Happy 12th Birthday!

Dear Izzy,

Well. This has been a year we will never forget!  It has been a year of "changes!" Your first school year at Bryn Mawr was off to a great start.  You made new friends and excelled in your classes. You were busy taking dance classes, playing field hockey, and baking, painting and drawing in your free time. You were invited to play on a new lacrosse team and won two fall tournaments. 

We celebrated Halloween and you were the perfect Eleven/Bob Ross 😉. We spent an awesome day in New York City with Kaitlyn and Sarah. It was the perfect Girls' Day of shopping and seeing Beetlejuice on Broadway!

We spent the holidays with family. We baked cookies, decorated the Christmas tree and volunteered at Christmas Eve Mass.  We took an amazing trip to Cayman Islands to celebrate New Year's Eve!  Your basketball team won the CMRC Championship.   

Then, one hundred and seventy-two days ago, schools closed and we were told to stay home and social distance from family. Dance classes and sports were canceled, school was moved online, trips were postponed. But somehow you managed to deal with the disappointments with grace and optimism. You performed dances in the basement and you participated fully in your Zoom classes. Your long awaited class camping trip to Echo Hill was virtual, but that didn't stop you from pitching a tent in the backyard and listening to Ms. Sadler read you a story each evening. Your fable was chosen to be a part of the fifth grade play that was narrated and presented as a slideshow, but you were just as proud of your work as if it had been performed on the stage. You celebrated your friends with birthday parades and stood in Grandma’s yard to wish Stella a Happy Birthday! You completed challenges and races for your lacrosse team.  You welcomed our new puppy, Frankie, into our family. You humored me by working on puzzles and watching cheesy TV shows and 80's movies. You incorporated your love of baking into science class when you made a cell model out of a cake! 

.

In June, you graduated from Lower School (virtually, of course) and although things were far from normal, we had an awesome summer. You played lacrosse and swam for the Summer Hill Stingrays. We spent many weeks at the beach.  We enjoyed sunny days breathing in the ocean air and feeling the sand in our toes. We kept our circle of beach chairs six feet apart from others and wore masks when shopping at our favorite surf shops. We had fireworks and a fire pit on the beach. And yesterday, we ended the summer as we always do, with a family brunch on the patio to celebrate YOU!  It may not have been the huge party of years' past, but it was a wonderful day! Today, you were able to go to school for Middle School Orientation. And although, you start Middle School online tomorrow, I know you will make the best of the situation until you can be on campus again. I can always count on you to be the sunshine even on stormy days! 

I love you. You will forever be my best girl.

Mom

.            

Zachary, 

Happy 8th birthday!!

 8 years. 2,920 days. I can’t believe you have been my baby boy for this long. Sometimes I forget and still think of you as my baby or my toddler or my five-year old. I think it is because you are so attached to me. I know the time is coming when I won’t be the center of your universe. I have lived this first hand with your brother. It will break my heart a little, just like it did with Alex. So I will savor this time. I know in a few short years I will be wishing for the time when you always wanted to hold my hand or wanted me to rub your back to help you sleep. These moments are so special to me, because you are my baby. I know I will never have this time with you again.  

You have tried some new things this year. You gave a memorized speech as George W. Bush in school. We went to Disney World, and you rode all the big roller coasters. In Colorado, you loved to rock climb. You hiked and rode a bike for ten miles. You stood on snow in July!  You snorkeled with Daddy in Turks and Caymans. You played flag football this fall and went to two Ravens games. You still play basketball and lacrosse. And you love to swim in school and in the summer at the pool and the beach. 

You continue challenge me everyday. If nothing else, at least you are consistent. You are stubborn and sometimes you have selective hearing. But you have a big heart and show a lot of empathy towards others. You have made a bunch of new friends, and you and Grayson continue to be best buds.

My wish for you this year is for you to realize just how amazing you are! Have confidence. Work hard. Be brave. Be kind. Try to be a little more patient with yourself and others. And as always and forever, I will love you. I am your mom. Your person. And I will continue to be as long as you need me.  And even longer than that. 

