Happy 11th to Piper!

Piper's birthday has come and gone and this post has been waiting to be written.  At least I'm getting it done before school starts again.  Better late than never!  Here's what Piper was up to last year.  Here's what she's all about this year at the ripe old age of 11!

• Piper had a great 5th grade year.  She really enjoyed her teacher and had her good friends in her class as well.  What a great way to end elementary school! She really seemed to enjoy 5th grade without wishing she was in middle school already.  She fully lives in the present just like her dad.
• She has the best group of friends.  They are kind and quirky and funny and help Piper expand her horizons without making her feel like she should be someone she's not.  She has always surrounded herself with people who make her feel good about herself and is careful to set boundaries for those who don't.  She has been honing this skill for a few years now and I'm so impressed with how far she's come.  
• Piper continues to keep us on our toes.  Both of our kids are very good kids and don't really give us much trouble at all.  But if we have one who stretches us to our limits at all it's this girl.  She doesn't just do what she's told to make our lives easy.  But she definitely keeps things spicy around here.  Our family dynamics wouldn't be the same (or as fun) without her. 
• Piper is still enjoying cheer.  The program she's in is the right level of competitiveness which is pretty low but enough to make her feel accomplished. 
• Slime making is her primary hobby at the moment.  If she's not making it she's playing with it, buying it or watching YouTube videos about it.  Maybe she'll be a chemist when she grows up??
• Sister can still mess up a room like a tornado just ripped through it.  Additionally, the Jenkins hoarding trait is strong with this one. 
• Piper's pickiness when it comes to food hasn't wavered.  Sometimes I think she's picky on principal because that's what she's known for.  She's a connoisseur of fries and burgers which are on the short list of things she'll eat.  I'm still hoping she'll grow out of it.
• This girl will not do something when she's not ready.  No amount of peer pressure or friendly encouragement will motivate her to tackle something she's not sure about.  She'll do something when she's ready, end of story.  That's how she's been with learning to ride a bike and getting her ears pierced.  Both things that I know she's been wanting to do but she just wasn't ready.  Well this year she tackled those fears and decided to just do it.  I'm proud of her and can see that she's finding her courage.  

We sure do love this girl of ours and can't wait to see what another year brings!