When Lasa Turned SIX

Lasagirl turned SIX, y'all!

 

But, bless it, Lasa's birthday got blown to smithereens this year.  And that stinks because we planned a birthday party - her first one inviting friends! -  sent out invites, planned the black/white theme she requested, had cousins coming and all.  Then Noah got Covid and both girls had to quarantine because of exposure.  Bless her, Lasa didn't pout or fuss or complain at all that her long-awaited party had to be cancelled as a result.  After that, her birthday sort of got parceled out into three sessions ... she opted to open all her presents a week early with Daddy when he opened his birthday presents (because how else  do you brighten up a quarantine?), then we saved grandparent presents and cake for the next weekend closer to her actual birthday, and then a birthday dinner out at the place of her choosing - Panda Express, to no one's surprise. ;) 

Pics of presents and cake and such...

Anna was so darling and made a Pin the Tail on the Zebra game (keeping with Lasa's black/white theme this year) and she also crafted the wittiest scavenger hunt for her complete with rhymes and all.

Present from my parents she had to watch all week and wait to open ...

Some Lasa details from this year that I have been saving to share here:

• She uses the best words and images.  This one for example - "I missed you so much I was as sad as a butterfly with no wings! As sad as a squirrel without nuts!"
• Her favorite breakfast at school this year was Cocoa Puffs.  "I eat cereal that looks like rabbit poop!" 
• Speaking of breakfast, she always has blueberry waffles for breakfast.  And then goes and has second breakfast at school.  Ha! 
• "Mommy, do you know your middle name?"  Yes, Higginbotham. "Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!"
• One night after we picked her up from Kids' Night at church, she told us they talked about the Holy Spirit that night.  When I praised her kindness and generosity in sharing her Kit Kat with Noah and Anna on the way home, she said, "I fink dat Howy Spiwit fing (Holy Spirit thing) got in my brain!"
• In the last few months she has realllllly dropped the mispronunciations of r's, l's, and most th's.  She has tried hard to be aware and form the letters with her tongue and mouth correctly.  Maybe she won't need speech after all?
• Every time we turn the bend in the ridge that leads to our house, you can see our house up there on the hill up ahead, as if the road and hills move out of the way for our house alone.  Lasa likes to say at that moment, "There's our castle!"
• When I told her she has awesome ideas, she said, "I also have a lot of evil plans!"
• "I am in a band now.  A sassy band." 
• One morning she woke up and said, "My body feels good inside because last night I prayed about becoming a Christian.  Now I need to sign something saying so."  Ha!
• "I am afraid of Canadians.  How many arms and legs do Canadians have?"  And yet, "I wish I was Canadian! Canadians are just nice people too." "Wait, why kind of sense of humor do Canadians have??!"
• When we talked about the chance for her to meet her little half brother and sister soon, she squealed, "Eek!  I am gonna teach them everything - like how to do the splits!"
• When I picked purple, she corrected me, "Actually, it's magenta."
• She bemoaned her lack of glittery leggings while playing dress up on day, "I guess now I am just a plain old rock star."
• When we joked that Lasa's superpower is Objecting, she immediately objected, "No, it's not!!"
• Her bedtime this school year was 6:30 after some hard days of 7:00 bedtimes.  6:30 was the winner.  She got up every day at 6 for school.  Every night at bedtime she still lights her pillowpet stars, does a story or bible story with Josh or me, and always wishes us a Buenos Noches as we leave.
• Her biggest thing she gets in trouble for these days is talking back ... always having to get a last word in ... and just pitching big old tearful emotional fits when she doesn't get her way.  High drama. 
  
• She still uses the word "hurted," which I love.  Earlier this year, she was still saying zuzzert for dessert and bogot for forgot. 
  
• She claims to speak butterfly.
• Speaking of speaking, she never stops talking.  Always has something to say, to tell, to comment on, to describe, to ask.  So many words in a day.
  
• She is awesome at rolling her r's.  Which has been hysterical to me since normal English r's have given her such a hard time all these years.  HA!
• This summer she started swimming on her own finally ... underwater, without goggles, over water in freestyle, and doing this mermaid dive and swim thing she is super proud of.  Thankful to report NO EAR INFECTIONS from all this swimming this summer.  And we haven't even done earplugs, except for at the lake.  This is a big deal for this ear infection-prone girl! 
• She wants to be a scientist and a vet and a mom when she grows up.
• Her favorite TV shows right now include Martha Speaks, Lion Guard, and Daniel Tiger.
• I was fretting how long it was taking her to fully nighttime potty train at her last birthday.  I am happy to report she finally got there in January.  No more nighttime pullups in this house!
• She still loves her Saturday morning hot chocolate with Daddy and Sunday morning blueberry muffins.
• She will not, will not, will not stay in a room if guns are on any TV show or even if you just talk about something involving guns.  She just gets up and quietly sneaks out.  She does the same for sad or scary parts in movies.  Doesn't draw attention to herself. Just quickly leaves until that's over.  It's adorable.
• She is very much jealous of not being able to take communion like the rest of us each week at church.  Pray with us, won't you, that she starts to come alive to faith in the coming months and years?
  
• Here at 6 years old, Lasa is still tall for her age.  She is wearing size 13/1 shoes and mostly size 8 clothes.  She is 4ft, 1.5 inches tall (which is some high 90s %ile) and is a solid 60 lbs (also high 90s %ile). 
  
• She lost 8 teeth so far; four the couple months before she turned five and then four in the last year.
• She's excited to make new friends at her new school, Benny Bills Elementary, which starts back this week.  We are so excited they accepted our out-of-zone transfer request so that she can attend this much more racially diverse school than the one we are actually zoned for.  Her teacher's name is Mrs. Coleman.  Praying she is a good fit for our girl who loved kindergarten so much!
• Sight words are killing us.  For some reason, they just. won't. stick. in this smart, smart girls head! They have been tearful torture to practice this summer.  Send help!
  
• She says her favorite birthday present was ... the lemons.  But also the science kit. ;)

Lasa, you grew up so much this school year!  It's like we don't have a little kid around anymore.  Sad!  But also, so cool!  I am gonna love sharing your big kid years and discovering all the things that you think and learn and wanna do.  I love that your shyness is wearing off after such a successful year in kindergarten.  Now if we can just temper that sassiness that sprung up in its place.  HA!  You are a light, little girl.  A bright, quick, smart light.  My prayer is that this year the Lord will really grab your attention and draw you to saving faith.  I am ever watchful for when this might happen.  You are our precious girl and we love to pieces.  Happy Birthday, Lasalove!

Love, Mommy