For Harper on your 4th birthday

My Darling Harper,

Our Fourth baby turned four!!  I'm not very sorry to see the age of 3 be gone forever from our home.  You knew it all at 3---how to work my phone, what times you should sleep, if you need a nap, how to pour (cereal, milk, water, juice),  what makes a nutritious meal, what you should wear,  how to do your hair, etc. etc. etc.  You knew a lot when you were 3.

But now you're FOUR.  You're a growing girl and I'm sure this year will give us lots of challenges too, but I hope we have a better way of communicating this year.  The kicking, hitting, screaming, and whining fits didn't work out too well for us in that 3rd year.

You have been my little shadow this year, perfectly content to be in my company.  You often say to me, "you're my best friend mom".  On school mornings you loved to drive with me to drop off the kids, and we'd stop sometimes for coffee for me and hot cocoa for you.  On the mornings Dad was home he would bribe you to stay with him by promising to let you watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  Sometimes you'd be crying as we walked out the door.

You absolutely burst with personality--some sassy, and lots of sweet.  You still love your blankie, Kee Kee (its never far from us), and you still suck your thumb, especially when you're tired. You're a fashionista, often changing your clothes about 482 times a day, breaking many, many hangers as you pull dresses, shirts, and pants down to create some unique outfit.  You do not like shorts, preferring dresses and leggings even in the summer. You like your hair down but will put it up for gymnastics.  You like to accessorize and usually have an armful of bracelets going up your arm.  You love dancing in your sparkly white high heel princess shoes and your princess dresses.  We've had many dance parties this summer to Taylor Swift and Katy Perry songs and Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines.  You do play well with your siblings, but will scold them by calling them a "cheater-cat" or a "meanie-peanie" when something does not go your way.  You like to play house with all of them and will only be the baby or the pet tiger. This summer, the kids and I have tricked you into taking your afternoon nap by telling you they were all laying down for a rest. Your favorite places to eat are Nicdonald's (McDonald's) and Wocky J's (Teriyaki J's).  This is now the way all of us pronounce the names of these places.  Your favorite movie is still Tangled, which surprises us because you ask us to take you to get a haircut about once a week.  You refer to my mom as "little Grandpa" and it always makes us laugh.  You are a climber and can get up on the kitchen cabinets, often for gum and cups.  You can write your full first name now, and refer to the letter "H" as a "Harper Jeanie".  When we pass your pre-school you'll say, "that's where Miss Becky is" and at your birthday dinner you counted backwards from 9-0.  We didn't know you could do that.  You like the game where something is in our hands behind our back and you pick a hand.  Daddy teases you and you never win.  Sometimes you'll play the game and tell us which hand to pick so we won't win.  You say funny and sassy things like "Awkward" and "Whatever", usually at completely inappropriate times.    You've learned to scooter very well this summer and seem to like gymnastics class much better than dance class.    You loved swimming lessons and swimming this summer.  You love going with me to Logan and Ry's soccer practices, especially if there is a play area nearby.   You are looking forward to seeing Samee's baby and being a flower girl for Tricia's wedding.  If I buy something for you that you don't like, you'll say "lets keep that for Samee's baby." We got your flower girl dress in the mail and you loved trying it on and twirling around in it.

You are all things wonderful Harper--we love you!!

August 22nd, about 11:00...

The last 3 year old picture of Harper. 

This polka dot dress has been one of Harper's favorites.

(It used to belong to Presley)

Mommy and Harper

Waiting patiently for Papa and Grandma

A little evening play time. 

With Grandma and Papa Nelson

Logan's VERY close to passing Grandma

Harper wanted a pink, sparkly cake.

This was after presents and she had changed into her name gymnastics leotard.

Special Day for a Special Girl!!

Ry's Half Birthday

Halfway to SEVEN today...so HALF of a root beer float from Owl's Soda Fountain to celebrate.

 Love you so so much!!

Harper is 4...Our Interview

What is your favorite food?  Chicken
What is your favorite game to play?  The Tiger Game
What is your tiger name?  Diamond
What is your favorite color?  Pink
What makes you feel happy?  To color
Where in the world would you like to go?  To visit grandpa
What did you like about being 3?  Going to mom's group and swim lessons
What are you scared of?  Monsters
What is your favorite thing to do?  Go underwater
What is your favorite sport?  Soccer, like Logan
What do you like about our family?  Food (I think she meant that we eat together)
What do you want to do when you grow up?  Make flowers

(Presley is standing next to me and suggested I try to make the words pink because that is Harper's favorite color)

To our 10 year old girl...

Sweet Presley,

You woke up this morning and immediately asked if you were officially ten years old.  When I told you yes, you showed me 10 by using all of your fingers.  You were so excited and you sat on my lap and I made a comment about how this is how I held you in the hospital 10 years ago.  I went into the story of the day you were born, how fast you came, how I held you in the middle of the night all by myself and told you about your big brother and your family, how your face was bruised and you had little sideburns.

