13-Year-Old Love Letter

My Sweet Owen, 

You are officially a teenager, marking 13 years of us learning together. We read your one-year-old love letter, both of us blurry eyed, on your birthday. Thinking back to those early days fills me with such love, joy, and longing. I explained to you how special every stage of your childhood has been and how I've chronicled these moments as a way to preserve them to the best of my ability. My heart swells celebrating this milestone just as much as it did on your first trip around the sun.

Sixth grade brought major independence, and after getting an electric scooter for Christmas, you were all over town living your best life—hanging at friends' houses, the Little League field, Target, McDonald's, and the gym at the Canterwood club. After one of your first times working out with your friend Mateo, you guys went to the club and had dinner together.

After not wanting a phone at all in 5th grade, that readily changed when you got to middle school and you craved a way to coordinate meeting up with friends. After much deliberation, we got you an iPhone for your 12th birthday. You don't have access to Safari or any social media. We initially said you could download a few games, but after a few weeks you decided to delete them. You signed a contract agreeing that you won't take it to school or have it in your room at night, and you've been respectful of those rules. We agreed the purpose of having a phone is to enhance real-life relationships, which includes texting, talking, and arranging meetups. There have been some ups and downs, but overall I feel like you've handled the responsibility well and I don't regret the decision. Whenever we talk on the phone, even if it's a ten-second conversation, you always end with "I love you."

Year 12th year marked your first run-in with acne, your first requests for privacy, and lots of important life lessons in health class with Mrs. Elton.

Last winter we went through a rough patch, and it became clear to me that as the firstborn, we have always catered to you more than we should, giving you a main character complex. This is on us, not you, and we're working to be more consistent. In reflecting back, I also think you just didn't have enough activities to keep you engaged. You were super into skiing but didn't have any scheduled activities during the week. This spring your love and passion for lacrosse was reignited, and with it you were an overall much more agreeable person.

After our money battles last fall, you got some cash for Christmas and blew it almost immediately. Your motivation to do extra money-making chores was lacking, so you remained broke. You cried one night and lamented to me how hard it is not to have money and how your friends always have to spot you. It had the intended purpose of making me share in your pain, and you learned an important lesson.

You really leaned into skiing and made yourself a list of goals—skiing all the hardest runs at Crystal. You accomplished that goal and crushed it at both Crystal and Bachelor.

You missed a week of school while you were sick this winter and got behind. Dad and I didn't realize you'd missed work, and by the end of the semester you were struggling to keep your grades up. You felt so overwhelmed by this that you mostly gave up and settled for B's when you were fully capable of A's. It was a good learning experience, and you know now that missing school is a big deal once you leave elementary and you have to be really proactive about making up missed work. You've struggled with your math teacher and don't enjoy the class, which is a disappointment because you've always loved the subject.

Your current aspirations for the future are to go to Notre Dame and become a pilot—maybe live in California.

You're really into staying up late, and bedtime battles around the holidays were exhausting. We've come to an agreement that works, and on the weekends you stay up watching movies with Dad and me, which is sweet time together.

Your relationship with Ivy persisted until the beginning of 7th grade, and it's been adorable. You guys are sweet and respectful toward one another and graduated from simply texting to actually spending time together. She decided to end it at the beginning of the school year, and after a brief period of sadness, you are content not being committed.

You are incredibly connected to Grammy and Grandpapa and feel close to them. Now that you have a phone, you often call and invite yourself over—either to earn money working outside or to spend the night, often both.

For Mother's Day, your math teacher reminded you that dinner reservations fill up early, so you independently called Cuerno Bravo and tried to make a reservation for our family. They were booked on Mother's Day, but you were so excited to tell me that you got us in on Monday. Actually eating at the restaurant didn't work out, but the sentiment was the cutest thing ever. I wish I could have heard your 6 a.m. voicemail requesting that reservation.

