Kylie is Seven

I don't know if seven sounds a lot older and grown up to you than six does, but it does for me! The good news is that while her age tells me she is a year older, she is still the same fun loving, imaginative girl she was when she was six:)

Having a birthday was a fairly momentous occasion, but she handled it very gracefully.  She didn't go on and on with how many more days or sleeps there were.  On the first day of May, her first words upon waking were, "Oh! It's May today."  That was a fairly significant event for her b/c that is her birthday month.

Her actual birthday she woke up at Opa and Oma's b/c the kids all slept over there b/c we were away the day before.   Her birthday was on a Sunday and she had her party between services and then home for presents and supper with Opa and Oma.  It was a good day.

Kylie still impresses me hugely with her amazing imagination.  Her big thing for the last half year is school.  She is the teacher and she has a wonderful class full of students who all get a turn to answer questions or read portions of book etc. She mimics her teacher very well (I think!) and if she ever becomes a teacher some day (which would certainly NOT surprise me!) I believe she could attribute her love for teaching to both of the teachers she has had so far! She is pretty much in love with both of them.
After a recent dentist visit, I told Kylie that she should maybe be a dentist so I wouldn't have to pay so much. She thought about if for a second and then said, "But what if God wants me to be a teacher?"

She loves to dress up and wear a skirt and high heels (or at least shoes that clip clop) so that she sounds like a teacher too. She has unending patience for her pupils, yet is strict enough to keep them all in good order.

She loves her chalk and chalkboard and really really wanted (and got) one of those chalk holder things that you use so you don't get chalk on your fingers. It is fun watching her circle her class and read them stories exactly the way her teacher does and with a lot of the same expression.  

Kylie loves the Bible and has at least 5 or 6 in her bedroom  . . . and she uses them all. Some are filled with sticky notes marking her spots, others with a bookmark. Some are her own, others are Story Bibles from the library.  She loves them all. She is super diligent with her devotions and I am so proud and thankful for her desire and love for the scriptures.  I think a part of it once again is her desire to mimic her teacher, but she has taught me a lot about what child-like faith looks like.

It is beautiful to listen to this girl pray (and sometimes kind of humourous too). No request is too big or small for her and she takes the needs out there very seriously.  As an adult, I have learned much from listening to her faith filled prayers too.  She did wake up one morning and report that "God doesn't listen to my prayers.  I asked him to take away my cold and it is still here!"   It was a good time to discuss the "not yet" answer to prayer that God may choose to give in order to teach us something.

Kylie also loves sports and getting in there with the boys. She doesn't always join them, but she is out there often enough. Her favorite right now is rollerblading/hockey in the basement, but I'm thinking that with soccer coming up that might change.  

Kylie plays very well on her own, but sometimes her imagination takes her a bit too far . . . 

The picture above is a close up of the picture below.  Most of it came off with a lot of scrubbing, but I did wonder where her common sense had wandered off to that night.  I think we did up a chalkboard soon after.

Kylie is getting into chapter books. I don't think she ever reads one from start to finish, but she will read random chapters and I think mostly likes the idea of reading chapter books because it makes her feel big. She only reads in bed or when she is reading to her imaginary class (and maybe on the bus?).

I found this arrangement in my living room one day . . . . with chairs set up all around. 

 It was a funeral . . . not sure if she's ever been to one, but we have driven through the cemetary a  few times to see where my Opa and Oma are buried.

Kylie joined the boys for hockey this winter season and did really well. She had her days when she snuck out early to run around and play with the girls, but she mostly enjoyed her ice time too . .  . though she didn't like getting run over by the big boys!  She's  a pretty tough cookie though.

Kylie loves to dress up and wear skirts and dresses and loves shoes. She also is not afraid or worried about getting dirty and grass stained. It's not always a good combination, but she will inform me in the morning, "I'm wearing a skirt/dress today!"  and then "I'm probably going to get those leggings dirty b/c someone will push me over or something".  And she does. But it's okay, because it wasn't her fault:).

