Lovely Olivia

Olivia is told me the other day that she will be able to drive in a year. It's crazy that she's that close to growing up on us! She's now 14 (and a half) and has started her freshman year in high school. She's doing online school this year, and it's been great to spend more time with her. I find that I really like the person she is growing into. We can have fun and laugh together, and her taste in music is generally pretty good. She's really into Marvel (superhero) movies, and she has spent a lot of time with her dad and friends watching just about every one made in the last few years.

I often joke that Olivia is our hermit. She'd be perfectly content to stay all day in her room, listening to music, reading, and drawing. She does like to spend time with her friends, though, so we don't worry about it too much. If she spends TOO much time alone, she gets a little stir crazy and starts looking for a way to get out of the house or have a friend over. She has a sarcastic sense of humor that she keeps in check pretty well. As far as I know, she hasn't hurt people's feelings by accident.

Olivia is a big fan of camping and and hiking - if the scenery is worth it and it isn't too hot outside. . The kids and I have started camping more often, especially since she's old enough to be a big help. She loves to take pictures of sunrises, trees, and any scenery that catches her fancy. She is considering a photography degree after high school.

Olivia is already taller than much of her extended family on her father's side. At 5'6", we are pretty sure she isn't done growing yet. She is often mistaken for someone older - which she thoroughly enjoys. She is very creative and enjoys designing clothing and coming up with room decor ideas. She's also trying her hand a writing occasionally, though she has yet to let me read anything she has written. I think she just enjoys living in her own mind, which has it's own charm, I guess.

When I go through my pictures, I see plenty of Olivia ducking out of camera view, and a few with her mouth open as she tells me to stop taking her picture. I have only a few that are good pictures of her, but here are a couple of my favorites: