Double Digits: Lucie

Our incredible girls clicks over to double digits today. In honor of Lucie's tenth birthday, here are her answers to 10 burning questions, perfectly capturing her at this silly, inquisitive, break-your-heart amazing age. (Time, why can't you just slow down?)

1. Tell me five great things about you - even though we know there are more than five!
(1) I'm really creative. (2) I know how to share an inside joke. (3) I can do lots of funny accents and I know lots of funny phrases. (4) I really like doing my own thing. I like to do things my own way and not use someone else's ideas. (5) Ask my mom! (I say: her warm and calming spirit, loyalty towards friends and family, and dazzling intelligence)

2. What do you know how to do that you can teach to others?
Knit! I can make a pillow out of duct tape! And, I know lots of good slinky tricks.

3. What do you think will be a new privilege that comes with being 10 years old?
Doing more things by ourselves, for example walking to school or staying home by ourselves. 

4. How would you like to celebrate your 10th birthday?
I would like to celebrate it with a gigantic cake and all my friends and family.

5. What are some of your favorite words?
Compulsory and Shish Kabob

6. How would you spend your perfect Saturday afternoon?
Probably depends on the weather. If it was raining, I would stomp around in puddles in my rain boots. If it was sunny, I would do some cartwheels outside while listening to music. Then I would dance! And, then I'd go inside and read a mysterious fantasy book. 

7. What would you love to eat daily for every meal?
Breakfast: chocolate pancakes, Lunch: turkey, cheese and lettuce sandwich on french bread, grapes and a Chips Ahoy, Snack: hot chocolate and popcorn, Dinner: Turkey a la King

8. On the subject of food, do you like salty or sweet things?
Salty! I love pickles!

9. What are you most looking forward to about our upcoming trip to London and Florence?
I'm looking forward to seeing what the fashion is in London. It will be fun to see all the sites in London and Florence - definitely Leaning Tower of Pisa! All the food in Italy will be really good too. I'm looking forward to Book Club with Gigi in the Italian countryside and playing with my cousins on the really big treehouse. 

10. How do you like fourth grade?
I really like my teacher. I like how she does things. When one kid in class stuck a piece of paper on his nose, instead of telling the kid that he was being distracting, she told him that was a good idea and told everyone to stick a piece of paper on their nose. The kid was very surprised by that!

We are so proud of the girl you've become, Lucie. Have a wonderful 10th birthday!

Four Years Old: Jake

Sweet, goofy, fun-seeking, lovable, and so very loyal to his friends and family — our Jake turns four years old today. While it's hard to believe that it's already been four years since that foggy, early morning of his birth, it also feels like he's always been with us. Jake made our family complete when he entered the world, the beloved "caboose" to our family train. 

The biggest change in Jake's life these past six months has been starting preschool. Jake LOVES preschool. He adores his teacher, a kind and patient man who gives Jake "homework" so he'll feel just like his big sister and brother. And Jake has a best friend in class, Liam, his first real friendship with a buddy his age.

Along with preschool, Jake has also started his first sports class. After years of following everyone else around to sporting events, at last he has his own soccer class, which of course, he loves. While other kids need to be coaxed away from their parents in class, Jake sprints out on to the field.

Our family is top heavy with nine year olds, which means that our little preschooler soaks in a lot of elementary school behavior. He picks up phrases Ryan and Lucie say, like "Swweeeet!" when something goes well, or "You're toast!" when fighting bad guys. 

Like his sister, Jake enjoys imaginative play and can often be found making up stories with his Paw Patrol cars, trash trucks and pirate ships. He's recently become interested in super heroes, and just got a new pack of Justice League underwear that he had to put on immediately in the store. A four year old boy in nothing but Superman underwear is one of the cutest sights ever. 

