Lailey's 5-Year-Old Birthday Interview

Another birthday. Another chance to ask, "when did she get so big?" Another time to be reminded of the sweet miracle of our oldest child. She is a delight every day. A precious, warm-hearted, kind, and goofy kid who lights up the room when she's around. 

This is the third year I've done a "Birthday Interview" with her, and I'm excited to start the tradition with Maddox on his third birthday. Can't wait to see what he comes up with! Feel free to copy this idea to use with your own kids, as it's a fun way to see how they grow through the years. After she watched the finished product, we went back and watched her 3-year-old interview, and 4-year-old interview. Funny how she names the same favorite snacks as last year! And the answer to "what do you want to be when you grow up?" is also the same. It will be cool if she sticks with her answer. Check it out!

I want to share a few things about Lailey, some cute stories, quotes, and pictures, so when she's older we can look back and remember her at this age.

When it comes to personality, there's no doubt we've got an extroverted 5 yo on our hands. She loves making new friends, and welcomes anyone to play with her wherever she is. She enjoys singing on stage, and so far has not exhibited any stage fright, even with pretty large crowds. Drama and theater may be in her future for sure. She has seen two productions this year - Konos Academy's Beauty and the Beast and Legacy Theater's Little Mermaid Jr. - and was totally captivated by both. She sat, enraptured, totally attentive, and - here's the biggie - very STILL to watch the kids on stage. "Still" is not a word used to describe her, so this was quite notable.

She loves animals (did you see the squirrel video at the bottom of the camping trip post?) and right now says she wants to be a vet.

The bee she saw while filming her interview was dead on the window sill the next day.
So we studied him a bit, and she was quite interested, especially when we took him apart.

She loves tea parties, her family, dancing around in fun dress up clothes, and putting on concerts with her brother on the drums.

Lailey and her great-Grandma Cele

She does not usually take a nap anymore, but if I rest in the afternoon, she sometimes can't help falling asleep, and usually in the cutest places...

 ...always with her "miney" (blanket)

 

...and not before she puts her dolls to sleep too.

She loves to be silly and ham it up everywhere she goes.

Old Navy, striking a pose on her own

Sending Daddy silly faces while he's gone.

She came out of her room in the morning dressed like this on our snow day. So funny!

 And she says some great stuff, like:

"Daddy knows more than you because he's a lot bigger than you."

"Mommy, I need to tell you something weird. I can smell fruit snacks in my head just by thinking about them."

(When I offered to take her finished sucker stick) 

"Oh no, I'm not finished. I'm sucking the goodness out."

Even though they fight like siblings do, Lailey and Maddox really love each other. They play all the time, making up games, going on adventures, stealing each other's toys sharing with each other, and snuggling. Most of the time they get along quite well. I hope they continue to have a close bond as they get older.

Snuggling, watching a movie

She's not standing on him, despite the angle.

She enjoys learning and doing school. Recently I showed her how much she's done this school year and how little memory work we have left for our Classical Conversations curriculum. Thinking she would be excited that we've completed so much this year (what do I know?), she instead started crying and said, "I'm almost done with school?!? But I love school!" I assured her we don't have to stop for the summer!

 One of the neatest things about this age is the depth of understanding about spiritual matters. A few months back, while sitting at breakfast, she began a train of thought that went something like this: "Mom, okay, I know that there's only one God, but he's 3. You know...(proceeded to explain the Trinity)...But there's still only one God. I know that."

And then the best part...

"So...how can God walk on the world and still hold it in his hands?" (Lailey, 10.26.13)

I think I sat there for quite awhile, just staring at her, amazed by the depth of the question, and not quite sure how to answer! I do remember it led to a great conversation.

Just the other day, we were singing the U.S. Presidents song and looking at all the Presidents' pictures in our Classical Conversations book. Lailey touched the page and asked me to show her which Presidents were still alive. So, I obliged, pointing out and specifically naming those still living. Once we reached Obama, I added that he is our first black president. (Side note: I have been reading the Addy American Girl series to her, which deals with racial inequality and slavery in the 1860s. Heavy topics, yes, but she seems to understand them pretty well. It's a great opportunity to relate it to Scripture and show her how God sees people's hearts instead of their outward appearance, and we should do the same.) I then told her that unfortunately, Obama does not always make Godly choices for our country. I further explained that this has nothing to do with the color of his skin, but because as far as we know, he does not have a relationship with Jesus. She quickly said,

"Well, we need to pray for Obama to know Jesus, because I want him to go to Heaven so I can meet him."

Wow. Spoken from a 5-year-old. She also reminded me later at prayer time that we needed to pray for the President.

(**Disclaimer: You have the right to disagree with my semi-political statement above. However, whether or not you agree, the President still needs our prayers for running this country. This is my family blog, and not one that is trying to stir up trouble. Thanks!)

This girl loves her Daddy!

While looking through old slides from my dad (Grandpa), Davey came across a photo that made me stop in my tracks. The photo on the left is converted from slide (thank you, Davey!) and is on a camping trip near Crater Lake, Oregon in 1979. The photo on the right is one I shot on our camping trip at F.D. Roosevelt State Park, GA. Even though Lailey has never met her Grandma Neah, she inherited her love and fascination with animals. I will definitely treasure this one forever.

Happy Birthday, Lailey Claire!!