Penelope turned twelve the same day we held Julian's graduation open house. She was kind to share her day with her brother. I popped candles into one of Julian's cupcakes and we sang to her just after the party wound down and just before the Pacers played.
She did have a few of her favorite friends over for a pool party a month later. All of her guests started sixth grade at Longfellow Middle School but only two of them stayed for seventh. She has stayed flexible and joyful through the changes and has embraced being a Longfellow Lion. Last year, she played futsal and soccer, had a little bookclub with her English teacher, and got to go to Kentucky Kingdom to celebrate her ILearn results. This year she joined the volleyball team and made a little debate club with her gal pals. She asked to borrow my computer to type up her essay on why fruit belongs on pizza.
We get to walk her back and forth to school everyday, and we have a deal that we stop at Dairy Queen once a month for a sweet treat. Those walks have brought me so much joy.
She's still playing piano, still loves listening to Lauffey. She gets annoyed when we mispronounce her name. She has worked on perfecting her desk organization, iPad home page design, and skin care routine.
I took her and Maggie to Barnes and Noble during spring break and made them get both a fun book and a serious book. Penelope choose a lovely copy of the Odyssey from which her name came. She has read a few chapters and has begun noticing the constant references to it in all sorts of media.
Summer Penelope was busy reading The Summer I Turned Pretty, attending church camp and soccer camp, and traveling to Seattle with the family. She particularly loved the aquarium with the seals and otters. She's always a sucker for cute animals.
Fall Penelope is making herself hot tea everyday, watching Gilmore girls, and counting down the days till Halloween and Christmas.
She's the baby of the family. Right now that translates to being the only person without a phone and social media. I will communicate plans via text and forget that she doesn't get them.
It also means for the first time, she is going to a school without any of her siblings. I overheard her telling Julian that she felt like an only child. The college kids are away. The high school kids leave early and stay late for after school activities. When they do get home they talk bout their high school friends and events.
Sometimes it pays to have older siblings, though. Julian often taken her to the theatre to see Studio Ghibli movies. He's so kind until he grossly underestimates her age.
"Penelope you're turning nine, right?"
"No, I'm twelve!"
And we all collectively marvel how our baby is so old.
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