Allie at 11

Two things to note about Allie in this picture.... she's recently started wearing glasses and her bangs have FINALLY almost grown out to where they're manageable.

This kid is the spice in our life.  It is constantly amazing to me to see how two girls, raised in the same house, by the same parents, in a short amount of time can be so different.  Although there are many similarities between Allie and her big sister, she is definitely her own person.

This cute girl has just started the 6th grade, or as her teacher likes to call it, Junior High on training wheels.  She is having her first exposure to multiple teachers and inter-disciplinary assignments and is learning the ropes for next year.  She recently ran and was chosen for Student Council at her school; 50 kids applied and 12 were selected.  She is also her class photographer.

Allie is thrilled that she has a top locker this year and that she has lots of friends to hang out with.  She likes to spend time with Mia, Abbi, Bitsy, Anna, Courtney, Grace and Makayla.  She loves to bake and cook in the kitchen and she still really enjoys sewing.

One word that would describe this girl is mercurial.  She can go from happy and bubbly to crying and ornery in the blink of an eye.  She is passionate about everything and her great challenge will be to learn how to handle that.

Out of all my kids, I would say she's the most like I was as a child; so there's proof that what goes around, comes around.  In so many ways she wants to be a grown-up.  She wants to wear make-up and go to junior high like her sister.  She spends a great deal of her time and energy mothering her siblings, (much to their dismay.)

She is very creative.  She auditioned for and was admitted to a performing company at her dance studio this year.  She has dance for four hours every week.  She has gotten back into playing the piano and is making good progress.  Just yesterday, we picked up her violin at the music store so that she can learn to play that.

This kid is determined, and works super hard.  I never have to get after her to do her homework.  She is a self starter in all senses of the word.  She is uber responsible and wants to be accountable.  She loves to use her Kindle (although not for reading like her parents intended.)  This kid is a reality TV junkie and watches shows that make me cringe; My Strange Addiction, Say Yes to the Dress, My Fair Wedding, Clean House, etc... etc....

If I could give this girl one piece of advice, it would be to try and learn balance and moderation.  Being like her mother, she does not do halfway well.  It's Go Big or Go Home and sometimes that causes more problems than it solves.  She has got a bright future ahead of her if she can learn the lessons that it has taken me decades to learn.

I am grateful that this little ball of fire was put in our family.  She keeps life interesting, that's for sure, but I always miss her when she's gone and I'm so glad when she returns.  Keep being the awesome kid you are Allie, and always remember that I love you!