Yes, 2 love/kid centered posts in a row because I didn’t want to get TOO behind on this tradition of open letters to my kids so…you get a little break from this theme next month before my final kiddo has his birthday letter and then we should be good to go for the rest of the year! But in the meantime…

My silly, kind, curious, party of a youngest child,

Last month you turned five years old. FIVE! I can’t believe our youngest kid is heading off to kindergarten this year. You have us extra emotional because it means after almost a decade we won’t be attending the same co-op that we have loved for so long. Nonetheless, we are so excited for you as you venture into life as a five year old. This year your personality continued to shine through and develop even more. I was looking at the letter I wrote you last year and basically everything I wrote then is still true, only stronger and more vibrant now.

You are still so kind and big hearted. You have (for better and worse) inherited being an empath. You are very sensitive to people’s feelings, even if it is only on TV shows. You want to comfort everyone. You love playing games that include helping others, working together, offering meals real or pretend, and you are sure that every single stuffy and barbie doll has their own birthday celebration, which means it is a birthday basically every single day in our house.

Your dad’s current favorite story to tell about you is that right now you want to be a farmer when you grow up- specifically a “tomato and piggy” farmer. We asked if you knew what happens to pigs on farms and you happily explained they get fed and bathed and played with… we are a little concerned for the day you read Charlotte’s Web and find out what else happens to pigs on farms…

In the meantime, you have learned so much this year. You love your preschool and come home asking us things like “what is your favorite gem? What is your favorite dinosaur and why? Did you know you can paint with a fork?” You love pointing out things in nature that you observe and are such a helper with watering our plants. You feel so connected to the outdoors and love going on walks and spending time in our backyard. I want to bottle up your wonder and overwhelming love and hold on to it forever. You make me slow down and take. a second look.

You also continue to love music and dancing. I will miss our special times waiting to pick up your brother and sister next year as that has become our dance party in the car time. You still love Taylor Swift and ask for her music the most, but you also love the song Pink Pony Club – of course for you it just means pink my little ponies and dance parties with fun lights, and loving everyone and so with that in mind we loved having your birthday themed around that this year.

You do not like trying to guess which foot each shoe belongs on, being late, large groups of people, seeing the summer heat destroy the plants and cacti in our neighborhood, or when plans get cancelled. You DO love making up knock knock jokes, crafts, coloring. being the handy helper in your class, singing. puppet shows, looking at pictures and our family yearbooks, baking, hiking, asking if Taylor Swift is real, and snuggles.

May being 5 continue to bring you so much to learn about, love, snuggle, celebrate, and explore. We love you oh so much and would be so much less fun and sparkly and silly without you.

Mom