Dear Jack,

You are at a such fun age.  I feel like I could talk about you for hours because you say and do the funniest things almost daily.  I don't know what our family would do without you.

Preschool has been surprisingly still a very good thing.  You love to go, to do your homework and I am still amazed at all the words, letters and numbers that you are learning each week. I am very confident that you will be ready for kindergarten and do amazing at APA.

Speaking of APA, your little world has gotten shook up the last few months.  I started subbing for the school thinking that you will be there next year and that next year I want to get a more permanent position.  Well, I liked it so much and the school liked me enough that I quickly was offered a full-time position and now you are being watched at three different houses, depending on the day, as well as going to preschool.  I drop you off at 7:30 and don't get to pick you up until after 4.  At first you thought it was a fun change and you went without a fuss.  Lately, you cry when I drop you off on the doorstep and I have to be honest and say that I have really considered quitting because of it.  I hate to see you cry, and I honestly do miss our time together.  Me working on the computer, you playing or watching shows next to me, or finding you asleep in the funniest places.  However, the other 3 kids have loved me being at school with them and I know soon enough you will be there with us all day as well.  

I have not decided what I will do next school year.  I am grateful that you will be there at least half day and that I will get paid this coming summer to stay home with you and the kids.  I am so sorry buddy.  I do hope that I am not setting you up for some major anxiety or separation issues, but I feel that I am where I need to be right now. 

I am also your new primary teacher, which turned out to be a really good thing.  You look forward to the weekends and staying home with me and Dad anyway, but now you and I don't have to be separated on Sundays either.  You are stubborn in class and I am not sure if you would act this way if I wasn't your teacher or not, but we are trying to fix that.  

Pictures still seem to be your least favorite thing to do ever, and you still like to fall asleep in random places if you get the chance.  You are loving your new tablet that you got for Christmas, and love to watch Thomas the Train or the Power Rangers.  You pack your lunch for the next day the night before like the rest of the kids, but if you don't have any more frozen mac n' cheese dinners to take, you will have a meltdown.

I have to add that you were so brave at Disneyland.  We took you on Thunder Mountain Railroad, the swings over at California Adventure and probably a few other things that really you were not mature enough for.  They made you scream bloody murder and I am really afraid that we have scarred you for life.  Thunder Mountain in particular, was the worst.  You went on it first with your dad (I guess went on the train with a 1 on the engine).  You repeated over and over for the rest of the day that you "do not like the #1 train!"  However, most of the rides you fell in love with and would always say "that was so awesome!" coming off of them.

I love how you say "a-cuz" instead of because, how you live in your Batman hoodie and blue jeans and are the pickiest eater but have recently branched out to Nutella sandwiches and toast.  I love your big hugs, insistence on those goodnight kisses, your unfathomable ability to never really get sick.  But above all, I love how you are such a mama's boy and seem to love me unconditionally, even when I make mistakes and don't deserve it.  You are such a joy.  I love you so much.

Love,
Mom

You fell asleep at the Primary Program (day before) practice, right on the stand.  I should've known but still couldn't believe it.

Dear Emmi

You are my little fishy.  You love the water and are really good at it too.  Last year you passed off two levels during the one session and we will find out here in the next few days if you passed off two levels this session.  All I know is that you like to be the first in line during class so you get to go first and have so far done just that.  I love to watch you swim and see how happy it makes you.

I also loved to watch your first musical theatre recital.  Your group's theme was "All Around the World" and your class performed five different songs (sung them with dance moves).  You are quite the performer on stage and your grin was huge.  Musical theatre seems like a really good fit for you, being the ham that you are.  After the recital I asked if you want to do it again next year and you said, "Well, that was quite a lot of fun"..  Ha ha.  I think that was a yes.

You love to play with friends and like to try to skip out on chores and be out there finding someone to play with at the crack of dawn.  You just recently starting riding your new bike that you got for Christmas and love to ride up and down the street.  When you are inside, you and your friends are usually in your room playing with your "American Girl" dolls or Ever After High barbie dolls.

I love that you wanted to learn how to clean the bathrooms and have now helped me clean our three bathrooms for the past two weeks. You favorite part is cleaning the toilet, and I still haven't figured that one out yet. It is fun to be in there with you, cleaning, chatting and listening to the music.  In the past you haven't been the most helpful, your brothers usually cleaning more than you have done on Saturdays, but you have done more than your share recently.  Now if we can just get you to be excited about cleaning your room.;)  I love you Mouse!

Love,
Mom

Dear Sam,

I was so proud to be your mama today and be there for your baptism.  You looked so handsome in your little white jumpsuit.  I could tell you were very excited and maybe a little bit nervous too.  

I hope you will always remember this day, as I have looked back fondly on mine.  I hope you will remember the love that you felt from all of our family, and even dear friends who came to support you.  I hope you also felt the Holy Spirit during the baptism and confirmation.  I know this church is true, and I hope that you will find that out as well.

It was a wonderful service, Grandpa Hunsaker doing such a great job on the Holy Ghost talk, and Grandpa B saying the opening prayer.  You also got baptized with Cameron Carroll and Trinity Fredericks from our ward.  Afterwards, we went back to the house for pizza and lots of other fun food, enjoying family and playing with cousins.  

You are also officially a cub scout now, and want to work in book every night.  That is something that I love about you, how much you love to learn and try new things.  You do the same thing with your homework too.  Your enthusiam for everything is contagious, and our family would truly be dull without you.  I love you Sam.

Love, Mom