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.

Happy 7th Birthday, Olivia!

Dear Olivia,

I don't know how it's possible that you are seven years old. My last baby, my wee 3 - you're, like, BIG now! I am grateful that even though you're big, you still love to snuggle your mama. You also love to take over the couch or bed that we're snuggling on and leave me just a tiny sliver, while laying half of your body on me, but that's not the point here.

Your seventh year was a good one. You joined our school ski program this year and really picked it up quickly. You ski SO well and have surpassed my skills (which, to be honest, doesn't take much, but I thought I'd have one season on you).

You learned to read, and you are such a little bookworm. I often find you in your bed like this.

You're in first grade and you love school; you get upset when you have to miss it, especially math.

You conquered the monkey bars, and that is now how you rate every park or playground: whether or not they have monkey bars and how cool they are.

We went on a few trips this year. For spring break, we went to Shenandoah National Park and New River Gorge National Park, where we hiked mountains, explored waterfalls, and went horseback riding for the first time.

Highest point in Shenandoah

You played T-ball.

This was the year that you learned how to swim on your own. It started during spring break at a hotel, and then at the beginning of the summer, you spent some time at Uncle Jon's and got pretty independent with swimming in their pool.

Over the summer, we visited Mackinac Island for a wedding and the UP for more waterfall chasing.

And we went camping with the Grays.

We loved the beach - during the day and for sunsets. We even went a few times this fall when we had some extra warm days.

For Thanksgiving, we went to South Carolina. We had a blast spending time with Dad's cousins and checking out a new (to us) state. 

Future cadet?

For your birthday this year, you wanted to get your ears pierced. You were brave and handled it amazing, but you did say it hurt and you never want to do it again.

You are just as fun and feisty, sweet and sassy as always. You love to be creative and silly, and you still love to snuggle your mama. 

You had a lot of fun and adventures this year, learned a lot, and grown so much. I'm so proud of you and the young lady you're becoming. I love you so much, Livvy Jo.

Happy 6, Olivia!

Happy 6th Birthday, Olivia!

We have had quite an adventurous year! A few highlights:

For spring break, we visited Cuyahoga Valley National Park with Uncle Jon and Aunt Danielle. We had a blast hanging out with them, hiking, and playing at an indoor adventure park.

You graduated preschool.

We bought property on a little lake nearby, and MAC is going to build a house for us.

We took a road trip to Texas! On the way there and back, we made a few fun stops.

Elephant Rocks State Park

Flea market in Texas

The beach in Texas

Hot Springs, AK

Indianapolis

Over the summer, we had lots of beach days, like usual. We also went camping for the first time, had cousins spend a week with us (which was awesome!), and your first concert.

Camping near Ocqueoc Falls with the Grays

Drive-in with cousins

Chris Janson

You started kindergarten! You love everything you're learning, and your friends, and your teachers...but you are kind of a stinker at school. You refuse to line up sometimes and need reminders to follow directions (I'm not shocked). But you are loving everything you're learning, and you're doing so well starting to read.

In October, we went to Disney World, and Grammy Patti came with us. You were my little thrill seeker who wanted to go on all the fast rides.

We also went to St. Louis (on the way to Texas and again in November). City Museum was the coolest place ever, so we went both times. In November, we rode the Polar Express.

A little bit about you at age 6:

You love art. You color every single day, and you also really like painting, and crafting in general. 

You and Emma are still besties, but you have some other good friends at school too. Brantley is still one of your good friends as well, and your cousin Charlie might be your favorite person in the world (well, next to Uncle Jon).

Some other things you enjoy: Gabby's Dollhouse on Netflix, riding your bike, swimming, skiing, helping me cook and bake, washing dishes (I don't get it, but I'm not complaining), and torturing the cats with snuggles.

You are suuuuuper sassy. I admire your fierce stubbornness sometimes, but we definitely need to tone it down a bit, and that's something we're working on.

For your birthday, you requested a unicorn cake, and we spent it mostly at home. Celebrating you is one of my favorite things. I love you so much, Livvy Jo. Happy 6!

Love, Mom