The Fifth Year

In celebration of Sydney's Sixth Birthday, I thought it'd be fun to think back over the year and list a few things that made this one stand out for Miss Syd. These aren't in any kind of order...just off the top of my head:

*Moved to Kansas City...she transitioned with flying colors.

*Started full-day kindergarten in a pretty diverse school, which has been a great thing for all of us. She also loves her teacher, Mrs Smith and, I just gotta say: isn't that a perfect kindergarten teacher name? Almost too perfect...hum....maybe she's really an undercover agent. Like Kindergarten Cop!

*She's proud to have lost five baby teeth at this point.

*Last Christmas (I guess she wasn't quite five yet...oh well), we all got to go to Mexico with Patrick's parents. She remembers it vividly and will often say, in a quiet, wistful voice: "Mommy, I really, really want to go back to Mexico." Me too, baby. Me too.

*In January, she got to go to Colorado to visit Addie, Lillie and Claira, our old neighbors and her "second best friends," as she refers to them (Levi N. is her "first" one, since she's known him the longest).

*She wants to be an artist when she grows up and declares this regularly. HOWEVER, we bought her an easel for Christmas...and she's used it TWICE. Certainly makes me wonder about the resolve of a five/six year old!!!

*She is sweet. So, so, so, so sweet. When we drop her off at school and she sees a friend, she RUNS FULL OUT to them and gives the biggest bear hug. She is full of enthusiasm for friendship and justice and what's "right."

*She is so compassionate and has such a tenderness for the underdog - the one left out - and is very sensitive to being left out herself. She wants to include friends and share her things (usually). I can't really think of any good examples right now, so this isn't a very colorful description, but she has such a big heart...I wish I could paint a better picture of it.

*Her obsession with crazy tights and multi-printed/patterned/layered clothing persists. The crazier, the better. Her creativity is inspiring and her unawareness (or lack of concern) about how other people are dressed or what is considered normal matching behavior is, at the same time, challenging and great, great fun. I've definitely had to confront my own issues with how I want people to perceive me when it comes to her wardrobe...especially on "stripey day"...just imagine it...everything striped that she owns...at the same time! Actually, stripey days are pretty dang cute...it's more the Little House on the Prairie meets Pippie Longstocking that gets me going.

*She wants to know EVERYTHING and when you run out of answers (which I do all the time) and you say "I don't know," she practically cuts you off with "Well, do you have a guess?" Humm...you got me there, girl. I can always make a guess, dagnabbit. The other day I told her, after a fifteen minute spree of question answering, "Ya know, honey, sometimes there just isn't an answer." To which she replied, "Mom, that's just so hard for me. I'm such a curious kid." Yep.

*She wants to grow her hair to her waist. I have to admit, I struggle to support this one.

*To sum up her interests: She loves Hannah Montana, as I've mentioned about a dozen times, drawing, painting, friends, computer games, music boxes, reading, listening to the soundtrack for Wicked (oh my heavens, the questions that soundtrack raises), flying kites (a new interest), riding our tandem bike (but NOT her own bike...not even for fifteen feet)...and a million other things I can't think of right now. OH, and mac and cheese.

*She has a great voice and can sing SOOOOO high. She's also got great rythm, though she takes no interest in dance (boo hooooo) at this point.

*She is DRAMATIC, theatrical, funny, kooky and has a killer weapon-like scream!

Hope you enjoy her even a smidgen of how much I do. Your world will be a little sunnier by simply taking the time to enjoy the outfits she puts together.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Syd...I love you.

mama.