Reading: Allie continues to read voraciously. She was the first kid in the school to finish all 10 books for the Battle of the Books competition. She plans to read all of them 3 times so they stick in her brain really well. The librarian has already said that Allie, Cloey and Caden can be on the same Battle of the Books team again this year which we are excited about. Allie loves fantasy books and is asking for some long ones for Christmas. She is doing a good job of utilizing the school library this year. She is also working on reading the Book of Mormon. She is currently in Mosiah. It is a daunting task for her - one she started years ago - but I think she'll be able to finish it in 2013. Bob promised her an iPod when she finishes it.
Piano: Allie was really reluctant to leave our old piano teacher, Connie Miller. She loved Mrs. Connie and had a special bond with her. It was hard for me to leave Mrs. Connie too. We had driven to her house every week for 2 years. She had watched Sydney and then Sage grow and was so sweet with them. When I told Allie we might make a change she said emphatically, "No Thank You!" It took a few weeks to adjust to the new piano teacher but I think she likes her now. (And it is so much more convenient for me!) She seems to enjoy practicing and playing even more than before. She learned a Halloween song called "Would You Go In?" that she really likes and plays often. At their recital in September Allie and Mrs. Connie played a beautiful duet.
School: Allie has 3 teachers this year in 5th grade. She seems to like all of them. She has gotten two awards in Art already this year - Longhorn Artist of the Week & An Artist Taking Care of Business Award. She still likes GATES and was "so bored" at school when they didn't have it because of testing. She says that when she has GATES she misses regular class stuff and so she is always busy catching up and doesn't get bored. This year the 5th graders work really hard in the mornings and then "relax" with lunch, recess, PE/music/art in the afternoons. She seems to like the schedule. She is the last in the bike train on the way to school. Parker leads, followed by Caden, with Allie at the rear. She has the bike light on her bike for the darker mornings.
Creativity: Allie came up with a design for her Halloween costume as soon as we finished Harry Potter last year. She has been talking to me about her vision since then. I had her draw her design last year and we used that to pick out fabric and a pattern together. I also brought home 5 different kinds of ribbon before I got her approval for the right trim! All in all the pattern was more difficult to assemble that she or I realized. We both worked on it quite a bit (I think she realizes now how much work these things require). In the end, she had a beautiful Arctic Queen costume. Next I say we are going to let out the hem, buy an ice crystal necklace, earrings and tiara (maybe) and she can wear it again!
Church: Allie's class gets to narrate the Primary program this year. She has several parts to read for the program. She still likes to go to Activity Days twice each month. It is crazy to think that her class will all be moving up to YW/YM next year. She will be the last to go with her December birthday.
Big Sister: Allie really loves having little sisters. She plays so well with them. She likes to take Sydney in her room and dress her up with make-up and accessories. She also takes her outside to play in the afternoons regularly. She watches out for dangers with the babies and is pretty responsible with them. She know how to put them both to bed, change wet diapers, and keep them happy. We are giving her more and more babysitting opportunities although we realize it is a lot for her to be responsible for both babies for very long.
Allie claimed that Sydney asked for a "Goth" look this day.
Shopping: I haven't always enjoyed shopping with Allie. In fact it was not much fun at all a few years ago. Lately it is a joy to shop with her. We went to Frisco one Saturday this summer (with Sage) and had a great time together. A few weeks ago we went shopping again on a Saturday (just the two of us) and had an enjoyable and fruitful excursion.
For several years I have bought jeans for Allie at Old Navy. This year she is between their girl and women's sizes. Someone suggested that we try Aeropostale for jeans in her size. She is transitioning from kids sizes into juniors and can fit into some of the smallest sizes at stores I can shop at. We went to several stores on our last shopping day where we were both able to try on and buy things. She especially enjoyed trying on snazzy heels at DSW that we will probably never buy. I really like having a fun shopping companion in Allie.
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