Calista's 6th Birthday

Calista turned six on April 27th!  She was so excited for her birthday and it was fun to see the anticipation build.  The night before she went to bed she started talking about her birthday party at the fish park.  Twice earlier this year she had friends who had birthday parties at the fish park, which is on base near her school.  About a month before her birthday I asked her if it was ok if we didn't do a friends party but only a family party.  She said that was fine and didn't seem to care at all.  So I was confused when the night before her actual birthday she was talking about her party at the park.  I told her she wasn't having one and she was devastated.  Apparently she had told her friends about it and everything.

I couldn't bear hearing her crying herself to sleep in bed about her lack of birthday party so I stayed up late that night and planned one.  I couldn't make it happen on her actual birthday, because I was working, but Bob and I were able to make invitations for her to give out at school the next day.  Then on Monday we had the party right after school.  We pretty much just invited her class to the playground near the school after school on Monday and I brought cupcakes.  She loved it and I'm glad she had a good party. 

Calista loves going to school.  She likes her teacher and her friends and she has learned so much.  She doesn't like making her lunch the night before and she isn't good at remembering to bring back her library books or show me her folder, but she tries hard.  

Calista asked for make up and jewelry for her birthday.  She loves playing dress up and is always putting on different clothes throughout the day.

She loves the shoes she is wearing in the picture.  She loves them so much I had to take them away because they were supposed to be church shoes and she kept wearing them while riding her bike around and such.  She even lost one for a few weeks still and went to church with the other one on.  I guess she preferred to have one favorite shoe on over a different pair altogether.

Calista isn't a very committed rule follower and prefers her own way even if that means sneaking and not obeying.  For example, if I tell her to put something away upstairs she will often hide it somewhere that is closer so she doesn't need to go upstairs.  Or I heard from her teacher she will go to computer time first everyday when she is supposed to be doing a different rotation, and she gets away with both things often.  I also found out recently that she buys school lunch way more often than she is supposed to.  She knows I gave her money on her account to get school lunch once a week.  She also knows that the school lunch people will keep giving it to her and charging me regardless of if her account is negative.  She also gave me candy for mother's day and then ate it about an hour later when I wasn't looking.  Then she felt so bad she tried to hide the wrapper but started crying the moment I found out.

Calista wants to do what is right and she is very sweet and kind.  She makes me cards, gives me hugs, and tells me that she loves me all the time.  She likes to play games and sit with me.  She shares with the other kids and tries to cheer them up when they are sad.  She no longer runs out into the road, which I am super grateful for.

One thing we got her for her birthday was crystal ball I found at the thrift store. She totally found it in my closet a few weeks early though and played with it.  She didn't even put it back when she finished.  She asked for an ice cream cake, and spaghetti for dinner.

It is always an adventure being Calista's mom and I love it.