Jake's 7th Birthday Letter

Dear Jake,

Our lives continue to fly by full speed ahead. You turned 7 a couple months ago. 7? Really--7??? That can't be right. How in the world did you turn 7 already? 

I may try to fool myself, but the evidence is obvious. You are very clearly seven years old now. For starters, you have a couple permanent teeth, and several wigglers. And your sense of humor definitely matches your age. You are starting to enjoy watching movies with real people in them instead of just Disney cartoons. You've lost even more of your baby fat, and are starting to look more and more like your daddy all the time.

    On a more serious note, lets talk for a second about how your 6th year of life started out. In 2014 you had a pretty rough summer. We bought a house in Gilbert about a week before you were supposed to start 1st grade. As excited as you were to be living closer to Omi & Opi, you were very nervous about changing schools and needing to make new friends.  To make things even harder, you had some major health problems relating to a rare auto immune disorder that began right around that time.  Luckily those are all sorted out now, but for about 2 months, you had to endure some tough stuff.  At the worst point you couldn't walk,  were in and out of doctors offices, and had to miss a bunch of school.  That experience was a humbling one for our whole family. You learned at a very young age what it meant to truly be brought down to your knees in prayer.  It ripped my heart out to see you feeling hopeless like that, but I can see now how much you were strengthened. I've been saying for years that your spirit is unique.  Your "old soul" was tested, and you came out strong. Since then, I've seen you grow even further.

You were named a "Super Shark" (student of the quarter) last Fall. Also, your teacher, Ms. Lish, had a behavior chart where the class was racing to win the most star stickers. You don't like getting into trouble, and it hits you at an emotional level if you are scolded.  When you won the behavior contest, you were so so proud of yourself.

You didn't make one specific best friend, but would always happily tell us that you loved all your classmates. Whenever I would volunteer in your class, I could tell you were happy and comfortable there. In academics you've excelled.  You are a fluent reader now, reading a full grade ahead.  You love   reading to your sister Mia all the time. (And you are finally reading fast enough that she's stopped rudely saying "This is boring! it's taking foreverrrrr") You're favorite things to read are your Marvel Comic stories and the scriptures. 

    You started playing soccer this year, and you are having a great time! You loved your coach and team mates. Even though you were one of the rookies on the team, you still kept up, and even scored a goal once. We loved coming to watch your games this past Spring, and you can't wait to start back up again in September.

Although I still think you are more cautious than the typical little boy, I do think you've become more adventurous this year. You've had a better attitude about trying new foods, you can get pretty wild when you wrestle with your siblings, and you are tougher when you get hurt. You've ridden most of the rollercoasters at Disney, and you are learning how to skateboard!

As a big brother, you are basically killing it. You and Mia still fight plenty, and I can't say you aren't occasionally sneaky, but I'm really lucky. The relationship you have with your sister is becoming more and more fun to watch the older she gets. Your brother Caleb has been sick a lot the past several months, and sometimes I have to let you big kids entertain yourselves all day. You guys find so many fun ways to fill the time up.  Playing the Wii,  building forts in the play room, building lego sets, and doing art projects are some of your favorites. A couple months ago I realized that Mia now knows how to write her whole alphabet, even though she hasn't had a day of school (or any tutoring from mom). I asked her how she could write so well. She just shrugged and said "Jake showed me".

Caleb is a very rambunctious toddler--we are sure he is part monkey. There isn't a shopping cart he can't get out of anymore. The only thing that holds him down is this crappy old umbrella stroller.  For the past several months, I have specifically waited to run my errands until you were home from school, because I need you to push the stroller so I can push the shopping cart. When we finally upgraded to a nicer small stroller a few weeks ago, you jumped right in with your opinion on the handling, steering, and overall ease of use. You were possibly just as excited as I was for the new model, because honestly, you have to push it the most. Seriously kiddo, not sure what I would do without you. I'm more grateful every year that you are the oldest.

