Wiggles turns 10!

It's hard to believe that our sweet, spunky little Wiggles is 10 years old!  She has brought so much life, excitement and pizzazz to our family in the 10 years we've been blessed to have her around!

We refer to Wiggles as our social butterfly.  Everyone else in our family is more shy and reserved and tend more toward "introverts" but Malia is an extrovert through and through!  She lacks reservation in social settings - or any setting for that matter - and is quick to make friends wherever she goes.  She loves to organize and create: we are constantly finding little "set ups" around the house, yard, neighborhood, etc with little animals/toys/plants/sticks/rocks.  She is energetic, easily excitable and has an enthusiasm for life that is unmatched.  She smiles with her whole face, hugs with her whole body, and laughs with every fiber of her being.

Our Wiggles has met some challenges this past year.  As we moved across the country, she was heart broken to leave her best friend Lily behind in Oregon.  No one could replace Lily and, as a result, friends here have been harder to make as they've paled in comparison to the friendship she shared with Lily.  As Scratch has grown, Wiggles has struggled to find her new place in the family; transitioning from "adorable youngest child" to the dreaded "middle child" lot.  Beyond family placement, she's transitioning from "little girl" to that awkward middle ground of early puberty where she's no longer a little child but not yet a young woman.  She took a big spill and bit a hole through her lip which took some time to physically heal.  And she has struggled with some anxiety / insomnia at night, which we struggled to understand at first.  Despite the many changes and challenges she's faced this past year, she's never complained, misbehaved or acted out.  It hadn't even occurred to me how much she's been dealing with because she's simply taken everything in stride.  So when I paused to reflect on why she might be struggling, and realized the multitude of changes and challenges that have rocked her world this past year, I realized just how much she's been up against and what a trooper she's been to just forge right ahead.

The past several months, Wiggles has been particularly attentive to my feelings.  She'll often say "Mom, you seem stressed.  Is there anything I can do for you?" or I'll simply notice her doing something to help me in some way.  She often helps care for Koa - getting him dressed, helping him in the bathroom, playing with or reading to him so I can get something done.  Despite her energy and busy-ness, she's never too busy to notice how someone else is feeling and do her best to help them.

So that's our Wiggle for you - sensitive and strong.  Fearless, and a fighter.  Passionate.  Powerful.  And giver of the best hugs you'll ever find.

Friends: Norah and Callie
Favorite activities: climbing!!! drawing, singing, playing, reading, building, creating
Things we love about her right now: snuggles, thoughtfulness

Scratch turns 3!

We can't believe this adorable Scratch of ours is already 3 years old!! My, how time flies when you're having fun!!

Here are some funny things he says of late (that we never want to forget!)  They mostly involve not switching the "s" and "f" sounds which make for some adorable Scratch-isms!!

shlip shlops (flip flops)
fonny (sorry)
skippers (scriptures)
sly (fly)
fety (sweaty)

The other day, he said to Grins "Do you want to say the prayer, little guy?"

He is CONSTANTLY (at least daily) asking "Time for hamily ho eening!" (family home evening)

When he recites "One, two, buckle my shoe..." at the end, he says "nine, ten, a big hat fen!" and doesn't even realize he's switching it. :)