Measuring Tape

Dear Em,
You're a little learning sponge. You constantly come home with a project of some sort in mind. We have refrigerator doors full of your writings, notes to Daddy & I, lists of numbers, & even instructions on how to make stars. I love how much you love school & learning at this age.

A couple weeks ago, you made a card & had left over paper. When I found you at the dining table, you had cut strips out of the paper & had taped them together to make one, long piece of paper. The strip was longer than you are tall. You numbered it from 1 to 100.

"Mom, I made a measuring tape. Look! I'm 55!"

While no actual standard forms of measurement had been used in the making of your "measuring tape," I couldn't help but be awed by you. I remember working together to count to ten. Now you're writing out your numbers to 100...& using scissors...all by yourself.

Sometimes it's sad for me to see you grow up so quickly, but it's just as exciting to see the young lady you're becoming. I couldn't be more proud to be your mom.

I love you so,
Mommy

A Bug & A Wish

Dear Em,
You've been in kindergarten for a little over two months, & I have to admit, at times it's been a challenging transition. Through all the changes & the bumps along the way, you've really grown to love being a kindergartner. You love your little school, & you adore the new, little friends you've made along the way.

Daddy & I can't help but feel removed. When you went to Sweet Peas, we dropped you off each day. We said hi to your directors & your classmates. We got to hear about which classmate was about to have a baby brother & see which classmate brought in sea creature stuffed animals each day. We could see your classwork on the walls & had a few moments to touch base with your teachers about how they were doing & the things you were working on. When we picked you up from school, we got short glimpses of what classroom life was like for you before one of your little friends would shout out, "Emma, your mom/dad is here."

Now that you're in kindergarten, we don't get to have that daily glimpse into your school life. What we do get is the things you share with us once you get home. There are days where you can't seem to remember anything you did at school. Luckily, more often than not, you can remember little bits of your day. I love hearing about how you play zoo keeper in gym class, how you are working on identifying main characters & plots in library, & how you learned how to make a star in art. You teach me new words in Spanish each week & recite adorable poems you learned at "morning meetings." You shared with me that one little boy is the smartest kid in class...at least he told you he was & you believe him (he knows things like what a trapezoid is & what 100 + 100 equals).

One of our favorite things that you've taught us about is a bug and a wish. You were discussing with us a difficultly you were having with another classmate. He was pretending that a block was a car, & he was driving his "car" all over your body. You didn't want him driving his "car" all over your body. You explained to us that you had given him a bug & a wish. A bug & a what?? "A bug & a wish, Mom. It's where you say, 'you're bugging me & I wish you would stop.'" A bug & a wish! Isn't that the most freaking adorable thing in the world?!

Knowing how to handle conflict is not something that is inherent. It is taught & learned along the way. Your style of resolving conflict will probably evolve through different situations & different years (let me just warn you now, there is very little that works with a three year old). It makes my heart happy that, for now, you have a bug & a wish.

I have to say, there are many times in my work day that I would LOVE to use a bug & a wish.

I love you so,
Mommy

Last Friday Night

Dear Em,
It's fall, & we've been spending many of our Fridays at the pool. You love swimming, & I love swimming with you. Daddy & I have been so impressed with your budding swimming skills, & it's so fun to swim along with you. There has been a lot of splashing & floating competitions & giggles & family fun. Of course, I have to bring my camera along...

A few weeks ago, you & I had a night of swimming as just us girls. You had been asking to jump off the 3 meter diving board for over a year. Each time, Daddy has been too chicken to let you take the plunge. "Maybe when you're a little older," he would tell you as he shook his head in fear. I have to admit, I was feeling a little fearful too. Three meters is just so high! 

But then you asked me again when it was just the two of us. More often than not, I find myself holding my breath, not ready for you to take that next step or grow anymore into a young lady. I think after a long & hard work week, I was feeling the need to be brave. Somehow, I found myself saying yes. You climbed up the ladder timidly & slowly inched out onto the board. You gave me a nervous, questioning look. I tried to be as brave as I could for you. I gave you a thumbs up & a reassuring smile, & then you jumped!

