Being eight is great!

2010 was of course Elizabeth's big year. Age of accountability! She is not our little "B" any more. Although Mom still calls her everything: Izzie B, Bitty B, Liz, Beth, Elizabeth, Lizzie, Iz and just B, her preference is IZZIE. That's what goes speedily on top of every math sheet and spelling test. She is of course a whiz and the challenge from her third grade teacher, Mr. Duer to master the Galileo test this year will probably require just one thing: SLOW DOWN!

She is cruising through books, math tests, and even the scriptures on her own. She has become a pro roller-blader overnight. She is quick on the draw with a kiss, a hug and even a compliment. She has been especially appreciative for and kind towards her mom. Elizabeth has developed a gift of noticing when her mom needs a little love and knows how much a verbal expression of it means to her.

2011 will only bring on more great things for this darling girl who loves to climb trees, play soccer, ride bikes, roller blade, figure out math problems....etc. etc.!

Lil' Mae

January 2011

Mary is six-and-a-half-years-old. She is sweet. She is silly. She is shy. She is spazy! She is our lil' Mae and we love her.

She is enjoying first grade. Her teacher, Ms. Petersen is a spunky blond who cheers the class on. She puts Mary at a table and the baby of our family instantly becomes a leader, keeping everyone in line and on task.

She is a great leader and loves taking her turn in family scripture time reading a few verses. She has long mastered the "and it came to pass" and no longer struggles with great words like iniquities, prophecies, and marvelous.

Mary still loves to create and give. Often times the craft room/guest room turns immediately into a mess room when Mary is in search of supplies to make something. But our youngest is also quick to clean up and loves to have things in order. She is great at doing a sink load of dishes and can still handle the laundry. (She mastered this skill before we moved to Laveen so she was probably only three! Mommy came into the kitchen to the sound of the washing machine running...when asked if she started the laundry she replied "yes, I started a batch of whites". Sure enough she had sorted, put the soap in and remembered what buttons to push! I have never thought a job was too hard for a child since. They just have to know the steps. I think she had learned from me teaching the older girls and just took the initiative to do it on her own!)