The start of 7th grade has been a magical period and one of my favorite seasons with you. I remember feeling this way in 4th grade as well. You are leaning into everything we've taught you and having such a great year. You're engaged in school and motivated to do well. You have a great group of friends and make good choices. The mood swings at home are minimal, you're active, engaged in sports, and open to learning new things.

You are incredibly comfortable talking to anyone and engage with adults remarkably well. Our new neighbors invited some people over for a happy hour in their backyard in September. We're the only family, so you, Wes, and Hazel were the only kids there. You were at the head of the table, leading and engaging in conversation with the 12 adults present. Afterward, you reminded me that you know them well from chatting when you're out and about in the street.

Late this summer you started loitering around the driving range and eventually weaseled your way into golf lessons. There's someone who works at the pro shop who let you borrow a club (even though it's technically against the rules). After hitting balls long enough, we finally went down there to meet Ryan, who's been helping you out. Turns out you don't have to be a member at the club to do private golf lessons, so you used all the money you'd saved to buy clubs and did five lessons. You're naturally athletic and picked it up quickly. 

You have a tendency to come into new things real hot and obsess over them before dropping them completely. This has caused some friction over the years (especially around that Canoe and Kayak team), but this fall has shed light on the positive side of it. While you were out golfing, I thought of all the other things you could be doing as a 12-year-old and thought learning to golf was a lovely way to be passing the time. If you want to keep golfing, great! But if you don't, it's a skill that will forever be housed in your muscle memory. Because of your dedication to lacrosse over the years, I know you have the ability to stick with something and see it through. But not everything needs to be like that. I love that you follow your interests as they arise and encourage you to learn as many new things as you can.

You also played on the Harbor Ridge soccer team this fall. Most of the other kids on the team have been playing club soccer for years, and your skills are limited. I was really proud of you for getting out there and playing even though you didn't have the same experience as other kids on the team. It takes a lot of courage to try something new, especially with your peers. You had a great time!

You've reconnected with Jackson. He's been your bestie since 2nd grade, but last year you didn't have any classes together so it was hard to stay connected. He's a great kid and his family has similar values to ours. You're back to playing select lacrosse with the South Sound Club and are applying the same grit and determination as when you first started. You made the select team, not the elite team, and are working hard to move up.

On your birthday, Uncle Chris and Auntie Kari generously gifted you and Wes tickets to a Kraken game. After waking up for traditions at home, we spent the day in Seattle with the cousins. You loved it and said it was one of the best birthdays yet. We had a house party to celebrate with your friends the weekend before.

You are such an incredible young man, and I couldn't be more proud as you officially enter into adolescence. You are confident, kind, curious, hard-working, and adventurous. My favorite teen psychologist says the year 13 is often ripe with friction, as it's the stage where you distinguish your personal identity outside of your family. I'm prepared for what may come, but we're starting the year in a sweet spot, so I'm cherishing it for now. I'm here to love and support you as you learn more about who you are and what's important to you. You are deeply cherished, and being your mama remains the most sacred gift of my life.

Happy birthday, my sweet boy. I love you with all that I am.

xoxo,

Your loving mama 

Christmas 2025

As per usual, the holiday season was delightfully chaotic. The weekend before Christmas, we hosted a Christmas party with friends and went to see a local production of the Nutcracker. After church, we spent Christmas Eve in Eatonville with the Hights, had Christmas morning at home, and hosted Ty's family here for Christmas dinner. After a day of rest, we went to Clackamas to celebrate with my family.

We historically spend the weekend before Christmas with my family but changed things up this year and planned to go down there the weekend after. This opened up unexpected time to spend with friends. I enjoyed our Christmas party, but the kids were overwhelmed by the chaos of all the children who attended. I was hoping that Owen would take charge and plan some games for a cash incentive, but his friend Jackson ended up coming so he did his own thing. A few of the guests were a bit destructive, so I think next year it's going to be adults only with one friend per kid. The Nutcracker was also a bit of a letdown for the kids—they found it pretty boring, which, although I love it, I don't totally disagree with.

