Half birthday, Full calendar!

 Dear Maya and Emi, 

This is just a quick little post to recap the last few weeks before we have a big 7 YEAR OLD celebration this weekend!

Emi, you were in a concert! You played and sang "Tonight You Belong to Me" all by yourself! Due to your sniffles the previous week your voice was a bit quiet and husky, but you did so well and didn't seem nervous at all! Afterwards we went out for very melty ice cream at Mickey's Igloo.

You both participated in a 'Field Day' at your friends' house! Because Emerson and Everly's mom used to be a gym teacher, she had all the things necessary to make it legit--soccer balls, cones, and even a parachute! You also both had a lot of fun swimming that day.

The next day we had a half birthday party for you, Maya, and 4 of your friends came over. You requested a Totoro cake and mommy did her best despite the high temperatures causing the frosting to melt and slide. You guys played on the swings and played Twister outside until it started to rain, then you watched the Totoro movie inside while eating pizza and cake. We were so glad you finally got to celebrate your 'birthday' with your friends!

We went to the summer reading program kick-off event at Aunt Rhi's library. It was a petting zoo with all kinds of animals including a huge snake, a baby kangaroo, and so much more. And you guys have been reading up a storm this summer. I'm so glad you both love books so much!

We also had another set of mommy-daughter dates. Maya, you and I went hiking twice and stopped at the Bartlett House for lunch in between (where we happened to see Conan O'Brien!). Emi, later that day you and I went for manicures and pedicures, hit the Rail Trail, and got some ice cream, too. 

We managed to fit all this and more into less than two weeks after school let out--whew! And then as of this past Monday you're both at the Summer Rec Program! Mommy doesn't have too many photos of you there, but suffice it to say you come home every day dirty, wet, tan, hungry and tired, so it's going well! And now to sign off and start getting ready for this weekend's festivities. Grandpa is here and we're having a party tomorrow! Yay!

Love you both!

Summer 2021 is HERE!

Dear Maya and Emi, 

Happy summer! As I write this, you're at your last day of school for the year. Whew! We made it through another 'unprecedented' year. (Can we stop using that word now?) Again, it's been about 2 months since I've posted, but here's a little bit of what we've been up to.

• Papa Stan and Gracie's birthday party: This was the first time our family was all together at the same time in a year and a half and it was GLORIOUS! You guys of course had fun playing with your cousins and eating cake and all of us adults just got in as many hugs as possible.

• More mommy-daughter dates: Emi, you and I went to the park and to get manicures. Maya, you and I went out for dinner and to Five Below, but you're not so much a fan of having your picture taken these days so there's no photographic evidence of that. 

• Family hikes: Now that Baba is home all the time, we can head out to hike at a moment's notice. And it is wonderful!

• New room, who dis: We bought new Japanese-construction style beds for you guys and rearranged your room quite a bit. Now your bookcase is much more accessible (it's been filled to the brim since this photo) and you've been reading even more! Now let's just hope we can keep the room clean...

• Aunt Bobbie and Kelsie's birthday: I think every family birthday will now be an excuse to get everyone together for cousin fun, lots of hugs, and cake. And I'm here for it!

• The end of 1st and 4th grades: You guys are going to miss Mrs. Nelson, Ms. Akerman, and your friends this summer. But you learned so much this year, virtually and in person, and made the best of it. Maya, your love of science and reading is awesome, and Emi, your vocabulary surprises me daily. And most of all, the two of you have become even closer. I found that you actually fought so much LESS when you were home together all those months and have been fighting MORE since you went back to school in person. But between the fighting you're still each others' best friends. Yay!

Also, I'm editing this post to add that your beloved principal (and mommy's Social Studies teacher and principal for her last year of high school!) Mr. Gulisane retired today. There was a livestreamed sendoff parade and emotional ceremony for him, and then as we were driving you home from school they had him on a platform to wave to us. What an amazing tribute to a very dedicated and inspirational man!

Well, here's to a really fun summer! Love you both!