Holden - Happy 6th Birthday!

Dear Holden,

On Monday you turn six years old! It is hard to believe that six whole years have passed since you completed our family, but at the same time, it feels impossible to remember a time without you in our lives. It is such a treasure to watch you grow older – in fact, it feels like you have changed so much just even in the past few months. You just moved up a couple of levels in reading at school and it seems like it is starting to magically click for you, which thrills me. You are absolutely thriving in Grade 1, despite being the youngest in your class. You love playing video games with your father and watching scary movies like Jurassic Park and Goonies. You are an incredibly voracious eater, so much so that I am cringing thinking about our grocery bills when you are a teenager. Your favourite foods are sushi and tacos (in fact you get angry when a Tuesday passes without tacos, and you requested sushi for your birthday dinner at Bubie and Zaidie’s tomorrow). You love dinosaurs and Gross Guys and Captain Underpants and Peppa Pig (still) and calling everyone and everything a butt cheek. Best of all, you still love stuffies and are such a cuddly boy; you are always up for a good snuggle in bed or a hug under a blanket on the couch while we watch a movie. You are still the Class Clown (I feel like this will never change) and you try to make everyone laugh with your very impressive comedic timing.

I am so proud to be your mother and so thankful for what a wonderful little boy you are turning out to be. Earlier this week you were the first one ready and downstairs on a school day and when I came down you proudly proclaimed to me “I turned on all of the lights, and plugged in the Christmas tree, and cleaned up some garbage on the kitchen table, and took out our lunch bags, and fed the cats!” And my heart melted at how independent and capable and strong you are. But no matter how grown up you may seem or how many inches you grow, you will always be my baby boy (and you agree with this!) and I hope that you will always, always remember that.

Happy Birthday my sweet Holden – I wish nothing but joy for you this year and all the years thereafter.

Love,

Mama

First Day of School 2018/2019

This summer vacation seemed to fly by, but I am so thankful for being able to spend two full weeks at home with you all and to have made some amazing memories in the process. This summer you spent a full week at Camp Bubie and Zaidie (which you loved of course), two weeks with me, and six weeks at camp. The camp was filled with lots of games, fun, outdoor activities, new friends, and exciting field trips (Elmvale Zoo, the Barrie Fair, the splash pad, Earl Rowe, etc.) But I am most thankful for spending some quality time with my babies – we did berry picking and swimming and visits with your cousin, park trips (we decided to drive and explore new playgrounds so we could rank them), library visits, playdates, and more. We rented an RV for a weekend in Port Severn – watching movies, and going to the beach, and visiting the Big Chute Marine Railway, exploring the waterfront in Midland/Pentetanguishine – it was an amazing time all five of us together. And to cap off a great summer, we welcomed a new kitten to our family! It has been so lovely to watch you all fall in love with a new pet – I love seeing how gentle and caring you all are with this tiny three-pound snuggly terror. But as always, summer vacation ends too quickly and yesterday was your first day back at school – finally, all three kids in the big yard and no more kindergarten!

Holden –I was so impressed with how brave and excited you were to start Grade 1. A big kid, in the big yard, with a classroom all the way on the third floor! Thankfully, you are in a class with two of your best buds James and Tate, and you were so thrilled to see them in the line-up yesterday morning. No tears from you, and you came home ridiculously tired but also so eager to tell me everything about Grade 1 and your desks and how your classroom is set-up. I vividly remember how much maturing both of your sisters did in Grade 1, and I am excited to see what this pivotal year holds for my baby boy.

Lexi – In usual Lexi fashion, you picked the most colourful outfit to wear for your first day back (a dress covered in multi-coloured popsicles, ice-cream cone earrings, and pink streaks in your hair). You also faced the day bravely (no tears!) and were thrilled to be placed with a few friends that you were in kindergarten with but didn’t have in last year’s class. Your teacher seems lovely, and you are especially enthusiastic about the ‘flexible seating’ arrangement in your new class. You have regular desks, a standing table, a kneeling table, cushions on the floor, etc. and you were so excited to try out the different options today. I can’t wait to see my future little lawyer accomplishes this year.