The highlight of Christmas Eve was a fun game that Rachel planned, rolling toilet paper to claim cash prizes. It was lovely being with the Hights. Their family is so meaningful to all of us. Christmas morning was as fun and magical as always. Family arrived around five for Christmas dinner, so by the time we were done eating and opening gifts, it was already late. Steve, Paula, Aaron, Kelsi, and Devin left around ten, and the remaining Rallo crew stayed up until one in the morning. When we woke up the following day, our home resembled a frat house after a rager. There was wrapping paper and boxes aplenty, and the six kids got every single gift they received out of its box and put it to use. There were two pottery wheel stations, a squishy-making station that coated our hardwood in a fine glue, glitter nail kits, Easy-Bake Oven stuffed animals, tattoo-making kits, and more. The Magnolia Rallos set off for Spokane around one in the afternoon after hours of helping us clean. When they left, I was so exhausted that I crawled back into bed for a two-hour nap. Upon waking, I was still too fatigued to accomplish anything. It was lovely to have a much-needed afternoon of rest before embarking on our next celebration.

Time with my family in Clackamas was nice, but it felt short and rather rushed. The rest of them had already been together for Christmas and were gathering again on our behalf. I was grateful they were willing to be there but could feel that everyone was tired. My cousin Matija has a four-month-old baby, and it's been a minute since there's been a little one to snuggle. When she was tired and fussy, I asked if Riley would let me rock her to sleep. Matija said probably not, but I was welcome to try. When I came back with Riley asleep in my arms, they were all surprised because, historically, her mom is the only one who can get her to sleep. I didn't know about their skepticism until Ty filled me in afterward and felt proud of my strong connection to babies. My mom reminded me that years ago, Kelsi said that babies know I'm one of their people. Still true. I wished I'd had more time to chat with Matija about new motherhood but was happy I got to see her. We stayed the night with Manda and Anthony and chilled with my mom and Marty before heading home Sunday afternoon.

We sat Wes down and talked to him about Santa around Easter this year. Hazel still believes but picked many holes in the facade. I hate it when it gets to this point and imagine she is coming to end the of this era. 

Hazel has emerged as quite the little poet in the past few months and at my suggestion, wrote a poem to give Grammy for Christmas. A few days before Christmas I mentioned to her how much Grammy was going to love it and how I was excited for the poem she was gifting me. At that she said, "I'll right back," and created magic. 

Mommy and Me 

by Hazel Rallo

Mommy and me are the best pair there could ever be 

I always feel loved, protected and safe with my lovely mommy 

What fun we have as laughter fills the air 

I know what place I want to be 

It's right next to my awesome mommy   

After a few quiet days at home, Levi rode the train up to ski with us on New Year's Eve. It was a fantastic day on the slopes, getting back at it for the season. The snow was thin, but there were no crowds and the sun was shining. When we got home from skiing, we immediately changed and headed over to the Rooneys' for a nine o'clock ball drop. Sarah is such a fun host and always has plenty planned to keep the kids engaged. They did another wrapping paper fashion show and a live-action version of the Hungry Hungry Hippos game. Ending the year with dear friends was perfect. At 10 pm, I raced to bed for an early morning in the ICU.

From Eatonville to Clackamas to Crystal Mountain, we logged a lot of miles between December 24th and January 1st. There was a nice cadence, with stimulating, chaotic days followed by days of rest. I should also note that this is the first holiday in many years that hasn't been disrupted by illness. It feels like we are back to our pre-COVID baseline with sickness, and I'm here for it. After the loss of any type of schedule and too many late bedtimes, we are ready to get back into the school routine.

Christmas is forever a special time of year. I'm grateful for time with family and friends, for chaos and for rest. I'm walking into 2026 with gratitude and hope.

