My Dearest Big Kids,

I can’t believe how much you’ve both grown! Isaiah, you just turned 6 and Lilianna, you are 3.5.

My little Rooster, you’re doing so well in kindergarten. You are at the top of your class in reading. You’re reading books at a 2nd grade level! You love school and you have lots of friends! Even one little girlfriend that you sometimes hold hands with (Victoria)!  We recently pulled you out of school for a week for a family vacation. Upon your return, the whole class was so happy to see you, they all wanted to give you a hug! We’ve never been invited to so many birthday parties in our lives! The boys you play with most are Anton and Bison. They are sweet boys, just like you! You love it when I volunteer in class- you are so happy that I am there and I’m so happy that you want me there! What a blessing that you enjoy school so much. You were student of the month in January. We are so proud of you! You’re learning Spanish every Wednesday after school. You’re the youngest one in the class. You told me once that all the girls say that you are “so cute”. Hmm, maybe that’s why you like it so much! You’re still doing karate every week. You really take it seriously. You listen and try really hard each and every class. I’ve never seen you goof off. Your form is so awesome, your Sensei has commended you, saying that your form and stance is even better than the older kids’. I say this often but, I love the age you are RIGHT NOW! I feel like this truly one of the last of the most innocent years of your life. You are learning so much so fast! I love that you get so excited about the little things. You still believe in leprechauns (amongst other things), and you see that the world is full of good. You still love Buddy, robots, snakes, bugs and now VIDEO GAMES. Typical boy! You are also a dog lover! You’re so good to Oscar. You talk to him and pet him EVERY morning when you wake up! You take such good care of him, even though he’s old and stinky. You truly love him, and when we leave on a vacation you talk about him and worry about him every day. Your heart is pure gold, and we are amazed by you! You are the best big brother a girl could EVER ask for. You adore your little sister. You can’t wait to see her- you play with her, read books to her, and always look out for her- even among your peers, you stay by her side. This makes my heart so happy! Strangers have come up to me in stores and have told me how wonderful it is to see to siblings like each other so much! I hope and pray it stays this way forever!

Little Lala, Lili, Peetie Pie, Honey Bunch… we have so many funny names for you because you are very funny. You make us laugh all the time. You tell stories that you make up as you go and come up with new songs daily. You love preschool and can’t wait to go. We go to a parent participation school, so I get to be there with you a few times a month. You talk about your teacher Ms. Jodi all the time. Your favorite thing about school is snack time. Ms. Jodi says you’re the best eater in the whole class (always the last to leave the table)! You may be a chef one day because you are always putting strange things together and eating them… like ham and blueberries, or raisins and cheese. You’re still doing gymnastics weekly and getting braver and braver! Doing forward rolls and crazy jumps and ladder climbs all by yourself! You’ve got lots of friends, but Tyler is your boyfriend and you say that one day you’re going to marry him. He does gymnastics on the same day and you two are always getting in trouble together. Mabel is your other best friend. You hang out at the park with her almost every day (while we are waiting to pick up the “Bubbas” from Kindergarten). She’s smaller than you so she gets all your outgrown clothes. Whenever something gets too small for you, you say, “We better give this to Mabel”. Whenever we go to Joann Fabric Store, you say, “I miss Mabel.” Because we often see her there with her mom (hoarding fabric, like me). You’ve been a tomboy most these years with fits of girly-ness coming through. I think the girly-ness is starting to take over though. We just went to your first “all girls-princess-dress-up-tea-party”. It was a birthday party for your preschool friend, Auden. You wore jewelry and your high heel play shoes. You had pink milk from fine china, got your nails painted and your makeup done (a little bit of blush and lip gloss). Everything was pink (naturally your favorite color) and flowery and fancy. You LOVED IT! I can’t believe you are getting so big! You talk about being a “GROWM- UP” all the time. You say that one day you’ll “have big BOOPS just like Mimi” (which is your nickname for me)! You have recently asked me to start wearing earrings. I told you about piercing and how it hurts and you said you still want to do it! We’ll have to ask your Daddy! You love your brother the MOST. Once you told me that you loved him more than you loved me and Daddy. It made me sad but so happy at the same time! He’s your very best friend. Daddy and I adore you and can’t believe how stinkin’ cute you are.

You both love going to church. You’re learning so much about the Bible and about doing the right thing. You both come out every Sunday talking about the stories from the Bible that they teach you in your class. Your Bible stories and books are your most favorite books at home. It is a dream come true for me since I grew up Athiest and struggled to find faith as an adult. I hope and pray that you know God and feel His grace all your lives, and never feel that hole in your heart that I did for all those years.

I want to slow you both down so badly. You are growing up right before my eyes and it’s happening too fast! I cherish everyday with you and thank God that I am able to be a stay at home mom to you.

God is good, all the time! All the time, God is good!

I love you,
Mama