As I went up to bed on the 19th, I took a quick last picture of you as a 9 year old.  You sleeping with your One Direction pillow, blanket, and nightgown on, next to the picture book I read to you after you asked me to snuggle with you and read to you that night, the one I've read to you hundreds of times, that your probably have memorized.   I think this sums up your ninth year pretty well.  Most of the time still a little girl, loving on her mommy and daddy, playing girly things and dressing girly, occasionally joining us in our room when scared at night, and still very innocent.  And once in a while, showing us a more growing up side of you--rolling your eyes at me, listening to your IPod with your headphones in, picking out your own outfits, complaining about still riding in a car seat, or asking about getting a Facebook account (Logan has never even asked for one, so the answer was no).

You love when I tell you little personal stories of you as a baby or young child.  You like to hear about what you called Logan when you learned to talk (Du-gan) and then you'll call him that for a while.  You like to hear the stories of about how you only loved me, how when others would try to hold you, you'd cry.  You like to hear the story about how when you were 3 I took you for your shots and you didn't flinch when the needles went in.  You like to hear the story of when I cried when I dropped you off at kindergarten.  I love sharing these stories with you.  You like to tell stories too, but your stories are super wordy and long and noone can follow them quite to the end yet.  Once in  a while, you'll come down with some super cute outfit on with a bow in your hair and you'll light up when I say, "Oh Presley, you are still my girl".

Presley, you are so beautiful it sometimes takes my breath away.  I'll catch you out of the corner of my eye and I'm caught off guard and just like to stare at you for a few seconds, in awe that I had anything to do with your beauty.  But more than the beauty on the outside, is the beauty I see on the inside.  We talk alot about that...how to give others grace, how to be humble, how to let other people's hurtful words and actions roll off your back, how you can only control you, how to be a friend to everyone, and our favorite recent saying "modest is hottest".  I was reading a magazine with some racy ads and I asked you if you'd ever wear something like that and you quickly said, "no, that's not appropriate".  So now we say, moddest is hottest.  Your school has taught you the concept of "fill your bucket"--when you do or say something good/kind to someone else it fills your bucket and their bucket.  Sometimes I'll ask you, "did that fill your bucket?".  We like that saying.

I think you're the perfect combination of funny and intelligent and sarcastic and sensitive.  Logan said something mean to you this summer and you immediately fell to tears and said, "I try not to let it get under my skin, but it shoots right to my heart and stings".  He apologized to you and then you cried some more and told me "these are happy tears cause he was sorry." And recently Logan was stung by two bees and you said, "It must have been the queen bee attracted to your Axe".  You four have been playing this tiger/baby game with Harper and Ry and you've named the baby tigers Jonathan and Diamond.  You're really funny and you don't even realize it.  You have a really great laugh that we love to hear, and we're so lucky that we do get to hear it often.  You have had a happy 9th year.

The world needs more girls like you Presley, we love you to the moon and back.

My first look at my ten year old this morning. 

Sibling birthday picture

These three boys love you more than anything.

You wanted a dark and light blue cake. 

Presley is 10: Our Interview

What is your favorite food?  Spaghetti
What is your favorite thing to do in school?  Reading
What is your favorite color?  Blue and green
What makes you happy?  When someone compliments me
Where in the world would you like to go?  Paris
What was the best thing about being 9?  How much we went swimming this summer
What are you scared of?  Spiders and sharks
What is your favorite sport?  Basketball
What is your favorite thing to do?  Read
What do you like most about our family?  We go to lots of places together
What do you want to be when you grow up?  A teacher

Pool Party, Birthday Fun!!

On Sunday, August 4th we travelled to the Tri-Cities to celebrate August and September birthdays.  The Nelson's were 4/6 of the birthday party (Dave, Logan, Presley, and Harper) and the other two were Legard's (Dave and Connie).  We had a fun time visiting, swimming, opening presents, eating BBQ-style, and having cake and ice cream.

The boys played pool basketball

The kids went down the slide lots and lots

Ry and Harper were tossed in the air by Papa

Harper dived (I think she's seen this before watching Presley's swim lessons)

And she picked her nose

These sweet cousins hot-tubbed

(Harper, Alyson, Holly, Mylee, and Presley)

We sang "happy birthday" and the birthday people blew out their candles

The three sisters

And the three brothers-in-law

Saying good-bye to Grandma and Papa before we head home

Logan is 12!!

Logan-berry, you're 12!  And I can't believe it!!

Your elementary years are behind you and you're officially tween-y. You're headed into middle school this year and I have no doubt you'll do just fine. Your teachers and us have always considered you a leader amongst your peers and a kind friend to everyone.  You do have a good circle of friends and you can make a friend wherever you go.  Continue to smile often and be kind--it costs nothing to be kind and generous to others and it'll pay you back so many times over.  You have never been bothered by peer pressure.  Stay strong and true to your beliefs--take the road map that we've been drawing together to help guide you.  Don't let your friends influences change you.  There will always be people who will like and respect you for standing up.  Remember to reach out with a helping hand.  You have an innate ability to show compassion and empathy towards others-continue to do so.  It's a great gift.

