Aubrey is SIX!

How did this happen?  My Aubrey Rose is SIX years old!  She is the last "kid birthday" in our house, so she was very anxious for the big day.

Here is a look back at Aubrey from 5 - 6.....

(I can't believe how different she looks with her long hair!!)

Things I want to remember about Aubrey at SIX:

• I've said this before, but I think having Aubrey first tricked us a little.  She follows rules, she listens and does what she's told, she apologizes when she does something wrong, just the threat of time out is enough to change her behavior, she wants to please, and she has breezed through most milestones thus far.  This is of course is not every second of every day, but she is, dare I say, pretty easy.  I remember when she was little, my mom would say quite often, "This isn't the normal."  We've since discovered that to be true! 
• She loves school!  She's had such a great Kindergarten year.  She loves reading and writing, and she loves to learn.  She is beyond excited to go to first grade next year and get to stay all day.  I cry just thinking about it.  I'm going to miss her so much.  So will her brother and sister.
• She is funny.  She loves to laugh and to get other people to laugh.  Unfortunately, getting a laugh from her brother usually involves what we call "potty talk."  Seriously, why is this funny to children?
• I love to watch her and Carson's shenanigans......their make-believe games, "spying" on people, inpromptu sleepovers, wrestling, making projects, and their crazy conversations.
• She is SUCH a good sister.  I'm sure I've said this in every birthday post since she was 2, but it remains to be true.  She would do anything for Carson or Charlotte.  She entertains them, calms them down, cheers them up, plays with them, watches out for them, includes them, and is setting the best example for them.
• She is kind and thoughtful.  She cares about others' feelings and is always aware of how things might affect others.  I've had 2 different moms approach me at Aubrey's school to say how much they appreciate what a good friend Aubrey is to their daughters.  I hope this never changes.  But I do worry that she puts others' needs before her own too often.
• She was SO excited to lose her first tooth (about a week before her birthday).  It had been loose for a little while, and she really wanted it to come out before school was out so she could get the coveted Tooth Bag from her teacher.  I figured it would take forever to actually fall out and be hanging by a thread before she dared pull it....but nope.  One night in bed when it wasn't even that loose, she just yanked it.  Came running out with a bloody tooth!  She now has her fingers in her mouth CONSTANTLY wiggling on the others.....
• She loves to sing.  We love to listen to her belt out the words (the ones she knows) to her favorite songs.....over and over and over.
• She really wants to ride her bike without training wheels.  She's had Brian take them on and off about 4 times this last year.  Maybe this year.....

We love you Monkey, and we're SO glad you were born!