While other four year olds may be watching "Frozen", Jake joins his siblings for "Back to the Future" on family movie night. Jake likes to "read" chapter books, has his own bank account and fills out his chore chart daily. He even decided that he needed a tooth fairy pillow, not quite understanding that he may not get a visit for years to come. But, when that first tooth does fall out, he'll be ready (unlike his older siblings' tooth fairy pillow that had to be rushed by overnight mail).

I think we'd all agree that Jake is a little crazy about his clothing. He finds one or two things he loves (grey sweat pants with pockets, his "Shark" shorts (hand-me-downs from Caleb), t-shirts that relate to baseball) and wants to wear them every. single. day.

Jake loves his little stuffed tiger nicknamed "Tiger Tiger". He decided that Tiger Tiger needed a mother for Christmas, and was so excited when Santa ended the little tiger's orphan status. Jake was so happy last week when it was finally letter "T" week (it's been a long wait through the alphabet) and he could bring Tiger Tiger in for show-and-tell in preschool. He did cheat once and bring Tiger Tiger for "G" week, declaring that it stood for "Grrr..."

Oh Jakey, Jake-a-boo, JB (as Papa calls you), Boo — what would we ever do without your joyful spirit in our family? We love you to pieces, and can't wait to celebrate your big 4th birthday with you. It's going to be another incredible year!

Nine Years Old: Lucie

Our sweet, smart, lovable and adventurous girl turns nine today. To commemorate her birthday, I decided to ask Lucie nine questions capturing our favorite girl at this special age.

1. Tell me five GREAT things about you (even though we all know there are more than 5!)
- I'm a daredevil. If you tell me to try something, I'll do it!
- I love to do art. Some art is really silly, like drawing a mustache on my finger and holding it up to my face. Some is really good like my watercolors.
- I love to read. If you ever put a book in front of me, and it looks interesting, I will probably read it in one sitting.
- When I'm playing a sport, I always feel really happy and glad to be outside. I don't care if I'm winning or losing, I just want to be outside playing.
- I can easily go from being a really good big sister to joking with my friends and doing cartwheels on the grass.

2. On a scale of one to ten - how strict do you think your parents are?
I would say a 5. They can be really strict when they want to and then really nice once the problem is solved. I think that's a good amount.

3. What do you know how to do that you can teach to others?
I can teach someone to do a handstand and a header with a soccer ball. In school, sometimes when doing math, if my partner doesn't know the answer, I always know just when to stop helping someone so they can do the problem on their own.

4. If you could choose a new name for yourself, what would it be?
Kaitlyn or Katherine. I've always wanted to be a "Kate" because it's a simple name. I also know it would have been Jake's name if he had been a girl. But I like the name Lucie too.

5. How would you change the world if you could?
I would change it so that every school had more recess so we would get more exercise. Instead of putting people in grades by their age, I would put them in grades by how much they know so that younger kids could work with older kids. I would make it snow in places where it never snows! Whenever they bring a hurt baby animal to the zoo, I would always make sure that the animal's mom could come too.

6. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I would like somewhere where it's cold. I've always liked cold more than hot, and I would really like it if we had a blizzard every single day! I would also want to live where it is old fashioned, because I'd like to try to do things without TVs, computers, or iPads.

7. What's the most wonderful thing that ever happened to you?
Two things. The first one is in kindergarten when we had an art competition and I won an award and got to read my story in front of the whole school (even though I got shy and had my mom read it instead). The second thing was starting gymnastics at a special studio because now that I'm getting better, I can do cartwheels and handstands whenever I want.

8. Who do you look up to?
I look up to a lot of people. I look up to older kids like my cousin Maggie and my neighbors in 6th and 7th grade. I look up to the women who started their own baseball league during World War II. I look up to everyone in family too!

9. How do you want to celebrate this birthday?
I want to have a Rock Star themed sleep-under (all the fun of a sleep over without the overnight part) with lots of arts and crafts, movie, popcorn, and lots of fun. And clown cones from Baskin Robbins.

We love you Lucie! Have the best 9th birthday!

