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