, helping, giving spirit it doesn't  matter at all. It's just hair---- but let me tell you it is not happening again young lady! Oh and lets not forget when I was putting up lights outside and I thought Daddy took you and Danica to the store. You ran out of the house crying, " I'm shaking. I'm shaking." I had no idea what was going on. We went in the house and it smelled of burnt smoke. You took a PB&J sandwich in it's plastic wrap and put it in the microwave and turned it on. I can only imagine the sparks and what happened next but it scared you to pieces. I am hoping that it scared you not to touch the microwave again. As independent as you are, we have to keep you grounded and always keep our eye on you and  help you to understand what you can and can not do at 5 years old. We have had a few other iffy experiences of you testing the boundaries, and some crabby over tired days, but sometimes we need to realize that you are only 5. Oh I am sorry I mean 5 and a half year old, that is very important to you! Believe me you let everyone know who asks, " I am five and a half."

You are such a busy five and a half year old. You have continued weekly gymnastics and are the best in the class. I don't know what they would do without you, and they actually tell us that, they need you to demonstrate each week. You tell me that you really like the bars, but I am super amazed by your flexibility. That goes for a lot of people. I put you in a Fremd cheer camp and when I went to work the next day a cheerleader at my school came up to me with an image on her phone and said, "Isn't this your daughter?" It was a picture of you in the air with your leg to your ear doing a cheer pose, the caption said--RAISING CHAMPIONS YOUNG. Seriously! Then a few weeks later you performed at the Palatine/Fremd football game and they put you up in the air again and everyone cheered. I don't even think you know how good you are. Again I am just in awe of you. Athletics is not the only thing you excel in. You are a master crafter. You have an eye for design and you create masterpieces. I have you in every science, crafting, STEM class under the sun and you LOVE them. You come home with the best projects and of course a fan favorite, SLIME! Fun for kids, a nightmare for Moms. I think your creativity is something to be admired and I am on board for you to try everything, you will even begin piano lessons soon. I also can't wait to decorate and explode the volcano Auntie Terry gave you for Christmas. Glad Grandma introduced me to Greased Lightning to clean up after you and your sister!

Speaking of Grandma, she is your life line to gymnastics, as she takes you each week and then you have continued your dates. I am trying to explain to Grandma that dates do not have to include doughnuts but I am not sure Grandma listens and they say you can't teach an old dog new tricks. LOL

Every day I try to have you in something new, give you something fun to do, something for you and Danica to enjoy, and  always spend quality family time. Daddy is no longer coaching wrestling so we had an awesome fall and winter so far! We did a lot of boating since it stayed warm for so long and a lot of family time. You went to the pumpkin farm with your class, we went as family, we went on Thomas the train, we went on the Polar Express. We have gone to see awesome shows including Sleeping Beauty and Alice in the Looking Glass. For Halloween you were Glenda the Good Witch and Danica was Dorothy. Oh how beautiful you were. We had another fun halloween party and I made some spooky snacks. It is so fun going to friend's homes and having them over. It is even more fun watching you interact with other kids because they are like moths to a flame around you. You captivate everyone!

Daddy and I went to your Kindergarten Christmas show and it was awesome. You didn't tell me you were chosen for a speaking part and you were so good! Your line was, "We are now going to sing Feliz Navidad." Charli it was so awesome. Again, so proud! You said your favorite part of Christmas is opening up gifts. This year on your list is a fidget spinner, hatchimals, a unicorn book bag. You gave the list to your Elf, Angel, and you have kept Angel's letter under your pillow since she arrived after Thanksgiving on the first magical snow. I can't believe it is almost Christmas and she will be heading back to the North pole. The excitement you and Danica had when your elves arrived is something your Dad and I will never forget. Kids are the greatest excitement and thrill any person can have. So blessed to be a parent of 2 amazing girls. Girls truly make the world go round.

I am so excited for Florida and I know you are even more excited. You just cannot wait to go swimming. We are going to have the best time. Every day with you is the best time. I love dropping you off at school each morning because when we walk in  you tell me how much you love me and how much you are going to miss me and then you tell me to pick you up late! So funny. I love when you sneak in my bed every night, and walking up to your angel face is the best. You and Danica are something else that's for sure. You  love each other so much and are just the best of friends, you are so lucky to have one another. I love that you always have a playmate and friend and how much you both just giggle. We really have the  best time.

I am excited to share our adventures of Florida and how the second half of kindergarten plays out what an exciting 2018 ahead, and we are going to kick it off with a visit to Disney World! Love you