Zoë bowie. How in the actual heck are you 9?! I look at you and I see such a strong, independent, smart, kind, and fierce young lady. I was told last week that you're officially a 'tween'. Oh MY.
Your favorites include: spaghetti, singing (loudly) the Wicked soundtrack or really ANY broadway musical soundtrack you know the words to, putting on shows in the living room, reading, snuggling with your pets, writing stories, cooking, playing games, and hockey-anything hockey.
This year you:
-went IN PERSON for half of your 2nd grade year after doing the first half remotely
-started third grade IN person (yay!)
-ran your first and second 5k race and won first place in your age group!
-joined two hockey teams and scored your first goal in the first game you played
-started new dance classes, trying out tap and jazz in addition to ballet
-went white water rafting
-took two backpacking trips
-performed in Annie at the Tacoma Musical Playhouse
-were elected as a class representative for ASB
-transitioned to being a "teacher's kid" at school with patience and a helpful heart
School has continued to be a joyous space for you and since you got to return to in-person learning last February, you haven't changed your mind! You're spending your second year in a row with Mrs. Rucks and she is an amazing teacher for you and you've been challenged and grown so much. Her classroom is calm and quiet and it's a fantastic space for you. I'm so thankful I get to peek in every now and then in your classroom because it's very special and I can understand why you love it. You are our voracious reader and have been working your way through the Nancy Drew series, continued to love Harry Potter (one per year because Mom is a meanie), and any mystery you can get your hands on.
This year your biggest activity by far has been your hockey teams. Your Rockets team is the 8u team of co-ed kiddos and you. love. it. You look amazing in your uniform and have been working on aggressively playing wing (that's usually where you're placed on the ice) throughout the season. You are a stellar skater and I love to see you push other kids up against the boards (gently) to try to get the puck. Last weekend you even had your debut as goalie for the time. In addition to your Rockets team you play for the Firestreaks, the 8/10u girls only team. It's fun to watch the Firestreaks games because watching all girls play is totally different than the co-ed team. We spend three to four days a week at the ice rink! You've made a lot of good friends, had fantastic coaches, and overall a great experience. You tell us that you'll be playing hockey for life.
Being a big sister is not always an easy job, but you tackle it with grace and patience and are always willing to play with your brother. Oliver loves you to pieces and the two of you love to put on a show in the living room. Your recent obsession that the both of you share is Pokemon. Evee is your favorite! The two of you will talk about Pokemon ALL. DAY. LONG. You play Pokemon Go, watch the TV shows, battle with your newly acquired and built card decks, pour through the Pokemon book you have to read about new ones you catch, and snuggle with your Evee stuffies at night. I'm so glad you can enjoy sharing something you both love so much.
Your love of cooking really blossomed this year with your Radish Kids subscription. You have cooked so many delicious things and, though a 50 minute recipe typically takes you twice as long to prepare, really enjoy the entire process. The plating and making your food look beautiful is your favorite part. You are a MUCH more accomplished cook than your Dad or I was at your age. We all love cooking in the kitchen with you!
It is truly hard to describe and not sound like I am bragging about what an incredible young person you are. You are patient, kind, thoughtful, introspective, full of grit, hard working, silly, creative, responsible, smart, helpful, inquisitive and more. I have enjoyed being at school with you this year, even if I don't get to substitute teach in your class. I can still sneak in and peek at you every now and then in class and my FAVORITE part of nearly every day is when you run across the entire playground towards me when I drop my own class off to give me a leaping hug. I have never met another 9 year old like you and I can't wait to see what you accomplish this year. I'm so proud of you, Zoë Maxine.
