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I can’t think about it too hard, or I start to remember that we’re technically “halfway”. NINE. How?!

It’s been a big year for you, with lots of changes that have pushed you to grow, and yet a lot of hitting your stride going into these “bigger boy” years. In the past twelve months, you’ve changed grades, changed soccer teams, and up next will change elementary schools. Your world continues to expand and become more complex, but we’re always proud to see how thoughtfully you seem to navigate it all.

We were fortunate to make another annual trek to Naples to spend a week with Papa and Mimi early in the year. Among the highlights of daily swims, warm temps, and a couple outings to parks and kid attractions, it was also your first time driving the golf cart and we began a tradition of you, me, and Dad grabbing a cocktail/mocktail on our final night, just the three of us, before heading home.

You LOVE the rare opportunity to have me, your dad, or ideally both of us to yourself. It can be a simple movie night, or a full blown outing, but you relish your time to be an only. And if you score an Icee on top of that, all the better.

We were FINALLY able to experience a school concert, post Covid, the first since you were in preK! You had a speaking part in addition to the singing/choreography and nailed it.

We’ve always called you “Cautious Crew” — you’ve never been a huge risk taker (and I’m pretty okay with that!). This fact combined with your not exactly LOVE of animals made it a pretty big deal when you elected to do a pony ride alongside Greer at an Easter event. The ponies were so chill and literally walked in a circle, and you were visibly nervous and laughing the whole time. But way to conquer a fear?! 😛

Not more than a few hours after your big risk taking, you endured your first broken bone. We KNEW something was off when you came in the house bawling (you are NOT a crier). You had been on your electric scooter (in a helmet, thankfully!) but hit a rut in the sidewalk and went over the handlebars, breaking your clavicle. We had a wonderful experience with DMOS who got you into a sling for four weeks, and I was so proud of how you handled the onslaught of frustrations that followed — for a month, you were permitted no physical activity (including no gym class, recess, or soccer season), along with learning workarounds for not being able to use your right hand in school. You had your moments of exasperation for sure, but in all, you truly took it in stride.

Four weeks finally passed, and you were able to enjoy the (shortened) soccer season. We saw a little trepidation in the way you played the first couple of games back, but you quickly found your groove again.

Your footwork is getting impressive, and we’re always proud of your positive leadership attitude among teammates. Later in the summer, this all served you well as you made your first select team for the coming fall, Academy. This accelerated level of play was SO good for you and you were SO ready for it. Your overall fitness, skill set, and mental sharpness have all grown by leaps and bounds!

Our summer was increasingly fun as Greer dropped to just one nap and was able to hang for longer outings and adventures. (I also love that having you around so much more means I get a much bigger influx in Crew pics!) We had a mix of lazy days at home, lots of time at the pool, and a mix of camps and activities, including your first go at track camp. You weren’t a huge fan of the field events, but you LOVED (and ranked quite high!) in the sprinting.

We squeezed in a couple “only child” outings this summer including a trip to the Menace soccer game, where you got to go on the field as an anthem buddy, and we toured the Iowa Capitol building just the three of us. I think both events made your top list of summer memories!

One of our favorite parts of parenting is getting to show you both new little corners of the world. This summer we used our 4th of July week to visit Excelsior on Lake Minnetonka. We had the BEST long weekend of lounging, eating, boating, and soaking up small town 4th of July lake life. You LOVED boating, which we hadn’t done since before Greer was born and that you could remember.

I love when I catch little boy glimpses still, when something grabs your curiosity and full attention. The recycling center near us opened an interactive mini museum and you were all in reading the various bits of trivia and learning how all the pieces of the puzzle worked.

You are the best big brother, and more than ever as Greer has grown past toddlerhood, your bond is a great one. You genuinly enjoy each other (most of the time), can actually play together, and when Dad or I are at our wit’s end with her, you regularly step in as her handler. Above she had been having a meltdown about leaving the sculpture park. I turned back around to see that you had gone over to carry her, and negotiated her into the car all on your own. That facial expression speaks volumes ha – SIBLINGS, man!

