Charlestown Seafood Festival 2014

Dear Em,
Since you were born, we've been to a lot of fairs & festivals, but the Charlestown Seafood Festival is my very favorite. Maybe it's because it's the festival that you went on your very first ride. Maybe it's the food. I love seafood. Maybe it's just that it seems like just the right size to me. It's big enough to have lots fun, but small enough that it's not overwhelming.

This year was no different. We started out with some yummy food. There were fish plates, paella, clamcakes & more. It was a seafood lovers dream. You were super excited to tackle the rides next. I was hoping to let our food settle first. We found a place to get your face painted, & you & your best friend chose to be pink, sparkly princesses (what a surprise).

Our little pink princess was tall enough this year to ride on all the rides you wanted, even a super spinning ride.

You loved every ride, except for the super spinning ride, which you dubbed the worst ride ever. You & Daddy both looked a little green after that one.

My favorite & yours was the big slide.

After we had spent all of our tickets on rides, we headed over to the band stage. Bon Jersey was playing. There wasn't too much of a crowd. It was the perfect place for you & your best friend to dance your hearts out.

I couldn't help but think of how grown you & S will be 10 years from now- how you'll likely be going to concerts on your own at that point. It scares me a little bit how quickly the time will go by, & that's why I cherish moments like these. I love these moments where I get to watch you dance your heart out & then you come running back to me for a snuggle & a kiss. Maybe that's the real reason why Charlestown Seafood Festival nights are so precious to me.

I love you so,
Mommy

Smoothie Sous Chef

Dear Em,
You've been making milkshakes with Daddy for a long time. You've become quite the expert milkshake maker/taster over the years. I stink at making milkshakes. They somehow always come out too runny or too thick. I'm lucky to be able to enjoy yours & Daddy's culinary skills.

Not to be left out of the whole blender family bonding experience, I found something that we could share together too. You have become my little smoothie sous chef.

We pull up a chair for you to stand on, & you load the blender up with spinach & strawberries & raspberries & yogurt. You always get to take the first sip. With your green smoothie mustache in place, you tell me we've made the best smoothie ever...every time (which is a good thing, because how else would I get you to eat spinach).

It's a pretty simple thing, but I can't help but look down in awe of my amazing, little, mess-making girl. I breathe you in & steal as many kisses as I can. I love our smoothie making moments.

I love you so,
Mommy

Not a Bad Beach Day

Dear Em,
This summer has kind of gotten away from me. While we've had so many fun adventures, we haven't made it to the beach as much as I'd like. A couple weekends ago you had a birthday party to go to while I went on a morning hike, but we were excited about a beach afternoon. The afternoon was overcast, & we ventured to the ocean air anyway.

It was really chilly for a beach day. We were so chilly that we had to wrap our towels around ourselves. While it may not have been an ideal day for beach lounging, it wasn't a bad day for a walk on the beach. You collected shells along the way. You rinsed each shell off in the ocean before putting it into your shell bag. I shivered just watching you getting soaked in the waves. It didn't bother you. You were at the beach & loving it.

We walked to the end of the beach, to the jetty that separates East Matunuck from Galilee. We climbed up onto the rocks & waved to the boats as they went by (I told you we might see ferries, but you were hoping to see fairies). For the first time, you & I decided to venture down the jetty together. You delighted in the adventure, jumping from large rock to large rock. We worked together to find the best path. You were so proud of yourself as you made it to each giant rock.

We walked down the rock jetty hand in hand, even as rain softly started to fall from the sky. You know what? It wasn't a bad beach day.

I love you so,
Mommy

love letters

Dear Em,

"How long will I love you?

As long as stars are above you

And longer, if I can.

How long will I need you?

As long as the seasons need to

Follow their plan.

How long will I be with you?

As long as the sea is bound to

Wash upon the sand.

How long will I want you?

As long as you want me to

And longer by far.

How long will I hold you?

As long as your father told you,

As long as you can.

How long will I give to you?

As long as I live through you

However long you say.

How long will I love you?

As long as stars are above you

And longer, if I may."

- How Long Will I love You by Ellie Goulding

I love you so,

Mommy

Throwback Thursday: Our Little Baby Burrito

Dear Em,
You were a newborn in the peak days of winter. To keep you warm & cozy, we used to swaddle you up in sometimes more than one blanket. Daddy laughed & said you looked just like a little baby burrito. You weren't our baby burrito for very long. Soon you preferred to squiggle & wiggle around. You no longer wanted to be confined in the warm cocoon of your blanket burrito. You discarded most of your blankets altogether, preferring to snuggle up to your Lamby.

Until recently.

The other night you grasped at a baby blanket, snuggling into it & calling it your snuggy. I knew something was up. I pulled you up onto my lap & asked you what was going on. With very serious eyes, you told me that you had to act like a baby because I had told you to stay little. You were convinced that I thought you had been cuter as a baby, & that was why I didn't want you to grow up so quickly.

My heart broke.

I wrapped you up in my arms & told you it's true I had asked you to stop growing up so quickly. I confessed that time is passing all too quickly for me. Soon you will be grown up & off on your own. You won't need me as much, & I won't be able to pull you in for snuggles whenever I want. But of course I think you're cute. You grow more adorable & beautiful every day...& more smart & strong & kind & energetic & witty. As fast as it seems to be happening, you will continue to grow up. And since you're growing up, maybe Lamby is best for snuggles & "blankies" are best for making baby dolls into baby burritos.