Nine Years Old: Ryan

Our kind, bright, active, buzz-cut sporting boy turns nine years old today. In honor of his birthday, I thought I'd ask Ryan nine questions to capture him at this special age. Here we go...

1. Tell me five GREAT things about you (even though we all know there are more than 5)
- I know how to play sports, and I'm a pitcher on my baseball team.
- I love to be with my family.
- I love the ocean.
- I'm really good at doing math.
- I'm really strong at doing sit-ups and push-ups. My doctor said I have "abs of steel". 

2. On a scale of one to ten - how strict do you think your parents are?
I think my parents are a three because my parents are nice. 

3. What do you know how to do that you can teach to others?
I know how to pitch in baseball and throw a change-up. I also know a lot about playing Clash of Clans on the iPad. I teach people how to play "Bump-Out" (a basketball game) at recess. Also I can teach people how to boogie board. 

4. If you could choose a new name for yourself, what would it be?
I wouldn't really want to change my name. I like my name. If I had to change it, it would be Jack. 

5. How would you change the world if you could?
There would be more baseball teams in the whole world and more kids could play baseball at recess. I think there should be more trees to climb and do pull-ups on.

6. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I would live in Los Angeles right next to Dodger Stadium and I would have season tickets. Anyone can live with me if they want, but they'll have to go to a lot of Dodger games.


7. What's the most wonderful thing that ever happened to you?
The most wonderful that ever happened to me was when I got to start playing for my competitive baseball team last year. When Jakey was born was a great thing too!


8. Who do you look up to?
Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw, Yasiel Puig, Zack Greinke, and my family.

9. How do you want to celebrate this birthday?
I want to celebrate with my friends at a bowling alley. I also want to see a Dodger playoff game. And eat tacos and Oreos.

We love you Ryan - happy 9th birthday buddy!!

Half Birthday: Jake

Today is a day of celebration for Jake - a half birthday! Time is flying by. It's hard to believe that Jake is no longer a baby, and now happily off to his own adventures at preschool.  I want to savor every bit of this lovable, smart, and funny three-and-a-half year old.

It's a rare day in our house when we don't say to each other, "That Jake is a good kid". He just is. He plays well with others, from his peers to Lucie and Ryan's buddies, and even older kids. A recent new friend is in the sixth grade, and I think she has just as much fun playing with Jake as he does with her.

Along with his friendly nature comes an easy-going, ready-for-anything attitude. When he started preschool last week, I had no worries about tears or clingy good-byes. Jake could not have been more excited.

In fact, he wanted me to stay home on the first day of school so he could have special time with Daddy during drop-off. At pick-up that day, his teacher remarked to me, "Jake's going to be really fun to teach this year." All things point to a good year in the three-year-old class.

Because Jake hangs out with his siblings so often, he tends to say and do things that the average three year old might not. Ask him his favorite TV show, and he'll reply in his biggest and loudest voice, "American Ninja Warrior!" He knows all about the Dodger's starting line-up, and enjoys the highlights on ESPN with his Dad and brother each morning.

He also started "learning to surf" this summer, by riding in waves on the board with Daddy. He's very confident in the pool, swimming in the deep end and moving along the edge of the entire pool alone. He even jumped off his first diving board! With all these big kid moves, Lucie thinks that if Jake were a little taller, her teacher might let him into third grade.

Once you listen to his sweet little voice though, it's easy to be reminded of his age. He says all sorts of funny things, like calling sparkling water "farkling water" and "fright" is his brother's favorite soda treat (Sprite). He also loves all the things most three year olds adore like Mickey Mouse, Thomas the Train, and his Ninja Turtle pajamas.

Some other favorite things include: playing baseball (or any game involving a ball), watching trains and garbage trucks, painting on the easel, wrestling with Ryan and Daddy, listening to Lucie read to him, and going to the junior fitness class at the gym.

Jake, our family is so lucky to have you. Welcome to the second half of age three, little buddy!