A lot has happened lately. Kayleigh turned 8 this month, which of course is very special for us. Our first child to be baptized. We couldn't have picked an easier kid to be the oldest and example for the other 3. Kayleigh likes to please her teachers/leaders/parents. It's been quite a wake-up call to see EV in action - tantrum action. Aye-yie-yie!!! Kayleigh would never have tried throwing tantrums. Even if a little one ever started, she could be talked right out of it. Somehow, she's had control of herself that way. EV and even Thomas just didn't/don't know how to get a hold of themselves and control their tempers and their bodies.
Kayleigh also likes to clown around. Things can't get too serious for her. If the atmosphere starts to get tense or uncomfortable, she will giggle. When there's something serious to discuss with her and she can't laugh her way through it, then she will burst into tears. About 6 months ago or so, I wanted to discuss her habit of not finishing her schoolwork on time with her and her teacher. The three of us sat down and I started telling her what I was concerned about, but before I could say much of anything, she started crying. So I found myself lightening the mood, just like she always tries to do.
Kayleigh loves to read and has really taken off with it. She was so proud of herself for reading the Harry Potter book (#1) by herself before 2nd Grade. I believe she was reading it the summer before. I started out helping her with it, but she finished it by herself. Then she read the next 2 Harry Potter books on her own. She'd read the rest, but I don't have soft back copies of them for her yet. She watches the movies after she reads the book.
Well, back to her birthday... she had a beach birthday party. She picked her theme. It was inside except for at the very end, they all slid down the water slide. Her party was getting a little crazy, and I blame it on the guys. Somehow, several of the girls she invited couldn't come, but a few extra boys came.
So it was a rougher party than expected. There was a mermaid game, but it didn't work out. The kids were to have a garbage bag taped around their legs, but the boys just ripped them up or got out, it seemed. But Kayleigh actually seemed to like it. We decorated sun visors, had cake. The real entertainment was the water slide. It was rainy, but the kids didn't seem to care. We set up the giant water slide and everyone was happy. Whew! The indoor activities were sorta a bust. They slid and they slid and the parents who stayed huddled under the table umbrella.
These photos are the party gang with garbage bags taped around their legs, then outside on the water slide. And of course, the birthday girl herself.
