dancing in the minefields: Dear Arabella,

SEVEN!

For the past three years, I cannot believe your age...you're an actual, real, big kid...no more baby...not much little...seven just sounds so grown!

This past year has been so much fun because you have grown so much! You are so beautiful. Your daddy and I can hardly handle it.

Let me tell you something, little girl. You are a sassy little seven year old! Most of this, however, is confidence, and that's a trait I'm so proud you have. You know what you want to do and how you want to do it.

School brought some big changes for our little family and it was amazing to see how much you learned in so little time. You are reading like an absolute champ! At the end of the school year, you were doing well and reading easy books, but you were still sounding out words and needing some help. We did the summer program at the library and we read every night before bed--and at some point during the summer, you just took off! It was incredible. Now you're reading billboards and street signs and notes and anything you see. You've even read several chapter books on your own! You've moved up very quickly through the AR (accelerated reader) levels at your school. But most importantly--you simply love to read! I hope with all of my heart that you never lose that love.

You also lost your first two teeth this year (bottom front)! The first one was eating dinner with Aunt Mel at Popeye's on the way to the Polar Express' second was wrestling on the ground with Papa a few weeks later. You were pumped! And now you have four more loose ones...

Speaking of school, you were placed in the advanced class for first grade (challenge class) and also selected as part of the G/T program (top 5% of your grade)! Your memory is amazing and you love to ask questions to figure things out. We've fought our way through a few homework problems...but for the most part you do it all on your own. Daddy and I are incredibly proud of you and love seeing you work so hard and challenge yourself!

Daddy surprised you this year for Christmas and gave you your own pair of waders to go duck hunting! He has been looking forward to bringing you hunting since the day you were born. We all decided you were ready this year--you loved it! Waking up early, sitting in the cold--didn't bother you a bit. You came home one time with blood on your pants and I crinkled my nose. You said, "what mom? It's just blood. Ducks bleed when you shoot them. It's not a big deal." Oh my... Daddy also let you bring the BB gun one time and helped you shoot. Well that convinced you that you shot down two of those ducks (especially when daddy showed you the bb's in the duck)! You were unbelievably proud of that.

The necessary post-hunt nap :)

As much as you liked hunting, I think you like fishing even more. You will still go out all day on the boat with daddy and are continually becoming quite the little fisherman. He brought you out just past the jetties this summer (just past the jetties) and y'all caught a bunch of Spanish Mackerel--daddy caught 2, but you caught 7! And he said you caught them all by yourself (needing a little help reeling in two bigger ones)! On the way back in during that trip, y'all were even able to catch a shark!! You had really hoped to catch a shark that day because it was Shark Week, haha...well you did--about a 5 foot long one!

You played softball again this year (coach pitch this time). Daddy helped coach again--seeing you two work together out on that field brought such joy to my mama heart. Your brothers and I cheered you on at every game! You mostly played third base and did really well--you also got some really good hits in and scored several times! This fall, you started ballet. You've wanted to take dance for a while now, so we finally got that started. So far, you're really enjoying it and have learned several positions and dance moves. Of course, you're absolutely precious is your ensemble for class!

Costumes...I am still waiting for the day that you outgrow your love for costumes. The obsession started at three, and while you don't wear them as often as you did, it's still a 3-4 times/week occurrence. You play all kinds of imagination games with your brothers (family, Full House, animals, superheroes, etc.) and those of course require a girl dressed to play the part! You can wear those costumes as long as you want to, sweet girl--keep imagining!

One of the highlights of this year was going on a Disney Cruise with Mimi and Papa (and all of our family on that side)! We had SO much fun! You absolutely loved the beach and practicing your swimming with Aunt Chelle. We also got to swim with a dolphin in the Bahamas! It was amazing! The water was freeeeezing, so that made it a little difficult for you to participate (and your lips were turning purple by the time we got out...), but you loved getting to interact with the dolphin. I think your favorite part of the cruise though (besides the banana ice cream...yuuummmm) was going to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique! Aunt Mel and I brought you and KK after dinner one night to get all pampered before the show. You were absolutely stunning. Stunning. The whole staff onboard treated you like princesses for the rest of the night, which you two ate up every bit of. Such a magical experience!

You have always loved playing games since you were old enough to learn But you have become a competitive little card shark this year! It started with UNO and Spoons (you're straight vicious!), but has morphed into Cadillac, Speed, Battle, and Nertz. You and I play cards every afternoon that we can squeeze in a couple of games--it's one of our favorite things to do together! I'll help you a little bit, but I don't ever "let" you win. You also love playing cards with your cousins, especially at the camp.

Something else I say every year (and hope it never changes) is how much you love music! You're still a really big fan of TobyMac (specifically 'Til the Day I Die) and are about to go see him in concert for the third time! Some of your other favorite songs right now are God is on the Move, Fix My Eyes, Deep Cries Out, Alive. You also love Louisiana Saturday Night <3 You know most/all of the words to so many songs, and even at school, the songs are your favorite part!

Your brothers are your very best friends. They drive you absolutely crazy and mess up all your stuff--but you love them so much. Landry loves meeting you in the afternoon to get off the bus (he literally squeals when he sees you!). Kaplan loves being your little sidekick and playing all sorts of imagination/character games. The three of you run all over this house and the yard, chasing each other and giggling nonstop. You all have such fun together and are a perfect little squad.

I am so excited and anxious to see how much more you grow and learn and change this year. Your daddy and I are whole-heartedly obsessed with who you are and we will always be your biggest supporters. Keep enjoying life and finding giggles every single day.