Olivia, you're 8!

 

Livvy Jo, 

Today, you are eight years old. We've had a lot of adventures this year and I have loved creating amazing memories with you.

We all enjoyed our ski season last winter. You advanced to the blue group and I would bet you'd make the black group this winter. You're such a great skier; you leave me in your (snow) dust, and you love the steep, fast hills, while I prefer the slower ones.

In March, we were given tickets to Monster Jam, so we spent a weekend in Detroit - our first time visiting there. The show was really neat and we also enjoyed seeing a few things around the city.

Later that month, we went to Florida for spring break. We stayed in the Keys and also spent a little time visiting school friends in Naples. It was so fun seeing friends on vacation. We took a day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park, which was really neat. We snorkeled and explored the fort. We didn't love the ferry ride back, but thankfully none of us got sick.

We also spent a little time in Everglades National Park.

Poolside service was your favorite thing.

In the spring, we had a total solar eclipse. We weren't in the area of totality, but we still had some eclipse glasses and were able to see it partially.

Last summer, you played t-ball and loved it! We practice a bit without the tee at home and you're really good at hitting. I can't wait to see you play coach pitch this summer.

While the boys were at summer camp, you did bike camp with Norte. I was really proud of your attitude and effort that week. You don't have a lot of stamina for riding, but you did up to 6 miles in one day, which I thought was pretty awesome. And it was REALLY hot that week.

In July, we took a road trip and spent two weeks in Tennessee, dividing our time between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Chattanooga, and Nashville. I loved all the cool hikes and views in GSMNP. You enjoyed forging your knife in Pigeon Forge.

These waterfall stairs in Chattanooga were so fun, and you asked to play in them again before we left town. So nice on such hot days!

I finally cleaned out the basement bedroom and Leland moved down there, so now each of you kids has your own bedroom. It's so nice that you now have your own space.

You're just so cute.

For Halloween, you wanted to be a robber, so I teamed up and went as a police officer. You were very excited for your money bag to hold your candy.

This fall, we did something brand new for us. We stayed at a horse ranch that's about an hour or so away and spent the weekend. We all really enjoyed riding and decided to go back next year. 

We went to Chicago for their Christmas Lights parade the weekend before Thanksgiving. The boys and I had been to Chicago before, but you hadn't. We did the parade, visited the Christmas Market, ice skated the ribbon in Maggie Daley Park, saw The Bean, and went to a Bull's game. We packed a lot in, and we walked A LOT. 

These days, you're still really into arts and crafts. You have some really great friends at school, and for your birthday, we invited a few of them over to paint Nutcrackers and make friendship bracelets. 

You recently started gymnastics and you LOVE it. We're still trying to figure out how to keep up with it with everything else (skiing and basketball) coming up. Your next session may have to wait until skiing and basketball are done.

You're one of the silliest, strangest people I know, but you're also incredibly smart and caring toward your friends. You're kicking butt in school. At home, you're mostly kicking MY butt (girl, you can argue like nobody's business).

I'm excited to see all the adventures the next year has in store. I think it's going to be a great one, and I'm here for all the memories we have yet to make.

I love you.

Alden, you're 11!

 Dear Alden,

I am usually much more on top of things and would have this letter written by your birthday, but this year life has been just crazy and I haven't had a minute to write it. So, on the eve of your sister's birthday, I'm doing it.

Alden, it's been quite a year. 

You played a lot of sports! First was basketball, then baseball, and then football. You're a natural athlete and you love and excel at pretty much every sport you try. Which is great, but it sure is keeping me busy!

You tried pitching a little last season, so you're looking forward to doing it more next season.

We did a lot of skiing January through March, and you are a great little skier. You were able to try the terrain park a few times too.

In March, we took a little weekend trip to Detroit to see Monster Jam. 

Then, later that month, we went to Florida for spring break. We visited the Keys, where the highlight for you was catching crabs and fish. We also rode the ferry to Dry Tortugas National Park, which was an adventure we won't soon forget. It was a nice ride out to the island, but the ride back was rough and you and I were both more than a little anxious.

We also took a day trip to Everglades National Park, and then visited friends from school who have a house in Naples. It was a lot of fun to see our school friends in Florida.

Our summer was filled with adventures, including bike rides and beach days and sunsets. 

