Dear Maddie

Dear Maddie,
Wow! You are six. Six in a half to be exact! You are at school right now finishing your last few days of Kindergarten! The last six years have been amazing watching you grow. It has been a really good year for you. You have loved being in school. I have loved hearing about how much you have learned. You are reading really well now. It's great...at bedtime you want to read to me now...it's a fun change!
You are taking piano lessons from Crystal Cahoon. You are doing well, even though sometimes you give me a hard time about practicing. We are looking forward to your first recital. You are playing "Under the Sea" from The Little Mermaid" and "Circle of Life" from the Lion King.
You really seem to like music. You know every word to most Taylor Swift songs. I love when we are driving somewhere and I hear you singing along with me to the country radio station. I'll enjoy it now while you will still listen to country music with me.
Last weekend you went with Dad and me to see Aunt Becca in May Show. Mom was in May Show when she was in high school. I though you were old enough to sit through it and really enjoy it. You were really good. It is fun to have you old enough to be able to do some fun things with. I realize how much I miss you being young. But on the other hand I am really enjoying each stage as you grow up. It is fun to see you make friends. You and Lauren Farkas have become really good friends this year in Kindergarten. I am glad that you have had each other and I really hope you get to be in class together next year too. You are also really lucky to have a primary class full of girls. You are especially close to Christine Headrick and Eris Foutz. It's fun to watch you form these relationships!!
You are doing really well in school and I am looking forward to having a really fun summer with you and your siblings!!!
I love you! Love,
Mom

A Journal for my kids

Dear Maddie, Ava, Nora, and Jack,
I am not very good at keeping up with things in life. I have scrapbooks of you that are partially finished. I have pictures galore that are unorganized on my computer. I have memories from when I was younger..reading journals that my mom had kept and being able to laugh and know some of the things i said or did as a child. You are growing so fast! Life is chaotic and busy. You are precious, you are smart, you are funny. As much as I want to my mind is not remembering all the moments as much as I would like. So this journal is for you. All of you. So when you are grown we can sit together and laugh and never forget these moments! I love you!
Love, Mom