Our favorite 1st grader turned 7 years old! For her birthday, she really wanted to celebrate Junie B. Jones style. These books by Barbara Park are her favorite (and some of my favorite) early chapter books to read. They really make you laugh out loud! And Junie B. reminds me a lot of our Lucy, so it was fitting! :)
Lucy was so excited about this birthday and telling everyone the week leading up to her birthday, "It's my birthday in __ days!" The day before her birthday, we sang to her in Primary and she got her bookmark and candy and was grinning from ear to ear! We also made cupcakes that day for her class, and all of the elementary teachers She wanted to do rose cupcakes and helped with at least half of them and did a great job! "Little squiggle in the middle, do the bud, make little rainbows" she reminded herself as she was moving each cupcake around to decorate it. She was quite thrilled about how they turned out and I think she did great!
The morning of her birthday, she was out of her bed right away (unlike most mornings) and ready to get ready (she decided to wear something similar to what Junie B. wears, a skirt, leggings, cardigan and a polka dot headband), open one present, and have the breakfast burritos she requested. Then she was off to school! She told me that night "it was no fair I had to be at school most of my birthday!" I reminded her what a blessing it is to be able to attend school and that most kids go to school on their birthdays unless they have a summer birthday or a holiday. She said lots of people wished her a happy birthday. She got a special birthday crown she was excited about and lots of the teachers gave her happy birthday stickers. Usually we eat lunch at school with our kids when it is their birthday, but it was sloppy joes on the menu and Lucy said, "Uh, we don't want those on my birthday! I want home lunch." Haha, so Dave and I brought in the cupcakes in the afternoon during snack time and got to sing to Lucy and help celebrate. All the kids and teachers really liked the cupcakes, and Lucy did, too. Lucy also had Junie B. Jones bookmarks to hand out to her classmates. After school, Lucy had homework and reading, but I let her off the hook with practicing and chores. I taught piano for a couple of hours, and she and the kids played after their responsibilities were complete. Then we let the party commence! We did a bunch of Junie B. activities - read some of the books, colored a paper doll, did a spot the differences, maze, and other great printables we found on the website. Then it was dinner time. "Skeggi" and meatballs was on the menu, which is ironically both Lucy and Junie B.'s favorite meals. We also had fruit salad, green salad, cheesy breadsticks and fruit punch. Always a hit with everyone (but Dave, who resents spaghetti and meatballs), yummy and messy! Right after the prayer, Lucy reminded us "Okay! Now it's time to say what you love about me!" which we did. Emma said she's fun. Cal said she likes cheese and is nice. Cov said she tickles him. Dad said she says funny things. And I said I love that when she says she'll do something, she'll stick to it and get it done.
We wrote some haiku poems (5, 7 and 5 syllables, give or take with us, haha!), as Junie B. does in Top Secret Personal Beeswax Here's what everyone came up with -
Love Dad, by Dad. "Lucy is smiling brite. Her birthday wishes are in sight. Happy birthday, Luce!"
My Family, by Mom. "I love you, you see. We are a happy family. Forever we will be."
Jazzy, by Emma. "My cat is a psycopath. Jazzy is my cat. She sneaks out all day."
Jeff, by Cal. "Jeffery the boss. Jeff has a pool in his back yard. Jeff likes cheese and crackers."
My 7th birthday, by Lucy. "It is party time. I am seven years old today. I am happy today."
Super Cov, by Covey. "I am a strong boy. I am super Covey, away! See me pow! pow! pow!"
We also had some other little "Getting to Know You Sheets" we filled out. Lucy wanted to play Junie B. Jones tag where someone would have one of the books and tag someone else with it and they'd have to be it next. So simple, yet so fun!
We opened presents and cards next, Lucy was so excited for everything she got but most of all her little live pets turtles that can swim or walk on the ground. They are pretty cute!
Next we did cake and ice cream. The cake I designed to look like a book, and wrote "Lucy M. Ryerse is turning 7!" on it for the title. Lucy wanted cookie dough ice cream to go with it. We lit 7 candles at first and then Dave remembered he got a blooming flower candle. So we blew out the 7 candles and got out the mother of all birthday candles. Forget the frosting on the cake, this candle was that! Lucy was a little worried Dad would torch us as he lit it, but everyone thought it was super cool! And after her birthday, it kept singing the "Happy birthday" song over and over for two days. We had to go smother it and hide it in the closet because it was so loud and kept going. Lucy said she couldn't go to bed that night because the candle was creeping her out! When I tucked her in, she said she couldn't believe it was already over! All in all, she had a great birthday and is looking forward to her next birthday already!
Lucy, still as sweet and fun as the day she was born! We love you, little Luce!
All About Lucy at 7:
What is your favorite color? Purple
What is your favorite toy? My Hatchimal, Jelly Bean
What is your favorite fruit? Watermelon
What is your favorite vegetable? Cucumbers
What is your favorite tv show? Teen Titans, EllenTube games
What is your favorite movie? Moana, the real Cinderella
What is your favorite thing to wear? Puppy jammies
What is your favorite animal? Parrots
What is your favorite song? "Welcome to New York" by Taylor Swift
What is your favorite book? "That Is Not a Good Idea" by Mo Willems (or any book by him), any Junie B. Jones
Who is your best friend? Brooklyn
What is your favorite school subject? Art
What's your favorite thing to say? Welcome, because it is like two words - well and come.
What is your favorite snack? Pretzels
What is your favorite drink? Fruit punch
What is your favorite breakfast? Eggs, any kind
What is your favorite lunch? Cheese and crackers
What is your favorite dinner? Tomato soup & cheese sandwiches or spaghetti & meatballs
What is your favorite game? Do This, Do That game
What is your favorite thing to play outside? Horses
What is your favorite thing to play inside? Simon Says
What is your favorite holiday? Valentine's Day and Halloween and Christmas
What do you sleep with at night? My unicorn
What do you want to be when you grow up? A veternarian
Lucy is very strong willed. She makes up her mind to do something or not do it, she sticks with it.
This girl has a great imagination and never gets bored. She always finds some game to play. Which sometimes makes it hard for her to focus and get thing done. If we use her imagination to get her to do things, it seems to go better.
She loves art lately and will draw and color and paint a lot. She enjoys giving her pictures to others.
Lucy's quite the funny gal. Here are some of her recent comments (Lucy-isms) that just make us laugh:
"Every time I take a bath or shower, it's like I'm born all over again!"
(When we ask her to do something lately) "Yes, mommy/daddy! Right away!"
"When I grow up, I'm going to move and live in New York City!"
"This is the WORST day of my life!"
"Ewwww! Boys are so gross! Except for Daddy!"
(Running to her room after hurting Dad's feelings, sobbing uncontrollably) "I was just being a big brat to Dad! I feel soOOOO bad!"
(Reading a book about the human body and Lucy shudders) "Mom, can we please stop reading this. It just makes me feel all weird inside!"
"I don't really have a boyfriend. Just an imaginary one."
"The things I say are funny. And they're true."
