Emma

Emma is growing up. Sometimes I am amazed that I have a seven year old and that we soon will have five children. Where has the time gone? Emma brought home her first grade pictures this week and I was struck by how grown up she is becoming. I have tried to help my girls feel like they are capable of anything and our expectations of them are high. Emma has risen to the occasion every time. At home she changes diapers, puts Olivia to bed, does dishes, sweeps floors. She's wonderful at keeping her sisters entertained. At school she is at the top of her class. She has a wonderful teacher that she adores and who has brought out the best in her. Her reading ability has increased dramatically this year. She has read most of the "Magic Treehouse" series and just this week started reading "Little House in the Big Woods" - she often reads outloud to her sisters at bedtime. Perhaps most difficult of all, she has begun the Book of Mormon on her own and is in 2nd Nephi. It is her goal to finish before her baptism in December. She definitely fills the role of "big sister" well and can be bossy, but her sisters adore her and for the most part are happy to follow her lead. She is very creative and loves to make "books" with story titles like "Olivia's Birthday" and "Olivia's Bangs" and "Olivia's Day at the Beach." I'll admit that I'm a bit leary at the thought of having 4 teenage daughters in the house in a few years. I pray that they will all be well-grounded, confident girls that are able to handle the challenges that the world is throwing at kids these days. At this point at least, I think we are headed in the right direction.