You continue to set the bar for the rest of us in this family.  About 6 months ago, it was your turn to say the family prayer. At some point, you said "and thank You for the scriptures.. we try to read them whenever we have time." It was a sobering moment for your dad and I, realizing that maybe we weren't doing the best job of consistent scripture study with you kids. From that point on we made a renewed effort to put it up as a much higher priority. I remember one night in particular, I went to check on you in bed, to make sure you were asleep. I caught you reading your Book of Mormon with a flashlight. I snuck a quick picture, and then when you saw me, you said "just one more page Mom". In that moment, I felt like I was standing on sacred ground. Your inner strength is amazing.  Even if you don't always understand the content of the words you study, we've noticed that you often use a highlighter or pencil to mark the words that are special to you.. words like "God, Jesus, commandments, faith" etc.  

In less than a year, you'll be turning 8. As you know, that means you'll be getting baptized.  You talk about it, lamenting how far off it is, and how you can't wait! For me, the time is just speeding by. I know it'll  be here before we know it. Next time I sit down to write one of these birthday letters to you, I'll be including pictures of you from that day. 

Motherhood has changed my heart. Its strange how the good moments make me happy, but also make me ache. I'm not sure how we got lucky enough to have you sent into this family. You are truly an important piece of our little puzzle.  Thank you for making me a mom. Thank you for blazing the trail for your siblings who follow after you.  As always, I'm looking forward to watching you grow into yourself. It's one of the greatest joys of my life. I love you Jake, probably more than you will ever know.

Mia's 4th Birthday Letter

Dear Mia,

A few days after you turned four, we were out grocery shopping as a family. You suddenly started crying. We asked you what was wrong, and between your sobs and sniffs and crocodile tears, you explained that you didn't want to keep getting older. It turns out you were suffering from a little bit of "Peter Pan Syndrome." We tried not to laugh as we explained all the cool things about growing up, but you insisted that it wouldn't be any fun being a grown up like mom and dad because it would mean you couldn't spend every day playing "mommies and babies" with your brother Jake, and also snuggling with mom in the mornings.  I tried to explain that you would be able to play mommies and babies with your own real life baby someday. (That revelation just made things worse.) You begged and pleaded for me to search for a way to help you become 3 again. I tried to reassure you that you would be little for a long long time still, but you told us it wasn't true. That you were getting older every single day.

Rip my heart out kid, as if I wasn't painfully aware of the fact that you are getting bigger every single day.

Another spectacular year has gone by for you Miss Mia. Your size didn't change much.. a few inches taller, only about a pound heavier.  But your spirit grew by miles.  You remain the Queen of the house. Everyone who meets you gets a kick out of your feisty, articulate, passionate personality. We have countless new "Mia stories." Like the time we visited Omi and Opi's ward and you stood up boldly in from of their Primary, and introduced yourself as "Mia Tinkerbell".  You have absolute courage and don't seem to get embarrassed by anything.  This past Fall you participated in your very first church Primary Program.  Midway through the program, you had a a little accident.. and you shouted from your seat in the pulpit to mommy that you had "dirty undies!!" When I didn't immediately respond you shouted it again. I ended up needing to run you home for a fresh change. (Luckily the building was close to our house.) I was somewhat mortified at the scene. But you weren't remotely phased. You certainly provide us all with nonstop entertainment, and its a guarantee that no one ever forgets who you are!!

