Doretha

Doretha is our treasured blessing.
She was named for both of our special Grandma's that never got to see her.

She turned 4 this year and started K4 in August. She certainly has her moments or days when she'd rather play but, overall, she loves school and does well. We are using a DVD program at home.

She's excited to be learning her letters, especially. She gets so excited seeing letters and blends everywhere we go.

She can be shy but is friendly and outgoing most of the time. While she loves being independent, she can be very dependent and wants to be held and cuddled. She is sweet and lovey yet a little snip all-in-one! It has been said she is like her mother :-} But I think her mother is maturing with age ;-)

Her interests are predominantly in her animals and BABIES! She's an excellent mother to her dollies and goes all gushy over the real thing. Here she is loving on a little friend visiting us from GA:

She held this little girlie from church for a good half hour - whispering to me every detail of her wiggles and noises - until she finally said, "Her little behind is hurting my arm." :-)

She prays daily for siblings, especially babies. She thinks we need a boy and girl baby. ;-)

She has no lack of critters from a tortoise, fish, guinea pigs, rabbits, chickens, ducks, a borrowed donkey, ponies, cows, calves,

pygmy goats,

pigs,

kitties,

dogs,

this puppy at Grandpa Hustads,

to her miniature horse, Kenny.

She loves to name everything. We have calves named Bumble Bee & Turkey, kittens named Sausage & Humpetty Umpetty, a duck named Ducky Duddle and guinea pigs named Turnip and Buffalo.

And we must tell how she loves to help in the kitchen and cleaning,

and with chores.
She likes bringing cows up to the milking parlor,

 and helping milk.

Plus feeding calves.

 Even when it means learning there's no need to cry over split milk. :-)

This girl is not afraid to get dirty:

Can you tell we're proud of this girl?!!