Spotlight on Alex

***So I guess I never published this... started it back in 2011 and (ironically, thanks to the first line of the post) never finished. But the goal is to capture memories, so I'm just going to publish what's here. So there. ******

"Finish what you start." It's another resolution, for this year and beyond. So, in March of 2011 I wrote a spotlight on Dani, and now it's Alex's turn, and then Ben's. They grow so fast, I want to capture it all! And I've captured a lot in pictures, and on post-it notes, and in notebooks around the house. Now it's time to digitize it.

AlexPalex. Or as she has told us to call her - Lexie (it hasn't stuck, to her chagrin). Alex is a downright SILLY kid. She loves to silly-sing her own silly songs, hear silly bedtime stories about herself and her silly siblings, make up silly rhymes, make silly dress-up combinations, and generally be a source of laughs, which is understandable since her sister has a really good one. Dani's laugh is joyful, uninhibited, and LOUD. Alex knows just how to get her going. Alex is very ticklish and loves to try to tickle us back. When she is serious, she is very serious, and has a hard time shaking it. But when she is happy, she is completely silly giggly funny fun. She makes hilarious but true observations about the world (Me: "It's been a long day." Alex: "Mom, every day is the same length. It's not like one day is 20 minutes and then next 3!")

Alex loves to draw and make books, especially about horses, dancers, and unicorns. But she also loves to paint. We haven't fit in as much painting time at home since Kindergarten began, but when Alex does get to paint, she pumps out painting after painting with her watercolors. She doesn't want to draw her images beforehand, she just creates with the paint. Her favorite brush is a very small one, to make thin lines.

2020 -- A new decade, new goals

Our house is filled up by the energy, ideas, emotions, and wit of two teenagers and a preteen. All the kids are very active technology users. We hear so many scary things about kids and technology and social media and online predators and all sorts of fear inducing combinations. It's a bit overwhelming to me, if I'm honest. On the one hand, we tell our kids that they should use technology to make their lives easier, better, more rich. We set them up with email addresses and access to the school portal and we make them check those things constantly to make sure they stay on top of homework and announcements. But we also tell them to stop spending so much time on screens. I hate this push and pull on their time and emotions. And I hate my new role as the phone/computer police. I miss peeking over their shoulders at a photocopy, drawing or a book to see what they are working on. The computer is their main tool these days. So our house has set rules about where devices can be used, to make sure the computer is truly employed for homework when it's supposed to be, rather than the allure of an online game or social media (which we've banned for now). I miss having the problem of what to do with all their drawings and homemade books and lego creations. I love my BIG kids, don't get me wrong. Life is interesting and they are amazing people. There are just aspects of our life with little kids that I miss. Things I didn't realize would go away so soon.

In light of asking my kids to watch their use of technology and be wary of putting details into the interwebs that are not safe, I am distancing myself from social media outlets and also making my blog completely private. It will not pop up on feeds and, as you know dear reader, it requires permissions and logging in. This step makes me feel better about the details and pictures of our lives that are posted here. Funny enough, I'm also hoping it reminds me to use this blog again. Without FB to help me capture memories and share ideas, maybe I'll turn to blogging again. I know - very 1990's of me.

So the girls turn 13 in 10 days. My first thought is to at least blog about each kid on or near their birthday each year. So stay tuned! Maybe I'll actually follow my goal and post!