Staley and her metal-free smile
Staley is in the 4th grade with Mrs. Mickna as her teacher. She is on the school news team, and is also involved in Stage Kids, Broadway Dance, and takes singing and piano lessons. She is also scheduled to play a short season of volleyball later this month. She also attends a special STEAM group through school one morning each week. Staley goes to bed around 8:15 on school nights and 8:45 on week-end nights. She gets up easily with her alarm clock at 7:00 on school days, but often sleeps in until around 8:00 on week-ends.
Likes: Staley's favorite activity is reading. She reads ALL THE TIME and devours books at an alarming pace. Current favorite series are the Harry Potter series and the Land of Stories series, but she reads many different kinds of books and often has several books going at the same time. She especially enjoys fantasy and historical fiction. Staley also loves creative pursuits like singing, dancing, acting, writing, and drawing/painting. She recently completed her first novel and is working on her second one. She also writes plays for her cousins and her siblings to perform.
Staley loves to perform with her siblings.
She also loves to create.
Staley enjoys active pursuits but even outdoor play time often ends up with Staley reading a book on the porch swing. She does enjoy swimming, bike riding, roller skating, climbing trees, and trying out different sports. Staley does not play with toys very often anymore, but does still occasionally enjoy playing with her American Girl dolls (especially doing their hair) and playing Barbies in the bath tub. She will also engage in active or imaginative play activities with her siblings. Staley also really enjoys board games. Some favorites include Clue, Dragonrealm, Ticket to Ride, Disney Color Brain, Monopoly, and Apples to Apples.
CLUE!!
Staley is a good eater and is growing more adventurous in her eating pursuits. She really likes cheeseburgers, tacos, pizza, brunch foods, and sweets, but will generally eat whatever I make and (when we used to go out to restaurants) preferred to split something with me off the adult menu rather than order the typical children's menu fare. Staley also prefers live action movies rather than cartoons. Recent movies that she has enjoyed are the live action Disney movies, Parent Trap, The Princess Bride, Newsies, and the parts of Hamilton that we have showed her. Staley loves to listen to Broadway musical music, like the soundtracks to Hamilton, Wicked, Into the Woods, and Frozen. She still prefers to wear comfortable clothes with her new Harry Potter t-shirts and her new Hamilton t-shirt as her favorites.
Staley loves her Hamilton shirt!
Staley is social, but prefers smaller get-togethers and spending time with a few close friends. Her closest friends are Lilian and Josie, but she also really looks forward to spending time with her cousins. Staley gets along well in most situations and can adapt to spending time with those who aren't close friends or spending time alone. She has older friends through Stage Kids that she really enjoys, as well as enjoying playing with and watching out for her younger siblings and younger cousins. Staley does not have any close friends in her class at school this year, but still finds others to play with and looks for opportunities to spend time with her closer friends outside of the school day.
Staley loves spending time with her friends...
...and her cousins.
Dislikes: Staley has outgrown many of her sensitivities, although some of them still linger. Staley does not like to wear denim or anything stiff, tight, lacy, or uncomfortable. She dislikes almost all veggies. She can still get overwhelmed in new or chaotic situations. Staley is good about including her siblings in activities, but has more of a preference lately for spending time with her friends without her siblings involved. She still occasionally feels carsick and gets light headed at the sight of blood. She also freaks out about shots, getting teeth pulled, splinters, and anything she thinks might be painful.
Only comfy clothes for this gal!
Skills: Staley works hard and is persistent when she sets out to accomplish something. Although competitive athletic pursuits do not always come easily to Staley, she works hard to improve with her skills. She has become a proficient swimmer, roller skates well, and consistently improves with each sports season she completes. Staley writes well in cursive, has gotten good at drawing, and enjoys cooking and baking. She can independently follow a recipe and make things from start to finish in the kitchen on her own.
Muffins, anyone?
Staley is very responsible. She gets schoolwork and homework done without prompting, practices her piano, helps out around the house, and gets herself up and all ready for school without any supervision. She is able to do her own hair and enjoys practicing hair-dos on herself and her dolls. Staley is proficient at ponytails, pigtails, and braids. Staley is very good about looking out for her siblings. She helps them with things they can't do on their own, makes sure to keep an eye on them when playing outside, and entertains them when needed.
What a great big sister!
Staley is very bright. School comes easily to her. She can memorize things quickly. There is nothing she can't read and math skills make sense to her. Staley gets all A's on her report cards and generally tests in the top percentiles for reading and math during standardized testing. Staley enjoys playing the piano and continues to progress through her books. Her singing and dancing skills also continue to improve with her lessons and dance class.
Devouring books is what this girl loves to do!
Personality: Staley is growing and maturing quickly. She is responsible and obedient, although we are getting more eye rolls when asked to do things she doesn't want to do. Staley is inquisitive, persistent, and hard working. She likes to learn new things and challenge herself. She has confidence in her abilities and loves to perform on stage. Singing, dancing, and acting in front of a crowd is her comfort zone. Staley is thoughtful, sweet, and helpful. She reads her Bible and devotional book on her own. She is a rule-follower and prefers when others follow the rules too. Staley loves doing more "big kid" things like ditching the booster seat, going on roller coasters, reading older kid books, and watching older kid movies. She is growing up faster than I am ready for!
Sure do love my 10 year old!!
