E is 5!

E's birthday was suppose to be yesterday...the day after Memorial Day in 2007.  She was breech and her 'papers' were signed for Tuesday, May 29th...that however was not her in her schedule.  Our little 'Sri', as we called her prior to her birth, decided to surprise us all and come the Monday before Memorial Day.  She has kept us on our toes ever since!

Her current fascination is with all things Little House.  She wants to get a cow so that we can milk it.  She can't wait to help G'ma plant her garden like they did in the Little House books.  She got a 'Mary' dress for Christmas and wears it at least once a week for the entire day.  She doesn't want to wear shoes outside because Laura didn't have to in the summer.  She's my Little House girl, and I love it.  I love being able to share my love of the pioneer days with her.  We've read all 8 of the 'Rose' books this winter and are now on book number 2 of the 'Caroline' series.  Plus we've reread the first couple Little House books since January.  It is fun.

E has wanted to read so badly this year.  Her two 'best' friends started kindergarten this fall and tell her stories of school.  She wanted to be in school desperately and learn to read like they do.  So, at the end of April, I finally formally started teaching her reading.  She's currently on 'lesson 4' (I would consider it a 'unit' not a lesson because each 'lesson' takes a bit more than a week...but that's just my opinion) and can read about 55 words.  She's doing really well.  I love her excitement for learning.  I hope that she can continue it as she grows and learning becomes expected and more difficult.

Helping around the house is one of her favorite activities...when she has the desire.  She loves to help mix ingredients and stir or knead dough.  She always wants to help wash dishes.  She's a great helper with the boys.  "Mother hen" is a good nickname.  If one of the boys is doing something against the rules, I can count on E to let me know.  She's a first-born through and through.

As much as she 'mothers' the boys, she also aggravates them.  She and X pick and pick and pick on each other.  They only want to play with what the other person is playing with.  She can get X to scream faster than anything.  She loves stealing his trains.  She knows just want he's going to want to play with and goes for it first.  She's getting aggressive with X and we keep telling her that both the boys are going to out-mass her soon and she'll be in trouble. 

Age 4 was rough in some aspects.  E lost her Great Grandma and Grandpa Flegel, Grandpa Daron and "Grandma Red".  Most four year old don't have to attend four funerals in a year.  But, she is excited for heaven and for the party that we'll have when we all get there and are reunited.  How much she understands I don't really know but she's seemed to do well with it all.  She'll tell you she loves Jesus and wants to follow Him in life.  She can sing several praise songs...our favorite to belt out is "Where I belong" by Building 452.  I love our times singing together.  It is fun. (However, she probably knows more Thomas songs due to the number of Thomas videos we watch)

Our days are fun.  Our evenings enjoyable.  For the most part, E plays well with X.  They go on all sorts of adventures together.  Today they were searching for 'Thomas'.  We went all over the block looking for 'Thomas' and singing "Where oh where is Thomas".  The adventures we have I would never have imagined 5 years ago...but *most* of them I wouldn't trade for the world.