Look who's FIVE!

The Gwenster is FIVE! I find this unbelievable. When she was born, I thought 5 year olds were SO OLD! I couldn't even picture having a 5 year old. Now look at us. She may be 5, BUT she is not old. She's still my baby. My baby girl who is a princess through and through, one moment and then a adventurous muddy brave tomboy the next. She is so delightful to have around. Her spirit lights up our home and we adore her for it. 

Gwen started preschool in the fall and has already learned so much. She can write the whole alphabet and can write her name, Oscar, Otis and Jay all by herself. She has decided that she is an artist and enjoys coloring, painting and creating things. Her teacher says that during free time, most kids are playing with toys, but not Gwen. For free time you can find Gwen painting or doing some kind of art. Her backpack is full everyday of fun things she has made and done. Because of her new love for art, we got her a few things for Christmas and she spends hours everyday making books, cards, pictures, and paper butterfly's and other things. I love watching her be so creative. And she is as proud as can be when she's done. 

She goes to preschool with her cousin Finn, and a few friends from church and soccer. She will start kindergarten in the fall at the same school where both Jay and I attended elementary school. She is so excited but a little sad that preschool will have to come to an end here in a couple of months. 

Gwen is in gymnastics and LOVES it. She loves everything about it. Obstacles, climbing, hand stands, foam pit. Hopefully we can keep her in there for a while. 

She just started soccer last week. A bunch of us parents put together a little neighborhood league. Jay and I are coaches and we're excited to see how this goes. :) Although Gwen doesn't love soccer as much as gymnastics or swimming, she does love to be with all her friends. And that's really what this is about anyway. 

Here a few things I want to remember about our Gwenny. 

-How she can still say daddydaddydayy over and over as faster than Jay or I can do it. 

-How she says "oh my gosh". Such a little grown up! ;) 

-How she needs a butterfly kiss before she goes to bed.

-That she taught herself Mary had a little lamb on the piano all by herself and is learning doe a deer. She plays by ear and try's to find the right key. She's pretty determined and doesn't want help unless she asks for it. 

She loves yogurt, corn dogs, bagels, apples, and more yogurt! ;) 

-She loves to pick out her outfits and be creative with her style. 

-She is a good big sis and loves to help me with Otis. She has an Otis baby voice when she's talking to him. Although it can be very loud and annoying at times. ;) 

-She loves her cousins Finn and Quinn. They are her best friends and lights up when she's with them. 

-She loves to ride her bike. She has a peddle bike that she loves and she also still loves to ride her strider bike. She loves to go fast fast fast! One weekend we went on a bike ride two days in a row and while we were riding the second day, she exclaimed that these were the best two days ever. :) 

-She loves going to both grandma and grandpas house. They both have trampolines and she could jump all day. :) 

-She loves Grandma Judy's craft room and loves spending time in there with my mom and creating things. 

-she can be very particular. She likes things her own certain way. She colors within the lines on a coloring page, if she messes up, she'll throw it out. She decorates/cleans her room perfectly (to her), if I move one thing, she notices. She lines up her horses, books or whatever in her won "perfect" way. 

She's pretty fantastic. She's a happy girl with a happy spirit. She's funny, she's kind hearted and she's generous. We love her to the moon and back! 

Happy birthday little girl!