Happy 9th Birthday, Barrett

Dear Barrett,

Happy Birthday!  My first baby has turned into a 9 year old.  I think Annabelle has told you “Happy birthday” at least 100 times already.  You may be 9, but you’ll always be my baby.  I am so proud of the person you are becoming.  Each year these letters get harder to write emotionally because it is simultaneously wonderful and sad to watch your baby grow up.  Wonderful to see the incredible, one-of-a-kind person being shaped and formed by his experiences and mistakes and successes; sad because the last phase is over, and even though it was hard at times, the last phase was a blessing that was beautiful and transformative.  And I will miss it because I love you so much in every stage.  I’m going to try to just be grateful for each day and the joys and challenges it brings. 

You blow me away with your generosity.  You are sweet, smart, and sensitive with a memory like a steel trap! You are my cuddly “bear.”  You sometimes worry about stuff which makes us worry…hmm, wonder where you got that trait from.  We are always here to listen to any of your concerns and worries.  You don’t need to worry alone and we might even be able to help...at the very least we would empathize.  Perfectionism is a cruel trick that your mind sometimes plays on you.  I want you to know that no one expects you to be perfect or “THE best” (that’s impossible), we just want you to do YOUR best.  That’s all.  Everyone makes mistakes. The important thing is that we learn from our mistakes.  You are more than good enough right now, just the way you are, flaws and all.  You don’t have to earn our love. You have it and it’s not going anywhere.

You are very hard-working and responsible and I know I can count on you to do your chores, keep track of your wallet, get dressed in the mornings and out the door on time, and you always put your seat belt on.  You do all of those things without me having to remind you.  That’s being responsible.  That lets me know I can trust you with more freedom.  The other day, I almost forgot to take you to an appointment, but you remembered.  What would I do without you? I’d probably be making U-turns, running late, and rescheduling a lot of appointments! You are fun and silly, a little bit mischievous, and love to be tickled.  You like HGTV, which is awesome because I do too!  We enjoy watching Love It or List It together and trying to guess which one they will choose.  I love spending time with you just watching TV or talking about stuff before I kiss you goodnight.  I love watching you play baseball and basketball and learning how to be a part of a team. 

I especially love watching you interact with your siblings (most of the time.)  You are an amazing big brother who always happens to have money and you are even willing to share.  Yesterday we went to the Perot Museum where you gave Kyle (who is still learning to work for and save money) enough money to buy something at the gift shop.  And before that, you gave Annabelle a toy you got from the arcade with your tickets.  She is in a stage where she wants everything she sees…at least everything pink that she sees.  And if I didn’t stop you, I think you’d buy it ALL for her.  That is so sweet and loving and generous.  I know it brings you joy to see others happy which is a great quality.  This summer in the fort, you and Kyle and Annabelle are learning how to balance your own needs and wants with the needs and wants of others.  You are learning that while you might completely get your way, you actually end up NOT having fun because the others are not happy.  It’s really more fun when everyone gets at least some of what they want and everyone is happy together.

I love your laugh, your smile, and your kind heart.  I love your strength and vulnerability, your playful side and your serious side.  I love that you are a saver and a giver, and that you know what you want but sometimes let others have what they want too.  I love that you go around the house singing…even it it’s songs that make me crazy (Gangnam Style…still?).  I love that you are mature and responsible but you still play with your younger siblings.  I love you…YOU…just the way you are. 

You made me a mommy 9 years ago today have shown me that my heart is capable of more love than I ever imagined possible.  I am so lucky to be your mommy.  I love you more than words can express.

Love,

Mommy

A glimpse of you right now at age 9:

Favorite songs: Ho Hey, Gangnam Style

Favorite Movie: The Lego Movie

Favorite food: Steak, chicken nuggets, strawberries

Favorite game: Minecraft

Other faves: baseball cards, lemonade, hide and seek, Sock It, potty humor

 Bailey waking you up on your birthday

 

 Riding the saddle with napkin lassos at dinner celebrating your birthday. 

Your Birthday Missions:

1. Wear a sign saying "it's my birthday" all day.

2.  Have a hula hoop contest

3. Speak in a accent all day 

(You spoke in a accent but it fluctuated between Italian, Spanish, Indian, and British.)

You completed all of these and turned into a 9 year old!

Happy Birthday, Kyle

Dear Kyle,

Happy sixth birthday, buddy Kyle! You some how manage to get a year older every single year! What an amazing person you are. Some days I think you are determined to learn every rule the hard way, but recently you’ve really been blowing me away with your good choices, gratitude and maturity. I am so happy I get to be your mommy. I get you, kid. I “get” you. You are an amazing person. You are funny, intelligent, authentic, and loving. You challenge me and I know God gave you to me as a gift to shape me into a better person.