My heart thumped out of my chest as you splashed into the water & finally swam up to the surface. You had a huge smile on your face. "I want to do it again!" I let you jump one more time before we had to leave. "Next time, I'm going to do a cannon ball," you exclaimed. Oh my goodness, I love you so freaking much my little dare devil.

I have to say, there's something pretty dang exhilarating about watching you conquer each first as you did on the 3 meter board that night. It gives me the inspiration & the confidence to try to conquer my own.

I love you so,

Mommy

You want to be a dress designer

Dear Em,
I remember when you weren't quite two & your teachers asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up. Other classmates wanted to be dinosaurs & firemen. You didn't know. Your teachers asked you what Mommy & Daddy did for work. "They go to work & then they pick me up from school," you said exasperated (I think it's kind of tough to explain insurance adjusting & a sales consulting to a 1 & 1/2 year old).

Years passed & you seemed to nail down what you wanted to be, a princess, of course. I explained to you that the only way you could be a princess is if you married a prince. While not impossible it could be really tough, especially because we don't have any princes in the USA.

Gradually, you realized that there were so many other things you wanted to be or do. With princessing taking up so much of your time, it would be challenging to also have 26 kids & be a teacher & run a dance studio & be an artist. It's 2015. Girls can have & be & do it all, but you also have to be practical. A person can only do so much.

You've somewhat put your dreams of being a princess on the back burner, & while you still want to be so many things, there is one front runner that has emerged. You want to be a dress designer. You will spend hours drawing dresses along with accessories like crowns & necklaces & capes. It's incredibly adorable & also incredibly inspiring to watch a little five year old (who looks more & more grown up every day) with big dreams.

Keep dreaming big, little girl. Knowing you, there will be nothing in life you can't do if you set your mind to it.

I love you so,

Mommy

love letters

Dear Em,

"Let her sleep

For when she wakes,

She will move mountains."

- Napoleon

On the way to New Hampshire, we had told you that we would climb to the top of a mountain. You looked at us, unsure and nervous, questioning your abilities. "Are you sure about this?"

Of course we didn't actually climb all of Cannon Mountain. We took a tram ride up 99.5% of it. "Mommy, I'm so glad we're not climbing this." You sighed with relief as we traveled through the air. We looked at all the other beautiful mountain tops in awe.

Once we got off the tram, we ate a quick lunch. We sat outside, just the three of us in the chilly mountain air. The views around us were incredible, & we had hot cocoa to warm our hands.

Then we made the 15 minute hike up an additional twenty feet to the very top of the mountain. Even though we were most of the way up, you were still unsure of yourself. You were also cold (I keep forgetting how much cooler it can be at the top of a mountain & to plan accordingly with winter clothes). I held your hands to keep them warm.

When we got to the first look-out spot, you squealed in delight. You became our photographer. Suddenly, the cold didn't have as much bite. How could it when we were standing in the midst of these mountain views?

We continued to hold hands until we got to the top of the observation tower. That way we made it to our destination at the exact same time. "We both won, Mom!" You only danced around for a only few moments, & we only took a few pictures. The wind was even stronger at the very top. 

We hurried back down to the warmth of the lodge & the ease of the tram ride down. 

I watched you as you watched the trees & the mountains. I smiled at my incredible & strong, little but fierce daughter. Sure, we had taken the tram almost the entire way up, but my little girl had just climbed a mountain...& I'm sure this was just one of many.

I love you so,

Mommy

Our Family New Hampshire Adventure 2015: The Basin

Dear Em,
We just got back from the most refreshing & much needed family New Hampshire getaway. This Summer was beautiful but busy. Then we jumped into a busy Fall full of transitions & obligations. Our home was starting to feel tense & stressed. We were all struggling to find patience and grace with each other.

Our little family New Hampshire getaway couldn't have come at a better time. To me, it was the refresh & reset our family so desperately needed. It would be a time to unplug & just enjoy each other. There would be hiking & exploring & reading & family game nights. I decided to really get into the unplugging this year & deleted facebook & instagram from my phone. I wanted to truly be present with our family & planned to pull out my phone as little as possible.

It was about a four hour drive to New Hampshire. You spent some of it napping & some of it watching a movie on your DVD player. Daddy & I chatted in the front seats & marveled at the gorgeous foliage filled mountain views. Route 93 in New Hampshire has some of the best highway views I've ever seen.

