Tomorrow a 6yo lives here

E's excitement over her 6th birthday is not containable.  She bounded out of bed today jacked up about waking tomorrow and being 6yo. There has been a "how many sleeps until my birthday" countdown all week. We went to the Loveland Art Show today and in the kid art area, she built herself a birthday cake out of clay. After the art show, we went to the store and she picked out her real birthday cake. We are picking up her BFF after school tomorrow to take them on a special lunch and Build A Bear excursion.  E. has no idea, she asked that momma surprise her on her birthday. Mission accomplished.  

Kindergarten is in full motion, E. said her teacher commented on how detailed her artwork is. Understatement.  She seems to like her teacher, as much as we can trick out of her.  The teacher communicated to me the other day that she is very bright and a good friend to her classmates. We try all kinds of tricks to get E to talk about her day at school, but she catches on quick, no interest in sharing. Even with a few weeks into the school year behind us, she is exhausted and has been prone to wild mood swings.  The teacher said E is doing a pretty good job at keeping the sensory seeking under control at school, so we think all that effort to keep from moving, grabbing, running etc gets released when at home.  She leaves for school talking, but when comes off the bus, she is unsmiling, totally shut down and wants to be alone to decompress after eating lunch. E. typically asks to go to her room, by herself.  I keep expecting to find her napping in there, but no such luck.

E. spends most of every day crafting and creating furniture, food and vehicles for her dolls and animals.  She has all kinds of furniture for her dolls and dollhouse, but prefers to design her own our of paper, cardboard and tape.  She piles all the manufactured pieces in a corner and uses her designs.  This week she made an airplane and molded miniature food from quick dry clay...cupcakes, baguettes, sandwiches, cheeseburgers etc.  Once they air dry she paints then clearcoats the food.  At dinner time, animals and dolls joins us with their own special feast.

Gymnastics is progressing at warp speed.  E. was invited to level 2 gymnastics and now trains 6.50 hrs a week.  Over the summer she was also invited into a special session where they work on up to level 5 skills.  Fortunately we have a few hours between school and gymnastics, then gymnastics and bed for decompression time.

As if she isn't busy enough, E has asked to do cheerleading, dance and Girl Scouts.  We told her Girls Scouts only for now and will be attending an information meeting this week.