Hannah turns six

Yesterday our littlest girl: Hannah Joy "Pomegranate" Kitsteiner turned six years old.

As typical in our family, we had a very SIMPLE birthday celebration. We got her a few small presents (a Harry Potter and Hermione doll, little "Polly Pocket" toy, and a game from my youth: Perfection.) The grandparents each sent a gift that she got to open too. We had some brownies with the Kotynskis during our school day and sang to her as well.

We let each kiddo pick something to "do" for her birthday instead of having a party. We hope to keep this tradition up for a number of years -- at least until they are old enough to specifically ask for a birthday party. Hannah is insistent that she wants to go to Dollywood despite the fact that we don't have season passes this year. (Season passes to Dollywood are good for 14 months so we buy them every other year.) Our new season passes won't be in affect until November, but she said she is fine waiting until then. So that's what we will do.

I won't be cliche and say all the things parents usually say when their kid has a birthday. (I can't believe it, how is she six?, etc.) But I will say that I love this little girl. She is simply so spicy and spunky and sweet and special. Here's some Hannah facts for me to remember for years to come:

• She is in ballet but says she doesn't like it.
• She is very excited to be a Rose in this year's big ballet production of Pollyanna.
• She is a leader.
• She still enjoys being helpful.
• She really likes gymnastics.
• She is very tall for her age. (Not a big surprise I know.)
• She loves people but can feel a little shy when first getting to know people.
• She is wearing a size 13 shoe.
• She is wearing size 7-8 clothes.
• She likes her Daddy and Mommy pretty equally.
• She loves her cousins: Genevieve and Eoin. They are her "best friends."
• She is a relatively easy kid. She can get emotional and opinionated and stubborn but these are mostly "reasonable" in scope.
• She likes being a farm kid.
• She is obsessed with all things "grown-up" and cannot wait until she can do things grown-up girls can do.
• She knows a lot about the facts of life being that she is on a farm and she asks a lot of questions.
• She is asking a lot of Biblical questions and has been discussing getting baptized.
• She is reading very well for her age, and officially will enter Kindergarten this year.

We love you Hannah! HAPPY SIXTH BIRTHDAY!!!!!!