The biggest love in your life right now is Frozen. You spent the better part of the last 6 months wearing your Elsa costume, and singing to anyone who would listen. We all love watching you sing "Let It Go", complete with hand motions. For your birthday party this year, we threw you a big Frozen party.  Your Omi and I went all out turning her house into a winter wonderland, and we invited Elsa herself to come and surprise you. I've never seen you so happy and star struck. When Elsa had to go back to Arendelle, and all your friends went home, you were devastated. It was all way too magical for your 4 year old heart! We often joke that you are a very cute little sponge of pure emotion. Whatever you feel, whether its happy or sad, silly, excited, upset, anything --- you feel it 1000%. When you are tired, we have to constantly remind you to stop being "floppy".  We worry that you'll hurt yourself bumping into something as you walk around like a little drunken sailor (very much like Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow),

You are starting to have an actual relationship with your baby brother Caleb.  It's exciting to see that connection growing, and I'm sure it won't be long before you two are as close as you and Jake.  But its not all fun and games.  The other day you shoved Caleb with two hands, because you didn't want him messing with your toys. I scolded you and said you needed to apologize and look him in the eyes so he would know you were really sorry. You got upset and refused. When I asked why you said "I will say sorry, but I don't want to look in his eyes." Even when you are being stubborn, you have a gift for explaining exactly whats bothering you. (And eventually, you did come around and say sorry, and then admitted that it did make your heart feel better).  :) 

Your relationship with Jake is so special. As I mentioned in the beginning of your birthday letter, you very passionately told us that you didn't want to grow up, because then you wouldn't be able to play "mommies and babies" with Jake anymore. He's a great sport about playing along with the imaginative games you come up with. And you love playing cars with him, building legos together, and most of all coloring, cutting, gluing, pasting--CREATING. I can't believe how fast we fly through the art supplies. It makes me happy though!

You recently started taking a dance class. It's a combo of ballet, tap and jazz. We are so impressed with how quickly you seem to pick up choreography. You have a knack for remembering the names of the different ballet techniques, and even though you are the tiniest in your class you were the first to memorize all the ballet positions. We are so proud of you and your ability to focus and learn. You've always had your head in the clouds a bit. Plus you always demand to understand the reasoning behind my every request. ("because mom said so" doesn't fly with you).  Because of these two things, I've been a little worried that you'll struggle with falling in line when its time to start school.  But dance class is showing me that you are not only incredibly smart, but that you seem to truly enjoy making progress and being part of a group. I can't wait to see you blossom further!

As you've grown up a bit, Dad and I have realized the importance of building individual relationships with each of you kids. We try to make a point of taking you out on your own for "daddy daughter dates" and "girls nights". You really soak up the one on one time, and so do we! You especially love going out to eat somewhere fancy, and shopping for "sparkly" clothes for yourself, and having me braid your hair. (girly girl to the core). Conversations with you are always so funny. Now that you and Jake have your own separate bedrooms, you get your own bedtime routine. Your favorite song for me to sing to you before you sleep is "I Feel My Savior's Love". You have the whole thing memorized.  The other night, I wasn't home and daddy had to put you to bed. He didn't know all the words, and later told me how touched he was, having you teach him the song, line by line in your tiny voice. Your spirit is strong.  You radiate so much joy and excitement and love in everything you do--It's infectious.

It's been a few weeks since that grocery store meltdown over your worries about aging.  You seem to be adjusting to this 4 years old thing after all. I guess I should be happy that you wanted to stay 3 forever.  It shows how much you enjoy living in the moment.  I could learn a few lessons from you about enjoying the journey, and loving the phase of life that I'm in. You have unique gifts of self expression. 

Sometimes it doesn't seem possible to fit so many feelings into such a small person. But then again, it doesn't seem possible to fit all the love I have for you in my heart.  It's overflowing with wonder and amazement at the little lady you've become. In part, I'd have to agree with you--I don't really want you to grow up either. I know that years from now I'll remember the way you look now each morning, curly hair all matted up and big, so skinny in your little jammies, ready to fill your day with as much silliness as possible. My heart will ache for this time. It will fly by way too fast.  But it really is good for you to grow sweet Mia. The world needs people like you. You're a natural born leader, a great communicator, and you have such a big big heart. Ive said it before, I'll say it again: You're gonna do great things kiddo. I'm so excited that I get to watch it all.  Love you Mia Girl!  Happy Birthday to the most vibrant, sassy, joyful 4 year old Beauty I know.