You snuggled me in & promised you would always need me. I'm going to hold you to that. You may no longer be my baby burrito, but you will always be my little love.

I love you so,
Mommy

Draw Me Disney World

Dear Em,
You love to color & draw. It's amazing to me how much you've progressed since drawing your very first picture of a person. Now you draw rainbows & flowers...& other things that I'm not really sure what they are.

A few weeks ago you drew me a picture. You beamed with pride as you showed it to me, & I thanked you for the wonderful gift. Apparently I was going to have to work for the very special gift.

Em: I gave you a picture. Now you have to draw one for me.
Me: Em, I'm trying to get ready for work. I can't draw you a picture right now.
Em: You HAVE to. I drew one for you. Now you have to draw one for me.
Me: Em, I really don't have time for this right now.
Em: Ok...so draw me a picture of Disney World.
Me: Disney World?! I'm not even that great at drawing. There's no way I can draw that.
Em: You HAVE to. I drew you a picture. So, now you HAVE to draw me a picture of Disney World.

Sigh, you can be a tad bit on the bossy side (clearly, you take after Daddy).

I kinda had to put my foot down on this one. It was either that or go to work naked. I explained to you that just because you draw a picture for someone, doesn't mean someone has to draw a picture for you. I also explained that you can't demand what someone else draws.

You rolled your eyes at me & left to draw your own picture of Disney World.

You drew Daisy, Rapunzel, Bullseye, Woody, Minnie Mouse, You, Stitch, Peter Pan, Ariel, Lilo, Buzz Lightyear, & Jessie riding on a roller coaster (I couldn't make out half of that, but you know who everyone is). It was actually pretty stinkin' adorable.

You got your picture of Disney World & I got to leave for work (completely clothed) with a smile on my face. It was a good morning in our house.

I love you so,
Mommy

Cleaning Trampolines

Dear Em,
I understand now why you're not supposed to wear shoes on a trampoline. After years of not really holding firm to that rule, our trampoline is filthy. You wouldn't notice it by looking at it, but after a few minutes of jumping blacks marks cover our bodies. Yours especially. It's never a good idea to let you jump around on the trampoline unless we plan to give you a bath right after.

A few weeks ago I gave you & your little best friend scrub brushes, sponges, a bucket of soapy water, & put you to work. The two of you scrubbed & jumped, scrubbed & jumped. I had to refill the bucket of water three times with all the bouncy scrubbing.

We paid you in Dels. I think it was a fair trade.

Unfortunately the trampoline doesn't seem to be any cleaner. You are still covered in black from head to toe after jumping around...which means lots of baths.

I want my money Dels back.

Does anyone know how to clean a trampoline?

I love you so,
Mommy

Narragansett Balancing Rocks

Dear Em,
For as long as I've been going to the wall, I've seen balancing rock towers. You love to find them among the rocks that line the Narragansett Wall. Some are small stacks, & some are almost as tall as me. We all look at them in awe. I couldn't even begin to attempt a creation of my own. When I think about it, visions of rocks crashing down & crushing my feet fill my head.

Uncle Jared looked at them in a different way. Instead of being completely in awe, he said "I can do that." So, the two of you built balancing rock towers together. You picked out the rocks & Uncle Jared carefully built the towers.

I don't know if he knows how much it meant to you to build rock towers with him. You've always been on the looking side, & it was a really special thing for you to be on the creating side of something that we've marveled at since before you were born. Instead of looking at random balancing rocks in awe, I was looking at my little brother in awe...& so were you.

I love you so,
Mommy

Throwback Thursday: Emma & Nonnie

Dear Em,
The first summer Nonnie came to stay with us you were teeny & squishy & an absolute joy. I loved watching the two of you snuggle together. I loved watching you look up at Nonnie & giggle. It's an amazing thing to watch your mother love your child & your child love your mother.

Somehow four years have gone by, & this is our fifth summer with Nonnie. You are still an absolute joy (most of the time), but you're not so teeny or squishy anymore. You & Nonnie (or Non as you sometimes call her) are buddies in the most adorable way. You both infuriate each other at times in a way that best buddies sometimes do, but there is no one you would rather have read you books & put you to bed at night. Nonnie is your favorite to play Barbies with, & you always have to sit right next to her. My heart is so full watching the two of you together & the special relationship you have developed.

We were recently shopping together & I found a pillow that said, "even if you weren't my mother, I would still choose you for my friend." It's true. I'm so thankful for the special summers we have with Nonnie.

I love you so,
Mommy

Friday Nights at the Wall

Dear Em,
On fabulous Friday nights, our favorite way to unwind after a week of work is to head to the wall. We typically start out at Monahan's with some clamcakes & chowder. Daddy loves how much of a Rhode Islander you are.

Then we work off all the yummy food by walking down past the towers.

You like to give us a performance in your "ka-zee-bo" in the grassy field across from the towers.

Sometimes there are bands playing at the ka-zee-bo. Families gather around on blankets & camping chairs. The music plays in front of us, & you can hear the sound of the waves behind. It's such a quaint, little town experience that makes my heart so happy. You get a little frustrated to see other people on YOUR ka-zee-bo, but you then you realize there is room for everyone to share.

You like to make new friends.

We head over to Nana's for amazing gelato.

Then we work off that yumminess by walking back along the wall. We look at the houses along the ocean, the waves, & the rock sculptures/towers as we walk back.

Sigh. It's really my favorite to share nights like this with my family.

I love you so,
Mommy