I just got home from having lunch with you at school. You saw me and you got so excited you knocked and waved from the window between us. I LOVE that you are happy to see me! You started Kindergarten this year and you have a great teacher, Ms. Norris, who tells me that you two have great conversations. It’s been a month since school started and each day is an adventure. You are learning the rules and teaching your friends how to read. Some days when you come home and I ask you what you learned today, you say things like, “I learned that I’m not allowed to run in the halls at school.” I suppose that’s part of what school is about…learning to follow rules. Another day you came home and said you learned that you should not play under your desk. I asked if maybe you already knew that rule and you said, “Yes, but I forgot to remember. I’ll try to remember it tomorrow.” Yoda said, (Yes, I am quoting Yoda, I KNOW!) “Do, or do not. There is no try.” You are a sweet, smart kid and you can do anything you set your mind to. Today at lunch you told me that 3 times 4 equals 12. This was not something you had memorized, I watched you figure it out somehow with your fingers. You can also multiply single digit numbers by 9, 10 and 11…in kindergarten! You want to know when I learned multiplication? Third grade! You blow me away, kid!

Kyle, you are such a sweet, sensitive, caring person. Everyday I see more and more to that side of you. The other day in the car, out of the blue you told me you didn’t want to go to college because going to college would mean you’d have to move away from me. You were crying and then I was too. It was really sweet…it took all of my inner strength not to pull the car over, hop out, hug you and tell you that you can live with me forever (I didn’t and you can’t)...but it was a really sweet moment. At night, when I tuck you in bed, I wrap my arms around you and squeeze and say, “I know you just want to go to sleep, but I want to lay here and hug you ALL NIGHT.” Every time I say that I expect you to push me away, but you say, “Okay, me too!” You love fishing with your Daddy and treasure one on one time with him. You often talk about the things you'd like to do when you have a son. It's amazing that you already dream of being a father. It just goes to show how big your heart is!

Right now, you REALLY love Star Wars and want to become a Jedi. You are already reading your Star Wars books and know ALL the characters. You even know stuff that your Daddy doesn't know and that is saying something! You like to dress in costumes and run around the house pretending with your brother. When you dress yourself you make eccentric choices to say the least… from mixing stripes and plaid to just wearing a belt and nothing else! I have to say it's hard keeping clothes on you, you like to go "au natural" as Papa likes to say.

As I mentioned, you are already reading and you are doing it at a higher level than your peers. The other night you cruised through "There is No Place Like Space" by Dr. Seuss while Daddy stared in amazement. After we put you to bed you like to sit in under the covers and read your books. I love it that you enjoy reading as it will expand your horizons as far as you can dream! You teach Annabelle new words everyday and thanks to you she knows how to count backwards from 5. You are great at math too and can put together Lego sets made for ten year olds with the greatest of ease. Kyle, it is clear that you are intelligent and I want nothing more than for you to take advantage of your God given talents. 

At age 5 you developed your first crush, Avery Nowak, who shares your birthday and was born just a few hours after you! You call each other goofy names and tell us that you are going to marry her one day. So cute, but I have to tell you it's a scary proposition as your personalities are virtually identical. With your smarts, charm, and good looks, Mommy and Daddy know the girls are going to flock to you…someday in the very distant future.

I have never met another kid with such a strong sense of self. You know what you like and don’t like, you know who you are and you don’t pretend to be anything you are not. That is being authentic. It takes a strong person to be authentic and this is something that will carry you far in life. You are the kind of kid who blazes his own trail. You just started playing soccer, it's the first time you've played a sport and not been on your brother's team. It's clear you want to be your own person, and though you love and look up to your brother, you don't sit in his shadow. If you work hard, play hard and dream big, you will do great things!

We feel so lucky to be your parents and we love you more than words can express…

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

 

 

Right now you are into:
Star Wars
Legos
Xbox
Soccer
barbeque sauce
fishing
reading
space and planets
puzzles
chocolate

Kyle first thing in the morning on his sixth birthday.


Kyle first thing in the morning on his second birthday.

Kyle's Birthday Missions:

1. Mail someone a piece of toast
2. Everytime you need to say the word no, say "No-bi-won-kenobi" instead
3. Let someone pour a big cup of ice down your shirt

Happy Birthday, Barrett

Dear Barrett,

            Happy Birthday!  It is not possible that you are turning 7 years old!  You really MUST stop getting older every single year! I was looking at some old pictures the other day and found one of you when you were about 3 and you had those adorable curls and big blue eyes (petting the baby ducks)…You may not have curls anymore, but you will always have amazing big blue eyes and you’ll always be adorable.  Adorable is not something you do or how you look, it is who you are inside and how you affect others without even trying.  When you are older, you may think being adorable is not a good thing.  It IS a good thing and don’t even try to fight it, because it’s in you and you cannot escape it.  You are adored and always will be. 

