Dear Emmi,

This last week you turned 6.  It still feels like yesterday that I found out I was finally getting a baby girl, and I was over the moon!  I was starting to worry that I would never get one.  Your Dad always wanted a daughter too, and I think he was hoping your big brothers were girls.  We wouldn't trade them of course, but it just shows how much we really wanted you in our family and how happy we were that day.  Your Dad is the one who named you too.  We had some friends just after we were married and living in Cedar City that had the cutest little baby girl named Emmy.  After that, he wanted an Emmi too.  I think your name fits you perfectly.

You are just finishing up Kindergarten, and are quite the little social bee.  All I hear from Mrs. McFarland is that she sees "the back of your cute curlies" quite a bit.  You love to talk to friends and have many in your class.  You did struggle a little bit with your reading at the beginning of the year and you had me and Dad worried.  However, it clicked about halfway through the year, and I am amazed at all the words you know.  You also got your Dad's and big brother Keaton's math gene too, and have surprised your teacher at how well you are picking up addition.

Like I said, you are a little social bee.  You are blessed to have 2 friends live super close, Mary across the street and and Rylee next door.  Every day after lunch, even before I am finished eating you say, "Bye Mom, I am going to Mary's!"  I have had to start to cut back on days you can play with friends because you would play every day if I let you, and while I work in the next room, you make a huge mess.  I am glad you play so well with friends though, and I love listening to you and the girls play dolls in your little voices.

For your birthday, you wanted an "American Girl" doll, but really what you wanted a Target doll, and I was very excited to buy one for you.  I always wanted an American Girl doll when I was a little girl.  You had to go to school on your birthday and I let you play with friends after lunch.  Later that night we celebrated both you and Jack's birthday at the Brick Oven.

Then, just yesterday, we had your first friend birthday party, a little "tea" party for girls in the neighborhood.  We had your Capri Sun "tea, little heart sandwiches, played Bingo, had a scavenger hunt, and a few other games.  I think it was a success.

Emmi, you are my little sweetheart and like I said, I am so grateful to have you as a daughter.

Love, 
Mom

Dear Keaton,

Me and Jack had so much fun watching you at the Hershey Track Meet.  I admired your enthusiasm to run and participate, and I never heard you complaining once.   Even though you did not make the finals in any of your events, you had fun and I could tell that you truly tried your best.

Last week, we started a new thing at our house where you get to help me make dinner one night a week, and rotate with Sam and Emmi.  You got to do it first, and cooked us spaghetti, which we were all very impressed by.  I thought it would be more work for me than it would for you, and that I would be frustrated some time during it, but I wasn't.  You were so excited about it, which makes me happy.  I want all my kids to be good cooks before they leave home; It will help you so much in life. Of course, you didn't say much as we were working together in the kitchen, much like I hear from your school and piano teachers.  You have always been more quiet and reserved, and are continuing to be so.  I love to hear your cute laugh when your brothers and sister get you going, though.  When you do get hyper, you are a hard one to calm down.

Again, this year, you got Student-of-the-Month the very first month, and I even received a call from your teacher, Mrs. Ray,  just to tell me how much she appreciates you in her class.  Honestly, this did not surprise me at all, being the boy that you are.    

Just this morning I had the privilege of starting my fast with you.  I am so happy that for right now, you do this willingly, and actually remind me.  It is so special to kneel with you beside my bed, to ask you what you want to fast for, and then have me say the prayer.  I always feel the spirit so strong in our prayers together, and I can help but shed a few tears in that moment.  I am so grateful for the opportunity to fast with you, and feel of your sweet spirit.

I have to document that your new favorite food is BBQ ribs.  Your dad and I bought them on a whim since you and your brother love to eat chicken off the bone, we thought you might like these.  Sure enough, now you ask for them every week.  You still make us smile with your messy face after eating, whatever it be.  Sometimes, you come home from school with some sauce (I am guessing BBQ), smeared over one cheek, that must have been there from lunch.  Me and your dad get a kick out of it.  We love you so much Keaton, and are so proud of you. 

Love, Mom