The Little Miss is SEVEN!

Ode to my sparkling, beloved

Little Miss

On your 7th Birthday!

A

Ablaze with energy and ideas, this gal has so much to say. She’ll talk, sing and dance from the minute she awakes, until the very end of the day.

N

Nostalgic for the times long past, or those just minutes before. She has a heart as big as the world and will love you forevermore.

N

Nimble in the way she thinks, this child is oh so clever. She soaks up books and facts galore and happily learns from whomever.

(Type in “wright” to watch the videos)

A

Athletic, acrobatic, aquatic too, she lives for a challenge or dare. She’ll take on a task with gusto, and do it with plenty of flare.

(Type in “wright” to watch the videos)

B

Boisterous with her brothers and cousins, she’s one wild and rowdy cowgirl. Riding her bronco of feelings, her heart is always awhirl.

E

Effervescent is the word for her, when she walks in a room she shines. She charms and enlivens all those she meets, and makes a friend of anyone she finds.

L

Lighthearted are the shades she wears when she gazes upon the world. She’s a beach chick at heart who sees life as a ride, and is always up for a gnarly curl.

L

Lavish with her imagination, she’s a fanciful little fairy. She’ll take you away on a magical ride and entertain with her wit and her whimsy.

(Type in “wright” to watch the videos)

E

Effusive in all that she does, she’s one passionate 7 year old. She’ll fight for what’s right and change the world with a drive that’s audacious and bold.

Happy SEVENTH birthday, Little Miss!

We’re CRAZY about you!

 

Little Missy’s 7 Year Old Stats:
Height: 4′ 3.3″ (93%)
Weight: 53lb 8oz (63%)

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Dance Recital

Our Little Miss Drama Queen participated in a dance/theater class this spring with some of her good homeschool buddies, and she had such a blast.

I LOVED watching the joy and excitement on her face as she emerged from class each Friday afternoon.  And the boys loved our weekly trips to local parks and Dunkin Donuts as we waited for their Big Sis.  Our adventurous, nature loving Lil Mister even discovered his first Geocache on one of these outings!  Not to be outdone by his tree-hugging Big Brother, on a subsequent forest tromp the Lil Sir got into a tussle with a stick and ended up in the Duke ER with a severe eye injury.  But that’s a tale for another day…one that (thanks be to God!) had a a happy ending (and a whole lotta lollipops).

Anyhoo…where was I?  Oh right, the RECITAL.

It was awesome.  And somewhat chaotic.  But fun and sweet and awesome nonetheless.

Some might even call it a SQUEAL!

Our Little Miss Blue Mouse

Here are some memories from the dress rehearsal:

(type in “wright” to watch the videos)

And then the performance was the next night!  In front of a room with a PACKED audience, no less.

Getting all gussied up…

Welcoming her guests…

All ready to go…

And then show time!!!

(no password necessary for this one)

The final bows

The Little Miss did great and we were all so very proud of her!

That’s our girl.

Our Little Ray of (Mouse-y) Sunshine.

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The Little Miss – Kindergarten Champion

She did it, folks.  She survived both her kindergarten year and her first year of homeschooling under Teacher Mama

…and learned a whole darn lot in the process.

And I did it, folks.  I survived the first (often difficult, definitely entertaining) year teaching homeschool.  Admittedly, I feel a lot like this right now…

But I’m so glad and thankful for the educational path that we have chosen.  God is so much wiser than I am (shocker), and He knew this was the right way for us to go…both for the Little Miss, and for our family.

And with God’s help (and a whole lotta wine and ice cream), WE MADE IT TO SUMMER BREAK!!!

So here’s a look back at our last 5 months of school.

HOME SCHOOLING

Reading & Literature

What better place to read great literature than outside, with a cup of hot cocoa in hand?

Writing

First book by the Little Authoress.

Part biblical critique, part cookbook…the possibilities are endless!

Arts & Crafts

Lunchtime

in our very own Outdoor Cafeteria

GIRL SCOUTS

In a troop full of Girl Scout-Homeschool-Superstars it’s hard not to feel confident!

SCIENCE:

Earning her Butterfly Badge…Little Bros in tow.

They’re good company.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Gymnastics Class

For a girl who loves to wiggle (and TALK!), I can’t imagine a better class or instructor.  Coach Andrew is one of our faves!

Spring Soccer

What with buying a new home and putting our current home on the market this spring, we only made it to one game.  Sigh.  But the Lil Miss still had a blast practicing with her team!  She dreams of being a world class Goalie.  Mostly, I think, because it affords her the most opportunities to sing and twirl.

Put on your game face!

CLASSICAL CONVERSATIONS CO-OP

We hit the gold mine when we joined the South Durham CC community.  It’s a group chock-full of families who love Jesus, who are devoted to their kids, and who want to care and support each other as we travel this crazy (exhausting) homeschool journey together.  We are so thankful for all of the friends and adventures we have enjoyed (and will continue to enjoy) with this group!

SCIENCE:
Building a structure for the egg drop

The Lil Miss and her Engineering Partner (Severus)

Success!  The egg survived!

SCIENCE:
CC Field trip to the NC Zoo

(a.k.a. How Much can a Mama Sweat in One Day?)

ART & WORLD HISTORY:
CC Field trip to the NC Art Museum

This place is A-MA-ZING.

The volunteer guide kept her cadre of Little Pupils captivated the ENTIRE visit.  She was so engaging and attentive.  It’s awesome to watch kids’ interest soar when they are shepherded by a passionate teacher!

It was the same for me back in the day when I was taught by Mr. Bob Engberg.  Great teachers are such treasures!

HISTORY:
CC Field trip to Stagville Plantation

Using archaeological clues to learn about the lives and struggles of the slaves who once occupied the largest plantation in all of North Carolina

The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.

Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think.

I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits.

– Quotes from Martin Luther King Jr.

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