Third grade was a blissfully easy start this year. You were SO comfortable and familiar, had no nerves, and thoroughly enjoyed walking the halls at Open House, greeting teachers and friends and showing us around the building as always. We’ve since learned with the district rezoning, you will move to a different elementary this fall, which has you bummed, to say the least. I think the most frustrating part is that while you will know a handful of friends who will move with you, most of your friends and current staff will all move together to start a new building, whereas you will have to assimilate to a school that’s already established. We chat about it from time to time, focus on the positive, and I’m praying for the growth opportunity ahead of you this coming fall.

A specific memory I have from your 9th year was this day where I got some bonus time with you — after a city water issue, they cancelled only your school building for the day, so you and I and Greer headed to Center Grove Orchard — typically a spot you’d miss out on when G and I go during the week. We went all the time when you were her age and it’s always fun to revisit this spot where we have a lot of memories.

You gave flag football a try this year, when most kids had probably had a year under their belt already, but all the more reason we encouraged you to do it now versus later. Unfortunately we were late to the signup, so you didn’t know anyone on your team and all your buddies were elsewhere together, but you stuck it out and learned a lot more about the game. You’ve become way more knowledgeable than me now to watch a game on tv and make calls even before the refs announce them.

If I have a mental “snapshot” of you in this time of life, it’s this view out the kitchen window — always chilling in the hot tub.

A HUGE lover of music and maker of all the playlists, it was more than fitting that you’d go as a DJ for Halloween. We made you a light up turntable and you loved collecting the compliments, while simultaneously providing a soundtrack to all the trick or treating.

Your first season of select soccer culminated in your (and thus, our) first travel tournament experience. There were wins and losses, thrills and heartache, but it was an incredible overall experience for all of us, and an amazing example of teammate energy. Love this capture of just after you scored a goal. It was SO fun and heartwarming to watch how genuinely excited you all got for each other.

Before we knew it, it was Christmastime again and your list was pretty sparse, having given up on an earlier request for an Apple Watch (which ended up being your surprise big gift). Other faves were Roblox gift cards, and all things comfortable, including a super soft personalized blanket from Papa and Mimi, and cozy slippers.

We got to see another school performance, where you again signed up for a speaking part. It’s so fun to watch you work through the initial nerves of an audience, and then the relief and pride of nailing it.

You’re Roblox obsessed and still love Minecraft, you’re excelling in school, I can’t begin to include pictures of you and all the friends you love to hang with, you have a girlfriend you’re adorably and purely enamored with, Shirley Temples and Icees are the way to your heart, and you’ve never turned down a soft pretzel in your life. You know how to work hard, play hard, and love hard, and there’s not any more I could wish for you than that. Keep being exactly who you are, and I’m confident the life that unfolds for you in the coming years will be nothing short of beautiful. Love you SO much!

Three quarters of the way…to THREE!

You are slowly but surely leaving some of your temperamental twos (and ones…ha!) in the rearview mirror. You can still pull a rage blackout now and then, but thankfully we’re seeing a consistently overall calmer, happier little lady! Your language has exploded the past several weeks in particular, and three or four word sentences have become full-on monologues of Thoughts with Greer.

Between the holidays and the changing seasons, you experienced a lot of milestones this quarter. For the last Halloween before you have an opinion, you went as Cher from Clueless. The outfit was already hanging in your closet and the lightbulb went off – we added some butterfly clips, a purse with some “As If” stickers and of course, your favorite part, a cell phone. You LOVED trick or treating, the weather cooperated, and you stayed out much later than I anticipated you’d last.

You LOVE preschool and you’ve become quite the teacher quizzing us on shapes and colors and letters but also telling us the answer and then saying “good job” before we can get a word in 🙂 As your language has developed, we get to hear more and more details about your day; what you played with, names of friends, new songs, and the daily snacks that most often you “no like”. You’re surviving on little but yogurt these days but in the spirit of “one or the other”, I’ll take the picky eater/amazing sleeper — we have to wake you after 2.5 hours of naps each day, and you sleep most nights from about 8:30 to 7-8 in the morning. You continue to be easy to put down – most nights asking to be left alone, lights off, and door closed behind us.

