Here are what Geoff's family members said of Ceci on her birthday (all over text)...
Brittany
Happy happy happy birthday to my darling Ceci! Ce, you are a contagious light that offers goodness everywhere you go and to everyone you see. I admire your care for the world around you, your sensitive spirit, your incredible smile and laugh, your show-stopping dance moves and overall I'm grateful to have a friend like you! Your'e a real gem, Ce. Happy freakin' birthday!
Erica
Happy Birthday Cecer!!!!!! I love how true you are to yourself and how cool that inner self is. You are purely good and kind and thoughtful, and also a riot and totally creative and end less fun for everyone around you. I love you tons.
Nikki
Happy birthday Ce-bo-bee!! I love your amazingly spunky and fun personality, your fearless attitude, your willingness to try anything, your ability to conquer/rock at everything you try, your easy-going way of doing life, your brilliant mind, your giant heart, and your strong work ethic. Love you so much and hope you have a phenomenal day!!!
Ingrid
Happy birthday, little C!!! You are such a treasure of a person. You are fierce and determined and full of strenth; you are smart and wise; you are crazy and spunky and full of beautiful Ceci-ness. I love you to pieces, and am so grateful to be related to you forever!!!
Lucie (age 8)
Happy b-day Ceci! I'm so glad you're my cousin! You are so nice to everyone! You make everything so fun! Love Lucie
Poppop
Ceci!!! Life of the party! Dancing queen. Actress extraordinaire. Natalie to those who know...(an acting job she was in)...you're a right maniac when it's time to be! Happy birthday, your wonderful person! I love you!
Emily
Happy birthday sweet C. You're hilarious. And strong and brave and valiant. And beautiful and creative and just a knock out human bean 😛. You bring any costume box to life. It's hard not to smile when you are around. Keeping being you, just 15! Love ya!
Ian
C, you are amazing. One of a kind. So hilarious and full of character. And also smart and considerate and energetic and creative. You connect with people on a deep level. Your love of life is contagious. We need to do another road trip! Happy Birthday, girl!
Christian
Ce to the ci! I absolutely adore you in so many ways! You are so stinking hilarious and my face hurts right now just thinking about how much I laugh when I'm around you. Your heart is so incredibly huge and you care deeply for all of those around you and for all of those that you bring into your circle. You effortlessly light up a room with your dynamic personality and charismatic self. You are beautiful inside and out. You carry a valiant and radiant light. You have an admirable passion for life. You have an unmatched love of adventure. Your love of family makes me grateful I'm in it! Your ambitions and dreams are commendable and will be met as they are followed with a disciplined and focused approach toward what you want out of life. I'm so excited to watch you flourish and grow in life and obtain everything that your heart desires. I love being around you and that you laugh at my silly voices and jokes. I love that I get to be with you forever and I can't wait to see you to celebrate YOU. Happy happy birthday!!
How is that tradition for making a birthday? Ceci is one of a kind. And a good kind!
Showing posts with label Ceci. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ceci. Show all posts
Monday, September 30, 2019
Friday, September 27, 2019
Snapshot of Ceci - Part 1
How does one capture Ceci? She is a force and a light. That's it in a nutshell. But I'll try to delve deeper, particularly into her 15-year-old self.
Ceci is energy and sunlight and goodness wrapped up into a human being. She is one of the most generous-of-self people I have ever met. She is gifted at sensing what people need around her, and she is more than willing to give it. She'll include the outsider, she'll encourage and cheer on the doubtful and fearful, she'll listen to the down and out, she'll pass up something she wants and give you her savings, she'll massage tired feet, she'll walk with you if it will help fill your dreams/goals...you get the idea. She is a builder and cheerleader and a loyal friend.
Over the summer when we went to the Olympic Park and I challenged myself to face my fear of heights by doing the ropes course, I knew that I was doing something big for myself. It took all of my courage. Ceci intuitively understood how big it was for me. She watched me intently and cheered me on. When I finished she looked me in the eye, deep into my own soul, and understood the personal victory I had just accomplished. She kept saying, "Good job, mom!" It wasn't a trite congratulations, she was very sincere. This is a small example of her deep loyalty, friendship and goodness.
Ceci is affectionate and loves to cuddle on the couch or hold hands or express her love in anyway possible through her physical touch. She receives love in this way too. She also receives love in doing fun things together. It is not uncommon for her to say, as she is heading out the door to school, "Mom, want to hang out and do something with me today?"