Mercedes –Transition and change and the unexpected are often difficult for you, and it is heartbreaking to watch you struggle with anxiety during what should be an exciting time. I continue to admire and respect how hard you work to overcome your fears, and this year was no exception. I know that you were feeling anxious about back to school over the past week or so, but I watched you talk yourself off the ledge and for the first year in history we have had ZERO tears surrounding the start of school! I watched you bravely hold your head up high yesterday, despite clearly feeling overwhelmed at the chaos of the first morning. You are so relieved that you are with a couple of great friends, including your most recent bestie Caitlynn that you have been on the phone with ALL summer long, and you even have the same teacher that you had two years ago! She was wonderful, and dealt with your anxieties in a supportive, encouraging way. Grade 4 is yet another transition year – from Primary to Junior, from one recess block to another, learning French, joining school activities – and as usual, I am so excited to see how you tackle all of this new learning and growing. It is bittersweet watching my first baby grow up so much, and confusing since your father and I literally have no idea how to parent you without a lot of trial and error. But there is always so with much love and respect and pride, and I can’t wait to see what your future holds.

I am looking forward to hearing more about your first few days/weeks of school, and to see what this exciting new year holds. I have always loved the month of September for this very reason – the promise of new beginnings and growth is always so exciting, and now I get to live it all again three times over. Being a mother to all of you makes me so proud, and happier than you could ever know.

Love,

Mama

Lexi - Happy 7th Birthday!

Dear Lexi,

Happy 7^th birthday! I can’t express to you how much you have enriched the lives of everyone who has ever known you. All of our children are so deeply loved and treasured, but there is something so spirited and bright about you – everyone who meets you comments on your ‘spark’ (and your hair), and they are right to notice it. You came screaming into this world in a fast fury, tiny and squeaky, and you haven’t stopped since. You are this wonderful mix of super easy-going and flexible and carefree, while also being incredibly stubborn and feisty and sharp-witted. It’s a mix that often keeps us all laughing, and always keeps us on our toes.

You absolutely love to read, just like the rest of your family, and you have thrived immeasurably in Grade 1. You love math and writing and singing and gymnastics and playing with your brother and sister. You have no problems making friends, or socializing with people of any sort – you love chocolate and candy and cookies and ice cream (so much so, that you insisted on wearing a dress with popsicles on it today for your birthday), and basically most food (including a strong penchant for sushi and seafood, which is fun for us, but expensive). You just recently learned how to ride your bike without training wheels and you are so proud of yourself for figuring it out. You actually fell off your bike yesterday, scraping up your hands and knees, but you declared it won’t stop you from getting back on your bike next time.

We are so proud of the fantastic big kid you are growing into, and can’t wait to see what the next few years hold. I love seeing you discover the world around you and learn new things and become more independent. I love having intense conversations with you and seeing your dedication to the things you love (slime videos, LOLs, etc.) – and of course, no one gives better hugs than my sweet Lexi-Loo (even though it is literally like a small hurricane coming at you). You are often messy, and frequently loud; hard-headed and nitpicky, but oh so loving and affectionate. And while you may frustrate us to no end with your spirited attitude, we desperately want to ensure that you never lose that attitude – it will serve you well in life.

Happy Birthday Spitfire – we love you to the moon and back.

Love,

Mama

Mercedes - Happy 9th Birthday!

Dear Mercedes,

Nine years ago tonight, I was in labour and nervous as hell. Excited to meet you, ecstatic at becoming a mother, scared that I would have absolutely no idea what to do, worried at all that you would face in your life, and overwhelmed at the intense emotion of this very important moment. No one forgets the instance they become a parent. The birth of your sister and brother were/are also unforgettable, but there is always something truly unbelievable and surreal surrounding the birth of your first child. You were born in that moment, but so was I.

And now, nine years later, I remain continually amazed at this incredible journey we are undertaking together. As you figure out how to navigate the world, I am figuring out how best to guide you. I make mistakes – plenty of them – but together I know we can manage. I am so proud of the wonderful girl you are growing into – smart, observant, considerate, sensitive, emotional, funny, shy, and kind of goofy – and so incredibly thankful to be your mom. I love watching you thoughtfully pick out clothes in the morning, read a book to the family, or work through a math book (for fun!) I love the love that you have for music, and how you can listen to the same song over and over and over again (I wonder where you get that from…), and the way you dance with abandon. I love watching you conquer your fears at gymnastics, and make new friends, and call Caitlyn to discuss toys and how your day at school was even though you literally JUST saw each other an hour before.