Kylie doesn't mind her short hair (I still LOVE it), but she often wishes for her long hair back.

Kylie hates bedtimes and is pretty good at procrastinating.  She has lobbied for a later bedtime since she turned seven  . . . asking for 7:40 instead of 7:30.  Considering that most nights she isn't asleep (definitely in bed! but not asleep) till 9:30 or 10, I have allowed her the extra 10 minutes:)
Kylie still sneaks over to our bed occasionally and sleeps at our feet . . . with our footboard as a pillow.  She's hoping we don't notice her.  Can't be comfortable . . . and since Karter has often visited us by then, four is not always comfortable for us either!!

Kylie loves to be complimented and will live on a compliment for days.  She likes to know when she has done a good job and is very willing to help out if she got thanked the last time.  I don't always remember, but it is beneficial to both of us when I do.  She likes to help out most of the time and has her own jobs that she mostly does quite willingly.

Kylie is at a stage right now where she plays with toys very rarely.  She still loves her Barbies, Polly Pockets, Littles Pet Shop and dolls, and would be horrified if I got rid of them, but they mostly only get played with if someone comes over. I'm pretty sure they will make their comeback at some point though . . . you can't play school forever! (though most of my childhood memories revolve around playing either school or house!)

Kylie loves to sing and sings a lot. She loves her hymnbooks almost as much as her Bibles and enjoys playing church every once in a while too. When she plays church, she sets up all the stools in a row and turns a sermon on and sings when they sing and prays when they pray.  She may occasionally have to exit her row in order to go to the washroom or the nursery.

She is also very much in love with the soundtrack from "Frozen" and sings it almost constantly. I love it too, so there is no complaining from me:)

 Kylie loves her friends and loves spending time with them. It is different watching a girl with her friends than a boy.  There is a lot more drama (in this girls case anyway).  I think there is a bunch of "You're not my friend anymore!"  scenarios going on . . . though I think she may be growing out of it. I don't get to see her at school, so I don't know for sure, but I do know that these "tiffs" never last long and everyone is friends again very quickly and that she loves them all dearly. 

Kylie is actually a sweet sister. Sure, she can be bratty at times (kind of her job I'd say!), but she most often will give of herself for her brothers and she keeps them on their toes and in line! I'm sure it's not always easy being the only girl, but she doesn't know any different and it makes her who she is!  She is certainly not a wimp (though she has her moments) and I think she can thank her brothers for that!

 Kylie has gotten flowers from Jonathan a few times and it makes her so pleased! She is so proud of her gift and is very sad when the flowers start to die.

It is pretty special seeing a dad with his daughter . . . especially when he only has one.  I love their relationship and pray that they'll always remain close.

Kylie can be extremely sensitive. She doesn't like to be laughed at or made fun of at all. (I know . . . who does?!) She is getting better at being able to laugh at herself, but she still has her moments when she just runs out of the room in tears b/c it is just way too much for her.

That is a snippet of our dear daughter at the tender age of seven. She is a delightful girl most of the time, though she still has a stubborn streak. She loves fiercely and dislikes (very momentarily and doesn't really ever mean it!) fiercely.  I love how she finds happiness in the simple things.  It doesn't take much to entertain her and she is pretty fun to have around.  She has grown up a lot, yet still has tidbits of the mischievous character of her younger days.  She is not quick to say sorry (not in a genuine way!), but after she has had time to think about it, she will be quite repentant.  She is a blurter and it does get her into trouble:)  She is a mess maker, but can also help clean up very well if she puts her mind to it.  

We are very thankful for this daughter of ours. We are thankful that we have someone to buy dresses and pretty shoes and pink and purple things.  We are thankful for everything you bring to our family. We are thankful for your love for the Lord and His Word. We are thankful for the lessons you teach us about trusting in Jesus and having child-like faith. You are an inspiration in a way you couldn't possibly understand right now.  Keep on loving the Lord and being this devoted to Him. What a Friend you have in Jesus!

We love you!