7-Year-Old Love Letter

My sweet Wessy bug,

As you transition into your 7th year you are looking taller, leaner and more grown-up every day. You are excelling in 1st grade and have a fantastic teacher. You like to practice the week's spelling words on Sunday nights so that you can ace the pretest, which you do on the regular. You follow the rules and strive to do the right thing. This is your first year riding the bus to school, which you adore. 

You love playing games and Monopoly's logged many hours in your 6th year. You have a strategy that I find incredibly impressive. You only buy the railroads, utilities, Boardwalk and Park Place. Once you secure Board Walk and Park Place, you buy houses and then hotels. It was news to me that if you have a hotel on Board Walk the rent due is $2000, and enough to bankrupt your opponent every time. You love all things Seahawks. You want to wear shorts and short-sleeved shirts no matter the weather. You had a fantastic soccer season and loved being on a team with some of your besties- Will and Miles. You are on the shy side and your teacher reports that you're quiet at school. You're signed up for a season of basketball this winter. You love art and your drawings continue to bring me joy. 

You are incredibly modest and privacy is v. important to you. You've recently gone through a phase where you claim to dislike everything I cook (besides rice, of course). You are still accident-prone and always have a bump or bruise from this or that, although I'm happy to report that the falling and landing with your head seems to have ceased. Your adorable smile and big blue eyes shine.

Your sweetness remains, making you so, so easy to love. Your kindness and easy to get along with nature draw people to you. I am so grateful for all that you are and the balance that you bring to our family. I recently watched a documentary and they talked about how children are like seeds and parents are their gardeners, helping them grow into exactly who they're intended to be, nurturing and watering them along the way. You are full of beauty and I love watching you blossom into your destiny. You are deeply cherished for exactly who you are. 

Happy Birthday to my sweet 7-year-old. I love you with all that I have and all that I am. 

xoxo,

Your loving mama 

Thanksgiving 2021

Another Sunriver Thanksgiving is in the books. Sadly, there was no snow this year but the house we rented was beautiful and the time together was rich. I'm am grateful our kids got to be with Papa and GG, as they've decided this will be their last trip. Ari is a perfect little buddy for Hazel, while Levi and the boys had fun playing video games together. It was a looonnnggg drive but worth it for the lovely location and time with our people. 

9-Year-Old Love Letter

My sweet Owen,

You are 9-years-old and third grade has been a true coming of age. You are confident and motivated in school. You've made new friends and have a crew that includes Jackson, Oliver and Marshall. You know all the kids on the bus and talk about standing up to bullies when they're being unkind. You've learned to say what you think and add "in my opinion," which I greatly appreciate. You understand that just because you think one way doesn't mean everyone else has to agree. 

You aspire to be a leader and do the right thing. When your teacher told you masks aren't necessary in the classroom, you kept yours on. You told me you don't like wearing it but know it helps keep people safe. You are becoming more independent and the role of friends is beginning to take more space in your life. Even so, you welcome what we teach you, still trusting and agreeing with our values. 

You love boating and being on the water. Your sly smile when you're excited about something is my absolute favorite. You've begun piano lessons and are loving it so far. This year's soccer season was your best yet. You truly enjoyed being out there and scored your first goal. One thing dad and I have encouraged over the years is to try your best no matter the circumstances. In your 8th year that became a reality both in school and in sports, for which I am quite proud. You've expressed an interest in photography and come to sessions with me as a paid assistant. You are a great helper, carrying my props and making babies laugh. You've picked up a lot of language that we don't love like "idiot, stupid and sucks," and are experimenting with how much you can get away with saying. You're a little apprehensive about basketball after having a bad team/coach right before the pandemic but are signed up and willing to give it another try this season, with Jackson as a teammate. You love holidays and make sure they are celebrated with intensity. 

You are obsessed with candy and sweets. Your emotions resemble that of a teenage girl, with highs, lows, and mini outbursts that often puzzle me. Your increased maturity is apparent as you move from young to mid-childhood. With your youth now officially half over I already miss toddler OC. At the same time, your increased capacity for thinking and participating in activities is delightful. I love playing ping pong and foosball now that I can try my best and still loose. I love everything about 9-year-old Owen. 

Parenthood is such a juxtaposition of emotions, a constant longing for both what was, what is and what is still to come. And here's the thing- who you were, who you are, and who you are becoming are all my favorite. Not a day goes by that I don't love and cherish you. From the high highs to the low lows- you are exactly who you are supposed to be and deeply loved.

Happy 9th Birthday to my firstborn. I love you with all that I have and all that I am. 

xoxo,

Your loving mama 

Halloween 2021

I love Halloween more every year. We trick or treated in the neighborhood with friends and had so much fun! 

Back to School 2021

They're off to pre-kindergarten, first, and third grade. How long have I dreamt of the day when all my kids are in school and I have leisurely mornings at home? And now, here it is. I'm excited about the collective learning and growth we'll all experience this year.