For the first time, I am missing your birthday and although it was unavoidable and not my first choice, I still feel terribly guilty about it. I wish that I could be there to see your face in the morning and give you birthday hugs – but one day late is not going to be the topic of therapy years from now I hope?

Above all else, I am still nervous, just like I was nine years ago, only now I am worried about tween things – social media and mean girls and bullying and puberty. But just like then, I know that no matter how surreal it may seem to be your mother, it is also wonderfully amazing. And I know that we’ll always be just fine.

Love,

Mama

Holden - Happy 5th Birthday!

Dear Holden,

Tomorrow you turn FIVE years old! It’s hard to believe my ‘baby’ boy is already five – I remember the day you were born like it was yesterday. Actually I remember finding out you were on your way like it was yesterday also! As soon as the holiday decorations start coming out and the weather gets colder, it feels like Christmas and to me, that signals another year coming to a close, and another year celebrating the miracle of you, our sweet baby boy. It’s hard to imagine a time when we thought that our family was complete with just your sisters. We didn’t always plan on having a third baby, but it’s impossible to imagine you not here. Your charming voice, your amazing dimples, your adorable smile, your strong hugs, your smattering of freckles… but more than what you look like of course, we love your personality. We call you the Class Clown, because you will do anything to make your sisters and us laugh (lately, that means everything ends up being a poop, fart, or penis joke, but I am hoping that doesn’t last forever). You are so enthusiastic about everything that you do and it is a joy to see. You love telling us about your days at school and the funny things your friends did, you love listening to music and watching Power Rangers and collecting toys or playing video games with your dad. You are an expert snuggler and sometimes sneak into our bed without us even realizing it (and I not-so-secretly don’t mind one bit).

I am so amazed at how much you have changed since you started SK just a few months ago. I know it is difficult being the youngest in your grade, and it’s a challenge you will always have. But your literacy skills have improved so drastically, along with everything else – the way you colour, the way you talk about your days, the way you approach social situations, the way you are perfectly fine to be dropped off at school alone. It’s a pleasure to watch you mature into such a sweet, funny, smart little boy. I still often picture how you were when you were a baby – smiley and round and ALWAYS happy – and then I am struck by how different you are now. Five seems like such a milestone age – it is the last definitive sign that there are NO MORE BABIES here, and it makes me feel a little bit sad, truthfully. I’ve never hidden how much I love the baby stage, and to have my last child leaving that phase for good is a bit hard to swallow. But to see you grow into the adorable tiny human you are is worth it.

Happy birthday to my favourite guy in the whole wide world – our family is better for having you in it.

Love,

Mama 

Back to School 2017

Dear Mercedes, Lexi and Holden,

Yesterday was your first day of school (and for the first time there is no staggered entry for anyone, so you all ACTUALLY started together yesterday) and as predicted, there were some tears and anxious moments. As also predicted, by the time I got home from work yesterday afternoon you were all smiling and happy and fighting with each other to tell me every, single detail about your days.

Holden – For you, this was a pretty momentous occasion, as you are now the big kid in the class as one of the ‘Year 2s’ – you get to show the new JKs the ropes, and help lead the way in the class, which you apparently found quite exciting yesterday. This year also has you alone, without the security of your big sister nearby. It seems to be a bit difficult for you upon drop-off, because you are used to being dropped off with someone – Lexi all last year, and then both sisters all summer at camp. But I have no doubt that within a few days/weeks, you’ll be perfectly fine. You get to be in the same class as you were in last year, and you get Miss Nora as your daycare teacher, who has always taken a special liking to the Karavos kids. And of course, you have your amazing teaching pair in your Kindergarten class – I could not ask for better teachers. They are engaging and kind and empowering, encouraging independence and outdoor play and thoughtfulness. And most of all, they love you and your sunny personality almost as much as we do.

