KINDA, SORT OF, MINI GOLF

Dear Kurt,

Today we took the girls over to the Clubhouse for some miniature golf.

I pictured it going a little differently.

Brooklyn had to golf one-handed and refused help so basically she golfed a 5,438. I'm pretty sure that's a record.

Molly didn't understand the concept and every time someone golfed she would run after the ball, pick it up, and bring it back to you. 

You and I were competing the whole time. Which mainly consisted of me hitting the ball way too far and then kicking your ball off the course in order to give me more time to get mine in first and then that would result in a brawl at the hole until someone got their ball in.

  It was absolutely ridiculous. Yet, totally fun.

Then a monsoon rolled in and we all ran back to the clubhouse as fast as we could so Brooklyn's cast wouldn't get wet.

Sincerely, Lori

DONUTS AND ICE CREAM FOR DINNER

Dear Brooklyn,

After you broke your arm, your sweet teacher came by our house to see how you were doing.

She also brought a note from you class telling you to get better quick with a bunch of cute little five year old John Hancocks and a gift card to Baskin Robins/Dunkin Donuts. 

So today we met your dad in Tucson and decided to grab an early dinner: ice cream and donut holes. Yum.

We left with our bellies stuffed and sugar coursing through our veins. It was fabulous.

I think every childhood should have a couple of ice cream dinners mixed in with those hospital stays.

Now, let's hope the sugar high wears off by bed time, right?

I love you.

Sincerely, Mom

A BIG DAY

Dear Brooklyn,

Today was a very big day.

Today you turned five years old and you started kindergarten.

You also made your mom cry. A lot.

You woke up excited as can be. 

Breakfast. Dress in your new school clothes. Open presents. Shoes on. Then we were out the door.

We stood amongst all the other new kindergarteners and their parents in the library waiting for your turn to be shuffled off by your teacher with your new classmates.

We knelt down in between mostly empty bookshelves and had a little pow wow. Me reminding you that you are to listen to your teacher and to be nice to the other kids and to stand up for what's right and that I love you so very much. And you telling me that you will learn lots and be good and eat your sandwich first and that you love me too.

I mostly held back the tears till they called your class and in the shuffle to get to the front of the library you got scared and turned back to make sure I was close. I pictured that happening a lot that day. You would get a little lost in the shuffle except I wouldn't be behind you to comfort you. Maybe you can go to kindergarten next year?

That day I thought and worried about you a lot. Too much, I'm sure.

When your dad and I brought cookies to your class at the end of the day I imagined you to be a mess and beg me to take you home and not bring you back till next year. I should have known better.

You weren't sad or upset. No, you were happy and excited and bouncing up and down. On the way home your talked and talked about all the new things and new people and new places. You were in heaven.

Then the real birthday celebrations began.

You decided that you wanted to go swimming. So we did that.

You decided, much to my dismay, that you wanted McDonald's for dinner. So we did that.

You wanted an ice cream cake from Baskin Robin's. So we let you pick one out.

Then the Gardner's and McKinzie and Clair came over and we sang and ate and you opened more presents. 

Soon, it was bed time and you were one exhausted little five year old kindergartener. 

And I will continue to be in denial about that.

I love you, Brooklyn. I hope you had a fabulous day. Happy Birthday.

Sincerely, Mom

HIDING

Dear Molly,

It was just you and me.

Hiding under a sheet.

Playing peek a boo and laughing.

We don't get a lot of moments to ourselves around here lately, and when we do they are short.

Today those moments were extra short but extra sweet.

You are such a joy to be around.

I love you.

Sincerely, Mom

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOLLY

Dear Molly, 

It's your birthday!!

Your celebrations went like this:

1. After everyone was up and going we brought out your birthday presents. You held them to your chest and laughed and laughed. You were so thrilled. It was adorable. 

2. Most of the morning we hung out you played with your new presents. 

3. After lunch and nap time we headed to the pool. You swam and played and danced around. You spent a lot of time swinging under the hand rail and then jumping up and screaming with joy, then running back and doing it all over again.

4. Then we rushed home and a few friends came over to have nachos and cupcakes. You were in heaven with your own little cupcake. Although you insisted on having a fork at first because you did not want to get your hands dirty. 

5. After that we got you ready for bed and said goodnight to you, our two year old. My eyes might have teared up. How did the time fly so quickly?

I hope you had a great birthday.

I love you so much.

Sincerely, Mom

NOT SCARED

Dear Brooklyn,

When you were younger you were kinda of a scaredy cat. 

You didn't want to do anything by yourself and even if we were with you you were still hesitant. 

You were also kind of a klutz. 

You ran into things and tripped over your own feet. 

Until recently you couldn't even jump off the floor.

And I never thought you would learn to ride a bike, even with training wheels. 

But now you are way more coordinated. 

And you are getting so brave.

You are surprising me all the time by doing things I never thought you would do. 

Even a simple thing like jumping off the couch into a pile of pillows and blankets is a big deal for you. It's something that you wouldn't have done a year ago.

I love seeing you try new things and becoming more sure of yourself. 

I love watching you experience things for the first time and watch your face light up when you realize that it was fun or exciting.

I am so glad that I am your mom.

I love you so much. 

Sincerely, mom

DUNK

Dear Brooklyn,

Ever since you were just a wee little thing you loved the water, as long as it didn't touch your face. 

Bath time rocked cause you would just play nicely, never splashing and making a mess. 

 

Swimming was easy because you would stay right next to me so you wouldn't go under or get splashed.

I condoned, supported and even encouraged this behavior. 

In the back of my mind I knew better. I knew you wouldn't just one day be okay with sticking your head in the water. 

Except that's exactly what happened. 

For over a year now your dad and I have been trying to get you to dunk your head under water. Or at least blow some bubbles!

It's all been to no avail. We begged and pleaded. We bribed. We even started tossing you in the air and letting you go under for a second in hopes that you would just get use to it. 

Yeah right. 

But for some reason the stars aligned today. We were sitting on the wading step and I told you that if you stuck your entire face in the water then I would get you the biggest bowl of ice cream with a bunch of candy. 

You got excited, like you usually do, and sat there staring at the water with a determined look on your face. 

 

This is typical. And it usually ends with you sitting there forever trying to convince yourself until it's time to go and then you scream cause you don't get ice cream. 

But today was different. I could see it in your eyes too. Today was the day. 

 

After only a minute or two you dunked your head. Then you loved it so much that you dunked your head about 50 more times.

 

I was so proud of you. 

 

 

And of course we celebrated with that extra large bowl of ice cream with enough candy to make you sick in 5 minutes.

 

I love you.

 

Sincerely, Mom