I adore your heart…your sensitivity, empathy for others, and the ability to love wholeheartedly.  Your love is so sweet it makes me cry happy tears.  I love the way you surprise me with loving hugs for no reason and help out without being asked.  You love Annabelle and Kyle so much too.  Sometimes I think Kyle is like a limb to you and you feel like something’s missing when he’s not around.  And Annabelle…you are so sweet with her.  You light up when she plays with you.  Your voice goes an octave higher when you talk to her and you excitedly tell me everything she is doing.  They both adore you, too.

I adore your passion and excitement. You are passionate about Legos and you are excited about baseball.  When you are passionate about something, you embrace it fully.  You are really getting into watching the Rangers on TV and you are constantly asking questions and updating us on every play.  You will soon be going to your first Rangers game at the Ballpark.  This year you chose to go to a baseball game with just me and Daddy instead of having a birthday party with friends.  You are so excited and you ask us about it almost daily.  I love that baseball is something you are into because it’s something you can enjoy for the rest of your life.  It’s bigger than baseball…It’s the anticipation, the ride to the ballpark and the conversation on the way, the hot dogs and sodas, the high fives, the crowd atmosphere, learning to win, and learning to lose, the distraction when life gets too real…it’s time spent together and a shared interest.  It’s something you never outgrow.

I adore your confidence and I admire you for having it.  Confidence is that indescribable sparkle that attracts people to you.  You have it.  You walk into places you’ve never been with your head held high and greet the people you meet.  Situations that make others nervous or scared don’t intimidate you. 

I adore your integrity…even when it’s difficult to tell the truth, you do. That speaks volumes about your character.  Nobody is perfect and everybody makes mistakes.  When you acknowledge your mistakes honestly, you can learn from them.  It’s also a very mature thing to do and makes you respectable.  Daddy and I really respect your honesty and maturity.  You are dependable and trustworthy and you make smart choices.  I cannot begin to explain how proud we are of you. 

When I look at you, I see a person who is smart, caring, happy, and honorable.  You are adored.  I love you more than words can express.

Love,

Mommy

Here's a list of some of you favorites right now:

Steak

Cheeseburgers

Star Wars

Legos

The Texas Rangers

Playing basketball and baseball

The song We Are Young by Fun.

Riding bikes around the neighborhood

pears

athletic shirts

Captain Underpants books

Scooby Doo

Phineas and Ferb

Happy 5th Birthday, Kyle

Dear Kyle,
Happy Birthday sweet boy! You are 5 years old today. Unbelievable. I remember when you turned 5 months old, I was putting you to bed and it hit me that the past 5 months had flown by so fast. I rocked you for the longest time that night just staring at you (and crying). And now you’re five years old!?! Tonight Daddy is putting you to bed but you gave me a big strong hug and I gave you 5 big squeaky kisses. I love your hugs and kisses and in a few minutes I will go up to tuck you in and get one more kiss like I always do. And when I do, you will probably ask me to rock you. I will probably rock you for an extra long time tonight and shed a few tears as I stare at you.

The birthday card I gave you today, says “You rock! Seriously, every year, you get cooler and smarter and funnier…and more and more you!” Sometimes cards say so well what I am thinking! You are such a unique person. A true individual. An individual who wears backwards shorts, a floaty vest, and a superman cape out in public and makes it work. You have always marched to your own beat. I love that about you. You know what you like and it doesn’t matter what others think. I think Dr. Seuss once said, “Be who you are. Those that matter don’t mind, and those that mind don’t matter.” So true.

You are such a good brother to Barrett and Annabelle. Today, you let Barrett play with a toy right after you got it as a gift for your birthday. He kept telling me how nice it was of you to do that. You are very sweet to Annabelle too. The other day I walked into a room and found you reading a book to her and talking to her so sweetly. You like to help me give her a push when she’s swinging and you get so genuinely excited with every word she says and every milestone she reaches. She is so lucky to have such a caring, loving brother.

Right now you are really into Star Wars and Legos…and Star Wars Legos. Robots, aliens and space are also among your favorites right now too. You also really like to draw. I thought it was coloring that you enjoyed, but I was wrong. Coloring books are okay, but you would MUCH rather get a blank piece of paper and draw something using your imagination. I sometimes ask you how you came up with the idea to draw something and you proudly say, “I thinked of it with my brain and just drawed it!” It amazes me how creative and smart you are. The other day, you told me in detail how chocolate is made, and then you told me the Spanish word for chocolate. Right now you are really into games, too. You love car games like I Spy and The Animal Game (our version of 20 questions), and board games, card games and you just learned how to play SkipBo. These days you are taking karate and I think you really like it. You already have your orange belt and you are well on your way to the next one. At karate you are learning how to defend yourself as well as self-control, and honor, and perseverance. These are all qualities that will take you far in life. I am so proud of you. And you are proud of yourself too (as you should be).