Presley, Rylan and Harper are very lucky to have you as an older brother.  Seriously.  You've set such a good example and I'm so thankful that they get to follow you.  I am thankful to be witness to a true sibling relationship between you and Presley, and what I see is sometimes good and sometimes bad.  But the love is there.  Sometimes I catch the way Ry looks up to you, with just pure love and adoration for you.  I love that you play babies and house with Harper.  I love that sometimes you purposely let them win just to make them feel good.  I love that they have all helped you "train" this summer by playing soccer and basketball with you.  I love that you are patient with them.  And, I'm so happy that I can run an errand or two and that you're now old enough and responsible enough to stay home with them.

You have always been an easy kid, you have broke us in as parents very gently.  We have continued to enjoy your company this year, you're just fun to be around.  We love that you seem to have a great sense of humor (much like Dad), you get our jokes and you like to watch You Tube video fails and funnies, and you like to go to the theatre and watch movies with mom (Hunger Games) and Dad (any Superhero movie).   You will still sing and dance in the kitchen with mom, say I love you on the phone,   you still hold mom's hand out in public and hug me in front of your friends, you accept our advice and listen to us carefully, and you remember to write thank you notes.  You have given us lots of attention, and we love that.  Remember it's still cool to hang out with us.

Continue to confide in us:  your joys, your disappointments, your ambitions and your angsts.  Don't stop now.  We will always have your back and do everything we can to make your dreams come true.  We'll go through hard times and decisions--Mom and Dad are always the ones looking out for your best interests.  Never forget that whenever you feel lost, home is where we will be waiting for you.

It is our greatest joy to be your parents Logan. We love you.

August 5th, 2013:  First look at my new 12 year old. 

With you new West Coast Goalkeeping gloves. 

The kids ready for some cake. 

Grandma and papa Nelson gave you some neat Seattle Sounders gear. 

No problem blowing out your 12 candles. 

The four Nelson boys. 

(Daddy came straight from surgery to have cake and ice cream with us)

Presley and Harper had gymnastics earlier this evening. 

Mom and Dad with their birthday boy.

Edited to add a sweet story:  Papa Berries called to wish you a happy birthday and you guys couldn't communicate well with the cell phone reception and I heard him say a couple times, "i can't hear you real well Logan".  You did talk about O'Boy Oberta winning the Hydroplane races in the Tri-Cities and then Papa was giving you a bad time because he didn't win the next week-end at Sea-Fair.  When you hung up the phone with Papa you turned to me and said, "I really like that man" and I said, "me too Logan".

Love and Marriage

Today marks our 15th wedding anniversary.  

I don't think we've changed at all.

August 8, 1998

We were 24 and 23.  We had just graduated from college at Central Washington University and been offered our first jobs, me as a first grade teacher, you in the rehabilitation program at Wenatchee Valley Clinic.  We honeymooned in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.   Shortly after marriage, we bought our first car together.  Love was wonderful, marriage was wonderful.  I guess we thought the world was our oyster.  3 days short of our 3rd anniversary, (August 5, 2001) we held our first son Logan, 5 years into our marriage we welcomed our oldest daughter Presley (August 20, 2003),   8 years in we saw our youngest son Rylan for the first time (February 27, 2007), and finally, we completed our family after celebrating our 11th year, Harper (August 23rd, 2009).  We've had job lay-offs, job changes, moves, I've become a stay at home mom since Presley was born,  one miscarriage, we've built 2 houses together, bought sports cars, SUV's and mini vans, and just went through the motions of life.  

Together.  

For 15 years.  

And it doesn't really feel that long.  

We haven't watched our wedding DVD in a long time together, but I remember Amy and Thomas on camera in their reception interview saying something like, "never forget why you got married".  And Cristy saying something like, "I'll be looking forward to celebrating your 25th wedding anniversary with you."  People say marriage is hard work.  It hasn't been THAT hard, it's good work, it's the kind of work where you get out of it what you put into it.  Maybe thats the sign of a successful marriage: when you love someone,  it doesn't feel like work.  Marriage books will tell you to always put your partner first, that he's the person who will be there after the kids leave.  I know I haven't always put you first, that there have been many times when the kids' needs and wants (and mine too) have come way before yours.  And I know you haven't always put me first, the stress of work and being the sole income for our family has put you in some  "I can't make it tonight" predicaments.  But those times have only been the minority, a very small percentage of the whole 15 years, certainly not enough to make me wonder why we got married, definitely not enough to make me think we just aren't in love anymore or that the grass is greener on the other side.  I know in the thickest of times, you've got my back and I yours.  We're not perfect, we agree to that, and we've long since accepted it.  I think in the beginning we had a very romantic type of love which has evolved into a very mature type of love.  I think this is probably the successful cycle of a good, solid, loving marriage.

I'm glad we ended up in Sue Lombard Hall together, I'm glad we chose each other all those years ago.  I'm glad we make the daily choice to love each other and serve each other.  I'm glad we laugh together and show love to each other in little ways.   I'm proud of the family we've created and the memories we're still making.  You're the one for me, and you've definitely not made me feel like it's been 15 years of marriage.  

There's a lot of love in our family, and it started with me and you.
Fifteen years ago today.