Mia, you were so excited to turn six years old. This has been a big year for you. You're one of the oldest kids in your Montessori class, you can read, ride your bike without training wheels, swim well, and go off the diving board. You really enjoy taking gymnastics and playing sports. You like to sing and dance too (when no one is looking).
One quick story to illustrate your dedication to your hobbies. You have really enjoyed roller skating, roller
blading and ice skating this year. One night at bedtime, you were wearing a long nightgown. When daddy went to help you brush your teeth, you began to cry. Daddy asked you what was wrong. Turns out, you were wearing your wrist guards and elbow and knee pads for roller blading under your night gown
and were concerned that daddy was going to make you take them off. You two agreed
on putting them in a little pile right next to your bed so you could put them on
when you woke up.
You've begun writing lots of stories, and you often leave notes around the house for daddy and I telling us how much you love us. You've also made some close friends this year, and it's a pleasure seeing you play so well with other kids.
Grandma Barbara came in town to help celebrate your birthday. We had some fun birthday celebrations, and one of my favorites is always the celebration in your class.
You select a globe that you like and walk around a candle representing the sun six times, representing your six years on earth. The kids sing a song as you walk around the candle. The teacher reads a special book about the day you were born, and then sing happy birthday in two different languages that you select.
Afterwards, we share a snack, and you put up a picture board with photos representing important milestones in your life since birth. It's a easy going, lovely celebration and one of the things I really like about Montessori classrooms.
The morning of your birthday, you woke up to find the Red Plate at your breakfast spot. You ate breakfast on the plate that we use to mark special occasions, opened presents, and got excited about your roller skating birthday party.
At the roller skating ring, we had dinner and cake before skating. This roller skate cake was harder than it looks to make, but was well worth it. It tasted really good.
It has been so much fun watching you grow and develop your interests this past year. You take so much pride in being a kind person, a good friend, and a strong student. You have a big heart and let others know how much you care about them both in your actions and your words (and your many love letters that you write and deliver).
Wishing you a wonderful year ahead.
Love,
Mom
Zoe, you have become obsessed with writing down recipes, inventing recipes, and generally noting instructions in a red journal that you carry around with you. Whenever we can, we try to follow your recipes.
