Lexi - Happy 12th Birthday!

 Dear Lexi,

A dozen years of knowing you and just when I think I couldn’t possibly love you more, you do something that makes me even more proud to be your mom. I know it’s hard being a middle child, and I know it’s hard being 12 – not really a little kid anymore (but you still love to wrestle with your brother like puppies) and not quite a teenager yet (despite the daily mascara wear). But as always, you seem to just plow through headlong. You are by far the most independent of your siblings, always wanting to make your own meals/snacks, baking alone, cleaning your room, organizing the pantry or your bathroom, always finishing all of your homework/assignments on time (seemingly effortlessly), never forgetting to put your elastics on your braces before bed each night.

It’s a pleasure watching you navigate your life and school and friendships and changing fashion and doing it all in your characteristic Lexi way. Quiet but loud, calm but feisty, loving but witty, snuggly but strong, athletic but artistic. You embody the perfect balance of someone who is grounded, sensitive, empathetic, loving, and above all, determined to do things her own way. And I couldn’t be more thrilled to see how you evolve as you become a teenager and beyond. Whatever life holds for you, I’m so glad to be along for the ride, and I know that you’ll kick butt no matter what.

Thank you for being you – I couldn’t be prouder to get to be your mom.

Love,

Mama

Family Vacation - Puerto Plata March '23

This past week marked only our second time ever taking you kids on a plane. The last tropical vacation we had was back in 2017, and it was an entirely different vibe! Super fun, but you guys weren’t great swimmers and couldn’t be left unsupervised for… really anything! Holden kept falling asleep in his dinner, someone always had to go to the bathroom, you all needed help at the buffets, etc. So we were super excited to take you all back to the Dominican as much older kids who could fend for themselves.

Back in August (right after our Sauble Beach vacation) we booked this awesome two-bedroom family suite, which came with a bunch of upgrades like room servic and private restaurants/pools, private concierge, etc. We knew going in that it was a slightly smaller resort than ones we’d been to previously, it was a bit older and more outdated, but the reviews were fairly positive and we got a great deal on this suite that could easily accommodate our bigger family. However, 13 hours before we were set to depart, Air Transat called to tell us that they no longer had our suite available and we’d get two rooms side-by-side. We were furious. And heartbroken. And furious. Did I mention furious? Thank goodness for our travel agent, who spent HOURS on the phone to fight on our behalf to ensure we got what we paid for. We didn’t, but we made the best of it with our two rooms side by side (and a pretty sweet partial refund). Regardless, we were away, together, on a beach, with unlimited food that *I* didn’t have to prepare!

Once we sorted out those pesky details, the rest of the trip actually went fairly smoothly! The flight was easy, the resort staff was absolutely incredible, the food was good, the beach was gorgeous, and the weather was perfect (not a single drop of rain the entire time!). I had also been nervous going into the trip because of course, 12 days before departure, Holden got Covid. And then Daddy. And then Lexi. Surprisingly, Mercedes and I were the only ones left standing but I was terrified that we’d get sick while away and miss out on some of the enjoyment of our long-awaited, very much-earned vacation. And then… I did get sick, right before we left, which actually turned out to be strep and a chest infection! Apparently I finally relaxed so much that I relaxed my immune system at the same time. Leave it to me to NOT get Covid from three of my immediate family members, but instead get strep for the first time in probably 40 years!

So yes, there were hiccups along the way, but if life the past many years has taught us anything it’s that we need to roll with the punches and keep going. And that’s exactly what we did. And all in all, we had a fabulous time. There were shows and endless amounts of food. Cold, slushy drinks and the beach. Finding coral and a birthday spa visit. Hours and hours of swimming and playing in the pool, including water aerobics and dance parties and volleyball. There was teaching you guys how to play pool, and foosball, and table tennis. There were card games and so many books read. And above all else, there were a LOT of laughs. I’m so thankful we made it out there, despite those hiccups, and I’ll treasure those memories forever.

Here’s to many more vacations with my beautiful family! (Only maybe without the covid and strep and overbooked resort next time.)

Love,

Mama

Mercedes - Happy 14th Birthday!

