The 8 year old Lydia

Usually it is Roy that has the honors of writing about our special birthday child.  He hasn't posted one yet - maybe he has a draft started somewhere; therefore, I apologize for stepping in....

Lydia ... 

I see why this birthday post is delayed.  Wink.  It seems impossible to capture in words Lydia's dynamic personality.  She is quite a remarkable young person.  She has this amazing ability to be the positive force in a room, and yet, might decide to suck all the air out it if the mood strikes her.

She has a very bright smile, which at times is rather shy.  When she is genuinely amused, she has one of the best contagious laughs I have heard.  She doesn't share her funny side that often because she doesn't usually like to.  When she lets her guard down, you are treated with wit and a no-nonsense way of making the things around her seem quite amusing.  This is probably not the best example, but the only I can think of at the moment:

We were decorating Easter Eggs at our friends, The Hansens.  Their daughter, Dorothy, said, "Mommy, whenever I use this marker, it doesn't work." Lydia responded in a very matter-of-fact way, "then don't use that marker."  Roy and I both cracked up laughing. 

Simply put, sometimes she can say just the right thing at the right time.  I find it remarkable that she can put a spin on the world around her that is surprisingly wise for her years.  And it really is a joy when she shares these observations.

Of course, having the ability to perceive the world around herself, she is also capable of knowing just how to push someone's buttons (her preferred victim is typically Rachel) to their utter annoyance.  One of her favorite games is lurking around a dark corner to yell boo, to be rewarded with the shrieks of whoever was crossing her path.  She has gotten use to wearing Rachel's hand-me-downs, but lately has decided she can "fit" whatever clothing of Rachel's she has her mind set to wearing that day.  This is probably Rachel's most frustrating aspect of Lydia.  Personally, I think Lydia gets a kick out of getting any attention from Rachel, even negative.

Lydia likes to feel acknowledged when she contributes (don't we all?), especially when she isn't asked to do it in the first place.  For instance, she likes to surprise me by doing her laundry.  Sometimes I ask her to bring it to the basement and then she tells me she started the load.  Sometimes she goes above and beyond and tells me she started Rachel and Colin's laundry too.

Santa brought her a toaster oven for Christmas.  After 8 years, I have her number; at least, sometimes I get lucky.  So one afternoon, she was annoying Rachel and whining at Roy.  I asked her if she wanted to learn to use her toaster oven to make pizzas. She happily fed everyone lunch.  But then held it against us when she didn't get her way.  "But I made lunch" she would pout.

Beyond family life, she is doing very well with all her activities and school.  Her teachers adore her and value her enthusiasm for learning and tackling challenges.  They report she is a friendly and  helpful classmate; "a joy to teach".  She is very careful with her assignments and is excelling across the board.  She has recently been identified as Highly Capable (the highest designation for advanced placement, top 2% of the district which means she could study 2 years above grade level for all subjects.  In Kindergarten, her test scores were "Spectrum" the top 10% of the district which means 1 year above grade level for math and reading).  We could change where she goes for Elementary school, but as long as Coe continues to meet her needs, we don't have a need to change schools; however, we may decide to have her attend Hamilton International Middle School (where she can be in the HCC program) instead of having her go to our neighborhood middle school, McClure, where she may or may not receive advanced studies.  It is more confusing than it needs to be to my great annoyance.
                
Lydia is well-liked by her peers.  She is involved with many activities: Spanish, piano, choir, tap dance, taekwondo, and swimming.  Sometimes she would like to not have to be driven to the various activities because she wants to play at home, usually on her tablet, but over the years, we've gotten used to being busy all week long.