Our Rooster

Our almost 6-year-old Hayley, also known within the family as Little Rooster or Rooster-Hen or Hen, is a happy first grader. She likes her new teacher and does all her homework as quick as a flash. Maybe I'll start calling her flash . . . . J/K

She was tested on her reading aptitude the first week of school and her teacher was slightly astounded that Hayley already knows all 100 first-grade words (words that first graders need to know by end of school year). Hayley read them ALL to her, easily. Does that surprise anyone? Any takers? Hayley tries to pull the wool over our eyes (as Grandpa Mitchell would say) at times because she would rather be read to. But she is a very smart girl and a brilliant reader, at that.

Below is Hayley and Ryan before school this morning. Aren't they just the happy "brother and sister" couple.

Below is Hayley doing her first puppet play. She draws and creates her very own characters.

Hayley is a child of many talents. She is a great storyteller and is very creative with words. When her Aunt Chick has come to visit us in various locations, Hayley tells her bedtime stories each and EVERY night. They are well thought out and imaginative. Just ask the Old Chick . . . . She never forgets them.

Hayley likes to spend time drawing and coloring. Some of her pictures are sent to family members, and others are kept in a book of her art work. She likes to get on the Internet with Mom and read about different subjects. Last Saturday we went through all 9 planets (Pluto is now referred to as a dwarf planet) online and then she drew and colored them on paper. Her favorite planet is Jupiter because it is the biggest. She loves animals like her parents. She can hold a conversation with just about anyone and is never at a loss for words.

She is an explorer like her Dad and collects leaves, flowers, rocks, etc. She is also a fish in the water -- a good swimmer -- thanks to Dad. She is a social little girl and loves to be around others, especially family members (very much like Mom). To sum it up, she has inherited many of her creative attributes from her Mom, but her personality resembles her Dad's completely. Put it this way -- she doesn't beat around the bush. Any questions?