Dear Mercedes,

Fourteen years ago you came marching into this world and changed the lives of everyone around you. Not only did we birth new life… YOU created new roles for the rest of us. All of a sudden, I became a mother, and Daddy became a father. You created a Bubie and a Zaidie and two doting aunts, and even a great-grandmother and a GREAT-great-grandmother (and although she died shortly after you were born, it was the absolute greatest pleasure of her life that she was able to fulfil that role, however briefly). Such is the power of first-born children. And with that power comes the knowledge that you are our greatest experiment. I have no idea how to parent a fourteen year old – this is all new for all of us! But I’m not scared, because I have the best kid in the world to figure it out with.

I could not be prouder of the person you are growing up to be. Of course, you’re beautiful and exceptionally smart and witty. But you are also kind. And loving. And affectionate. And giving. During your parent-teacher conference this year, your teacher told us that you were a “quiet leader, and a great asset to have in the class,” which makes me more thrilled than any grades you could possibly ever get. I love hearing about you volunteering to help with younger classes and set up the gym for assemblies and work to collect Christmas Cheer items, etc. It’s truly amazing to see you blossom into someone who is confident with her friends and her likes/dislikes, but also willing to lend a hand, open to hearing/discussing hard things, able to take a stance on issues you feel strongly about – and, make sarcastic jokes and accept the teasing that is an inherent part of being in this family.

Something MY father always said to me that stuck, which perfectly sums up how I feel now, is that I LOVE you, because of course I do – I made you! But I also actually really LIKE you. I WANT to spend time with you, watching tv and snuggling together, or reading side by side wrapped in a blanket, or going for drives to take sunset pictures, or wandering the mall and finding the perfect outfit. Spending time chatting and hanging out with you fills my cup in so many ways, and I just hope that as you stride further forward into the teenage trenches that you won’t forget how much you enjoy hanging out with ME too.

Happy birthday my gorgeous lovebug!

Love always,

Mum

Holden - Happy 10th Birthday!

Dear Holden,

It’s crazy to me that 11 years ago we had no idea we would ever have another baby, and then one year later, there you were, completing our family in the best way possible. You, with your thick, curly hair and amazing freckles and cute little nose and gap-toothed grin and quirky sense of humour, remain to this day the best Christmas surprise anyone could have ever asked for. You are everything we never knew we always wanted – complete with armpit farts and penis jokes and loud burps at the table and the best laugh I’ve ever heard when you don’t know we’re listening.

It's hard to believe that you are already 10 years old – for starters, I don’t feel old enough to have been a parent to three for an entire decade, but also, it’s hard to fathom how quickly time flies and how much you’ve grown in the past year. You walk back and forth to school alone, you hang out with your friends (ok, mostly online but whatever), you spend a LOT of time in your room (again, online with your friends), you have the best computer set-up in the house, you are a Fortnite expert, schoolwork seems to come easily to you, you have no problem helping yourself to a giant bowl of cereal at any time of the day… you’re growing up right before our eyes and it’s sad and scary and wonderful to see, all at the same time.

But no matter what, I’m so unbelievably proud of the boy you are turning into and can’t wait to see the man you will eventually become. I have no doubt you will continue being funny and smart and quirky and loving – just maybe try to be a *bit* nicer to your sisters (or like, acknowledge their presence when you see them at school, please).

Love you forever and ever,

Mama

Lexi - Happy 11th Birthday!

 Dear Lexi,

ELEVEN! It’s hard to believe that we’re that much closer to teenager-hood with our second baby but seeing how much you have changed over the past year, I really shouldn’t be that surprised. Truthfully, I’m not sure I’m entirely on board with all of these changes, but I know I have to continue to step back and let you discover your own tastes and assert your own opinions (something which you have never had a problem with truthfully!). Gone is my little girl who chose clothes that were super-patterned and bright and colourful (i.e. the louder, the better). Instead, you’re much more focused on what’s in style and what looks good together – opting usually now for more muted colours like your big sister. You two are basically the same size so you share clothes (which is lovely, except that I’m still somehow buying two of everything). I still see elements of your old self come through though, like your pink converse shoes instead of the very standard black that every other tween/teen is wearing these days. And of course, you still do love your stuffies (much as I try to encourage you to pack some away), and you are still the best hugger around.

But you, much like your siblings, are more often in your room, less likely to want to snuggle. You’ve mostly given up on animated/kids movies, and love watching horror films with your father. You like hanging out with your friends, and watching YouTube, and reading in your room. It’s fun to watch you grow and change, see your personality continue to develop, learn more about the person you are becoming. You are a perfectionist – and insist on always finishing all of your homework immediately, striving to do the best job that you can. You get more frustrated with assignments that are a bit more abstract, with no right or wrong answer (despite the aforementioned love of asserting your opinion, somehow it doesn’t translate into your schoolwork!) – but you have a real knack for things that are more black and white, with a clear right or wrong answer. You are still the best at arguing your point (Lawyer Lexi) and once you focus on something, you FOCUS.

