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