22 November 2017

My Dearest Lovebugs,

It is the day before Thanksgiving (2017).  We are getting ready to go on another family trip.  This time we are going to the GREAT WOLF lodge.  We are all so excited.  You kiddos have been working so hard in school and we (dad and I) figured this would be an excellent way to reward you guys and spend Thanksgiving together.  This is the first time that we will not be joining the family for the holiday.  But sometimes (only sometimes) it is great to spend some of the holidays with just the 5 of us.  

Today you kiddos had to go to school with dad today, cause its the holiday break.  Dad had a presentation and when I had a chance to speak to him he said that you guys were so good and respectful.  He said that his teacher loved you two!!  I always love hearing that about you guys.  Do you remember this day?

I love you to the moon and back,

07 October 2017

Dear Lovebugs,

This past year has had so much activity.  

Raymond you completed your first season of little league.  You played on the Red Sox.  You were soooooo good!! You hit the ball almost every time.

Rylie you bridged from a Daisy to a Brownie.  You sold 210 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies.  And you earned your llama stuffed animal and tons of other gifts.

Zara you have grown so much and done so much.  You went to Utah, Missouri, Sweden and Texas with your dad.  You've turned 2.  You love Moana, Frozen, Brave and now Zootopia.  And you've learned how to talk so much.

As a family, we've gone to the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone, multiple beaches and we're about to go more places.

School has already started and so has Girl Scouts.  Pretty soon we'll be back at baseball.  I just want you 3 to know, that although I don't always write to you everyday, you are always, always, always in my thoughts.  

I love you to the moon and back!!!

Love, Momma

8 November 2016

Dear Love Bugs,

So today is election day.  The candidates are Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton.  Clearly, I am not a huge political person, because this is the first I have mentioned anything political and this election campaign has been going on this whole time that I have been writing to you.  This election will be in your history books, regardless of who wins for 2 reasons: 1) Hilary could be the first woman president of our country and 2)Donald Trump is so aggressively crude.  I'm not going to go into details, because you kiddos will probably remember a little bit about it or will be able to open a history book.  But I will tell you a little about your reactions.  Raymond you are so concerned if Trump goes into office because your friend Hudson said that he will move to Canada if Hilary is not elected.  But you also said that you don't want a traitor as our president.  Rylie, you are too cute.  You are over it.  You have told me that you don't like how its a competition.  You told me tonight that you don't like how mean Trump has talked.  But you also don't like how mean Hilary has been.  I just want to say, I love how innocent you both are.  And yet, both of you were completely right.  There are a lot of things that adults have complicated.  Sometimes they complicate things for no reason, and sometimes the complication is to aid in discerning better.  But your innocence and purity makes me smile.  Tomorrow we will have a new president, amongst many presidents in your life.  But for tonight as I see tuck you kids in, I am happy that you are innocent and that you do not feel like you have to be pressured to choose whats not in your control.

I love you to the moon and back,

Your momma

05 November 2016

Dear Love Bugs,

We have had so much excitement!!  We've had harvest festival, 2 Halloween parties, and trick or treat.  Zara you have started walking.  Rylie you have been doing really really good on your spelling words.  And Raymond you went on your first hunting trip and shot your first gun.  I accidentally erased all of the photos from Halloween, but posted everything to fb and instagram.  (Yes your momma is all over social media.)  However, here are some of the highlights that didn't get deleted.

I love you, scrunchy buns!!!

Love, your Momma

20 October 2016; Thursday

Dear Squish,

You are walking!!!  Last night you took 15 steps in a row.  By the time you read this, you will probably think that I'm crazy for counting your steps.  But yes, I am that mom that count my kids first steps.  When your Kuya started walking he took 7 steps in a row.  When your Ate started walking, she took 10 steps in a row.  And now you at 15 steps.  I will enjoy this very short moment, because I know that once you really get the hang of it, you will be running!!

I love you squish ma-quish!!!

Love, Momma

aka

Dear Raymond Douglas,

Yesterday you have turned 8 years old.  I'm writing this letter to you today because yesterday you were able to spend time with your dad.  I had plans today to take photos of you and I was going to add them along with this letter.  But.....today was the first rain of the season.  So that was out.  However, I will always remember your smile as we sang 'Happy Birthday' to you.  I will always remember your quiet look of awe and excitement as you opened up your gifts.

I don't know why, but this birthday was slightly hard for me.  On one hand I am so excited for you and your growth and all the new adventures you will have.  But on the other hand, I feel like this is your last real birthday as a little kid.  You are maturing so fast and as you do, I realize you are not my baby anymore.  You are probably thinking, "I can't stay a baby forever!!"  And nor would I want you too.  But you are my first baby and there are moments that I will miss.

With all of that being said, I am so proud of the young man you are growing into.  You are so thoughtful.  You are so bright and innovative.  You are very playful, generous and loving.  I am so proud to be your mom.  I am so happy that you are in my life.  I promise I will always be here for you as your mom first and friend second.  And I won't say it in front of your friends or act like it in public, but you will always be my baby.  However, I will respect you at whatever stage of life you are in.  Happy Birthday Big Boy!!!

You're just too good to be true.........

Love, Momma

A letter to my daughters:

You two are the best duo ever!!  Today we got to have a little momma and daughters afternoon date.  We went exploring in downtown Auburn.  Now Auburn is a small little town.  There were two streets we walked up and down and window shopped and looked at art.  I love how curious the both of you are.  Zara you were so feisty, but you also loved laughing and playing with your sister.  And Rylie girl you are so helpful and caring.  I love how when we go through little towns, you like looking at all the "dollhouses" and picking out your favorite one.  Rylie you were so cute when you got to have frozen yogurt and said, "This is a little sweet treat the boys (your brother and papa bear) are going to be jealous about."  And Zara you were so happy being able to have pumpkin yogurt for the first time.  As I drove down the hill, lipsyncing to the radio, I felt extremely proud to be you girls' momma.

I will always sniff your ears,

Momma