11-Year-Old Love Letter

My sweet Wessy bug,

Year 10 was a special one. I love this late childhood stage where family values take root and teenage angst hasn't yet arrived. Your general optimism and joy continue to shine.

In 4th grade, your athletic ability really took off. You had an amazing lacrosse season and emerged as one of the strongest players on the team, showing impressive determination and grit while playing iron man most games. You were selected to represent your team in the All Star game at the end of the season, which was a huge honor. The coaches were fantastic, and that makes such a meaningful difference. You mentored the younger kids and helped create the sweetest team culture. There's a second grader named Cooper whose mom told me how much he looks up to you. When I shared that with you, you mentioned that another player, Austin, had asked you why Cooper likes you so much. 

After a few different flag football experiences, we decided you were going to take a break this spring — until a good friend from school invited you to play on a team his dad was coaching. It felt like the perfect fit, so we said yes. It was a great team and you did really well. By the end of the season you decided you prefer defense to offense, which was a big shift. You'd had your heart set on tackle football in the fall, but you're now so fully invested in lacrosse that we're not quite sure what comes next.

Your 4th grade besties are Kingston and Dylan. You get invited to a lot of birthday parties, one of the best was your friend Emi's Wicked party, where she had a group of girls over to watch the movie. Since you were the only boy, they painted your nails and did your hair. You also had a blast staying at a Seattle hotel and swimming with a group of boys for Bodhi's birthday. Following in your brother's footsteps, you participated in the school-wide geography bee and took home first place.

You really are the most thoughtful little soul. When I explained that if you don't clean up after yourself, I have to — it completely changed your behavior. You don't want me to have to do anything extra, and you're willing to do your part.

We've overheard you chatting on the phone with a few girls from class over the course of 4th grade. You deny having a crush on anyone but admit there are a few girls who like you.

You love to eat. Rice, oatmeal, Chomps, fruit, veggies, and protein shakes are current staples.

On a hike this summer, I shared something I'd recently learned — that awe is now considered an emotion. I loved discovering this because I know that feeling completely: standing in the mountains, looking at a bright moon in a dark sky, or witnessing such loving kindness that you feel moved. You leaned into it fully and repeated "I am feeling awe" several times. You are such a joyful person and approach life with gratitude and optimism.

You love learning and are receptive to lessons on the fly. We drove home from a tournament in Yakima in November, just the two of us, listening to the top 40 countdown. I pointed out rules of the road along the way and you received it with enthusiasm. You're also genuinely interested in finances, investing, and how the world works.

Over the course of this year, you became more assertive. Fall brought your first season of select lacrosse with South Sound club, a brief Roblox obsession, and plans for a few months of swim team between sports seasons.

We hosted your friend birthday party on the actual day, and you ended up a little disappointed. Hosting parties, it turns out, isn't really your thing. You got frustrated when kids didn't follow the plan and felt the pressure of trying to please everyone. Since the party felt like a let-down, you decided that next year you want your friend celebration on a separate day so we can spend your actual birthday doing something special as a family. We promised a trip to the top of the Space Needle in the coming months as a late family adventure.

You're excelling in 5th grade and love the reinforcement of good grades. You secured the highly sought-after role of class President, and most of your scores are right at 100% — you revel in it every time. There's a 40-book reading challenge and you really stepped up, completing 30 books before winter break. I love watching you read in the car and choose books over other things. Your friend group has stayed largely the same, but you've grown closer to Bodhi and Lucas since you're in the same class this year. You've also earned some freedom to scooter around the neighborhood and to Target, which has become a fun new pastime in your 10th year.

Oh, Wessy bug. You are so easy to love and such a joy to be around — from your sense of humor, to your kind heart, to your thoughtfully crafted thank you cards, to your grit and determination, I couldn't be more proud of you. I love watching your confidence and sense of self grow, and I pray you always hold fast to the deep love and belonging you have in our home. Happy 11th birthday, my sweet boy. You are adored.

xoxo,

Your loving mama

Summer 2025

Following recent parenting research suggesting we overprotect our children in the real world while under-protecting them online, we embraced a 90s-style summer, granting our kids greater independence and freedom. The approach proved remarkably successful—the crew got along better than usual and thrived with their newfound autonomy.