That card I gave you mentioned funny, right? You are so funny. Just hearing your laugh can get me going. Sometimes you are funny without even trying. Tonight, you were asking about the tooth fairy. You asked me if she can really fly. But before I could mutter an answer, you said, “She must fly because it would be absolutely ridiculous for her to walk up the stairs!” I started to snicker, you started to laugh, and before I knew it we were both howling! I love your laugh and your sense of humor.

I love you and I am proud of you everyday. Good days…bad days…I still love you and I am always proud of you. You are a good kid with a sweet heart and I am so lucky to be your mommy. Happy birthday!

I love you more than words can express.

Love,
Mommy

Here you are first thing in the morning on your birthday this year!


And here's one from your second birthday.

Happy Birthday, Barrett!

Dear Barrett,

Happy Birthday! Are you really 6? It can’t be! It seems like just the other day I brought you home from the hospital. I was so enamored with you that I told Daddy I wanted 10 more just like you! You are really growing up to be an amazing person. You make me proud every single day.

Right now you are taking Tae Kwon Do and learning everything from how to skip to defending yourself from a stranger attack. You already have your red belt and you are well on your way to getting your next belt. When I watch you in karate class, I can really see the confident hard-working, respectful person you are. I love the words you recite at the beginning of each class, "I promise to be a good person, with knowledge in my mind, honesty in my heart, to make good friends, and to be a black belt leader." I hope you choose to get your black belt, not so you can use it for fighting (I hope you never have to use it), but for the confidence, discipline, and sense of accomplishment. You can do it.

I am so proud of the responsible young man you are becoming. You have a wallet that you are very good about keeping track of and you always remember to close the baby gate so Annabelle doesn’t get hurt.
Speaking of Annabelle, you really are so sweet to her and a great big brother. Just the other day, you fed her almost all of your ice cream and today you gave her your apple juice. You play with her and teach her words and let her squeeze your face. And you get so excited if she repeats a word or sound after you. When you are trying to get her attention, you say An-na-beh-w in a low playful voice. She adores you and Annabelle is so lucky to have you for a brother!

You and Kyle chose to share a room when we moved into our new house this summer. You two have been staying up a little too late talking and playing the past few weeks, but I am glad you have that time to be together as brothers. You are learning how to have respect for each other, and how to work together to solve conflict. I expected a difficult transition, but you guys are doing much better than I thought. You should be proud of how quickly you are learning to handle this new situation.

This fall you will be starting Kindergarten. I will probably be a mess and you will probably be calm and collected and a little excited. You are so ready. I know you will do great in Kindergarten and learn so much because you love school and being with people. You have the maturity to handle tough situations and let minor irritations roll off your back which is so important in life. There was a guy named Robert Fulghum who wrote a book called Every Thing I need to know I learned in Kindergarten. This just goes to show how important this time of your life is. Here is his (abbreviated) list.
Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.

You already know many of these, and you will learn the others in the upcoming year. What an exciting time in your life! My advice to you as you embark on your school years, is to listen to your conscience and do the right thing even when it’s not easy. You will never go wrong by doing right. If you don’t know what the right thing to do is, ask God. Nobody is perfect and we all make mistakes. When you do, learn from the experience and move on with confidence that next time you will do better. There was an architect named I.M. Pei who designed a skyscraper with huge plate glass windows. One day, the windows all began falling out onto the sidewalk below. He had made a very big mistake. He carefully studied the properties of glass, figured out where he went wrong, corrected it, and thereafter called himself an expert of plate glass window design. Making mistakes is part of life, and I want you to know that even when you have made a mistake, I still love you.

At bedtime, we are reading a book called The Mysterious Benedict Society (we read a little bit each night). The main characters in the story are all kids, who for various reasons do not have parents. I was talking with you tonight about what life is like for kids without parents and you felt very sad for them. You have such a big heart and I am so proud that you want to help others with less. We said a prayer for those kids and thanked God for our family.

You are an amazing kid and I can’t believe how I lucky I am to be your mom. I love you more than words can express.

Love,
Mommy

Here’s a list of you favorite things right now:

Legos
Strawberries
Club crackers
Steak
Peanut Butter and Jelly
Ninjas
Star Wars
Money
Tae Kwon Do
Your scooter
More Legos

Here you are first thing in the morning on your birthday. You woke up before me (about 6:30am) and went out on the back patio. This is what you slept in.

