Keira is 5!

This birthday created mixed emotions for me.  I felt like Keira turning 5 took a long time coming since she is so mature for her age that I ask her all the time if she's sure she is only 5.  But, each year she gets older, I feel just a little bit of sadness only because I don't want her to grow up so fast!  Yes.  It's cliche, but I don't care.  This little doll of mine plays a huge part in keeping my sanity.

-Keira is a big helper.  She almost never hesitates when I ask her to do something.  In fact, she'll often run, especially if it has to do with little brother. 
-Keira is a perfect big sister.  You'll often see her protecting Lexi and making sure she is included in any fun with friends (Lexi and Keira share friends which makes many of them a little older than her.).  She loves to entertain Cooper and find lots of ways to make him laugh.  He beams every time she laughs because her laughter is contagious.
-She just started a new tumbling class.  Strictly tumbling which I LOVE for her.  After only 2 classes, she was doing a cartwheel.  I was so glad because I had tried to teach her before, but wasn't sure how to do it.  It probably helps that she is older; nonetheless, I'm happy she loves it. 
-Bike-riding is probably the most popular activity around here.  Just before her 5th birthday she learned how to ride without training wheels.  Daddy took off the pedals to create a balance bike and after just a few days of learning how to balance, she was off!
-Keira's emotions run very deep.  She gets it from her mother.  Her emotions surface often and for different reasons.  I know if she knows she has done something wrong, she internalizes it and tries very hard to fix it. 
-She is a perfectionist which goes right along with being a little emotional.  We have helped her to see that she can't do everything perfect the first time so this has toned down some in the last few months.  I love that she always tries her best, though.  She is very good at lots of things.
-Keira is obedient.  If I ask her to take a nap, even if she protests, she will take one.  Of course, even if there has been a lot of "why's" lately, she is still obedient.
-She is super health conscious.  Between Daddy teaching her and a dentist day at school a few months ago, she is well aware of "sugar bugs" and tries to eat healthy.  That doesn't mean she NEVER eats treats, but she doesn't eat them as often as might be expected.
-Keira keeps us righteous.  She is often the one who remembers we need to read scriptures or do "a lesson" for FHE.  Since she is reading she does really well at reading the scriptures on her own.  And, of course, she loves it.
-Which brings me to...she LOVES to read.  Because she does, she reads anything she gets her hands on and it has expanded her skills very quickly.  When Rick and I are talking and we spell something we don't want them to know just yet, she figures it out.  With reading comes writing.  She loves to write notes and draw pictures almost daily. 
-She doesn't mind public speaking...for now.  She's given 2 talks in Primary before and was a complete natural.  I hope she keeps that ability because it is something she will do for the rest of her life.

Keira awoke on her birthday to a fun surprise.  Once everyone else was up, we headed out for birthday donuts.

Later that day I let her pick 2 friends to hang out with us and we left Cooper with a sitter.  We're doing a joint friend party for her and Lexi later in the summer.  She picked her cousin Olivia, her friend Elle, and Lexi is a given.  I took this little group of girls to the movie Epic, where we ate dinner, and then played at Jump On it.  Their little conversations in the car ride were pretty funny.  Just try to imagine what little 4 & 5 year olds have to talk about. 

Jump On it was my favorite.  They have oodles of trampolines and a recently installed rope swing.  Keira and Lexi were hooked to the rope swing.  I got a little exercise myself.  I've always loved trampolines thanks to my parents for buying one for us when we were young.

Um...this is what I got when I asked them to pose for me.  What cute girls!

Happy birthday Keira bug!  Love you babe!