Happy Birthday!

Happy 9th birthday, Anya!

Here we go again with another year in the books.

School: Almost two months in, and she seems to be settled and comfortable in class. Third grade is a big year at St. C. for personal responsibility and quality of work expectations. Starting out the year, there were some tears (which we were warned to expect) and some surprises with a few less-than-stellar marks. She has written some beautifully creative and rich stories, which, unfortunately, weren't quite what the teacher was looking for in assignments. But she's motivated and has gotten better at paying attention to directions. Not perfect, but it's a process.

Socially, she seems to be doing fine. Surprisingly not much girl drama so far this year (other than the usual competition she has with one of her friends). Knock on wood, but this class seems to get along very well.

We just finished up the cross-country and soccer seasons. Big improvements for her in both. In third grade, the soccer teams split into boys/girls teams. All of the girls, including Anya, were much more aggressive on the field this season.

Let's see...I believe she still wants to be a herpetologist, or is maybe interested in being a veterinarian. I just now asked her and she said she wants to breed frogs and sell them.

Likes: still obsessed with animals. All kinds, bugs included.  We've started letting her go on neighborhood walks by herself, so she loves that -- she often goes to check out parking strip gardens that might have insects, look for cats, and chat with neighborhood kids/people we know. Her newest interest is American Ninja Warrior, with Jessie Graff as her current idol. She often sets up little obstacle courses in the house for herself and "sportscasts" as she completes them ("she hops over the couch...and she attemps a piano solo in the middle of the course. Can? She? Do it??").

Still loves rock climbing. We recently joined a group in the Mountaineers org that's just for kids her age. Every month, they go on an excursion in the Puget Sound area, with varying activities. Last month was rock climbing near North Bend. Tomorrow is a hike (which we'll have to miss), and there will be snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, etc. It's pretty awesome and she's made some friends.

She also still loves reading, and I'm pretty sure it'll be a lifelong love. We often have to take her books away at night, since she gets engrossed in the stories and stays up too late reading. She was recently tested at school and reads/comprehends at a 6th-7th grade level. I'm sure partly due to all the nerdy books she (and we) loves to read.

Anya is still doing piano lessons. She doesn't always want to practice, but adores her teacher and mostly enjoys it. We will keep it up as long as she wants to do it. Anya also asked to start doing gymnastics again. Seattle Gymnastics Academy is full right now, but we signed her up with 2 of her good friends at the Little Gym for a trial run of it. It's a little too beginner, since she's done gymnastics before, so we'll see if she wants to stick with her friends or move levels.

For her birthday this year, we are having a small party at our house next weekend and a mobile petting zoo is coming. Recap and pictures forthcoming. For today, though, it's a busy day with the last soccer game, piano recital at a retirement home, then the school's harvest festival, and topping it off with a friend sleeping over. Phew!