Happy Birthday Annabelle

Dear Annabelle,

Happy first birthday, sweetie! This past year has gone way too fast! I swear it couldn’t be more than a few weeks ago that you were a tiny little newborn I couldn’t stop holding and kissing. Now that special date has come around again and I still just want to hold and kiss you all the time. Only now you are a year old and so you like to get down and crawl, pull up and explore. In the span of just one year, you have taught Daddy and I so much about life, ourselves, each other, God and what is truly important in life. You bring so much joy to our lives with your smile, your happy disposition, your sweet, funny personality and charm. I have never seen a baby draw a crowd of admirers the way you do without even trying. I shouldn’t be surprised, people love to be around others who are happy and you are so joyful and sweet…it’s like bees to honey.

Annabelle, since the moment I realized I was pregnant with you, you have made our lives richer. We are so thankful for you and our family is so blessed by you. Your brothers are so proud and adoring of you. They love you so much that they even let you pull their hair and slobber on and play with their toys. They love to teach you everything they know and they show you off to everyone they see. I have never seen siblings have so much love for each other.

At one year of age, you can say Mama, Dada, Gigi, Aggie (you love the dog!), Baba (bottle) and the word ‘more’. You are crawling everywhere and pulling up to standing whenever you can. I have seen you stand a few times without holding onto anything for a couple of seconds. You love to wave at the baby in the mirror, and clap, and give high fives. I think it’s so sweet how when I pat your back, you pat mine. You give kisses and hugs and you get so happy that sometimes your smile with your whole body.

Annabelle, you have a way of touching people’s hearts like I have never seen. You look at people and they are filled with love and joy. It’s not just me and your family, it is strangers too. There are waitresses who have seen you only once before and then recognize you and remember your name several months later. You are amazing and beautiful inside and out.

Happy Birthday baby girl. I love you more than words can express.

Love,
Mommy


Your Current Faves:
Strawberry yogurt
Pulling Gigi’s table runner off the table
Chasing the dog
Looking at the baby in the mirror
Playing in the bath or baby pool
Having your hair played with
hanging upside-down

Here's Annabelle first thing this morning:

Happy Birthday, Kyle

Dear Kyle,
You are now four years old. It has been so fun these past four years watching you become the little boy you are today. You make us laugh one minute, amaze us the next minute, and pull out our hair the next when you refuse to do the logical thing just because we asked you to. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree--you are so much like me.

You are such a good brother to Annabelle and Barrett. This year a new baby came into our lives and you are so proud of her and loving to her. You tell everyone we see that you have a new baby sister with such pride in your voice and love on your face, it melts my heart. You like to hold her hand and sing her songs. She is only 3 months old, but Annabelle already smiles and laughs at you. You and Barrett are buddies. You have so many common interests and you guys play together all the time. You like to make up games to play with each other in the car and you finish each others sentences. You are so close that when you are apart, you can't stop talking about each other. It's really wonderful to have someone who will be your friend for the rest of your life. You are so lucky.

Right now, you love Legos, superheroes, your rubber boots, space stories, jokes, dressing up and pretending. You can play with Legos for hours and create truly amazing airplanes and rockets. I'm not kidding. The planes you make with Legos are awesome. Not just for someone your age, for anyone. You really enjoy dressing up like a superhero, policeman, Star Wars character, etc. and you are completely willing to go out in public as that character. The other day, I took you to Target while you were wearing a blue floatie vest that you call a jetpack, shorts, rubber boots, goggles, and a superman cape. Seriously. You told me you were "Snobie Kinobe One." I asked if you meant Obi Wan Kenobi and you told me no. Another day, you were pretending to be a pirate with a rolled-up piece of paper for a spyglass and saying, "Arrgh, me hineys!" Oh yeah, that one still makes me smile. You light up my life and make me smile everyday.

You are like a sponge and surprise me all the time with what you know. Just this morning, you were talking with Patty about whether something was blue or green and then I heard you tell her that it was aquamarine! You are learning Spanish in school and you very often ask me how to say certain words in Spanish. My Spanish vocabulary I learned in High School has been exhausted by you and I now have to look words up. At the age of four, you are about to know more than me. Good for you, sad for me. In English, you can spell Daddy, Mommy, Gigi, and the word toe (random. I think you sounded it out) on your own. You might be able to spell other words but these are the ones I know.

I love that you love to cuddle and be held. I want you to know that I am always available for a hug. Happy times or sad times. No matter what. Even if I'm mad at you. Even if you don't want to talk. My arms are open. You are a sweet, sensitive, caring person who cares about others' feelings and one tough kid at the same time. Your teacher told me how you once stopped what you were doing, ran across the playground and put your arm around and comforted a girl who was hurt. She was very impressed at your thoughtfulness. I am proud. Not at all surprised, though, because I see you do that kind of thing all the time.

