Monday, January 4, 2021

Maya's Double Digit Birthday!


Dear Maya, 

How is it that you're in double digits now?!? Ten years old? I'm so proud of the awesome, smart, sweet person you've become, but I'm also a bit melancholy. Not to mention that thanks to Covid we didn't get to throw you a normal party, but we did make sure you had fun and felt celebrated on your day.

Grandpa drove up from North Carolina and spent several days with us. Mommy made sure she didn't have to work on your birthday so we could bake a cake, go for a shopping spree at Five Below, and have Zooms with family and your best friend. Baba also made tons of sushi. It was really fun!











And of course, what would a birthday post be without the latest installment of the interview we've done for the last several years. Here are your answers on your 10th birthday:

Favorite toy: Pokemon cards
Favorite game: Pokemon
Favorite thing to do inside: electronics or make a craft
Favorite thing to do outside: climb trees and do dangerous stuff
Favorite place to go: Japan
Favorite book: Pokemon Adventure Series
Favorite TV show: Pokemon
Favorite movie: Totoro
Favorite song: Pokemon theme song
Favorite animal: tiger
Favorite breakfast: Bartlett House breakfast
Favorite lunch: sushi
Favorite dinner: pizza
Favorite fruit: orange
Favorite vegetable: carrot
Favorite drink: Sierra Mist
Best friend: Juliette, Evelyn
Biggest fear: if I go out in the dark and feel like someone's following me
When you grow up you want to be: a gamer
Things you take to bed: all my Pokemon stuffies (Charizard, Raikou, Suicune and Entei)

At the risk of this blog post becoming REALLY long, mommy's going to incorporate 2 sets of photos here. The first is one photo per month for the last year to see how you've grown and changed. The second is photos of you with your birthday cakes (mostly) for the last 10 YEARS! Wow!

January at Dr. Suess Museum

February first salon haircut from Aunt Kelsie

March playing outside in pajamas

April socializing remotely

May doing schoolwork remotely and keeping busy

June being crafty as per usual

July having our annual photoshoot date

August enjoying a tree that fell in the yard

September back to school, remotely

October on the tree swings Baba made

November decorating our Christmas tree

December birthday trip to Five Below

And here goes the REAL trip down memory lane!


1st birthday


2nd birthday


3rd birthday

4th birthday

5th birthday

6th birthday

7th birthday

8th birthday


9th birthday---missed it!

10th birthday


What a difference 10 years makes! We're so proud and love you so so so much!


Monday, December 28, 2020

Happy Holidays, Covid style!


Dear Maya and Emi, 


Well, as predicted in the last blog post, we didn't get together with our whole family for Thanksgiving. Or Christmas for that matter. And we didn't get to sit with Santa and tell him our wishes. Or lots of the other traditions we're so used to. But we did try to squeeze some holiday spirit into these last 6 weeks.

We ordered yummy Thanksgiving meals from a restaurant and had a relaxing day. 


We picked a pre-cut tree that was wrapped up so we couldn't tell the shape until we got home. And it turns out it was one of the best shaped trees we've ever had! We decorated the tree and the window.








We had a big snowstorm and played outside. 



We went to a light parade featuring Santa in a plexiglass box on a firetruck! 


Emi, you lost your other front tooth just in time for Christmas!


We set out milk, cookies, and hand sanitizer for Santa. He left snow tubes, stuffies, toys, clothes, books, and craft supplies. Then Mom and Baba gave you new wallets with gift cards! Baba also picked out a great marble roller coaster kit that he enjoyed putting together for you (and himself!) You also got awesome instruments, crafts, books, remote control cars, and Lego kits from your aunts, uncles and grandparents. We got to visit with them on Zoom on Christmas night after a quick masked and distant visit with Nanny in the afternoon. Whew, even with these Covid restrictions you two were shown so much love from our family!













Well, the holidays may be over but the fun is still continuing! Grandpa got a Covid test so he could come visit for your birthday, Maya. And we're planning some small ways to celebrate you turning double digits in just a couple days. WOW!

Love you both!