I love you, Mommy

Happy 14th Birthday

Dear Alex, 

Today you turn 14. You are halfway through your last year of middle school. This has been a year of change for both of us. You are growing taller and your braces came off this fall. You want more independence, and as your mom I am trying to navigate the waters of raising a teenager. This is all new to both of us, and for the first time since you were a toddler I find myself in a power struggle with you.  You want to do what you want to do, and I’m just not ready to give up guiding you whether you want it or not. I know (because I am your mother) that although you are moving towards independence, you still need me. And I am trying my best to find that delicate  balance of giving you space while at the same time giving you the guidance you need to continue to grow into the man we both know you can and will become. 

And although these changes are hard sometimes, I know you have a good head on your shoulders and a wise brain in your head. You have a strong moral compass that will keep your headed in the right direction. You have made some mistakes and will make some more. And I know there are going to be times that you have to learn your lessons the hard way. It’s going to be difficult for me to stand back and watch you fall down. I have to trust we have taught you well, and believe that you will stand back up, brush yourself off, and continue to move forward with your head held high. I hope that even though you are seeking independence right now, you know that I am right here when you need me. 

More than anything, I love the times when you talk to me about things going on in your life. Sometimes you tell me about a struggle you are having, and other times you tell me about the funny antics of your friends. You don’t always want my advice. Sometimes you just want me to hear you. I do. And I will always be here to listen, to be your sounding board. Your rock. 

You make us proud everyday. You continue to be a team player on the field, the course, the court and the classroom. Your teachers say you are insightful, bright, and a deep thinker. Your cross country coach says you are a leader who always has a positive attitude. 

Fourteen years ago today, you made me a mom. You are the first of my three greatest blessings. Year after year you prove to be a loyal and wonderful son, brother, cousin, grandson, nephew and friend. Our family is lucky to call you our Alexander, our Alley Cat, our Alexis. I thank God everyday that your middle school days are  happy ones thanks to your friends who appreciate your sense of humor and your trueness. They are lucky to have you as a friend! But I am the most blessed of all, because I am the one you call “Mom.” 

Happy, happy birthday!!! 

I love you so much,

Mom

HAPPY 11th to IZZY!!

Dear Izzy, 

Happy 11th birthday! As always, we had so much fun over the weekend celebrating YOU! You had a Mystery Party sleepover with your besties. You are so very blessed with the sweetest friends. On Sunday, we had family brunch with all your favorite foods - Trader Joe cinnamon buns, chocolate chip croissants, and red velvet cupcakes. It was a beautiful day just for you, my beautiful girl. Your birthday is always the best way to end summer. 

Speaking of summer, we had a busy one!! We started the summer in Disney World. We traveled to Colorado for the first time where we kayaked, hiked and biked! And we spent most of the summer at the beach-swimming, shopping and spending time with our family. One of my most favorite memories of the summer was the day you and I watched the sun rise over the ocean.

  

And as the fall begins, you are experiencing so many changes in your life. The biggest change is starting a new school. You are now a Bryn Mawr Girl.

You are going to be so successful at Bryn Mawr. I know it is a little scary and different right now, but you, my girl, are the whole package!  You are smart, athletic, conscientious, creative and kind! As I have always told you since you were a tiny girl- you can do it!!!! Anything! Everything! Even learn French (Inside Joke 😜). So go into this new school year with confidence and pride. You were born to be a leader. 

I’m not saying it will always be easy, but remember one thing, when things get tough and you need help, guidance or a reminder of how awesome you are, I am here for you! I am your safe place, your rock. I will always be right here if you need me. 

“Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love you!”  I read this quote and it reminded me of you. Don’t ever change,  because you radiate kindness and goodness and love. People are drawn to your sense of humor and compassion for others.  You have sweet friends because you are sweet and those are the type of people you attract. Your family adores you because of your loyalty and huge heart. This world needs more people like you! 

I am so excited to see all the wonderful adventures this year has in store for you!!! 

Love you - you will always be my best girl. 

Mommy

Happy 7th Birthday!