She is not demanding or high maintenance. At all. You give something (whether gifts, time, compliments, etc.) and Ceci is very grateful. She is easy to celebrate, she is easy to be with and she is easy to please. While she has a particular style, she isn't really into clothes or shopping. While she appreciates good food, she'll be happy if it is a quesadilla for dinner. While she has an opinion of what she would like to do on a trip, she'll be flexible with the plans, often foregoing what she wants. As a family we have to be aware of this, and Ceci is learning that this flexibility and generosity-of-self can be taken advantage of. It will be good for her to learn boundaries to care for herself, but isn't it beautiful to err on the side of giving too much?
Ceci is her own person. She doesn't like to go along with a crowd. She protects her individuality carefully. Now that she is in a large public school she is aware that if not careful she can become numbed to her own voice and passions. She doesn't want to be typical. She knows deep down that she is unique and powerful. She is fighting to not be dimmed by a conformist culture. She thinks deeply. She is a quick thinker and processes information rapidly, but she is also on-guard, knowing that all information coming in is not truth. I really appreciate her constant radar. Her desire to seek truth is admirable, and the ability to not conform while doing it shows great courage and strength. For example, she wears pants to church. She recognizes this as a cultural expectation, and not a sign of discipleship. She is more comfortable in pants. She feels it allows her to worship more as herself. She is courageous, true and strong.
She is smart. She doesn't think like the average person, which causes some challenge in a typical, public school classroom, but she is wonderfully creative and imaginative. Her writing is magnificent. She is a strong problem solver. She is discovering this semester that she loves Earth Science. She loves nature, astronomy, plants, animals, mental puzzles, art and anything to do with being in her body. Her three choices of future paths right now are working at NASA (do you have to be good at math to be an astronaut?), being a creative writer of fiction, or being an actress. Like, a red carpet actress. This last one is her big dream right now. She wants to be in a movie. And she could be! She is really talented at acting. She is so observant and imaginative that she can get into any character and nail it. Her childhood play was delightful because of it.
Ceci is athletic and fearless when it comes to trying new things. When learning to surf she would go out again and again until she got the hang of it. She went on a black diamond run the first time skiing. (Her competitiveness helps in this. She wants to be the best of whatever she does.) Her next focus is rock climbing. She is joining a team to fine tune her skills and work toward a competitive team. But from climb one she was strong and focused and scaled easily from level to harder level. She has a lot of drive and determination. Again, being in her body is one of her favorite things. She is definitely body smart!
Ceci is incredibly gifted with people. She talks easily to adults, she makes friends easily and kids are attracted to her good naturedness and fun. She is genuinely interested in people of all ages. She is a good conversationalist. She is a natural leader. People can trust her goodness, her integrity and all the while know they'll have a great time if she is around. She is fun and crazy and hilarious. She is likable from day one.
None of our kids have been excited to grow up, and Ceci is no exception. She is a kid at heart. She loves to play and be free, but growing up is happening, and she's adapting and becoming just as remarkable as a young adult as she has been as a child. A force and a light.
( Flats photo credit: Tennie's friend Lindsay, 2018)
Ceci is energy and sunlight and goodness wrapped up into a human being. She is one of the most generous-of-self people I have ever met. She is gifted at sensing what people need around her, and she is more than willing to give it. She'll include the outsider, she'll encourage and cheer on the doubtful and fearful, she'll listen to the down and out, she'll pass up something she wants and give you her savings, she'll massage tired feet, she'll walk with you if it will help fill your dreams/goals...you get the idea. She is a builder and cheerleader and a loyal friend.
Over the summer when we went to the Olympic Park and I challenged myself to face my fear of heights by doing the ropes course, I knew that I was doing something big for myself. It took all of my courage. Ceci intuitively understood how big it was for me. She watched me intently and cheered me on. When I finished she looked me in the eye, deep into my own soul, and understood the personal victory I had just accomplished. She kept saying, "Good job, mom!" It wasn't a trite congratulations, she was very sincere. This is a small example of her deep loyalty, friendship and goodness.
Ceci is affectionate and loves to cuddle on the couch or hold hands or express her love in anyway possible through her physical touch. She receives love in this way too. She also receives love in doing fun things together. It is not uncommon for her to say, as she is heading out the door to school, "Mom, want to hang out and do something with me today?"
She is not demanding or high maintenance. At all. You give something (whether gifts, time, compliments, etc.) and Ceci is very grateful. She is easy to celebrate, she is easy to be with and she is easy to please. While she has a particular style, she isn't really into clothes or shopping. While she appreciates good food, she'll be happy if it is a quesadilla for dinner. While she has an opinion of what she would like to do on a trip, she'll be flexible with the plans, often foregoing what she wants. As a family we have to be aware of this, and Ceci is learning that this flexibility and generosity-of-self can be taken advantage of. It will be good for her to learn boundaries to care for herself, but isn't it beautiful to err on the side of giving too much?
