heidi at eight

My goodness this girl is such a beauty.  My friend, Jordyn, took these pictures and they turned out so well.  Heidi really wanted a long dress and I found this beautiful one that she was so happy about.   Eight really is great and we really love watching her grow and learn, even though a piece of us is sad the growing part is happening so fast!

*Heidi is the best student.  She is the one any teacher would be over the moon to have in their class.  She is obedient and respectful and thorough with her work.  She hangs onto every word they say and soaks in information like a sponge.  She reads between the lines and understands social cues at an adult level so she is extremely helpful and can interpret things the teacher isn't saying directly.  She is also enthusiastic about learning and loves to learn new information.  She is also very, very kind to her classmates and has the amazing ability to notice when someone feels sad or embarrassed and she reaches out to them in the most kind and loving way.  It is not unusual for me to get notes from her teachers letting me know kind things she has done or how much they adore having having her in their class.  We are so proud of her for being such a good students because we value her education and we know that doing well in school is so important!

*When Heidi isn't at school, she loves to play school with her stuffed animals.  She uses her whiteboard and reads books and has book discussions.  I love hearing her play school.

*Heidi loves a good book.  She is an incredible reader, but she also is in heaven when I read to her...and it is our favorite activity to do together.  I look forward to reading to her every night.  We are currently reading Harry Potter.  I love her insights and I absolutely ADORE watching her reactions to funny parts or shocking parts. 

*Heidi is a perfectionist.  She gets frustrated if she can't get something perfect the first time she tries something.  This is frustrating for both of us!

*She loves to talk football with her dad and I think it's adorable. She thinks it's hilarious to make up names for teams and she follows teams and scores.  She gets so excited when the Titans or Redskins win!

*She loves to do anything artsy. She loves to paint and draw and is really good at it!  She likes to sew, but is a little impatient with the learning process.  She would rather just know how to do it without having to learn haha.

*Heidi is very clever and witty.  She is fun to talk to because she just "gets" stuff.  Her teachers love this about her, her aunts and uncles love this about her, her friends love this about her.  She just has a great sense of humor. 

*She is getting very good at the piano and is trying choir this year and enjoying it.  She likes music and learns quickly.

*We took a break from soccer until spring but she has gotten really good and quick.  She is a fast thinker and that helps her play well. She is an awesome little goalie. 

*Heidi loves to take care of people and be in charge.  She is so good with little kids and they adore her.  Let's be honest, everyone adores her.  Her sister's friends all think she is the best thing in the world, all the kids at school in all grades know who she is and love to tell her hello. 

*She is an awesome little prankster.  She loves a good prank and she can keep a straight face and expression far better than I can!  She is also really good at taking a joke.

*Heidi has great insights when we read scriptures together as a family.  She was so excited to get baptized.

*She loves LOL dolls and Legos.  She builds great Lego creations.

*She is the master at coming up with creative games for her sisters and her friends.  She has great ideas and her sisters and friends generally follow her ideas.

We love you so much, Heidi!

We are so proud of you and so proud

of your beautiful heart.

You are such a remarkable example to

everyone around you.  You are fun and funny

and smart and you have a bright future ahead of you!

You can do anything you put your mind to!

XOXOXO