Dear Zachary, 

My baby. You are seven years old today. A first grader. A basketball player. A lacrosse shooter. A fast swimmer. A book reader. A story writer. A picture drawer. A movie watcher.  A noise maker. A button pusher. A sweet cuddler. 

You make life fun. You love to laugh, especially at your own jokes.  You love to play video games with Alex and Grayson. You love to wrestle with daddy. You love to FaceTime with Stella. You love to create art projects with Izzy. You love to go on walks with me and Millie. 

You started at a new school this year. You love Gilman. You hop out of the car every morning with a smile and a “bye mom.” You are learning so much and making new friends. You love the weeks when your class gets to swim in gym class. You are learning Spanish and right now you are writing a story about animal habitats. You are a rule follower at school. At home, not so much!

Having you in carpool has been quite an adjustment for Alex and me. You talk constantly. Well, more like just hum, sing and make noise. In the afternoon, while we wait for Alex you eat snack and after snack. You are always so hungry after a long day of school. In the evenings, you do homework. You have the neatest handwriting of all of my kids (thank you, Gilman). 

You are the most stubborn child I have ever met. You take strong-willed to a whole other level.  You say words that kids your age shouldn’t say. And I have to threaten to tell your teacher to get you to stop. You seriously never listen to a word we say. Well, that might be a slight exaggeration, but you are definitely not an easy kid. But you definitely are a great kid with a big heart. You always say, “Sometimes I am bad on the outside, but you know I have a good heart on the inside!”  I believe this. I see this. You are fiercely loyal. You are protective of your little cousins. You have no fear, except when it comes to going to bed at night. You still want me to lay with you until you fall asleep. You aren’t a big kid, but you have a big personality. You are a bit of a clown. You love to be the center of attention. You are a bit of a celebrity with Alex and Izzy’s friends. 

You, my baby boy, challenge me like I have never been challenged before. But you are a Momma’s boy through and through. I will never forget the first time I saw you! You stole a piece of my heart. You are never going to give it back. You can have it. I love you so much inside and out... all of you. Always and forever. 

Mommy 

 My Dear Alex, 

Happy 13th birthday, Alex. I cannot believe I am the mom of a teenager. You continue to make me proud every day. You are a diligent student, a  loyal friend, and an empathetic and loving son and brother. 

You continue to amaze me with your successes in school. You work hard each and every day and it shows in your grades. I love that you come home excited about what you are learning. You are also a talented artist. Your art projects are on display in the Middle School. This fall you joined the Cross Country team. I loved cheering you on and watching your confidence grow with each race as you beat your PR over and over again. I see great things in your future as a Gilman Greyhound both in the classroom and on the race course. 

You are such a great kid. You have a kind heart and you always put your family first. You have many friends, but your cousins are your best friends. You still enjoy family time, especially our beach days, movie nights, and making s’mores. 

You love listening to rap music, watching funny videos on You Tube, playing video games, hanging out with your buddies, shooting hoops, and jumping on the trampoline with Zachary and Izzy. 

If I’m being totally honest, I would rewind time if given the chance. I would go back and relive those sleepless nights and baby years all over. I would even go back to the days when you were a toddler who bit kids on the playground. I have enjoyed every day of being your mom. All of my best memories and most important moments of my life are because of you. You made me a mom, and I can never thank you enough for being such a joy. I am so blessed to spend each day watching you grow into a fine young man. 

Always know I am here for you as you navigate through these teenage years. Sometimes things will be tough and confusing, but you have a smart brain in your head and the biggest heart in your chest. Use them and trust them. Your moral compass is on point. Don’t let peer pressure sway you from doing what you know is right. And you have Dad and I in your corner, always. We are here for you,  no matter what! 

You will always be my #1. 

I love you all the love in the world - 

Mom 

Happy 10th Birthday

Happy 10th Birthday,  Isabella Grace. My sweet, perfect girl. My best girl. I love you so much. Your smile. Your laugh. Your love of life. You make me happy every single day. 

