.:Andrus Family:.: .:Remi - Five Years Old:.

This beauty of a girl turned five today!

I just looked back at her four year old post, and had written that she had been growing up a lot last year. Well, I have to say the same thing again this year! Remi is just learning and growing so much lately; I am so proud of who she is becoming!

Remi is still her own little person. She is not easily swayed, and really, almost always that is such a wonderful thing! I like that she is confident and secure in herself and what she wants. It is definitely going to be a trait that will serve her well!

Rem is still super girly! She loves to wear dresses, and now has gotten into posing for pictures. It is such a nice change from how she used to hate pictures! She loves to put on makeup. Remi still loves her dolls, but she is super into My Little Pony right now. The amount of ponies at our house is incredible! She has a wonderful imagination; I love to listen to her role play with her ponies and her sisters.

With Reece at school every morning, Rem and Harper have obviously spent more time together. It has been neat to watch her really step into that big sister role more. She also really loves Jabren, and is always happy to try and help cheer him up or keep him entertained. I've mentioned before that he seems to have a little soft spot for her, too. I've been impressed with how Remi is often more willing to help me with things, like cleaning up, etc.

Remi has been going to pre-school two days a week this year. She has learned so much, and made so much growth this year! She is remembering her letters and sounds, and can write her name now. I love seeing my kids learn and develop! She loves her teacher, Miss Alanna, and seems to have found her place at school. She has learned how to adapt to new situations so much more easily, and is really starting to figure out who she is in her school and church classes. Rem is also in a dance class this year. She for sure likes dressing up in her costumes, but the jury is still out on if she enjoys the class or not. Up until now, I haven't really been able to watch her class so I haven't been able to see how she interacts and listens. There have been a few times when we've had to have some chats because her teacher told me she wasn't participating. This past week was the first week I was able to watch, and she did awesome! Her teacher has even said something to me about it the past two weeks. We will finish out this year and see if she wants to continue on next year.

Remi is still cautious in general, but she has also loosened up with some things. She still doesn't care for moving things (like swings or carousels), but she has turned into quite the monkey at play grounds! She will climb up on equipment, go down big twisty slides, and run around like crazy! It has been really fun to see her become more sure of herself and able to handle more. Like I said last year, she knows her limits, and it's great that she will stick to them.

Rem is a singer! Man, can that girl sing! And loudly I might add. She has really natural vibrato. She loves to sing songs that she knows, but also songs that she makes up. While it can sometimes get really loud, I usually really love listening to her. Even her classmates know that it is a cue that she is in a good mood. Her teacher told me of a time at school where she started singing as she worked, and one of the boys said, "Well, I guess Remi is feeling happy!" Cracks me up!