You’ve seen snow before but of course couldn’t remember it. We haven’t had much since, but this first one was significant coupled with warm enough temps to play in it. You LOVED every minute.

You continue to adore your brother and the holidays brought a couple breaks for you both to have a little more time together. He enjoyed teaching you all about the elves, visiting with Santa, and how to decorate a gingerbread house.

We gifted each of you an experience as part of Christmas this year, and yours was Disney on Ice. You were CAPTIVATED the entire time, singing, clapping, and in general being in awe that two of your favorite movies, Frozen and Encanto, were playing out right in front of you. Worth every penny!

You caught on to more of Christmas this year of course, in particular you loved the Elves and their antics. But it all centered around The Grinch for you — a movie that was watched approximately 67,000 times between November and January.

With your brother at your side, you visited Santa for the second year in a row – this time without the meltdown. There was some last minute hesitation, but you pushed through when you spotted the candy cane reward.

You are obsessed with “snuggo” sessions and will curl up in a heartbeat with anyone available.

You are certain that like your brother, you, too, are eight and expect to be treated as such. I tried to lean into this when you wanted to hold your own Christmas Eve service candle. (!)

You have discovered a flare for Frozen and all dress-up is “an Anna Dress!”. You are deep into the world of mimicking be it with your peg people, your little critters, or your Maileg mice. We often hear you chatting through routines of your day and acting them out with the figures. A popular topic is to echo our more disciplinary conversation — lots of commanding everyone to go potty, wash their hands, and telling them “no more time to play, it’s time to go night night.” All these new interests made shopping for you this Christmas VERY easy. 🙂

One thing forever burned in my brain at this particular age is your obsession with the book We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, and eventually the movie as well. You role play the story indoors, outdoors, and in a sensory bin we set up. The “swishy swashy” grass is your favorite part, whether you’re stomping through a field outdoors, or running your hands through our potted plants inside!

You’re always. singing. You’re quickly mastering your first scooter. You live for sparkle. You’re shy around new people, but you have the best manners. You have a love affair going on with every lollipop on the planet. And your favorite activity with anyone other that mom is to “go find mom”. 🤪

Time seems to be speeding up but as we get daily glimpses of the three year old headed our way oh-so-soon we can’t wait to know her, too.

And with a fresh gap in his teeth, we begin 2023…and age 8.

In this time of life, 90% of the pics I have of you are playing soccer. I loved having you home this summer, because I could capture more of you in the day to day (when you weren’t busy with friends), but the moment fall came around, it was right back to lots and lots of photos in jerseys. 🙂 I wouldn’t have it any other way, you are really developing as a player and it has become so. much. FUN to watch you this year!

You are still and forever a hot tub fanatic. We will never not have one now, I’m sure, as insurance that you’ll come home to visit us ha!

Shades of pre-teen years loom now, as it’s sometimes hard to get your attention from a screen. We’re doing our best to balance and set limits, but there are still plenty of times that your imagination takes over anyway and you’re off to build and create.

You were a sport about all the structure I planned for us this summer, yes, in part, to stay off the screens. 🙂 It was a refreshing season of relaxed routines and new adventures with a more flexible toddler rather than a twice-a-day napper from the year previous. I look back on this summer particularly fondly.

You tried several new things this year — some of them at your request and some with our encouragement. Golf lessons introduced you to the most frustrating game — but you also seemed a little bitten by the bug, to your dad’s delight. You’d much rather go along for a round with him than “do lessons”, but at seven, that felt about right. 🙂

You continue to be a strong reader, but your passion is math. We’re happy to see you’re being challenged with some weekly sessions outside of your regular classroom in both subjects. You’ve really reigned in your impulsive need to be the class clown, and consistently the feedback we receive now is about your leadership skills…something you’ve really beamed about and take to heart!

