Eight is Great!

In the midst of all the parties and fun, our sweet little baby turned 8.  As she already had her birthday party, the actual day was a low key family celebration.  Paige's birthday fell on a Sunday, which I was grateful for.  For her birthday dinner she requested Hawaiian haystacks, which I found sort of odd considering she doesn't eat the chicken (she is not much of a meat eater.)  I think she just likes to be able to put some coconut on her rice.  For dessert, we had already had a cake so we ate caramel apples instead.  She did get one extra present---a Paige brag book.  I had a bunch of pictures of her printed and bound in a book.  She liked having her very own picture book.



Enjoying her "Pages of Paige" book



Paige is quite the character in our home.  She's funny, smart as a whip, and very loving.  She has always loved to cuddle.  She is a great pretender and loves to play.  Everyday, she has to take a little time to herself to go upstairs to her room and play alone.  She usually lines up her stuffed animals and teaches them in "school."  She also loves live students as well, if she can convince someone else in the family to be her student for the day.

Paige is also a great friend.  In fact, she has so many friends that I can't keep up with all the playdate requests.  Whenever we go to activities or school events, she is always greeted by a group of friends giving her hugs.  At her school kids get tickets for showing good character.  They can then put the tickets in a drawing held once a week.  When Paige first got a ticket, we talked about how the "odds" weren't too good for winning in the drawing, to which she replied, "I don't care if I win, I just like being a good kid."



Her island diorama

Fortunately, Paige also does very well in school.  She is in advanced groups, gets 100% on her tests, and knocked the socks off the standardized tests this year.  She enjoys learning and is a quick learner.  She is also very meticulious about her school work and won't rest until she knows all the details and has everything figured out, which sometimes can drive her parents nuts.  We also know that she won't be parlaying any of the school success into a medical career.  Paige has absolutely no tolerance for the sight of blood or even the talk of blood or gore---she's a fainter.



This year, besides playing soccer, Paige is also taking piano lessons and joined a Girl Scouts Brownie troop.  She is a busy girl but has lots of fun.



Just returning from a Brownies field trip
to pumpkin patch



She always gets the best cards from
Gpa/Gma Church



Lastly, I can't forget to mention one of my most favorite things about Paige:  her FRECKLES.  I love them!