We launched the season with a festive and busy Fourth of July weekend, but shortly afterward, I was sidelined by a severe cases of strep throat. For two days, I was completely out of commission. During this time, the kids rose to the occasion in remarkable ways. They asked if they could bike to McDonald's together—and I said yes. Later that day, I awoke from a nap to discover them hosting their own "field day" games in the backyard.

This independence flourished throughout the summer. They spent hours cutting down a dead tree at Ty's request and operated their lemonade stands entirely on their own initiative. Owen would scooter to Target for supplies, they'd transport their stand to their chosen location, and handle cleanup largely themselves.

When our neighbors moved, everyone was sad to lose Hannah and Christopher as playmates, though they made the most of their remaining time together in late June and early July. Meanwhile, Wes discovered the joy of neighborhood scootering, spending afternoons with Kingston or the Varier family on Brackenfern Drive.

We've worked steadily to establish cleaning routines, and this summer they finally clicked. While still a work in progress, we raised expectations by adding daily chores for everyone—vacuuming, dishes, or folding laundry. The boys have also taken over yard mowing. Seeing their growing sense of responsibility has been rewarding and has genuinely helped with my daily tasks. Combined with being able to leave them home alone for errands, I felt much less overwhelmed than in previous years.

The boys showed brief enthusiasm for tennis before switching to pickleball, then moving on to other pursuits. Aside from a three-morning lacrosse camp, we maintained a deliberately camp-free summer schedule. Owen spent many afternoons securing complimentary snacks around the golf course and clubhouse.

On my work days, the children spent time with their cherished nanny Lizzy or with Benson, both of whom they adore. Lizzy's family home on Fox Island became their preferred destination, where they delighted in riding the gator, hitting golf balls into the water, and playing pool. When Benson supervised, they often congregated at his house—a children's paradise complete with a full music studio, craft stations, trampoline, and rock wall.

We enjoyed two boating weekends between repair trips to Olympia and embraced swimming at Rosedale. Our outdoor adventures included hiking and swimming at both Dickerson Falls and Devil's Punchbowl. We spent a wonderful weekend in Eatonville at the Hights' new homestead, Owen enjoyed several days in Seattle with the Magnolia Rallos, and Hazel joined Grandmy and Grandpapa's beach excursion with Olivia, Lily, and Lizzie. Owen barely touched his phone and shifted his focus from friends back to family for the summer.

Hazel welcomed guinea pigs, Raff and Mocha, into our family, learning to care for them quite independently, including cage maintenance.

Our summer travels featured an epic two-week road trip through Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming (detailed separately). After a two-week break at home, we ventured to Bellingham for Mt. Baker hiking to celebrate my 40th birthday—fulfilling my dream of beginning a new decade in the mountains. I also celebrated with a delightful Chelan weekend with my sisters and girlfriends, though Rachel's absence due to a devastating loss was deeply felt.

The persistent boat issue—a backordered part unavailable until October—resulted in several disappointing days when water activities fell through. Despite my efforts, none of the children read as much as I'd hoped, and we indulged in more movie nights than I care to admit.

The week preceding my birthday brought an unexpected health scare when stroke-like symptoms necessitated a 48-hour hospital stay. Fortunately, after comprehensive testing, I was diagnosed with a complicated migraine rather than something more serious.

Despite these minor setbacks, it was a lovely summer. Ty took substantial time off work, providing more family time than usual, and we spent countless hours exploring the outdoors together. This season reinforced for all of us the value of independence, responsibility, and the simple joy of unstructured summer days.