Lexi – My big girl started Grade 1! Going from Kindergarten to Grade 1 is quite a big leap –it means time in the big yard instead of the pen, and real desks in a real classroom instead of play-based learning in the kindergarten rooms. There were some tears from you in the morning as the first day chaos in the schoolyard is quite overwhelming. You also were reminded of your separation from some of your besties, who are still in SK with Holden (there was a particularly tearful moment when you and Stella pressed your hands together through the fence, which made my heart break a little). But you have some great friends in your class (Ava and Finn in particular) and I know you will make new ones quickly. You beamed at me at the end of the day because your teacher complimented your shirt (which you picked out especially for the first day, and in true Lexi fashion, had very bright sequins on it). You were thrilled to be in the big yard and to see your sister at recess and to be in before and after care with her. I know the change can be overwhelming, but as usual, my brave little girl will conquer any challenges that come.

Mercedes –Truthfully, I was a bit surprised that we didn’t have more anxious moments or tears leading up the start of school. We did discuss it a few times, and I know you were both nervous and excited about the start of school – excited because of course you love school, as you should, but nervous because it would be all new again; new teacher, new friends, and the unknown of who would be in your class and what your new routine would be like. Of course, you have also been through the first day chaos before and knew it would be overwhelming and busy. But the older you get, the more you are able to control and conquer your anxieties, and I couldn’t be more proud. There were tears once we got to the schoolyard, but you dealt with them and knew the anxiety wouldn’t last. You were relieved to see that a good buddy of yours, Hailey, is in your class and my heart swelled when Hailey realized you were upset and tucked your hair behind your ears and gave you a hug to comfort you. You were thrilled that you have the same Kids Club teacher as last year, and that you were with not only Lexi, but your two besties Cecily and Charlotte (I know you were disappointed you were not in a class with either of them, again, but Kids Club means at least you get to spend some time with them each day). At the end of the day you were all smiles, as I knew you would be, and eager to go back today.

I am so proud of all of you for being so brave. I love that you all love school so much, as I have such fond memories of all of my years of school. I can’t wait to see the new relationships you form this year, and the amazing new things you learn. Watching these opportunities unfold in front of you all is one of the best parts of being your mother (that, and the excited hugs and detailed stories at the end of each day).

Love,

Mama

Lexi - Happy 6th Birthday!

Dear Lexi,

This weekend, you turned six years old! We celebrated in true Lexi style – sushi, cupcakes, ice cream and an overnight trip to Great Wolf Lodge for the first time. We all had a blast at Great Wolf Lodge – swimming and dancing and roasting marshmallows and watching fireworks and hunting for magical objects. You wore your birthday wolf ears non-stop and even wore them to school the next day. It was so wonderful spending time together as a family and seeing your adorable face light up at all of the new and wondrous things we saw and experienced there.

It is truly a delight to watch you grow and get older, mature and learn new things. I find myself fascinated by you, my extra-delightful, independent middle child. I know I keep saying it, but it still rings true – you are this fantastic mix of feisty and easy-going, princess and adventurer, snuggly and fierce. You are obsessed with all things ice cream, cake and cupcakes – apart from just eating them whenever you get a chance, you also spend HOURS watching cake decorating videos on YouTube. So much so, that Auntie Kimmy even bought you baking-related goodies for your birthday so you can try your hand at decorating for real. You adore fashion now (just like your big sister) and anything music or dance related. The music starts and you just can’t help but move; your enthusiasm is contagious, and we are powerless to do anything but smile and dance with you. You are always front and center in the pictures your teacher posts of your class online, always smiling with a group of kids. You have a ‘boyfriend’ apparently (Tyson), that you say you are going to marry when you get older. You have extremely expensive taste in food – opting for sushi or seafood whenever given the choice. You love drawing and colouring and flashy jewelry and are thriving in the gymnastics class you take with Mercedes. You still have this gorgeously long, insanely curly hair (which everyone loves, including me), and big, bright eyes, but your legs are growing longer and longer with each passing month and your freckles are popping up fast and furious (which I also love). You’ve already lost your first tooth and #2 won't be far behind. You still have your sweet tiny voice (still difficult to tell you and Holden apart when you speak to me!) but your mispronunciations are slowly but surely disappearing (except for wolf, which ALWAYS comes out as Wuff, and I can’t get enough of it – being at Great Wolf Lodge was especially endearing!).

We all love you so much – much more than we could ever possibly explain. Everyone that meets you comments on your ‘spark’ – some people just have it, and you are one of those people. I never want to dim that bright light you contain, so please don’t ever lose it. Happy birthday my little spitfire.

Love,

Mama