You are funny, sweet, smart and so charming. You are cheerful, and genuine, and honest even when it's hard to tell the truth. You are tough, but vulnerable. You wear your heart on your sleeve, and you stand up for your convictions. I admire you and adore you. You are an amazing person. Thank you for lighting up my life. I feel so blessed to get to be your Mommy and I love you more than words can express.

Love,
Mommy

Here you are first thing in the morning on your birthday.


You are wearing pajamas that make you look like Buzz Lightyear from the Toy Story movies. Toy Story 3 just came out this year. You also have the bumblebee Pillow Pet that Uncle Casey gave you for your birthday. You were so excited and told him it was just the one you wanted. Yes, you have a band-aid on your forehead...you tend to play hard and a day doesn't go by when you do not need a band-aid. I had to get up very early to make sure I got your picture before you got out of bed. You usually wake me up at about 6:45 these days! I am going to remind you of this when you're a teenager and I need an airhorn to get you out of bed.

Happy Birthday, Barrett!

Dear Barrett,
Happy 5th Birthday! I cannot believe it has been 5 years since the day you were born and I held you in my arms for the first time. You are officially a kid now, not a toddler or a little boy, a KID. But you’ll always be my baby and you’ll never be too big for me to hold you in my arms.
On your fifth birthday I want to tell you how proud I am of you and how happy it makes me to be your mommy. I want to tell you that I am always available for a hug or a conversation or a game. I also want to tell you about all the things you do that make me laugh and smile and brighten my day. I want to tell you about the interests and activities you love right now and how much you have blessed our lives.
You are passionate, independent, helpful, inquisitive, and smart. Some days I find myself wondering where you pick up the things you say and do because you seem so mature. One of my favorite things you say right now is “Yeah bebe!” when you are excited about something—makes me laugh every time! In the car, you always know where we are and where we’re going. Your sense of direction is amazing. I could consult you instead of the GPS. And when the plan for the day is set, you like to pipe up with “Hey, I have an idea! Let’s…” You might be millionaire by the time you graduate high school because you are always finding money and doing helpful things around the house, like putting away laundry, to earn a little extra. If we didn’t live on such a quiet street, you’d probably have a lemonade stand every day! Your piggy bank is SO heavy! You have spending money as well as money for your college fund and money to donate. Also, you really understand that sometimes it’s better to save up for something good than spend on something cheap. I am amazed at how responsible you are and how you are able to keep up with your belongings even the small ones. In fact, you reminded me to get my sunglasses before we got in the car today.
This year you played T-ball for the first time. You hit the ball with such gusto every time. With all of your concentration and determination on your face, you reminded me of a picture we have of Daddy playing T-ball at your age. You learned about what it means to be part of a team and work together. You are motivated by healthy competition, but you know that having fun and doing your best is more important than winning. You have chosen to play soccer in the fall this year and I am looking forward to watching you find joy and pride in that endeavor. This year, Daddy ceremoniously passed down his Lego collection to you and Kyle. The two (or I should say 3 including Daddy) of you have so much fun creating and building. You play for hours, and when a masterpiece breaks or you have trouble, you are learning to persevere. As a favorite coach, who liked to quote Thomas Edison, always said, “Success is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration.”
Speaking of inspiration, let’s talk about how into superheroes you are right now. You just had an awesome superhero birthday party with capes and masks and flying and exhibition of muscles. You probably look up to superheroes because they are strong but also gentle, because they are honorable and protect the weak. Because they are courageous yet vulnerable. And because they lead by inspiration. Superheroes come in all forms and some have no capes and no muscle definition at all! Parents, teachers, brothers, sisters, children, ministers, (some) presidents, neighbors, friends, literary characters and more can all be heroes. Okay, you have to choose your heroes wisely. Stay around good people who do good things. The people you can always count on to lead you to good things, and those who do good for people other than you or themselves. Look for the good parts in everyone you know but surround yourself with those you truly trust. You may not realize it, but you are a superhero to me, Daddy, Kyle, and Annabelle. Tonight, when Daddy was doing yard work and getting very hot, you came to his rescue with a big cup of cold water without him even asking. You were Daddy’s hero tonight and always. Annabelle and Kyle think you’re a superhero too. They learn so much from you and you are a good example for them in so many ways.
The most important thing I want to tell you on your fifth birthday is that you are loved and admired and always will be. You bring joy to everyone you meet, and those who know you are truly blessed. Daddy and I are so lucky to be your parents…and not because you bring us water and remind us to bring our sunglasses, but because you are YOU.
I love you more than words can express.

Love,
Mommy


Here's a picture of Barrett on his 2nd birthday


And here's his "birthday" picture this year on his 5th birthday. (I take a picture of them every year first thing in the morning on their birthday)

Happy Birthday, Kyle!