I am the luckiest mom in the world. I can honestly say that there hasn’t been a day that goes by in a whole decade that I don’t thank God for sending you to me. One of my three greatest gifts. My best girl. My only girl. My heart. We have a bond that is special. You may be daddy’s girl, but we have a mommy-daughter love that is so very special. I truly feel as if your heart speaks to mine. It is hard to explain this connection, but I feel it in my every heartbeat. 

Your smile and kind nature make me believe in the goodness that I know still exists in this world. It has to exist, because you are the epitome of goodness. I believe you will spend your life leading by example. You will do great things and others will see you and follow your lead. I’m so excited to see what this next decade has in store for you. I feel like in some ways it will have more changes than the first. And as your mom, I promise to be right here for you. Anything you need, anytime of the day or night, I will be there. You can trust me to be your biggest cheerleader in sports, school and life; your shoulder to cry on when you are sad and your sounding board when you have big decisions in life. And of course your shopping, sushi and pedicure partner, because our girl days are the highlight of my life. 

I love you all the love in the world. Remember to always be silly, be honest, be kind. 

Mommy

Happy 6th Birthday !

Dear Zachary, 

My six year old. My big kindergartner. My Mr. Independent. My stubborn boy. My sweet baby. You are all these things rolled into one boy. You continue to challenge me and amaze me every single day. 

You are a Momma’s Boy, and I love every second you want to snuggle! But you love your dad and there are some things only he can do right- tuck you in, make you s’mores, swim with you,  and tie your towel around your waist! 

You are learning to read in school and love when I read to you at night. You pick out the words you know. Your favorite books are joke books! You love learning new jokes and telling them to our family to make them laugh. You can add and subtract and come home everyday with stickers for good behavior or being helpful in class. You love when I volunteer in the classroom and in the cafeteria. It melts my heart to see your face light up when you see me at school. I feel like a celebrity!

Your personality and your smile can fill a room. No one has a brighter smile or a louder laugh. You make your presence known. You are quite the character. You may be the youngest, but you are the boss and the one who loves to start trouble.  You have not outgrown your refusal for compromise. You can’t help yourself. You want what you want. You are as stubborn as can be!! Alex and Izzy usually let you get away with your mischief. They love you so much. 

We had an amazing weekend celebrating your birthday. We had a play date with Grayson, went to the movies, had a family dinner, opened lots of presents, played basketball, and had a swimming party with your friends. Daddy bought you a dirt bike with all the gear and pads to go with it. You are so brave! You got right on and sped away! 

At six years old, you love yogurt, chocolate chip pancakes, pirate booty and Chick-fil-a. You love Spongebob, Imaginex toys, Superheroes and Minecraft. You love playing with your friends and your cousins, walking to Grayson’s house like a big kid, playing hide and seek and Uno, and jumping on the trampoline. You and I spend quite a lot of quality time putting together legos. You play soccer, basketball and lacrosse. 

I am still in shock that my baby is six.  But I am so excited to see what happens next!

I love you, my baby. 

Momma

Happy 12th Birthday!

Dear Alex,

Tomorrow you turn twelve years old.  And here we are again...birthday weekend. I love that you love to celebrate your birthday. I tease you that you think your birthday is a National Holiday, but I agree it is a big deal. The biggest deal, because it marks another year that I have been able to live my life doing the most important job in the world, being your mom.

This past year has been one of the fastest years ever. I feel like we just celebrated your 11th birthday at Hershey Park.  Today we will celebrate you again!  We are taking you and your friends to the Towson Basketball Game. Old friends, new friends and best friends will be there.  And tomorrow we will have family dinner.  Friends and family. Your loyalty and love belong to your friends and family.  And because of your loyal, funny, and kind nature, everyone in your life counts you as one of their blessings.

Lots of changes have happened this year.  In February, you got your acceptance into three schools, and you chose to go to The Gilman School.  You said, "Mom. I just belong there."  You immediately went outside and put a "Gilman" magnet on my car. You graduated fifth grade at Jacksonville, earning straight A's and The Sportsmanship Award.  You spent the beginning of the summer playing in lacrosse tournaments.  We spent the rest of the summer at the beach, our happy place!  And then it was time to start school.  We went to the school store and bought your supplies, including a book bag with what else but a Gilman patch on it. (A book bag that you left at home on the first day of school, and I had to drive all the way home and back to school with it.  BEST.MOM.EVER).

