Alia, Director of Perry Extracurriculars

My Alia is such a funny girl. She is such a help in our family, but it wasn't until I started looking through my most recent pictures that I realized how much she actually takes over for me.

As far as extracurriculars go, I have yet to sign my children up for ANYTHING this year. I'm sure we'll get going with soccer, dance, gymnastics, etc., but with Alia as my Director of Playtime, there hasn't been much of a need. We stay home, dance, laugh, and just enjoy being together. I must admit, it's been nice.


This is part of the "circus" Alia organized. She, Grace, and Ethan made masks, dressed up in black, and performed several stunts and tricks for me and Eric. They spent about three hours getting the whole thing together and then put on quite a show.

We've also got "Art Club" after school--hosted by Alia, of course.

Then there's always the teddy bear picnics with the neighbors. Alia gets out blankets, tells everyone to go get a stuffed animal, and then goes inside to prepare drinks and snacks for everyone to enjoy.

Crazy hat day came around a couple of weeks ago, and I thought, "How on earth am I going to get THREE crazy hats made by tomorrow morning?" The answer: assign it to Alia. Here are her creations.

When we go to the library, Alia takes over watching "the kids" and having story time with them while I browse for books in the next aisle. She reads bedtime stories to Ethan and Grace each night, too.

Playground time is actually relaxing for me because I've got another "little mommy" to take care of Spencer. Cute firetruck, huh?

Grace had to make a bug for kindergarten, and I didn't even know where to start. I'm sure I could have figured out something, but these kinds of projects stress me out a little. Again, Alia took it over and made this for Grace one morning before school...two weeks before it was even due.

With all Alia does, there is cause for wonder as to what I am actually doing as a mother. Seriously, she plays preschool with her siblings, teaches them math, organizes sprinkler time and painting projects--I know I have it good. The sad part is that she'll be babysitting in a few years, and then everyone else will want her, too. I'll try to enjoy her as much as I possibly can while I've got her.