Ceci is her own person. She doesn't like to go along with a crowd. She protects her individuality carefully. Now that she is in a large public school she is aware that if not careful she can become numbed to her own voice and passions. She doesn't want to be typical. She knows deep down that she is unique and powerful. She is fighting to not be dimmed by a conformist culture. She thinks deeply. She is a quick thinker and processes information rapidly, but she is also on-guard, knowing that all information coming in is not truth. I really appreciate her constant radar. Her desire to seek truth is admirable, and the ability to not conform while doing it shows great courage and strength. For example, she wears pants to church. She recognizes this as a cultural expectation, and not a sign of discipleship. She is more comfortable in pants. She feels it allows her to worship more as herself. She is courageous, true and strong.
She is smart. She doesn't think like the average person, which causes some challenge in a typical, public school classroom, but she is wonderfully creative and imaginative. Her writing is magnificent. She is a strong problem solver. She is discovering this semester that she loves Earth Science. She loves nature, astronomy, plants, animals, mental puzzles, art and anything to do with being in her body. Her three choices of future paths right now are working at NASA (do you have to be good at math to be an astronaut?), being a creative writer of fiction, or being an actress. Like, a red carpet actress. This last one is her big dream right now. She wants to be in a movie. And she could be! She is really talented at acting. She is so observant and imaginative that she can get into any character and nail it. Her childhood play was delightful because of it.
Ceci is athletic and fearless when it comes to trying new things. When learning to surf she would go out again and again until she got the hang of it. She went on a black diamond run the first time skiing. (Her competitiveness helps in this. She wants to be the best of whatever she does.) Her next focus is rock climbing. She is joining a team to fine tune her skills and work toward a competitive team. But from climb one she was strong and focused and scaled easily from level to harder level. She has a lot of drive and determination. Again, being in her body is one of her favorite things. She is definitely body smart!
Ceci is incredibly gifted with people. She talks easily to adults, she makes friends easily and kids are attracted to her good naturedness and fun. She is genuinely interested in people of all ages. She is a good conversationalist. She is a natural leader. People can trust her goodness, her integrity and all the while know they'll have a great time if she is around. She is fun and crazy and hilarious. She is likable from day one.
None of our kids have been excited to grow up, and Ceci is no exception. She is a kid at heart. She loves to play and be free, but growing up is happening, and she's adapting and becoming just as remarkable as a young adult as she has been as a child. A force and a light.
( Flats photo credit: Tennie's friend Lindsay, 2018)
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Ceci is 15!
Ceci's birthday was squished in with a lot of other goings on this year. Geoff's company had their annual management retreat where employees and their spouses spend three days in Park City, and C's birthday fell right in the middle. Geoff felt obligated to be there this year, so I didn't join him, and he came home for a couple hours in the afternoon when he could get away.
And then Ceci woke up really sick with a fever and no energy. Super big bummer for all she had planned that day. But she wasn't about to miss out on her plans. Tennie had come home the night before, and after a birthday breakfast of crepes with strawberries, cream and nutella (Ceci's choice), the three of them were off on the climate march. I'll write more about this later, but it was really fun to follow along and see the commitment of this generation to call attention to this issue. It was rainy and chilly and Ceci dragged herself along, but she marched for this beautiful earth and her future despite her feeling horrible.
She came home, crawled in her bed and shivered in her covers for a couple hours, and then was off with Tennie and Adele and five of her new school friends to an escape room birthday adventure. It was on Groupon and turned out to be such a terrible experience that is was full of outrageous stories, so luckily that was memorable which made it sort of funnish. All came back for pizza and a movie afterward.
We didn't even get to her presents. The following day we had her treasure hunt and she got her one big present from us, as well as cards and gifts from family. Her big gift from us was an electric drum set! Yes, they make them electric so she can hear it with headphones. Perfect for our apartment living!
So this didn't go down as one of the most perfect birthdays, but it was a good birthday despite the not perfect parts. Ceci was grateful and made the most of it. Very typical of this remarkable 15-year-old.
And then Ceci woke up really sick with a fever and no energy. Super big bummer for all she had planned that day. But she wasn't about to miss out on her plans. Tennie had come home the night before, and after a birthday breakfast of crepes with strawberries, cream and nutella (Ceci's choice), the three of them were off on the climate march. I'll write more about this later, but it was really fun to follow along and see the commitment of this generation to call attention to this issue. It was rainy and chilly and Ceci dragged herself along, but she marched for this beautiful earth and her future despite her feeling horrible.