Let's talk about this drive to and from Gilman and what happens during the hours in between. You and I get up early and drive to school.  You are usually quiet on the drive, but I don't mind.  We chat a little about your school work and which teacher you need to see when you get there. You eat your breakfast. I drop you off a half hour before school starts. You hop out of the car and say, "Bye, mom.  Love you." I watch you as you walk into school usually talking with your friends, and one day I saw you help a boy on crutches who you didn't even know  by carrying his book bag. During the day, I can't see what you are doing, but I know you are learning, and talking, and playing.  When I pick you up, you get into the car, sometimes after a quick stop in the school store for a snack, with a smile.  I always ask, "How was your day?"  You say, "Great!" and then you tell me all about the new things you learned,  funny things that happened with your new friends, the grades you got on the tests or projects, art and 3D printing clubs, and the sports you played in gym. You are thriving at Gilman. You are being challenged, but you are proving you are up to the challenge.  Your teachers say you are a diligent student who stays on task and is kind to others. Your evenings are spent doing homework and playing sports.  You are playing lacrosse and basketball.  You also go to small group training that works on speed and agility. You are one busy boy! I am so impressed with your maturity and work ethic.

I could literally write a book about you and how proud I am of the young man you are and continue to become. But I have to wake you up, so you can study for exams before your birthday celebrations begin!  But before I end, here are a few other things about you at twelve.  You love Chick-Fil-A and eat it several times a week. I tease you that your blood type is now Chick-Fil-A sauce.  You like to listen to rap music, but I hear you singing along to my country music in the car. Like most other tweens, your phone is an appendage.  You love snapchat, silly group texts with your buddies and youtube.  You can give us an attitude and sometimes have a smart mouth, and can be a bit of a know-it-all. I suspect that will just get worse as we transition into the teen years.  We will get through it.  And lastly, it has happened......You are officially taller than me! 

Happy Birthday to my #1.  I love you all the love in the world.
Mom (Momma)

Happy 9th Birthday, Isabella

Beach time with the family

 Dear Izzy,

Another year has gone by in a blink of an eye. You are starting 3rd grade next week after an amazing summer of family time at the beach.  We spent our days riding on the boat, building castles in the sand, and playing in the waves.  Grandma has nicknamed you 'Mermaid' because your favorite place to be is in the ocean.

I went back and read your letter from last year, and I feel like I could write the exact same words once again.  I say it all the time, from the minute you came into this world you have been inherently you. I may be a little biased but I think you were born as close to perfect as a person can possibly be. You are a ray of sunshine every single day. But as you grow and gain knowledge and experiences, you just continue to glow brighter and brighter with each passing year.  Your smile, your crazy laugh, your love for life, your patience and kindness towards your brothers, your loyalty to your friends and family, truly makes you the heart of our family.

My Beach Babe

Your positive attitude and ability to find joy in the simplest things are going to take you far in this world.  You are so well-rounded, sporty and girly, serious and silly, tough and sweet. You are athletic and a leader on your teams. You love to play soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. You love to swim and dance. You are Daddy's best helper in the yard. You are my shopping buddy, and you love to cuddle and read with me at night. You are the best sister in the world. You play with Zachary for hours, keeping him entertained with your amazing imagination. You shoot hoops and jump on the trampoline with Alex.  He has even been heard saying that you are a cool little sister! You are a sweet and fair friend.  You are a good student both in school and in life.

Birthday Fun!

I know I tell you this often, but I truly thank God for you every day. I don't know what I would do without you. You bring us so much love and joy and laughter (very loud laughter). I know I am the mom, and I try to set a good example for how to live, but even at nine years old, the way you live your life to the fullest each day is an example that everyone should follow. Maybe it is silly to say that I look up to you, but I do.  I think everyone should have a little more sunshine in their hearts the way you do.

Happy 9th Birthday