I love how thoughtful Holland is. She feels things deeply and considers carefully. She is working on her own testimony and has had some really special experiences. I am always so impressed with her gospel knowledge. She is also thoughtful with our family. Recently John and I went on a weekend away, and Holland thought the idea of instead of focusing on what the girls could tattle on each other, they could made a "tittle" list. This "tittle" list was a list of things that the girls did that was exceptionally nice or helpful for each other. Wow! What 10 year old is thinking of these things??
Holland is such a good friend. I love how she and Sophie are still best friends after all this time. Her best little friends this year at school are Riley and Olive. They are all so good for each other. There has been a little issue between her and Riley recently, but she talked about it with her calmly, and I think they worked it out successfully. That's remarkable to problem solve friendships at age 10.
Holland still loves, LOVES to read. Lately she has gotten into the Keeper of the Lost Cities books. They have totally enchanted her like they did her older sisters. She told me that she didn't want to read them too fast because she wants to enjoy them thoroughly. We gave her the Alcatraz series for her birthday, and it was such a hit. Holland and I joined the Girls Read program at our library, and it has been such a delight to read a book with her every month. We attend a meeting with other girls her age where there is a book discussion and a pretty cool craft. They even have a treat for everyone. Such a cool program. I love hearing Holland's comments on the book. She is so insightful.
Here a few questions to get to know Holland at age 10:
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a good person with lots of money and a nice husband and obedient, kind, and fun-loving kids.
What is your favorite place in the world?
Maybe Hawaii, or home.
What makes you happy?
Books, my family, games, friends, fun things, and trips.
If you opened a store, what would you sell?
Plants and instruction manuals on how to take the best care of every plant there is.
If you could be any animal, what kind would you be?
Dolphin, because they are playful and kind and everyone loves them. Also they're one of my favorite animals.
What would you do if you made the rules at home?
Make it so I could do and have whatever I want. Also micromanage my sisters.
What is the ickiest thing you’ve ever eaten?
Morning mouth water, gunk from my throat, or some types of medicine.
If you could have any superpower, what would you have?
The superpower to control all the plants.
What is your favorite thing to do?
Go on trips.
What is your favorite food?
maybe 7layer dip(with chips), pasta salad, or soup.
How would you describe a perfect day for yourself?
On my birthday doing/getting whatever I want.
What do you think you are good at?
Reading fun books, watching fun movies, doing fun things, also piano and violin.
If you had to live with a cartoon character, who would you pick?
Silveny, the alicorn who can teleport, from Keeper of the Lost Cities.
How would you describe your family?
Nice, makes good food, fun/trip loving.
What is something you’d like to learn how to do?
Teleport, fly.
What would you do with $1,000?
Buy me a phone with apps, cereal, books, and a two day trip to Lake Powell.
Which holiday do you like the most and why?
Christmas, if my birthday doesn't count.
What is something that makes you laugh?
Jokes, and tickles.
Why is the sky blue?
Air particles mixed with sunlight.
What made you smile today?
Thinking about my upcoming class party and field trip.
Who is your favorite superhero?
I am not very familiar with superheroes honestly.
What’s your favorite line from a movie?
"I am your wiiiife! I am the greatest gooooood you're ever going to get!"
What’s the most unusual thing in your school bag right now?
I used to have two plums in there, but they got squished.
Is your personality similar or different to someone else in your family? If so, how are you the same or different?
All mixed together is similar to mine.
What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done?
Telling my parents something that made me uncomfortable.
What was your favorite book?
Right now my favorite series is Keeper of the Lost Cities, but I also love the Alcatraz series and How to Train Your Dragon.
What’s the first thing you do in the morning?
Go to the bathroom
What’s one thing that made you laugh recently?
Darcy calling MLK Jr day is "Luther's Birthday"
If you could ask your favorite celebrity one thing, what would you ask?
I'd ask Taylor Swift how she comes up with songs.
If you were invisible for a day, what would you do?
Try to turn myself back visible.
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
French Polynesia
If you could invite four famous people to dinner, who would you invite and why?