I love watching you grow and change, but please, please don’t lose ALL of those quirks and obsessions (yes, maybe even the stuffies!) that make you the funny, feisty little Lexi you’ve always been. Regardless, we love you more than you’ll ever know and are so proud of the person you are.

 

Love,

Mama

Mercedes - Happy 13th Birthday!

Dear Mercedes,

It’s official – you’re a teenager! (And yes, that means that I am old enough to have a teenager.) When I think back to the days and weeks leading up to your birth, I remember both a sense of excitement and nervous anticipation. I had no idea what I was getting into, but I knew I was excited to take on the challenge of becoming a mother – becoming YOUR mother. I feel much the same now. I know there will be rough times ahead for us all – teenagers are meant to be difficult. You’ll straddle the line between kid and adult, test boundaries, push me away and then pull me close. Because you are our first, we really have no idea what parenting a teenager is like (except for those foggy memories we have of actually being teenagers – the confusion and heartache and uncertainty and feeling of being WAY smarter than your parents). But we do know you – we know how funny and smart you are. We know your quick wit and your devotion to your friends. We know your sensitive heart and the way you cry at movies (no idea where you got that trait from). We know how proud we are to be your parents, and that you are our greatest experiment.

For now, you are happy to be with me – you frequently want to snuggle while we binge-watch tv shows, you like reading with me after your siblings go to bed. And I’m trying my hardest to hold on for dear life because I know that can change in an instant. You will pull away. You will be gone more than you are here. If anything, I’m grateful to Covid for delaying the inevitable. But I do hope that you always remember that no matter what, I’m immensely proud to be your mom. I hope you remember that I will always, always be here for you – to listen, to vent to, to offer advice, to give you a ride out of a sticky situation, to be your out when you’re pressured to do something you don’t want to do, to send funny TikTok videos to, to be your shopping buddy.

So be kind to me, my newly-minted teenager, as I wax nostalgic about the days when you wouldn’t let me out of your sight, and needed to sleep beside me, and were fully dependent on me. I’m so proud to see you spread your wings and learn to be your own mini-adult. But I’ll be ever so thankful if you continue to let me walk beside you as you grow.

Love,

Mum

Holden - Happy 9th Birthday!

Dear Holden,

Happy 9^th birthday! I remember your last birthday pretty vividly, because we were closing in on almost an entire year of the global Covid-19 pandemic, and I felt so terrible that you were going to celebrate your birthday in a very different way. Despite an entire year passing, and all of us being in various stages of vaccination, it feels like we’re right back where we started! Thankfully, it looks like we can still celebrate you in some fashion – a big family dinner and an outing of your choice, etc. But it’s not quite the same when this doom and gloom hangs over us. Regardless, I know we’ll make the best of it and I’m just so happy we’re all healthy and able to spend time together.

Of course, you’ve grown and changed over the past year – sometimes it feels like I blink and you’ve gotten taller, or more freckle-y, or lost yet another mispronunciation (there’s basically none left now *sob*). But you still look like my little boy in so many ways (maybe those freckles have something to do with it!).

You’re doing great in school, even though it’s yet another year filled with disruptions and strangeness (masks and recess cohorts and no field trips or parents in the schools, etc.). You were chosen to participate in a math contest and had a glowing report card (well, apart from the recommendation that you try not to talk to your friends so much in class – I have no idea where you got that trait from!). You gave Minecraft a try this year and became absolutely obsessed with it and have also recently discovered a fascination with all things military vehicles (jets and helicopters and tanks) – so much so that for your family birthday outing (instead of a birthday party) we’re planning on going to the Base Borden Military Museum!

As always, you remain funny and witty and smart, with sharp observations and intense roasts for your sisters especially. You can be a little grumpy, particularly when you are hungry (but it’s nothing that three breakfast sandwiches won’t cure). You still give the best hugs and snuggles, although those are happening less and less frequently these days (*sob* again).

Above all else, I’m so happy to watch you grow and to get to be a witness to how your amazing mind works and the things you discover each day. I’m so proud to be your mom and excited to see what the next year holds for my special ‘baby’ boy.

Love,

Mama