Dear Kyle,
Happy birthday, buddy! You are 3 years old today. I often forget that you are the age you are because you are so smart and emotionally mature for a boy who is just turning three. You also have a great sense of humor, whether you’re telling a joke or just getting a kick out of life, you are always cracking up laughing. When you laugh really hard, you remind us of Snoopy laughing and we can’t help but to howl along. And when you’re not giggling, you’re smiling. What a truly amazing gift you have to be able to find joy and spread happiness. You are generous and great at sharing, and yet, you do not allow others to take advantage of you. A lot of grown-ups, including myself, could learn a thing or two from you! I also admire your gratitude and appreciation for little things. When I asked you what you wanted for your birthday this year, you excitedly said you wanted a birthday card. That’s all you wanted. I melted and then asked you if you wanted anything else. You said you would like a birthday card and a squishy ball. I am so proud of you and happy to be your mommy! I love you more than words can express.
Love,
Mommy

Some Kyle tidbits:
You usually eat your veggies before your meat, I think you may prefer them.

You still love to sleep with books at night…books and Sock Monkey.

You have gone through about 200 band-aids this year alone!


Here' the birthday morning picture. He had already removed his pajamas by the time I knew he was awake and went in to take the pic. He has the two books he slept with, If You Take a Mouse to the Movies, and I Love You Stinky Face.

Happy Birthday, Barrett!

Dear Barrett,
Happy birthday! You’re four today and in such a hurry to grow up. I told you the other day about how when I was your age, I didn’t want to grow up and I always wanted to stay a kid. I loved playing with my toys and getting piggy-back rides and I was afraid that growing up would mean the end to all my fun. You do not see it like that at all. You just want to be big. Well, I don’t know how or when it happened. I guess I should have inserted toothpicks so I wouldn’t blink, because now I look at you and you are not my baby boy anymore. You are a little man, a big little boy with the ‘little’ being silent because if I accidentally say it aloud I would immediately be corrected. You take such pride in all the big boy things you can do. You are getting yourself dressed and going to the bathroom by yourself, you can buckle yourself in the car (I just check it for safety), you are drinking out of big boy cups (not sippy cups), you are even counting in Spanish and saying the dinner prayer! I am so proud of the little man you have become. You are also a big (little) boy with an outstanding imagination who loves to play and pretend. I hope you continue to play and use your imagination even when you are a grown-up.

Here are some more observations about you recently:
You tend to not just blindly follow the crowd. You watch and decide for yourself if you want to participate.
You love a captive audience—whether it’s strangers in a nearby booth at a restaurant or Daddy and me in the car, you’ll perform showing off your boo-boos, demonstrating how high you can jump, how well you can count to 10, and so on for as long as anyone will smile and nod or as long as you think they are listening.
You are very imaginative, determined, considerate, loving, social, thoughtful, passionate, enthusiastic, and focused.

I love being your mommy. You knock me down with your hugs--your love is big and loud and strong and we love that about you. You can also be so gentle and sweet. You melt my heart when I hear you call Kyle “honey” while you two are playing. You amaze me everyday! I love you more than words can express.

Love,
Mommy

Here is your birthday picture from this morning.


And one from a few minutes later

Happy Birthday, Cody!

These photos are from our trip we took to Durango, Colorado in September. I am just now getting a chance to look a them!

This is a silly little poem to wish you a very happy birthday,
And to tell you that you are the best in every possible way.
Some women think they’d be fine without their man,
But I’m no fool; you’re needed and wanted as a part of this clan.
You’re a great role model, better than a sports figure or rock star.
You teach the boys about manners, family, and to work hard.
“It will make you strong like Daddy” I say when there’s a food that’s getting the snub,
And before I know it, they will have joined the Clean Plate Club.
They watch and pick up on every little detail of what you do,
And in a battle against Superman, their money would be on you.
You never complain when sometimes you have to listen to the game rather than watch,
And your groans aren’t deafening when one of the boys accidentally elbows your crotch.
You’re a man who does dishes and laundry and looks good in jeans.
Who in the world ever heard of such a thing?
You get OJ when I’m sick and change diapers even when I’m not.
You vacuum the floors--In my book, that makes you hot!
You fix the stupid computer and kill big ugly bugs,
And you’re always there with open arms when I need hugs.

I am the luckiest girl the world. I love you.

One more cheesy line I forgot to put in the poem (to go with this picture): You fill my heart with the sound of music!

Happy Birthday, Kyle!

Dear Kyle,
Happy birthday, little man. It’s your birthday and you’re turning TWO. Yes, two…not three. You told the minister the other day, and anyone who asks for that matter, “I free [three] years old.” Now don’t rush things, you have plenty of time to grow up. You are such a blessing to my life and a joy to be around. Your smile warms my soul.

