To my girl and boy

Dear ones,
You have both now celebrated a birthday this year! 8 and 5. 8 and 5???? I guess that is what happens while we are living - you are growing up. But this is not a sappy post, it is a letter to you. So that we can all look back and remember how awesome you are at this stage in life. So here we go,

Ansley, since you are the first born, guess you can go first, so here goes...

Dearest Girl,
You are 8! Here are some things your 8 year old self loves: playing school, skating, reading, reading, reading, helping in the kitchen, the beach, swinging as high as you can, shopping, spending the night with your grandparents, singing, playing piano, swimming, oranges and grapes and watermelon, ice cream, flying to new places. egg drop soup

Here are some things you do NOT like: sweatshirts (this is very bazaar to me, but it is a definite 'no' on your list), fried oysters (only char-grilled or baked oysters will do - and you will eat the heck out of a plate of those. You try to eat them raw but it makes me too nervous, so cooked ones you would eat every week if we served them up), substitutes at school, hamburgers in the cafeteria, riding the school bus on field trips (where are the seat-belts you keep asking), and now that I think about it - you really aren't a fan of anything fried. food-wise. and you don't like when people break the rules,

You are a sweet and precious child. You play with your brother so well and you are counting the days until your baby sister arrives. She might as well have two mamas at this point as I (and everyone else) know that she will be just as much yours as mine. You are beautiful inside and out and I love every freckle that pops up on your face in the summertime. You are a ray of sunshine.


Dearest Boy,
You are 5! Here are some things your 5 year old self loves: sword fighting with anyone who will take you on (no sword? A no contact old fashioned fist fight will do just fine), happy meals, apple juice, cowboy boots, Zorro, Captain Jack, peanut butter sandwiches cut into the shape of Mickey Mouse, show and tell days at school, the playground at your school, smuggling rocks and pecans off the playground at your school,chicken nuggets with sweet and sour, swiping anyone's Iphone or Ipad that you can get your hands on.

Here are some things you do NOT like: Friday shirts at school, the news, car rides, sitting outside of Ansley's ballet class waiting for her to finish, bedtime, getting up in the mornings, wearing shirts with collars, public displays of affection.

You are a sweet and smart little man. You say what you think and you mean what you say. You remember even the tiniest details and you  are honest to the core. You love your sister and your favorite pastime is being let loose with her in the backyard or the playroom. You are handsome inside and out and I love your hair and forbid anyone to cut it except for one person in the world. You are a ray of sunshine.

Jamey and I are blessed  and we are patiently waiting on our 3rd ray of sunshine.