You know when...

Your daughter is getting old (and I am even older) when ...

... she can watch the boys while I run Eric to the train. I can even run a movie back really fast and she only calls once to tell me they are okay.

... she can ride her bike to and from school all by herself.

... she can pour herself a glass of milk and not spill all over the floor. She also can get the boys their own juice cups.

... she can make Eggo waffles without help.

... she can make ramen noodles without help.

...she can turn on the tv and turn on movies and can tape on the DVR all of the movies that she wants.

... she can read a whole chapter book without help and can tell me the story after.

...she can pick out her own clothes (even if it is the pink turtleneck everyday)

,.. she can hold Ryan's hand while going into the store and is worried if he lets go.

... she can look at the calendar and know the date and the day of the week.

... she can fill out Max's birthday invitations (even when I tell her not to).

... she knows if she likes her hair a certain way.

... she carries a purse when we go to the store.

... she can search the web for things that she hears on TV (totally scary).

...she knows her type of music and what she wants to buy on iTunes.

...she flosses her teeth each night because the dentist told her to.

and you know she is still little when on Friday she forgot whether she was supposed to go home or meet me in the gym at the school. She didn't see my car in the parking lot (I parked on the other side of the school) and she was really nervous. She told the ground duty to help her and they came and found me in the gym. She was crying so hard that I was lost or left her.

I also know that she is still little when she asks me to stay in her room at night a few minutes longer or when she wants to come with me and run errands or writes me notes and leaves them on my bed. And the final thing that shows me that she is still little is when I find pictures like this on the dry erase board and her and I are dressed the same. Hooray for that and the sun shining so brightly.

I love you Alysa and I am excited that you are getting bigger. We have so many adventures ahead of us and I am excited to share them with you.

Love, Mom.

Alysa favorites for the month of January are (I decided to ask her these questions. these are her answers)

Favorite thing to do inside: art and jump rope
Favorite thing to do outside: ride herbike
Favorite TV Show or movie: Narnia is her favorite movie and (she says "I have to go with..") Arthur.
Favorite treat: Fun Dip
Favorite website: bellasara.com

Favorite thing to eat for breakfast: cereal (corn flakes)
Favorite thing to eat for dinner: Spaghetti
Favorite person to play with: Jordan Farnsworth or Megan Speechly
Favorite thing to play with: dog fashions from Angie
Favorite thing: Sesil, Silkos, Ellie, troll doll, Valentine (tan cat) and stripes (stripy cat) . She has to sleep with these every night and something is added to the list so her arms are full in the night.
Her least favorite thing is - when she can't find anyone to play with

Her least favorite food is - zucchini