Abby's 5th Birthday!

Abby's Birthday is in May. My little girl is 5! I can't believe it. She is an amazing little girl and I am so proud of her. 

She loved getting her pictures taken, and after a hundred pictures, she still wanted me to take more! Of course, she loved the swinging pictures. I think she could swing for an hour, if I let her. She loves to swing!

Abby is so sweet and loving. Her little baby brother loves her and laughs more for her than anyone. Bradley wants to be like her and do whatever she is doing- thank goodness she's a good example. She loves to take care of people. 

Her favorite thing to do is artwork. She made a Easter bunny for her teacher and told her in a very serious tone, "I'm very crafty, ya know." She can sit at the table and draw, cut, glue, paint, or whatever for hours. She can draw some pretty great pictures, which I have taken pictures of in an app and will soon print a book of her pre-school artwork. Most common drawings are of people and sometimes animals. Something sort of related to art is building with blocks. She plays with duplos constantly, making all sorts of her own designs or following picture patterns.

Her other favorite thing is books. She would prefer to have someone read her a dozen books at a time versus the usual two to four. It will be great when she begins reading on her own, which she is working on. She has been great at sounding out words for a while, but now has about forty sight words memorized. She is starting to write words, call out words she knows that she sees around, and even read some sentences. 

She is a little social butterfly. Abby loves to have the company of friends and even friendly adults. Her friends are her favorite toy, which she would like to have with her at all times. She is always asking to have this and that friend over for a play date. Although she is still pretty shy, she is coming out of her shell. She talks more openly to people she's uncomfortable with and responds to strangers better, but she still will not readily say hi or even make eye contact with some people. She is very proud and tells me when she was not shy.

Abby is also very girly. She loves to get new clothes or shoes. She loves dresses, skirts, necklaces, gems, glitter, bows, etc. She is always asking to have her nails painted, eye shadow put on, or her hair braided. She also loves to dress up, in her tutu and butterfly wings in particular. 

From her 5-year-old interview:

She likes to: "Play in the playroom with my dad. He's so silly." "Play with my friends." "Color, paint." "Play with Bradley."

Favorite color: "Pink and purple."

Book: "Dinosaur one." That's The Magic Tree House.

Movie: "Frozen."

Best Friends: "Gwyn and Katelyn"

Favorite animal: "Cats and dogs."

Favorite place: "Park and the restaurant. The Mexican restaurant- rice and quesadilla."

Favorite food: "Mexican rice."

Favorite treat: "Cake."

Where else like to go to: "Ethan's house."

Learning to: "Read and write."

Favorite show: "Word World and Peg Plus Cat."

Her birthday was on the 2nd to last day of school. Before school, she got to open her birthday presents.

 

I brought in some cupcakes to school for her and her friends. She loved it, but here is her shy look when everyone was singing.

After school, we surprised her with lunch with Daddy and more.

We met at the mall food court. She chose to have a subway sandwich, then an ice cream cone from DQ. 

They also played on the cars in the mall and explored the Disney Store.

Next, we headed to Walmart for a birthday bike for Abby. Brad ended up with a bike, too. They were so cute happily riding their bikes around the store. Lastly, they wandered around the pet store.