Kendal is 6!

Our little lady keeps growing up even though we're trying to convince her staying young is a good thing. Kendal is not one to let celebrations pass her by so our household has been anticipating Kendal's birthday for a while now. Kendal is always willing to share her love with us, we get hugs and loves throughout the day from Kendal. When she's going in for a kiss she'll push our her lips and make "birdie" noises as she comes at our cheek. She cares deeply about life; people, places, events, toys, etc. are important and thus can be made to be a big deal to Kendal. Sometimes this caring deeply can turn into tears for Kendal as she see's a precious toy being manhandled by her brother, mommy is giving toys to charity, or visiting family that she loves so much just left. We love her tender heart and her smothering ways (most of the time). Kendal is very bubbly, and given the right audience / occasion she can be a constant mover and talker. She still happily talks to anyone around her and is so friendly.
Kendal skip hops her way to and from the bus every day (giving her bus drivers a good laugh) and embraces going to school. She loves everything about school and has something amazing / positive to say every day. We're proud of Kendal and her willingness to learn and how much she knows. Her reading is improving and she's starting to pull out the friend, her scriptures, or storybooks to read on her own (She's always done this at bedtime - flash back to my two year old with 20+ books in her bed at night; but now instead of savoring the pictures she's reading the stories to go with them). Kendal likes to learn and enjoys when we take the time to teach her new things such as cooking, sewing, tennis and basketball skills, etc.
She loves to play games with us and loves it when it's a "grown up game" meaning the age on the box is older than she is. She has a great imagination with her dolls, Legos, play dough, pretend play. She's loves riding her bike an outside time, but with colder temps she's kept in more than she wants. ("It's ok Mom, I love the cold!")
Kendal and Peter get along fairly well, but they are typical kids / siblings so while they can have a good battle over a toy or getting their way they mostly play together well and even keep each other up way to long past bedtime talking, reading together, and avoiding sleep (which they're doing right now ; ).

Kendal's annual birthday interview:
Favorite color - "Pink!"
Favorite toy - "Games and barbies." (i'll add in Lego's and dolls too)
Favorite food - "Spaghetti, pizza, macaroni, and eggs." (She will eat these meals great, anything else and she's at the table for an hour talking to avoid taking bites.)
Favorite animal - "ducks and kitties."
Favorite song - "Frozen."
Favorite holiday - "My birthday!"
Favorite snack - "Oranges, banana's, strawberries."
Favorite cartoon - "Peg + Cat, Angelina Ballerina, Dino Train, Curious George."
Favorite books - "Look and find books, long books, Fancy Nancy."
When you grow up what do you want to be? "A Mom, a Teacher, and a Coach."
Favorite thing about school - "To learn, play, have fun, make friends, and my teacher."
Nicknames - Sweets (aka sweet pea), little lady
Favorite thing about your birthday? "Everything!"
At age 6 Kendal is 41 lbs and 45 1/2 in. tall!

Kendal and Peter had the day off of school on Friday. The kids were thrilled to have Daddy time. I let Kendal go to warm up with Casey before his basketball game. Then Peter and I came before the game and we watched, cheered / screamed for the team during the game. Casey's team won by one against Canyon Ridge. Friday night my parents and Katherine came up. We ate dinner and caught up. Saturday morning we played at the house then went into town. We hit up Barns and Noble for Kendal's free birthday cupcake, story reading with Auntie K, and coloring. We had lunch at Culvers and then my Mom took the kids, Katherine, and I to the Peanuts movie. Kendal and Peter got to take their stuffed animal snoopy's and loved the movie. After the movie Peter asked where the peanuts were. We enjoyed the rest of the day playing at home and eating some pizza (Kendal's birthday request). Sunday morning Kendal got to open her presents. I finally gave in and handed down my American Girls doll and all it's belongings to Kendal (with a nice lecture on responsibility, and caring for such a special doll). Casey made an amazing bed for the doll and I sewed up a dress to match one we got Kendal for her birthday. My parents and sister gave Kendal a couple of outfits for the doll, some new sheets (she's really been wanting), a frozen book and calendar, and a cute little Lego girl / car. David, Anica, and Elliot gave her a cute Olaf she played with her dolls (that Peter frequently stole today to press it's buttons, and tap dance with it ; ), and a paper doll set she's dying to play with but I'll make her wait till the current birthday mess is contained. Kendal picked out a red velvet cake (YUM!) and requested it be covered in sprinkles. She and Peter helped (aka licked and ate) frost and sprinkle the cake. We all went to church. Kendal insisted on her sparkly cardigan with her new dress for church and wanted to button it funny ways just because. She got sang to in primary and got a candy bar from the bishop that she immediately tore into. We got a couple of skype birthday calls (Thank you Anica, David, Elliot, Grandma, Grandpa, Nicole, Jordan, & Anderson trio) we loved seeing your awesome faces and talking to you all!

Kendal we adore you; you are our sunshine, our special little lady, the sweet spot in our lives. Happy six birthday to our amazing little lady!