My heart is full when I think of my daughter, Vera. She has grown into the most lovely girl, full of adventure, spunk, and creativity. There was a time when this gal was 3 and 4 years old when screaming was her primary form of communicating anything less than positive, and it... wasn't pleasant to be around. But here is this girl who has matured so much, and at 8 has blossomed into a brilliant and beautiful person.
Vera is eager to try new things, especially strange fruits. She puts her hands to work building, crafting, cooking, planting. She is gentle with her baby brother and firey with her other brothers. She scales trees till the wind rocks her in the tippy top branches. She gets dirty.
And oh this girl has her Daddy's logic and engineering mind. She is a problem solver and mathematical thinker.
Vera is shy when she meets new people or is in a crowd. One on one, however, she will talk your ear off... with every. single. detail. She is taking constructive criticism well as we try to explain what is worthwhile to share or not.
It has been fun teaching Vera 2nd grade. She makes teaching easy. After we studied the parts of a cell, for example, I mentioned to her that she could use food to make a cell model, so she went ahead and turned her lunch into a cell. I don't have to push, because she has fun learning.
When she wanted to make macaroons, I was too wrapped up in taking care of baby to help do it. Vera did it all. From writing a copy of the recipe, finding the ingredients at the store with her Daddy, and then making them, she wowed me with her independence. Sorta like she wowed me when she found lion's mane mushroom in the woods and then cooked it up for everyone. When I feel like the Little Red Hen asking to see if someone will please help me plant the garden or bake the bread... Vera is always there wanting to work with me.
This is her pet roach, Ralph. If she thinks something will appear strange or gross to the general population, like having a pet roach, she wants to do it all the more.
Vera's April 8th birthday fell on Pascha this year (the Eastern Orthodox celebration of Easter). So at midnight, we were in the church and I let her know she was now an 8-year-old. A golden birthday on Easter!? It must be the start of a pretty great year.
She went through a dinosaur phase this past year, which has calmed a bit, but Pokémon is definitely still one of her passions. She loves to pretend with her brothers that the animals in our yard are pokémon. For her birthday party, we had a pokémon tournament, musical chairs to pokemon music, and she made her own pinata of a balloon shaped pokémon (voltorb).
Here are Vera's 8 year old questions!
And oh this girl has her Daddy's logic and engineering mind. She is a problem solver and mathematical thinker.
Vera and I folded lots of pokemon origami to decorate.
Vera wanted angel food cake with berries and whipped cream, so we made it look like a poké ball. She is not a big fan of sweets, but give her a plate of zucchini and it will be gone in seconds.
Here are Vera's 8 year old questions!
What do you want to do when you grow up?
Be a Mama.
What's your favorite color?
Every color
What do you like to do?
Play Pokemon, cartwheels, jump on the trampoline, jump on the bed, run, and make pancakes.
What do you like to eat?
Goat cheese, zucchini, broccoli, oranges and grapefruits, plums and peaches
Who is your favorite character?
Melon, Lily, and Ash - Pokemon trainers
What is your favorite song?
Bye Baby Bunting, White Choral Bells, Pretty Little Horses... and Pokemon theme song
What is your favorite thing about school?
Art, Science, Exercise, History
What is your favorite show?
Pokemon Sun and Moon
What is your favorite book?
The Action Bible
Love her spirit and confidence (and her hair!) Happy birthday, Vera!
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