She came home, crawled in her bed and shivered in her covers for a couple hours, and then was off with Tennie and Adele and five of her new school friends to an escape room birthday adventure. It was on Groupon and turned out to be such a terrible experience that is was full of outrageous stories, so luckily that was memorable which made it sort of funnish. All came back for pizza and a movie afterward.
We didn't even get to her presents. The following day we had her treasure hunt and she got her one big present from us, as well as cards and gifts from family. Her big gift from us was an electric drum set! Yes, they make them electric so she can hear it with headphones. Perfect for our apartment living!
So this didn't go down as one of the most perfect birthdays, but it was a good birthday despite the not perfect parts. Ceci was grateful and made the most of it. Very typical of this remarkable 15-year-old.
Friday, May 24, 2019
8th Grade Advancement
After spending a week together free and wild, Ceci's 8th grade class gathered this past weekend for their 8th grade advancement. All of the families gathered for a potluck dinner before the ceremony.
A few students shared remarks, the class performed a song, and then the class performed a surprise number for their teacher, Mr Op 't Ende (he's from the Netherlands and thankfully goes by Mr. O). The song was Let It Be by the Beatles, with a few word changes mixed in.
Then a class hug.
Ceci will miss this great group of friends as they're all going in different directions next year.
Here she and cousin Bailey are with teacher Mr. O.
And here is Ceci with the class's first teacher at Waldorf in 6th grade, Mrs. Simmons. She pulled this group together into a very united and accepting class, and she is and will always be loved by all of the students. If only the world were full of such teachers. She has two doves that live in her classroom and fly free, Samson and Delilah. Ceci is quite attached to Samson who comes and lands on her every time she goes to Mrs. Simmons class to paint, which she does a couple times each week.
After all of the crying and loving and hugging the principle said, "Ok, see you all on Monday." Ha! There are still two weeks of school!
 |
| Ceci, Edie, Lena, Mary Kate and Halle |
Then a class hug.
Ceci will miss this great group of friends as they're all going in different directions next year.
Here she and cousin Bailey are with teacher Mr. O.
And here is Ceci with the class's first teacher at Waldorf in 6th grade, Mrs. Simmons. She pulled this group together into a very united and accepting class, and she is and will always be loved by all of the students. If only the world were full of such teachers. She has two doves that live in her classroom and fly free, Samson and Delilah. Ceci is quite attached to Samson who comes and lands on her every time she goes to Mrs. Simmons class to paint, which she does a couple times each week.
After all of the crying and loving and hugging the principle said, "Ok, see you all on Monday." Ha! There are still two weeks of school!
Thursday, May 23, 2019
8th Grade Camping Trip
Ceci's time at her Waldorf charter school is coming to a close. Her class took a camping trip to Moab last week, and Ceci came home with tales of hikes and swims and tunnels and sketchy climbs and stops for shakes and all-nighters spying on the chaperones and running dirty and wild all day every day with classmates that are very close friends.
She came home covered in dirt, with boundless energy, and looking and feeling totally alive. Mila followed her around that whole day, pulling Ceci's arm in close to sleep with. Pretty much the cutest welcome back ever.
She came home covered in dirt, with boundless energy, and looking and feeling totally alive. Mila followed her around that whole day, pulling Ceci's arm in close to sleep with. Pretty much the cutest welcome back ever.
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Metal Mouth
Yesterday Ceci got braces. There was a lot of nervous anticipation after watching two sisters and a best friend cousin, plus hosts of friends, have braces. She took some before shots in the car.
Then some pictures were taken to show us the work to be done. Obvious straightening, slight overbite, and a shifting of the lower bite, as teeth don't line up. Ceci was hoping for a 6-month treatment, but it will be 21-24 months. Ceci is determined to have it be as short as possible. Bring on the bands!
Putting all of that metal on goes pretty fast, but it sure is a lot of stuff going on in one mouth!
I didn't get an after picture, because let's be honest, who wants to go around showing those things off that first day? There weren't very many smiles on the way home, but from a mom's perspective, she pulls off an adorable metal mouth!
Then some pictures were taken to show us the work to be done. Obvious straightening, slight overbite, and a shifting of the lower bite, as teeth don't line up. Ceci was hoping for a 6-month treatment, but it will be 21-24 months. Ceci is determined to have it be as short as possible. Bring on the bands!
Putting all of that metal on goes pretty fast, but it sure is a lot of stuff going on in one mouth!
I didn't get an after picture, because let's be honest, who wants to go around showing those things off that first day? There weren't very many smiles on the way home, but from a mom's perspective, she pulls off an adorable metal mouth!
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