Rooney is 10!

Our Rooney girl is 10! I cannot fully express how magical this age is. It is such a mix of independence and dependence. I am so proud of the young woman she is becoming and the decisions she makes. She is very mature and responsible, handling all her schoolwork, a blossoming social life and multiple extra curricular activities each week (in the past year she tried soccer, softball, volleyball, basketball and hip hop). She is smart, kind and has a good head on her shoulders.

The other night I was nearly moved to tears when I realized I was driving down the road with my daughter in the front seat next to me, singing Taylor Swift together after a Chick-fil-A run. The little moments are really the big moments, ya know?

CELEBRATIONS

Her birthday landed on a Wednesday and consisted of waking up to streamers on her bedroom door, chocolate chip banana muffins for breakfast and presents (roller blades, protective pads and a handwritten letter from dad) before school. At school her class had an outdoor learning day which is pretty rare in Iowa in early March! It was 67 degrees! For dinner she chose Dairy Queen and then she had hip hop which was also special because it was the one week of the entire year that parents could come watch. I would say she had an amazing birthday!

She also had a zebra-themed friend birthday party where she invited 11 of her closest friends to swim at a local hotel with pizza and donuts. Then our family stayed at the hotel that night. It was so fun! I love all her friends (she has learned to avoid the drama). The following weekend we had another fun party at a bowling alley and arcade with all our family.

ROONEY IS …

  • Obsessed with fidget toys

  • Sassy

  • A literal dream come true

ROONEY LOVES …

  • Math

  • Reading

  • Zebra print

  • Staying up late

  • Converse hi tops

  • Having her photo taken

ROONEY DISLIKES …

  • Screen time limits

  • Not having a phone or a dog

  • Showers

  • Brushing her hair

IN THE PAST YEAR, ROONEY …

  • Got her ears pierced

  • Lost three teeth

ROONEY HAS …

  • The cutest freckles

  • Been told she looks like Charli D'Amelio

  • A secret handshake with everyone in our family

  • A new favorite song almost daily (her musical tastes range from Encanto to Flo Rida)

STRENGTHS

  • Honest and trustworthy

  • Detail oriented

  • Reading with expression

  • Math & number sense

  • Shows independence

  • Sneaky sense of humor

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INTERVIEW

I ask her the same questions every year, and it’s fun to see which of her answers change and which stay consistent each year.

  • Grade in school: fourth grade

  • Favorite color: lavender

  • Favorite toy: iPad

  • Favorite fruit: raspberries

  • Favorite movie: “Back to the Outback”

  • Favorite food: crab rangoons

  • Favorite outfit: I like those two-piece outfits you got for me at H&M and the checkerboard two-piece

  • Favorite board game: LIFE

  • Favorite animal: zebra

  • Favorite candy: York Peppermint Patties

  • Favorite meal: spaghetti and meatballs

  • If you could change one family rule, what would it be? no (screen) time limits

  • Favorite trip you’ve ever been on: South Dakota

  • Favorite song: “Sneak Out” by Funniflix

  • Favorite book: ”Front Desk” by Kelly Yang

  • Best friend: Brooke Dean

  • Favorite thing to do outside: jump on the trampoline

  • Favorite drink: lemonade

  • What do you like to sleep with at night: my blanket

  • What do you want to eat on your birthday? donuts

  • What you want to be when you grow up? teacher

  • What’s something you want to learn? cursive

  • What are you looking forward to about being 10? even number

  • What was your favorite memory of being 9? well, I didn’t break a bone

  • Favorite vegetable: celery

  • What are you scared of? scary things like creepy shadows

  • Favorite chore: doing the laundry

  • Least favorite chore: taking off the couch cushions and vacuuming

  • Favorite class at school: math

  • Bedtime: 8:30 pm

  • Shoe size: 9

  • Favorite thing to do with mom: snuggle

  • Favorite thing to do with dad: tickle

  • Favorite thing to do with Finch: play iPad

  • Favorite thing about yourself: I love to get dizzy

  • Favorite nickname: Roo

  • What are you looking forward to? being older and going on vacations and stuff

  • If you could get anything for your birthday, what would it be? a phone

  • What are you good at? math

  • How many teeth have you lost? 12

  • How many loose teeth do you have? 0

  • Favorite restaurant: Applebee’s

  • Favorite TV show: “Just Add Magic”

  • Favorite sport to play: volleyball

  • Favorite sport to watch: volleyball

Dear Rooney,

I love when you ask me to play volleyball with you. I love playing Octordle, Quordle, Mathler and Nerdle with you. I love watching you in all your activities. Your teacher tells us how bright and kind you are. You are a quiet leader. I love that you always know what you want. I love when you laugh uncontrollably. I love that you know when you need alone time in your room. I love watching “Alexa & Katie,” “The BabySitters Club” and “The Kicks” with you. Sometimes you will randomly organize our pantry all on your own, or make breakfast or lunch for your brother without being asked. If you don’t end up being a teacher, I could see you being an editor, lawyer or home organizer.

Our family would not be the same without you. The next decade is going to fly. Let’s make the most of it!

xoxo,
Mom

motherhoodkelsey williamsrooneyComment