Yellowstone 2025

Our trip to Namibia last summer proved that we are capable of traveling anywhere as a family. The kids are incredible travelers and at the perfect age for adventures. This realization prompted me to reflect on what other trips are most important to us in the limited time we have left to travel with them. It's hard to wrap my brain around the fact that Owen only has seven years remaining before he leaves for college.

So we made a list of the places we dream about visiting during that precious window. Yellowstone was high on our list, and since it's the closest and most accessible option, we decided this was the perfect summer to make it happen. The fact that the kids got to experience Africa was such a life-changing experience, and I'm deeply grateful for that opportunity. At the same time, I want them to appreciate the amazing natural wonders close to where we live and understand that adventure doesn't always require crossing oceans.

With that in mind, we set off for a two week road trip. There were four legs to our adventure: Spokane/Coeur d'Alene/Bozeman, Yellowstone, the Tetons, and the Wilderness Club Resort in northern Montana.

The highlights of our first stop included a lovely dinner at Wooden City in Spokane, an evening swim and bridge jumping in Coeur d'Alene, and an all-day adventure at Silverwood Theme Park. In Bozeman, we stayed in a bouqie hotel, enjoyed a beautiful sunset hike, and had a late night family swim in the rooftop pool.

We stayed in a different hotel each night in Yellowstone because I wanted to experience morning and evening in each section of the park. While the constant packing, unpacking, and waiting for rooms was exhausting, it was totally worth it. Each area of the park feels so distinctly different that I was grateful to spend time in each unique environment.

We had considered canceling this trip after the election and the heartbreaking cuts to the National Park Service, so I was pleasantly surprised by the manageable crowds, available ranger programs, and overall cleanliness of the park. Everything operated smoothly, and with the exception of Old Faithful, we had space to appreciate the natural beauty in relative solitude.

Our Yellowstone highlights included an amazing sunset drive on our first night, scoring last-minute dinner reservations, observing a herd of elk from our hotel patio in Mammoth, hiking Artist Point and watching the sunset at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, encountering a massive bison herd roadside, hanging around Fishing Bridge hoping to spot bears, hiking the Storm Point Loop, relaxing at Lake Yellowstone's beach, visiting gift shops/visitor centers, an iPhone tripod that aided in the most family photos we've ever gotten on a vacation, watching Old Faithful erupt, playing the license plate game, and learning about the park's unique geological features. 

The lowlights were my strep throat infection, fewer animal sightings than hoped, and one terrible meal at Lake Yellowstone Lodge.

From Yellowstone, we continued south to Grand Teton National Park, staying at Colter Bay Village. The two-night reservation felt like a real treat after our nomadic Yellowstone experience. Above all, I love mountains and was happy to be in their majestic presence. Here we did more hiking, swimming, and unsuccessful animal scouting.

We drove down to Jackson to explore the town, and the breathtaking drive gave us a chance to see the mountains from multiple angles. We enjoyed one of our favorite meals of the trip in Jackson and ended the day with the evening swim we'd promised Wes.

From the Tetons, we faced our longest travel day—nine hours north to Eureka, Montana, home to the Montana Wilderness Club Resort. A friend had posted photos from there a few years ago that looked incredible, so I'd added it to my wishlist. Since it was pretty far out of the way, I didn't think we'd be able to include it on this trip.

It turned out that Ty had taken more time off work than I'd originally planned, giving us three extra days at the end of our week. When the Wilderness Club sent out a promotional discount, we decided to spend the extended days of our journey there. Its proximity to Glacier National Park made it even more appealing—I thought we could explore that park as well.

While we never made it into Glacier, we were thrilled with our decision to add this final leg. The resort featured an amazing pool and water slide that kept the kids entertained for three straight days. We rented a golf cart and embraced this time to relax and recharge before heading home.

We covered 2500 miles and accomplished our goals of spending time outdoors, exploring nature, instilling a love for the National Parks in the kids, and adding precious memories to our family history.