Being just 14 months apart in age from Barrett has made for a unique and very strong brotherly bond. You are expected to share almost every toy and still get along and you are learning to do this very well. You really are friends as well as very loving brothers. Barrett started preschool this year, and after we drop him off, you often will ask in a sad tone, “Where’s my Barrett?” It’s really so cute I could cry. When one of you is in the corner, the other one is playing advocate asking, “When can he come out?” and “He’s sorry, Mommy.” People often tell me that I have my hands full when they find out how close in age you and Barrett are. I don’t feel that way at all. My heart is full but my hands aren’t. I am so glad you guys have each other as lifelong friends.

You seem to think you’re three and it’s sometimes hard to remember that you aren’t because you are so smart. I don’t know many 2 year olds who make 6 word sentences and can say their ABCs! Actually, you have been doing those things for a while now. Maybe next year you can do our taxes! You love to read books. Sometimes when I go in to check on you at night, I find that you have a book in your arms. Some kids sleep with a teddy bear or a favorite blankey, but you usually have a book. It’s so distinctively you--I love it!

You always say, “Hold you” when you want me to hold you. I love that you are a cuddler. I look back in the back seat sometimes and you and Barrett are holding hands. Other times I hear you asking him to hold your hand. My mom always told me that I would always fit in her arms. It’s true. Kyle, even when you are a grown man, you will always fit in my arms, even though you’ll probably be much bigger than me.

I love your smile, your good naps, the way you crack up at Row, Row, Row Your Boat (crocodile verse), your sweetness, your big blueberry eyes and your pineapple-scented hair. I love how you are easy-going until you need to stand your ground. I love your tenderness with babies and animals. I love your dirty face and I love your "I can do anything attitude!"

I love you more than words can express.

Love,
Mommy

I love this picture because it is so like you to sit back and watch, almost study, something or someone, and then with a burst decide to join in... And I love your belly in this picture.



These are things that make you happy:
Swinging
Smiling
Sliding
Singing
Steering wheels
Songs daddy makes up
Flirting
Fruit
Pineapple
doing your Pirate impersonation
Playing in dirt
Praying before meals - you are especially prayerful when given fruit

Peek-a-boo
your Bellybutton
Bumblebees - not really the insect, you just love saying the word Bumblebee!
Bare feet! (That one needed an exclamation point)
Books
Blueberries
Blackberries
Babbling made-up words in unison with Barrett
Bootscooting with mommy in the kitchen
Being held

Happy Birthday, Bear!

Dear Barrett,
On your third birthday, I want to tell you Happy Birthday, and how happy I am that you are in my world. You really are like sunshine to me. You have more personality in your baby toe than many people have in their whole bodies. Always let that light shine.
I am so proud of you and the sweet, caring, big brother you are to Kyle. You are such a good leader and yet you watch out for him too, like on the playground, and when you help me make sure he doesn’t eat or drink things he’s allergic to. You are such a good big brother that Kyle wants to say and do everything you do. He has so much admiration for you.
I admire you, too. I admire how outgoing you are. When I was your age, I would whisper in public. Not you! Since before you could talk, you would say or wave bye-bye to every single table as we left a restaurant. The other day at a party, you got a piggy-back ride from a man you just met. You are always starting little games of peek-a-boo with somebody at the next table, or just striking up a conversation. That’s so great! So many times I wish I could do that.
I love your stories, your observations, your smile (chipped tooth and all). I love your laugh (even when you have no idea what you’re laughing about). I love your curls, your passion, your made-up songs. I love your cars all lined up in a “parking lot”. I love your hugs and kisses, especially the surprise ones and the sound of your voice whispering, “I wuv you, mommy.”
Every age that you are, I think, “This is a fun age” but then I get sad that the last one is over, but then I wonder what you’ll do next! Oh, please, please, please don’t grow up too fast. My camera is shooting as fast as it can go!
I love you more than words can express.

Love,
Mommy
I love these pictures because they are so you. You were just putting my sunglasses on and singing into the hose and you didn't think anyone was looking. I can see a bit of myself as a kid in your personality especially when I look at these pictures.

These are a few things that make you happy right now:

Tractors
Tow trucks
Motorcycles
wearing Mommy’s shoes
“Mama don’t you tickle my toes”
Bedtime stories
Bulldozers
The Beach
Bananas
Blueberries
Boots
Blankets
Baths with my brother
Butterfly kisses from mommy
Pancakes
Push toys
People
“Parking” toy cars
Play-doh
Piggy-back rides
And that's just the T's, M's B's and P's! You're a happy little guy! I could go on with the U's and F's, I bet most people would have a hard time coming up with U-words that make them happy...
Upside-down sunglasses
Umbrella “cane”
Forklifts
Forts