9 years old!

My eldest child is now nine years old.  Time has went by so quickly.  To me, it seems like she should be around four years old.  It's been a bit of a challenging summer, mostly due to her brother starting Camp with her, but that also has had its benefits as well.

*She loves to read.  She is a quick reader as well.  This summer she read through all the  Weird School Books series.  At camp they had the choice of swimming or visit the library.  She almost always chose the library.

*She has started to physically grow.  She has gotten much, much taller and definately started puberty.  She is so young.  I just can't even deal with it.

*She took an acting class and had a minor part in a play.  We'd love to try community theatre, but rehearsal four times a week is something we just cannot manage as a family right now.  Last year she did dance - tap and ballet, and this year is signed up for tap and lyrical.  She could really use swim lessons and martial arts, but who has the time?

*Last year she qualified on the basis of test scores with 84 other 2nd graders in the district to be invited into the coveted TAG (talented and gifted) program at a special school.  She started there this fall and hopefully will excel and flourish.

*She still is undergoing counseling for ADHD and we've seen more emotional outbursts at home.  I am trying to manage them and assist her and getting what she needs.

*Her favorite activities besides reading are biking, crafts, and creating things (especially potions and the like).

*Her favorite foods are bagels, muffins, and crackers.  Nutrition wise, we could use some improvement.

*Sometimes she amazes me with her intelligence and her questions.  She's so bright, I feel like I need to challenge her more.

* She can be so, so good to her brother.  She takes care of him and talks to him and comforts him.  Other times he is a rival and a bother and she is unkind to him.