When the special occasion calls for it, you’ll don whatever outfit I’ve dreamed up for you — but for the most part, gone are the days I get to dress you. 🙂 98% of the time now, it’s all athleisure and I can’t say I blame you. Comfort is king!

You’re more sports than arts these days, but I love that we can still connect over photography -you had all kinds of ideas once we got rolling with your annual half birthday session, and you thought carefully about how to use your exposures when we took the polaroid camera to the hot air balloon show this summer.

You’re a patient and fun big brother. It has certainly helped that Greer’s speech has multiplied in the past months – it’s that much easier for you to communicate and really play together. The summer in particular with you home noticeably bonded you. As friends become a bigger center of your world, I see the opportunities for her to be left out mounting, but when you ARE home, you’re quick to give her hugs and ask her about her day…and she loves to do the same.

When I think back on specific memories of this eighth year, the skate park comes to mind. It’s not that often we can take off without our tiny sidekick, and this was an adventure just not suited for her, so it was extra special. The weather was perfect, and you were in awe of this new spot we’d never been to, that felt so “older kid”. Couple that with being smack dab in the middle of a love affair with scooter tricks and you were in heaven. You got to run your “stunts” and I got to shoot just you. A treasured memory for both of us, I think. 🙂

And just like that, you were a second grader. You were admittedly a little nervous at breakfast, but there was something calm and familiar about this year, your third at this school. You walked in knowing where to go, making note of not one but two grades smaller than you, and came home happy and excited for the year ahead.

You became quite the researcher this year, and coupled with an obsession about money (and how to make it!) it’s no surprise that going as Elon Musk (the wealthiest man according to your Google searches) was your choice of Halloween costume.

I can’t believe I actually have two sport coat pictures of you in a single year (ha!) but this one from our family photos this fall in one of my favorites and is so entirely you. In your good natured way, and always on a high after anything we do as a family, you remarked in the car after shooting these, “that was actually really fun, guys!” <3

Did I mention most of my pics are of you playing soccer? 🙂 You completed two more rec seasons in the spring and then the fall, keeping up with skills over the winter via indoor sessions. This coming fall is the first you’ll be eligible for the competitive club level and you can. not. wait.

You tried wrestling for the first time and it was all kinds of growth for you. You’d become a bit of a soccer star in your circle, and school has always come very easily. From an athletic standpoint, you could hang with the others, but learning rules, moves, and general information about an all-new sport was a great character builder, challenging you to listen, focus, accept some defeat, and come back to try again. There were a lot of frustrating moments with this sport, but a lot of very proud ones for us watching you.

As the holidays approached, it was the first year you knew all the secrets, but the magic still managed to prevail. You agreed to a Santa pic with Greer and I held you to it. Cleverly, you had given us your list weeks ahead of the visit, but threw a curveball by asking Santa in front of us for some last-minute Air Jordans, while casting a side smile our way. Stinker! This shot of you, all grown up as far as Santa, but still opting for the reindeer headband, is the perfect depiction of this “transitional” year for you. You wanted the magic (and didn’t want to help with the elves, you wanted to be surprised), but loved being trusted with the confidence of the secret and took the responsibility very seriously.

Hot items on your wish list this year were Pokemon cards, an electric scooter, and a safe. It was also the first year you used a little of your own money to shop for your sister.

As we planned for your birthday, you first wanted a Pokemon card-trading playdate, essentially. We decided to table that for an “anytime” thing and took full advantage of scheduling something indoor and energy-burning over what became an extra-long winter break, thanks to a blizzard. Is it any surprise…we rented some turf and did a soccer themed party with 15 other second graders. Yes, we came home and drank wine, but you guys had a blast.

As you venture into your ninth year, I hope you stay funny, sweet, perceptive, and all about time with your family. You love big, play hard, and laugh often, and we wish you more of all of it in the coming year.