It's time I said a word or two about Olivia.
She's too good for me. Seriously, so sweet and bright and cheerful and tenderhearted.
She adored preschool. Her teacher Miss Amber said many days Olivia was more like one of the teachers than one of the students, helping other kids and being quick to set a good example.
She has kept right up with this in Kindergarten. One of the most tender moments I've had with her lately was at dinner while asking her about her day. She said, with bright eyes and great enthusiasm, "The best part of all was Christopher didn't get in trouble all day! I've been praying for him every night!" She explained Christopher is a little guy who's having a real struggle adjusting to Kindergarten and the sweet girl has worried over him and has been praying her little heart out for him.
They had dress up days every Friday. This is her best pirate face.
On non-school days, Olivia finds ways to entertain herself. If she's lucky, she can talk me in to playing a game or two with her. This is probably in her top 3 of favorite things to do, right up there with her reading lesson and making love notes for every member of the family.
(Looks like mom won that hand.)
Olivia is so affectionate. I'm hard pressed to give her as many hugs and snuggles as she'd like each day. She blooms when I get myself to stop what I'm doing and hug her as long as she needs instead of offering a quick side hug and shrugging her off to get back to the task at hand. She is obedient and wants to please. She loves to read independently, or find someone who will listen to her.
She plays well with friends and cousins, boys and girls, younger and older. She is totally comfortable climbing onto the lap of a grown up she's just met and telling them all about whatever. She begs to make crafts with me, or with her sisters. She is first to want to help me make dinner or do dishes. She can be easily distracted by fun and silliness and often needs a reminder (or five) to get her teeth brushed or her jammies on, but I love that she is a very happy little person.
She is a patient and creative playmate to Emme. My favorite sound is them giggling on the trampoline or laughing over some conversation they are having with their dolls or babies.
She loves most of all to be sung to and snuggled to sleep at night, and even though I'm often anxious to get to the dozen things still needing to be done, or to just get to my own bed, I am so glad she still wants me to spend that time with her. And she's usually out cold in 5 to 10 minutes anyway.
She is just a special, special soul and I'm so grateful to have her.
9 comments:
You're back! You've been missed. This was a very sweet post about your sweet girl
This is such a beautiful post. Thanks for sharing a glimpse of what a treasure your sweet girl is. It's fun to get to know your kids in a small way. :-)
andi love how you are highlighting each of your children. So sweet to see more of them and you through your ruminations.
Olivia! You described her to a tee. I can't believe she's praying for the little rascally kid in her class. Oh if every rascally kid had an Olivia in their kindergarten class! she is a peacemaker and a friend to all. So glad she's a cousin to my kids. I'm proud of her determination in reading and everything else she puts her mind to. "Never give up! Never give up!"
What sweet things to highlight. Our kiddos (and those of our friends), can really inspire us to be better. She sounds like pure joy.
I love that story about Olivia praying for her classmate. Such a sweet girl!
So sweet! The praying story brought a tear to my eye, what an old soul.
I love these posts! I bet your girls do too! Simply bathed in love they are! You're a great mom Kate!
I adore!
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