In July, we took a road trip and spent two weeks in Tennessee. We divided our time between Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Chattanooga, and Nashville.

You, Leland, and Olivia each forged your own knives in Pigeon Forge.

In Chattanooga, we loved this swimming hole where we jumped off tall rocks. 

Once again, we participated in VBS. 

I finally cleaned out the bedroom in the basement and now each of you kids has your own bedroom. You love having your own space and you actually keep it pretty clean most of the time.

Although we went after your birthday, I need to share about the horse ranch we went to. I've heard about it for years from a friend, and we spent the first weekend in November there. We all absolutely loved it. You couldn't get enough of riding, but also enjoyed playing basketball, attending a Halloween party, and trying archery.

Right now, your favorite things are video games, especially Fortnite, and watching TV, specifically Young Sheldon, The Middle, and Universe Mysteries Solved on the History Channel. You almost always have a fidget or a ball or something in your hands. And in the spring, summer, and fall, you ask daily to play catch in the yard. It's one of my favorite things. You and Leland are newly VERY interested in the Lions. You watch the games, and want all the Lions gear you can get your hands on: hats, jerseys, hoodies, sweatpants, blankets, etc.

Now you're in 5th grade. Your last year of elementary school, and it's going SO well. You have matured so much in the last few months. You're working hard to do your best both academically and socially, and I am so proud of the young man you are.

Happy 11, Alden! Two months late, but better late than never, right?

I love you so much, my sweet middlest.

Love, Mom

Happy 12th Birthday, Leland!

 

Dear Leland,

Today you are twelve! Once, you were my teeny, tiny preemie baby, and now you stand just 3/4" shorter than me. Your twelfth year was a busy, yet wonderful, one!

You continued to improve your skills on the slopes and earned your orange sticker at Crystal Mountain, meaning you can receive some instruction on the terrain park. This year, you have been awarded a scholarship to participate in the Junior Ski Program. I'm excited to see what you think of it!

Last spring, you joined two sports that until then you had never really cared much about: soccer and baseball. You didn't love soccer, but you really enjoyed baseball. This winter, you're also playing basketball for the third year.

Over the last year, we've been on many adventures. For Spring Break, we visited Shenandoah and New River Gorge National Parks.

Over the summer, we spent a couple days on Mackinac Island for a wedding, which is always special.

We also visited the UP; you especially enjoyed checking out the Soo Locks and seeing the bell from the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Our visit to the UP also included lots of hikes to waterfalls. You didn't love the hiking part, but you did enjoy the waterfalls.

During the Cherry Festival, you and I went to the Jordan Davis concert. It was so fun to enjoy some live music together - just you and me...and the drunk couple in front of us that kind of ruined the show for a lot of people. I'm glad we could go together.

You participated in your last VBS week as a student. Next year, you'll be a volunteer...that's crazy.

You spent a week at Lake Ann Camp for the second time. 

Just before school started, we went camping with the Grays near Ocqueoc Falls. We had a blast!

This year you're in middle school, which means waking up and leaving earlier. None of us are big fans of that, but we're making it work. 

You seem to be adjusting to middle school really well. You weren't nervous for the first day whatsoever, unlike me.

You're playing the clarinet this year. This photo was your first attempt at playing it, and we both get a good laugh at it because your mouthpiece was upside down. You've improved your skills since then, and recently played your first concert.

You are also interested in playing the guitar. Alden got one for his birthday and you've been using it with an app on the phone to learn how to play.

The one tough adjustment to middle school has been not having your BFFF, Garrett, there. The two of you talk on the phone or play video games online together quite a bit, and his mom and I try to make sure you still get face to face time. It's hard not being at school with your best friend, but you're both doing really well in your respective schools.

For Thanksgiving, we went to South Carolina and visited Dad's cousins. You really enjoyed that time with them and making another connection to Dad.

For your birthday party, you and a few buddies enjoyed a cabana and some pool time at the Delamar outdoor pool. You all had so much fun and I loved seeing you let loose (without video games) with your friends.

Leland, there are so many things to love about you. You are genuinely a good person who cares about others. You're responsible (most of the time), hard-working, and trustworthy. You're smart and respectful and overall pleasant to be around, and I'm not just saying that because I'm your mom. I hear it from your teachers and other adults who spend time with you. I'm proud of the man you're becoming, and I know Dad would be too.

Love, Mom