stilettos to slippers: Our little Lady

Poppet turns 8

Well here we are 2021, another year gone and what a crazy year it's been. The days were long but the year of 2020 seemed much longer - it felt as though there was no escaping it. Though towards the end of 2020 life in Australia, and for our family really settled back into some normality. We holidayed in the summer, spent time with Family and in groups and even got back to competing in Saturday sports. In October we bought a new home and that meant you were finally free of sharing you possessions and space with your big brother. While he wasn't so keen on the move, you thrived, instantly making friends with the neighbours daughter (Bella) and ensuring that you had plenty of opportunities to get to see your biggest athletics competitor but also close friend Teuilla now we live in Yass. As with every other year that goes by, you've grown more an more into a healthy, confident and caring person this year. I didn't think it was possible for you to be any more helpful than you were last year, but you really have been. Towards the end of 2020 our very close family friends (the Cordwells's) relocated to Cairns, you took Leah moving away very hard, there were many many tears, even now 6 months on you mention how you miss her. I love to overhear you both giggling via facetime as you chat to one another every other week and I know you can't wait to visit them in July. You've definitely found year 3 to be much harder academically, and it was this year we discovered that you actually have some mild Dyslexia. You hate that we've intervened and asked for you to have some additional support at school and that we make you do tutoring at home, but as you fight with me on this I keep assuring you, one day, when you're much older, you will thank us for doing so. We are definitely fighting more these days, it's probably because we are both as stubborn as one another, both too insistent on being right and I do love that about you. You still show great leadership and are extremely resilient and you are not afraid to break away from the pack to do what you like to do, even if that means you are doing it on your own. I honestly admire your perseverance and motivation to be better at things. You still favour Carters company over anyone else, however you are starting to spend a bit more time with Mason, even asking for him to have sleep overs in your room. I can see how hurt you are when they choose Cooper over you, and its going to happen more and more as they grow up. Don't worry, they'll soon realise how special it is that they have you as their big sister and eventually they'll be the ones looking out for you.

I am actually a little lost for words as I write this. I feel like you grew and matured so much in this past year and that time is escaping us. I couldn't be more thankful for you, couldn't be any more proud or any more overwhelmed by how perfect you are inside and out.

You are such a fire cracker Zoe, a bright spark on dark nights, an absolutely sparkling diamond so unique and precious everyone who knows and loves you can't fathom how wonderful it is to have you in their lives. I am one incredibly lucky mum to call you mine. I'm so thankful you are my daughter and you are the absolute apple of your Dad's eye. He will eternally be besotted by you.

You Love: Athletics and running, being right, being a big sister, cooking and soccer.

Your Best friends are: Sophia, Teullia, Ruby and Emmy

You play: Athletics and Soccer and you're a super star at both

Your Favourite food is: tuna mornay, subway and sushi

You hate: needles (every year the flu vaccine is an absolute nightmare for you).Having to follow anyone else’s rules is not your thing, not getting to stay up as late as Cooper causes absolute meltdowns, and the eyerolls I get when I ask you to clean your room and put your clothes away (properly) would indicate you hate those things too.

You want to be: an Athlete, dancer and teacher when you grow up

You have: lost 4 teeth - including both your top two!

The most memorable events for you: Another 2nd place in the Age Champion for little athletics, being asked to come and train with a group of middle distance runners called Brian's Bunch, moving into your own bedroom, climbing to the highest point in Australia (Mt Kosciuszko) and saying good bye to Sini.