Shannon Messenger (because she is one of my favorite authors), Taylor Swift (So she could sign things and play us a song), President Oaks (because he is the prophet), The person who invented ice cream.
If you could visit any planet, where would you go and why?
I would rather stay on earth.
Honest, trustworthy, kind, funny, empathetic
Some Would You Rather questions for my girl who likes to ask them:
Would you rather be part of the Incredibles family or the Weasley family?
The Incredibles family
Would you rather live in a world of legos or a world of cartoons?
Cartoons, because it looks more real.
Would you rather have a pet dinosaur or a pet dragon?
Dragon! They are way cooler. Also some of them have healing powers and other powers.
Would you rather live in a house made of cheese or a house made of cookie dough?
Cookie dough, I guess. I'd much rather have a normal house though, so it wouldn't smell bad and so it would be actually stable.
Would you rather be a mouse or an elephant?
Elephant, because it seems more safe.
Would you rather be invisible or be able to fly?
Fly, definitely! I would hate being invisible most of the time.
Would you rather live at Disney World or Sea World?
Disney World, maybe.
Imagine you discover a beautiful island where you decide to build a new society. What is the first rule you put in place?
Be safe and don't tell anyone about the island.
If it was raining meatballs, would you eat them?
No
If you could pick 3 animals to put together and create a new animal, which animals would you pick? What would it be called?
Parrot, Pony, Dolphin. It would be called a Papodol.
If you had to create a nickname for yourself, what would it be?
Holly
If you had a robot to help you with school, but it could only do one task, what would it do?
If I could have it when I grow up I would have it do all my math.
Holland's birthday was a success! We had parfaits for breakfast. She still had to go to school, but I took cupcakes to her class. She passed them out, and everyone seemed to like them. She ate nachos for school lunch and seven layer dip for dinner. For dessert she asked for creme brulee at the last minute, which was a little stressful but we pulled it off. We gave her the Alcatraz books, dresses, a balloon animal kit, a locket, a maid coupon (from Miriam), and picasso tiles. She also got legos from Uncle Daniel. She seemed to love it all.
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| We loved refurbishing and hanging up the balloon arch for her birthday. |
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| That face tells it all about how she feels about legos. |
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| A golden birthday dress, locket, and birthday treat for my sunshine girl. |
Later in June we hosted Holland's birthday party! She was so overdue to have a birthday party. We try to do a big friend party when our kids turn 5, 10, and 15. Holland's fifth birthday party was impossible because of covid. So it felt extra great to make the tenth happen! I loved that she wanted to do a big pool party with our new pool.
We invited a ton of friends from church, school, and neighbor friends. I love that Sophie could also come and join in on the fun. Almost everyone that we invited came! I think there were 12 kids in the pool. We didn't really have anything else for the kids to do (food, treats, pool fun, music). But I think everyone had a good time. Her party favors were a squirter and a squishy. We paid our older girls to just sit and watch the pool to make sure everyone stayed safe. One friend's mom was so concerned that her daughter wasn't going to be safe. It was sweet and a little funny. I told her the pool is shallow enough to touch, her daughter could bring a life jacket, and our daughters would be watching the pool, but she still was just so concerned. Thankfully she still allowed her daughter to come. I think seeing in person made her feel better.
We learned pretty fast this summer that being in the pool during the day is too hot without some kind shade available. I ended up buying a fairly cheap cantilever shade. It certainly doesn't shade the whole pool, but just having a place to rest in the shade is gold. This was especially true for the older sister lifeguards for the pool.
Holland wanted little smokies, watermelon, pretzels, and capri suns to munch on and drink, and then ice cream sundaes for treat. (Darcy picked these exact same things for her party later that summer because it was such a hit. :) )
We created a new balloon arch that was darling (actually for John's mom's bday party), and we hung it up outside, but it didn't like the sun. So many balloons popped out there. It made a mess but was still fun. I want to figure out how to do it differently sometime. It looked pretty ragged by the end of the party.
Her friends all gave her sweet presents. I think she particularly cherished Sophie's card (and her present was great too). Super cute stuffed animals, crafts, and girly stuff. It was so fun.
Happy birthday darling Holland! We love you so much!!
