orbit of the mooneys: dear 5-year-old hazel

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dear hazel,
you turned 5 last week. it was spectacular, because you are one very spectacular little girl. the week before, we kept joking about it being your last week as a four year old. so one day, while anders was napping and lena was resting, you were reading in the playroom. i tiptoed back to you with vernors ginger ale and a cherry almond chocolove bar and we ate and drank and read tumtum and nutmeg under a bedsheet tent. it was your last time to eat chocolate and drink ginger ale as a four year old. we laughed and it was one of the best moments. but most moments with you are the best. you are a joy. you ask amazing questions about life. you size everyone and every situation up with great attention to detail and retention. you recalled this morning a time when a babysitter had you eat 3 green beans in order to get a cookie...this doesn't seem like a big deal, other than it was a sitter you had while we were in ukraine...2 years ago.
like every other human in the universe, you struggle. your struggles are around wanting things a certain way and learning to let go of that picture in your head. flexibility is difficult for you but you are working on it. i see the sternness in your face crack when you realize someone is joking and you don't have to correct them. this is a hard lesson, but you are learning and growing and being shaped into this little beautiful person.

you love gymnastics and school and friends and headbands and hamburgers.

you love imagination and creating and plain white paper instead of coloring books so you can make it whatever you want.
you love legos and learning to read and making your bed and curious george.
you set up "scenes" for your baby dolls, meticulously setting heir table and blankets and toys into a room or apartment.
you wanna go to new york city because, well....i've brainwashed you.
you love setting the table, especially when company is coming over.
you love the monkey bars. you worked so hard and now you rock them. because you are determined, steadfast and strong. inner and outer strength. i always say that i don't think there is another child in the world as patient as you. you are patient. with me, with your brother and sister. i see very little fear in you. typically any that would surface is squelched by your ability to reason or logic.
i see where that would be scary for anders but he just needs to understand that it's not real.

and for your 5th birthday party. you had a plan. a very specific and detailed plan. for months it was to be a rock party. that's right, a rock party. you love rocks, looking at their shapes and colors and studying them. so you wanted a rock party. then just over a week before the big day, you decided it should be dora and rocks. you knew that you wanted it at your house and that you wanted to eat a reall meal with your friends. you wanted there to be playing and crafts and cupcakes...white ones with white icing and sprinkles.

your dad and i got you tickets to go see the musical, beauty and the beast, and before we even took you, you made us a thank you note (on plain white paper).
thank you for taking me to the belle play