Two Birthdays and Four Graduations

On the eve of her birthday eve, Sophia and her Dad headed out on a trampoline park/Ikea/Ice cream adventure. The next morning she woke up to Breakfast in bed. As soon as she got home from School that day it was time to travel to one of her favorite places.

Sophia spent her 8th birthday at Mother/Daughter Camp at Berea in New Hampshire.

It will be hard to top this birthday of donut decorating, sand castle building, and night swimming with friends.

A week later it was time to celebrate Alannah turning four.

The girls each got to invite a few friends, some of whom they hadn't seen for a year. 

The next week we had the joy of celebrating the high school graduations of our two oldest nephews.

And the preschool graduation of our oldest son.

We wish we could have been in Colorado for the high school gradation of our niece Grace, but are thankful we were able to celebrate with her in April.

Sophia's 8th Birthday Letter

Dear Sophia (favorite nicknames: Bug, Goose, Pumpkin Pie, Love Dove)

Eight feels important. You are blossoming into a compassionate, thoughtful, and delightful conversationalist.

Just this past week I really enjoyed taking you out for your birthday to the trampoline park, and to Ikea for dinner as we got to have uninterrupted one on one time to discuss what you are interested in and what you are doing at school. We also got to play the music extra loud in Ikea with the sample speakers for sale.

You are a wonderful mix of sweet young kid, and maturing young lady. You are silly enough to put a bucket on your head to make your siblings or parents laugh, but are often the first to help when a baby falls down, or offer to help me take out the trash and recycling (even if the second motivation is that it means you get to stay up an extra 15 minutes).

Your second grade teacher Ms. O’Connor has commented on how sincere and compassionate you are in class, with others, and as you learn. This is something your mother and I are very proud of about you.

You work hard, and play hard. You want to try it all, and try one of each.

This past year has been a little unusual with everything going on around the world with the pandemic, but you have largely embraced what we can do-- exploring the woods, swim lessons, riding your bike, building pillow forts in the living room, and playing in our backyard. The one area you have been missing the most has been more chances to interact with more people. You love going into stores, going for a walk, playing on a playground, or going to school because that means a chance to interact with people—as you are a true extrovert.

We are grateful for the people in your life that have invested in you this year- spending Wednesday afternoons with Susan, Zoom tea parties with Aunt Aimee and Zoom hot chocolate with Audrey, special lunches with Carolyn, and car rides with Jean Philippe. We are looking forward to many more adventures with people in person during the coming year. 

You have started to explore the world of reading chapter books by yourself, and love listening to audio books. We pray that that this love for learning and curiosity only grows.

We love you and can’t wait to see what God has in store for you next.

Love,

Daddy

April Celebrations

 Every April our family has many reasons to celebrate.

Half of us have birthdays (the two littlest J's and the biggest J), and this April the calendar also included Easter!

Easter morning began with cinnamon rolls and orange juice.

And was immediately followed by more sugar from Easter baskets from church and friends..

In addition to candy, there were also puzzles and other activities that we enjoyed prior to church

Carolyn surprised with even more treats.

And we were able to attend worship with Aunt Hazel, Jay and Alannah.

After church, Susan joined us.

We enjoyed  a mid-day meal together,

and Sophia served the big kid table.

The final festivity was a backyard Easter egg hunt.

J and J turning two this year was enriched by a visit from their cousin Grace who was completing a college visit with her parents Eric and Jennifer. 

We also got to visit with Aunt Aimee, Uncle Roger, cousin Ella, Aunt Becca and Uncle Mark.

Jay and Alannah, Kathy, Glen and Carolyn joined us for the evening celebration.

J-Jane's Second Birthday Letter

Dear J-Jane:

You are a born leader and lover of life. You are one of the happiest toddlers I have ever met. 

I am often impressed with how big your smile is with all your little white teeth on full display. This smile emerges often while going down a slide, playing at the beach, bouncing on our couch, being chased around the house, or running toward one of us for a hug.

You are a phenomenal eater, who shovels food when you are really enjoying something—which is often. You eat lots and a wide variety.

We can already tell you will look out for your little brother, even if that comes out at times as putting him in his place now and again with a good shove. But you also have started to ask him if he is ok when he is crying, to check in with him, or share toys and food with him.

You often wander around the house singing "twinkle, twinkle", while grabbing everything that you can reach. This has resulted in us finding you in the living with an open jar of peanut butter, and all sorts of other things.  

You love to dance, clap, run, and read. You often will finish breakfast or dinner, and when put down, grab a book and climb onto the couch and look at it silently by yourself. Your words are amazing, with full sentences emerging regularly.

My prayer for you this year is that your infectious smile can be shared with more people as the world starts to open up more.

We are thankful for the time we have gotten to spend with you during your second year on earth.

Love,

Dada

Little J-man's second birthday letter

Dear Little J-man,

You joined our family at just a few pounds. You may still be on the smaller side, but your smile and personality command the room. You have charmed every doctor and nurse you have encountered during your many medical appointments over your short life. We have been very impressed with how well you have weathered all the poking and prodding, and speak up for yourself.

You love to snuggle on my shoulder, be carried around, read books, and play with trains. While you often watch your sister attempt something first, you are enthusiastic when you decide to try something, whether it be going down a slide, or standing on top of the coffee table and singing at the top of your lungs. One of my favorite things you do is run into a room when you hear music and start to flap your little arms dancing and twirling around. You give the best reassuring hand pats on our back or arm, often when we pick you up or snuggle into a hug.

It has been so fun to start to hear your words emerge. Your favorite word has to be puppy as you have treasured all of the opportunities we have had with friends that have dogs that let you lay on top of them in a full-body bear hug—which is a good illustration of how you love the people in your life as well.

Kathy is a favorite friend of yours, and you love when she arrives with Carolyn each week to play with you and your sister.

You have great curly hair that seems to endlessly have food in it at mealtimes. You are always up for wrestling, climbing in and out of boxes, and occasionally scaling the counter or table.

You and your sister have been dream sleepers, and we are very grateful. It may help that since you sleep in the same room we often hear the two of you deep in toddler conversation before falling asleep. 

My prayer for you this year is that your language grows enough so we can hear all of the thoughts you are thinking, and your voice continues to carve out a distinct place in this family.

We are thankful for the time we have gotten to spend with you during your second year on earth.

Love,

Daddy

 

The Easter Story

 

At our church adults are paired with children to form intergenerational friendships. 

Sophia became friends with our friend Audrey through this program. 

They have enjoyed attending plays together, making Christmas crafts, and reading to one another with hot chocolate. 

The day before Palm Sunday Audrey gave her these eggs.

After dinner on Sunday she asked if we would all sit down in the living room so that she could use them to tell us the Easter story.

When her younger siblings were in bed she shared it with me again with less audience participation.

Salem, MA

I never had a February school break growing up, but I've always loved the month because of my birthday.

Last year we stayed close and kept the trip short.

A few days in a house on Cape Cod was one of our favorite family trips and we looked forward to doing something similar this year.

We went north this time, and rented a house less than an hour from us for four nights.

We only brought fun foods, and everyone appreciated the change of scenery and pace.

We could see the light house and a ship from the bedroom windows, so the bedtime story our first night was about the Pirate ship they would be able to visit in the morning. The next night the bedtime story was about the mermaid that lived beneath the ship.

We enjoyed being tourists near where we had met and gone to college. 

Driving through the section of the city with the murals of the Punto Urban Art Museum was a great activity option given the ages of our kids and temperature outside.

Since we knew the area already, and our children are still so young, we didn't spend much time sight seeing.

The best part was getting to see some of our favorite people.