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!