Happy Birthday, Ewan!

Ewie Bear!  You’ve been talking up the Big 5 for the last 6 months!  You’ve been sooooooo excited for this day to come.  You’ve wanted to know how many months?  How many days?  How many sleeps?!  Turning 5 is a big deal!!  And since I know you’ll look back on this letter when you’re older, I should note that I’ve also ‘canceled’ your birthday about 10 times today for some cheeky, devilish behavior.  Ha!  Fortunately for you, you finished out the night sweet as an angel and the party is on!  

You’ve been my little side-kick this last year, since you and I got a lot of one on one while the girls were in school or off at their many activities.  I have cherished year 4 with you like no other.     We make a great pair.  You are so fun to be with and I’m going to miss the amount of ‘Ewan time’ I’m so used to having!  But it’s time for you to turn 5 and start Kindergarten…so before that happens, I want to reflect on the things that made you YOU this past year….

You attended your second year at Little Explorers preschool and you grew so much in your independence and knowledge of the world.  You learned Spanish, some French, how to say ‘hello’ in Chinese, you learned about the planets and how Pandas eat bamboo and are in danger of becoming extinct.  You learned about the ocean and weather and why our flag has 50 stars.  You learned songs and played games and regularly tried new foods.  You were constantly coming home with new things you learned about and couldn’t wait to teach us.  But what you really learned this last year at school that makes my heart swell with pride is how to be a good friend, how to help the younger kids when they needed assistance, how to take turns in a group, how to compliment your classmates, how to give a hug to a buddy that was upset, how to share your lunch when a friend forgot theirs, how to stick up for yourself when someone wasn’t kind to you, how to apologize when you weren’t so kind to someone else and how to give others a turn when they wanted something you were using.  You see, your teachers would tell me regularly about all the times you did something special or something kind or something brave and each time I felt so proud to know you were being such a benevolent, good-hearted person.   Those are the moments parents live for.  Thank you, Ewan.  

You made a bunch of great friends this year and we started doing playdates.   Your besties are Cora, Luca, Zach, Santiago and Lucien.  You also loved your teachers!  Miss Lily, Miss Emmy and Mr. Jared were your favorites.  You couldn’t wait to tell them things that happened on the weekend and you would always gauge things with ‘hmmm…I wonder what Miss Lily would do or think or say….” 

You have a special, albeit different relationship with your sisters.  You love equal time with both of them and you cannot wait until they get home from school.  You love playing school and ‘doggie’ with Esmee (you’re her pet dog) and you love jumping on the trampoline and reading with Millie.  I love how close you are with them.  You love to put the air mattress between their beds and have a sleep over in their room whenever we let you.  

You love Paw Patrol and Monster Trucks, soccer and riding your bike.  You love taking baths and you’ve just started loving swimming.  You finally took off on your snowboard this year and you couldn’t get enough.  You’re still an incredibly picky eater, but you do love fruits and veggies.  Your favorite foods that you eat on repeat are:  peanut butter and jelly sandwich, cinnamon toast, Pho, butter noodles, watermelon and seaweed.  You’ve promised me when you turn 5 you’ll try new things…..we’ll see about that!  You still holler out at random times and in random places how much you love us and it always stops us in our tracks….there is nothing better than hearing that!  You have long skinny frog legs and are an incredible athlete!  

You are the baby of our family but you’re growing up so quickly.  We are all obsessed with you and cannot imagine life without you as a Keegan!  We love you so much, little buddy and thank you so much for loving all of us right back.   Happy birthday to you, Sweet Ewan!  I just know 5 is going to be a magical year for you and I can’t wait to watch it all unfold.  

xoxo!

Mommy

Happy 11th Birthday, Millie!

Dear Millie, 

i just tucked you in for the last time as a 10 year old, and it really hit me how this year more than any other has revealed just how mature and independent you’re becoming.  It’s bitter sweet as a mama to see you blossoming into a young lady, but I couldn’t be more proud of the person you are becoming.  Age 10 put a huge smile on my face watching all of the things you accomplished and learned and from the eternal sparkle in your eye I think you loved it too!   Here are a few things that brought us joy…..

5th grade!  We were on Barnes Island with the Niskanen’s when you got your teacher assignment last summer.  You and Soleil literally did back flips and shrieked when you found out that you guys were going to spend your last year in elementary school together in the same class!  We were all elated!  You also got your other bestie, Anya which was a HUGE bonus too!  Turns out, you made so many sincere, genuine, lasting friendships with so many kids this year, boys and girls included.  There wasn’t a single day that you didn’t want to go to school.  You were actually bummed when vacations ‘dragged on too long.’   

You applied for 5th Grade Leadership and got in.  You were dedicated and committed to being a role model at your school.  You volunteered to help out whenever possible with school functions and charitable events.   You auditioned to be the MC for the school talent show and were voted on by your peers to host!  We were so proud of  you!  And you totally nailed the show….you are a natural born leader and such a talented public speaker.  

You made the Orange team for Celtic Soccer.  That’s 3 levels above your last team!  You worked hard and played hard and they took notice!  You wowed them at tryouts for both fall and spring and you were a huge asset to the GO8 Orange squad.  Dad and I were especially proud of you because you were the only one of your friends who bumped up.  You didn’t know this new team quite as well, but you headed to practice with your chin up and made new friends and proved to yourself that your talent, grit and work ethic deserved that spot on the team.  One of my favorite things as a mom is watching you play soccer, Millie!! 

You love being with your friends and you are loving a new found independence.  Although you still love to sleep in your sisters room (and you might always!) we’ve noticed you love spending more time in the basement doing ‘Millie things’ or hanging out with your besties.  Your friendships are strong and people love being around you.  But even though you are becoming your own individual, I love that you still want to be with us.  You love playing family games (Mastermind and Fairy Queen) and you love snuggling and giving us all hugs!  
You love the show 'Fuller House,' reading, soccer and snowboarding.  Your favorite food is bean burritos and sushi and you are pretty good about not eating much junk food.  You love Soleil and Anya and Macy and Emily.  You love Pink Drinks from Starbucks and you've been wanting to wear mascara. 

You continue to love your brother and sister fiercely and family is so important to you!  As you mature and set out to do more and more things on your own, know that I am always here for you and will always have your back.   I’ll be there when you succeed, but more importantly when you fail.  I will help you up when you make mistakes and set you back on the right path.  I will never stop loving you, my Millie Girl…in fact, my heart will burst into a thousand pieces daily with all the love I have for you.   You are a shining light…I remember the moment I first laid eyes on you as if it were yesterday.   I thank my lucky stars everyday that I get to be your Mom.  Have the best birthday, and I can’t wait to see what your 11th year has in store for you!!! 

xoxo!! 

Love, Mom