The Girls - Lexi Leilani

Lexi Leilani has a big, open heart! I think she is one of the most sensitive people I know. And she seems truly comfortable with it. She is comfortable with herself and has always known what she likes and doesn't like. I guess I would say she's sweet and vulnerable, but with a foundation of confidence. It's a really good combination!

Lexi has always made friends very easily. Almost effortlessly. She doesn't try too hard, and something about that draws people to her. She transitioned over to Clay School so seamlessly, it was uncanny. Although she has not found that "one" best friend, she has lots of friends and knows the qualities that they each bring out and her. I'm not worried about the best friend thing, because that happens naturally at various phases of life. Plus, even though they may not realize it, my girls really are best friends with each other. They are together all the time, dance together, and interact at home together constantly. It is one of my most treasured blessings, to see their relationships with each other.

Recently, we wanted to give Lexi the experience of wearing contact lenses. She loves her glasses and has never complained. In fact, they are a huge part of her identity. But I wanted to expose her to them particularly for dance. I just wanted her to know what contacts were like, as an option, as she continues to dance more and more. 90% of the time Lexi is extremely easy-going. But the small ten percent where she isn't, can seem larger than life. This happened to be one of those times! So, Tucker took her to the eye appointment when the doctor put in the contact lenses for the first time. She held it together and did not complain or cry once, even though she hated the whole experience. I got home from work right after they got home from the doctor, and she was a complete basket case. With Lexi, I have absolutely learned not to ever try to change her mind or opinion. I just went on the bed and lay by her, put my arms around her and just listened to her cry. I knew that, deep down, this has much more to do with a fear of walking into school or dance without her glasses, then it did have to do with how they felt in her eyes or whether they hurt or not. I told her she could miss dance and we would go buy some fake glasses so she could try out the lenses and not have the pressure of anyone making comments like "you look soooooo different! " (her huge fear). She liked that idea, and she definitely calmed down after that. She even put her own contact lenses in the next morning and wore them to school, with the fake glasses, so no one knew. It took her like 30 minutes and she cried a lot, but I was very proud of her that she got them in! She did NOT want to wear them again, so I made her a deal and told her all I wanted her to do his experience one dance class with lenses. She was so nervous to walk in without glasses, but she did it! And even though she usually says she won't ever wear contact lenses in her life, every once in a while she will slip and say "well maybe I will wear them sometimes".

Lexi chose, for one of her faith in God goals, to make dinner one Sunday evening. With the ingredients we had, we ended up settling on breaded chicken. With very little help, she really did pull the dinner off mostly herself! I was really proud of her, but I was more excited to see her confidence grow, and hear her say that she really likes to cook!

I don't know why I like to be a little rebellious and snap quiet pictures in church sometimes?

This picture of Lexi makes me laugh because she has a very challenging time picking out clothing for events or pictures. The night before school pictures, she spent at least an hour trying on different variations of an outfit. She was determined to wear turquoise and determined to wear a skirt. So the rest had to fall into place. Even though she wants my opinion every single second, if it doesn't settle right with her or feel like it flows to her, she will not wear it!

Lexi is a beautiful dancer. She looks a little bit like she floats on a cloud when she's dancing, and I think it's a combination of talent AND happiness. I love to watch her dance! I especially love to see her on stage with her sister, I feel like I could watch them do that forever.

This year, Lexi got to start band, and she was thrilled. Even the Jordyn plays the flute as well, Lexi debated for years which instrument she wanted to play, and it came down to the flute! At first I wondered if I should steer her in a different direction than her sister, but I didn't want to do that JUST so they would not have the same instrument! So now we have two flute players, and she learned almost the entire C scale that first weekend she had it!

Saying Lexi loves animals is an understatement. She absolutely has a connection with them, and loves our animals possibly the most out of all of us. I really hope she incorporates animals somehow into her future because I told her that it doesn't matter which way she's involved with them, but that is what is speaks to her soul and she needs to find some way to follow that passion!

I love my butterfly Lexi. I don't know if Lexi goes a solid two minutes without flipping upside down and some kind of backbend, Cartwheel, round off, or back walk over. She truly does dance through life. 

Often, I feel like Lexi has way too much homework because she will sit at the table for hours and hours and ask me for help or talk in between math problems. Sometimes I get impatient and a little irritated because I feel like her teacher gives too much homework. But deep down I think she also likes that time to connect with me and, really, I do too. I think those are the things I will miss some day. I LOVE YOU LEXI!!!!!!!!!!!!!