“A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2014.”
[This photo is from the Pumpkin Festival on October 18th]

Lillia: This week you turned eleven years-old. I thought ten felt overwhelming, but eleven? I just don’t even know what to think! You are turning into such a young lady, though you still have your weird/crazy personality in full force! You decided you just wanted to have a quiet party at home with family and then have just one friend to come over and play in the afternoon. You are very social in some situations, but you have always preferred one-on-one to large groups (you’re much like your parents and grandparents in that way). I hope you had a nice birthday, and I’m looking forward to all of the adventures that your eleventh year will bring!

Zane: This week you went to the dentist! I’ve heard plenty of horror stories about kids who are scared of the dentist, and I totally get that, but you had no problems at all. In fact, I had an appointment at the same time as yours and you just hopped and skipped away with the hygienist all on your own, with absolutely no concerns. You were actually excited! I could hear you chattering away in the other room, and when your appointment was done you just calmly went to the waiting room and looked at some books until I was done. I am so lucky that I have such a well-behaved little boy. It makes me very proud!

“A portrait of my children once a week, every week, in 2014.”

Lillia: This week you attended a big sleepover birthday party. You didn’t get much sleep, but you had an absolute blast! When you were younger you always had a hard time with social gatherings like that, so for years we’ve just avoided them. You are a very sensitive person, both physically and emotionally, and I think you tend to get very overwhelmed by all of the noise and chaos. Before the sleeping (or not-sleeping) part of the party, you all went out for dinner. I was a little worried about you not finding something you wanted to eat, as that’s always been a problem for you, but you seemed to have done just fine. In fact, you confessed that you drank a big glass of Mountain Dew! I had to laugh at that, as it’s so out of character for you. I love it!

Zane: This week you’ve been regaling us with all sorts of adorable songs and fingerplays that you’ve been learning at preschool. You know some of the words, but you get stuck sometimes so I prompt you. But, you absolutely insist that no one sings with you — you want to do it by yourself! We’ve heard all about gray squirrels and their bushy tails, and five little pumpkins sitting on a gate. I love that you enjoy music and singing so much. You’re probably the only three year-old I’ve ever met that likes “The Sound of Music,” but you actually request to watch it sometimes! You never make it through the whole thing, of course, but you do seem to enjoy it, especially the musical numbers.