We drove straight to the Basin. We were all ready to get out of the car, & a hike at the Basin was just what we needed.

The Basin has been the perfect hiking spot for us as you've grown through the years. It's a fairly easy trail with foliage & the Pemigewasset River to explore. The first time we took you to the Basin was four years ago, & you were 1 1/2. You had a double ear infection & the antibiotics were doing a number on your stomach. We mostly held you through the Basin hike. To calm your sick little toddler whimpers, I remember saying to you in a deep voice "the Basin." Then you would call out in an equally deep voice "the baby Basin."

What a difference four years makes. You did all of the hiking on your own this year, this time knowing how to look for trail markers. You smiled as you led us through the trail.

Our short hike reminded me of why we keep returning to the Basin year after year. The smell of pine & fresh air surrounded us as we took in the beauty of the trail. We hiked & we talked & we laughed. It was the perfect start to our fantastic weekend.

I'm so glad that these are traditions we get to share together. I'm so glad that when patience & grace is hard to come by, we find a way to come back to each other. I'll be sharing more about our family refresh & reset in the next few posts.

I love you so,

Mommy

TBT: Our Fairy Princess Tea Party

Dear Em,
Today we're throwing it way back to a little over a month ago. Ha! You've been obsessed with Princesses for a long time now, but Fairy Princesses are now all the rage too. You've made tiny houses for them. You're constantly trying to find food (nuts) & blankets (perfectly shaped & sized leaves) for them to leave where you think they might find them. You even write about them.

"Toads eat fairies. 

Fairies eat flowers :) 

and leaves :|

Fairies take baths in

dirt!!!!

But Yuck :( But Cool!!!! :o

Fairies live everywhere."

You also asked me if you could have lots of play dates with your gal pals during the summer. We had a couple with your best friend, but between your ankle injury & our already busy summer, you didn't end up having much time to spend with your girlfriends. What we lacked in quantity, I decided to make up for in quality. I asked all of your little, best friends over for a Fairy Princess Tea Party.

I didn't tell you that our home would be filled with seven other adorable fairy princesses until the day before. You were so excited as we set up for the party. I purchased fairy wings & flower headpieces for super cheap. We hung them on the chairs around our dining table for your guests to find once they arrived.

Then we set the table with pink flowers & the fancy china. It was a tea party after all.

Daddy made peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, & I cut them into fun shapes (not wanting to waste good food, Daddy & I ate peanut butter & jelly crusts for the next two days). We also set the table with fruit & yogurt, pretzels & crackers. I set up a platter of fancy cookies for dessert.

You got dressed in a fairy princess dress & put on your flower headpiece & wings. Then you waited for your little guests to arrive. The anticipation was killing you (it's a good thing I waited to tell you about the party until the day before).

As the girls arrived, they picked out their headpieces & wings. Then everyone went out into the backyard to play. I had picked up wooden "fairy houses," "fairy masks," & frames for everyone to paint. I think you girls probably would have rather played around the yard, but you all had fun painting too. Meanwhile, all of the moms chatted & cooed over how cute you all were together.

We headed inside & out of the hot sun for the tea party. First we washed all of the backyard dirt off our proper, little fairies. Then you all sat down to eat. With all of the moms helping, it was so seamless. Soon you all had heaping plates of food, & full cups of pink lemonade. I only had a few heart attacks about the china, but mostly you girls were perfect, little fairy princesses. Cheers!

We put on the Tinker Bell movie in the living room for the fairy princesses to watch while the others were finishing their tea. The movie was mostly short lived. You girls wanted to play.

The mamarazzi snapped a couple group photos before letting you go to run around. Charlie wanted to be a fairy princess too.

The fairy princesses played outside & in, on the trampoline & swing set & hammock & in your bedroom. There were a few fairy princess arguments & a few tears, but mostly everyone had a blast.

When the time came for the party to end, you tearfully hugged your besties goodbye. It had been such a fun & adorable afternoon, & it was a little hard for everyone that it had come to an end. I was so glad that everyone enjoyed the tea party, & that you were able to share your day with such sweet friends. We will have to invite the fairy princesses over for another day of fun sometime soon!

I love you so,

Mommy