Letter to Ireland

February 8, 2010

Dear Ireland,

I have always thought that you have an “old soul” ... meaning you have lived many lives before this one. Your wisdom is far beyond your years, and every day you continue to prove that to me. You will be four in a month, and this is the most inquisitive stage you have had in your life. You are past the “Why?” and have moved on to “What happens when we go to heaven?” and “Do we get to meet Jesus when we are in heaven?” and “Are there germs in heaven?” It is a constant dialogue...and I love learning what is going on in your little mind!

Between you and me, I really love it when you misbehave! I think it is because it doesn’t happen very often. You always follow directions and do what you’re told, and you love to see how bright your halo can shine. So when you purposely get defiant, it is so hilarious! Except for when those crocodile tears start to well up in your huge blue eyes...not fun!

At this age you do not know how to walk. You skip and gallop everywhere! You are like a little fairy! Your favorite thing to do is help me in the kitchen. You sit on the counter and talk my ear off while I am making dinner. I am constantly reminding myself to slow down and listen to what you are saying, because when you have an audience you will let me see straight through to your heart. It is very beautiful. I have a feeling you really want to be a mom someday. You observe everything I do, and tell me that when you’re a mom someday you will get to drive, wear makeup, pluck your eyebrows, do the dishes, and on and on and on! Sometimes hanging out with you is a good glimpse into my behavior! It is my goal to get you to say “When I am a mom I will get to run a marathon and write a book!”

I think as you grow up I am going to have to teach you how to have fun and not take life so seriously. That is something I am reminding myself to do every day! You obviously feel things very deeply, and you would let yourself carry the weight of the world if there wasn’t someone there to remind you to let loose.

Ireland, your little heart means the world to me. I will always protect it as best I can, and be a role model for you. You have a compassionate, loving, and nurturing spirit. You could grow up to heal the world, and our family is so blessed to have you!

Love,

Mommy

Letter to Elliana, November 4, 2009

Dear Elliana,

It is so hard to believe you are in first grade! I remember first grade fairly clearly…so to think that you are now that age is amazing.

You grew really tall this summer, and your legs are up to your earlobes. Last year at this time I was worried your coordination might never come together, but in July you hopped on your bike and rode around the block within a few hours. As you would say, “No training wheels necessary!" Your little brain is a sponge, and you read read read. I have already had to tell you not to bring your books to the dinner table, something I have been hearing Granny tell Uncle Mark my whole life! It is very clear to me that you will never struggle with academics. I think you are realizing that too, considering you race through your homework and constantly want to move on to the next thing. I am trying to teach you to slow down, breathe, and enjoy the fact you can take your time with your work. It is also my little trick for getting you to write slower and practice your handwriting!

You love the monkey bars. Every day you come back from school and tell me how many times your crossed the monkey bars at recess. You have a callous on the palm of each hand, and you hate the fact that your jacket falls past your wrists because you have to shake your arm before grabbing the monkey bars. I sometimes think your entire day revolves around your success or failure on those bars. Haha….

This is a funny stage for you and me. Every day you make me so happy and I love watching you discover the world now that you can read and write at such an advanced level. At the same time, my patience easily runs thin with you because you think you need to talk super loud in order to be heard, and I can no longer get away with a “preschool” answer to your many questions. You want the real-world version of things, and finding a way to explain life in a way you can understand is a challenge. It is a challenge I welcome, but it also makes me want to go to bed really early! But as soon as you exhaust me, you say something so funny that we both laugh our heads off, and your laugh is so brilliantly contagious.

Speaking of which, you are growing and learning so much that you are exhausted! Some nights I think you are genuinely sleeping before your head hit’s the pillow. I would imagine that following the rules all day long and coming home to be the leader with your sisters is a very tiring existence. I often need to remind you to take time to yourself and be alone. I have a feeling I will tell you that a lot throughout your life.

Elliana, you bring so much joy to my life. You teach me something new every day, and you are always challenging me to be a better mom. I can’t sneak anything past you anymore, and so you keep me accountable (God forbid I go through a yellow light or not check every piece of your Halloween candy before you eat it!) … Your attention to the rules is so endearing, and will make you very successful in life.

I love you so much. Keep being you.

Love,
Mommy

Halloween Snowman 2009

I love my Flip! (and my family!)

Granny's Package Arrived!

We love you Granny! Thank you for the neat things and all of your hard work!

Pumpkin Carving 2009

The girls had a good time carving pumpkins on Thursday night!

Letter to Annika

October 13, 2009

Dear Annika,

Lately I have been calling you my little Simba…you are a ball of fire like a lion cub. At night when I tuck you in, you tackle me and we roll around and I kiss you all over your face and neck. This makes you giggle like crazy, but as soon as you realize you are giggling you pretend to roar like a lion. Your spirit at this age is abundant, to say the least.

I love watching you figure out the world. You have always been a person with many layers. Since the day you were born, there has been a wisdom and depth about you I cannot describe. It is demonstrated at this age in the way you carry yourself…you have a strong sense of self for a four-year-old. A couple of weeks ago your friend Avery cut off your bangs...and last week you were fascinated by the humidifier next to your bed, and leaned over so close to the green light that the steaming water pouring out of the machine burnt your forehead! But you walk so boldly and proud with no bangs and a big burn on your forehead…seemingly having no cares in the world.

But I know you better. I know that your heart is struggling in ways you will never show. I think at this age you are having a hard time defining your place amongst your sisters. This will probably be a lifelong battle…but you are working very hard at it, and so am I. You were dealt quite a hand coming only 18 months after a “first-born” … and then being only 6 months old when I became pregnant with the twins. Your sisters make a very loud, rambunctious, Annika sandwich…and you continue to hold your own…even though I think it hurts your heart when you are overlooked.

I recently started working at your daycare, and I love seeing you throughout the day. We talk every time our classes are on the playground together, and I relish in watching you climb to the top of the climbing wall. I try to sneak downstairs and hug you tight before your nap each day, and your friend Gage always wants me to kiss him too! Haha! Each Thursday I take you on my break. We get to spend an hour together, just the two of us, before heading over to Miss Flo’s. Flo is a friend of mine who is very smart with children. Remember all those layers I was talking about? Flo is going to help us continue to reveal the depth of you and coach me as a mom in the best way to parent an amazing daughter like you. Before we go to Flo’s we like to hit up 7-11 for Slurpees and gum. I think long after we stop seeing Flo, we will still be going to 7-11 for Slurpees and gum.

Tonight you were very tired and said your leg hurt. You must be getting ready to grow a little taller. At your 4-year checkup the doctor said you hadn’t gained any weight this past year, just shot straight up! I have a feeling you have a lot of growing to do before your 5th birthday.

Annika, you warm my heart to the point of explosion. I am so blessed to be your mom, and watching you grow is a gift. Our friendship will have a lot of ups and downs…because I have a feeling we are a lot alike. I identify a lot with you, and hope that you will invite me to help you unveil the mystery in your soul. Thank you for sharing yourself with me.

Tomorrow you have a field trip to the pumpkin patch! On the way home from school today you said that you want to be a vampire for Halloween. It changes every day. Your favorite movie right now is Wizard of Oz (you are actually obsessed with it)… but since Pepper can’t come for Halloween you have decided you don’t want to be Dorothy anymore. We’ll see what you come up with for tomorrow.

Sleep tight my little Simba.

Love,
Mommy

Jevon gets a makeover