Basketball for Ashlyn

Ashlyn enjoyed playing basketball for the first time this year!  She was blessed to be on the same team as 6 of her other classmates and Daddy was her coach, so it was really fun!  Hopefully this is the start of many years of the kids playing the sport together.

Ashlyn's 8th Birthday!

Ashlyn is now 8!!!  She enjoyed a nice birthday party at home with friends this year, and even her teacher, Miss Early, came to join the party!  They had a blast making wind chimes and acting out the song "Let It Go" from the extremely popular movie, Frozen.  Great times and good friends!  Ashlyn was very excited to get a ukulele for her birthday this year!

 Her friends were:  Ellie Isaacson, Aimee and Erinn Varga, Paige Safly, Abigail O'Rear and Miss Early.

Here are a few things about our 8 year old, Ashlyn:

- still a very energetic, bouncy little girl and a delight :)

- very talented musically.  She continues taking piano lessons from Miss Val, but a new addition this year is a focus on writing her own music!  She creates many songs in her head and now works to get those songs on paper, both by writing them herself and using a computer notation program.  She also has discovered the joy of singing harmony!  I enjoy listening to what she comes up with!

- has a new passion for drawing and art.  She has received some encouragement from friends at school regarding her drawing, so that has helped her to gain some confidence in this area.

- enjoyed playing basketball for the first time this year and continued with Daddy's volleyball clinics

- some other firsts this year are her musical theater class and the worship dance class at church

- still very aware and in tune to others' feelings.  Can be very sensitive at times.

- she's in her 2nd year of allergy shots.  :(  Hopefully we'll be seeing some improvement soon.

So, that somewhat wraps up my crazy, sensitive, musical, artful, athletic, smart little girl!  We love you, Ashlyn!  Happy Birthday!!

Jaclyn's 10th Birthday!

Wow, she's 10!  We're definitely getting into the tween years now and in double digits!

Jaclyn had a fun birthday party at home with friends this year.  There was plenty of giggling, dancing, crafting, and more giggling.  They all had a great time.

 Friends are Sophia Doorn, Amanda Weih, Lydia Cui, Aubrey Miller, Kalin Rotzoll, Abby Anderson, McKenzie Logan and Lydia Hunter.

So, let's list what she's into these days...

- favorite sports are volleyball and cheerleading

- currently taking a musical theater class, piano lessons and worship dance class at church

- best friend is still Abby Anderson, but she is still a social little girl and will play with anyone!  Has many friends at church and at school, but doesn't seem to stick to just one...she tends to gravitate to different people at different times.  She definitely has some leadership skills but is still learning how to navigate the hard task of working with others.

- this year she started a little "kids club" for some of our young neighbors and they actually came!  She had a little Bible lesson and activities set up for them.  She discovered that little kids sometimes don't do exactly what you want them to!  :)

- really enjoys projects at school and research.  She enjoyed being Elias Howe for her class' Inventors Wax Museum.

- still enjoys reenacting plays and musicals for fun at home with her sisters

- has started to experience babysitting.  She helps watch the many kids in our faith family.

Oh, how things are going to start to change as she gets older!  Next year holds many new experiences including school sports and band!  I am looking forward to the years ahead as she navigates becoming a young lady.  May God keep her safe and guard her heart.  I love you, Jaclyn!

Alice in Wonderland

Jaclyn and Ashlyn had a great opportunity this past winter to participate in the musical, Alice in Wonderland!  Not very big parts, but it was a very well done performance, so it was totally worth it to have the experience.  They were talking fish and had a delightful time!