Drew's birthday letter, Age 7

Dear Drew,

My, have you grown up a lot this year! I have to say, turning seven is a big year. You are not a little kid anymore. You've moved into the big kid spot and it shows. In some ways you are really showing your Stivers boy stripes. You are go, go, go all the time. Always trying to one up the gross factor, or the obnoxious noise factor, or the body-slam-your-sisters factor. What do I mean by Stivers stripes? Well, let me be honest, your dad and his brothers were known in childhood for being a bit rowdy when they got together. Well, who am I kidding? They are still known for getting rowdy when they get together. Grandma's lamps and furniture and ceiling fans can attest to this fact. Anyway, you don't have brothers to get wild with, so you try to toughen up your sisters and needle them into firework reactions. It's what you do when you're bored. The thing is Drew, you do not know your own strength and power. I have recently been on a mission to help you stop jumping on people full force or body slamming small people to the ground. You don't realize it, but one of these days, you're going to break someone and that sweet, sensitive heart you have will be broken. Why don't we try having a more gentle touch? It'd be good for you all around.

Speaking of your sensitive heart, I should really not go this whole birthday letter without mentioning it in more detail. Despite your rough and tumble ways, you really do have such a kind heart for others. This weekend you were hand making your valentines for your classmates. First of all, you were given the choice of hand making valentines or store bought and you chose to make each one for your classmates. Anyway, you spent time on each one thinking of each friend and what they like while making them their own personal card. That is such a thoughtful, kind way to be, Drew. I hope that you remain so thoughtful as you grow.

Every night at bedtime I tuck you in and we have a snuggle. I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to have this time with you, but I cherish it. Every night during this time I ask you what your favorite part of the day was. And every night you tell me one good thing about your day and then you tell me, "This. This is my favorite part of the day. What was your favorite?' Not only do you make my eyes misty with your answer about how snuggling with your mom is your favorite, but you are also sweet enough to extend your kindness by asking me about my day. That is a very lovely example of you being such a kind, grown up kid. It's nice of you to ask me about my day. Thank you.

So, mushy with the birthday letter again this year. What can I say? I have great kids that are easy to love. I will continue to enjoy being your mom (on the days that you've gotten enough sleep!). You are growing into a fine young man and I am so proud of you.

 

 

Love,
Mom

For the ladies

Tonight while brushing teeth we had this conversation:

Me: Julianna, you need to brush really well. You guys are visiting the dentist in a couple weeks. You don't want cavities!

Drew: We're going to the dentist soon?! YESSSSS! I LOVE GOING TO THE DENTIST! We get toys there.....and fancy rings for the ladies.

[Fancy rings for the ladies? Ha!]

Basketball

Drew is playing basketball this year. He loves it. Well, he loves sports. He loves playing outside and loves being a member of a team. He likes basketball. The boy lives to run around and be active with anyone with the energy to keep up. He practices throwing, catching and shooting every kind of ball we own. If the temperature outside reaches above 25 degrees you can find Drew outside running and playing. As you can imagine, he's a wild man when he can't get outside to run.


Drew had a game this weekend. I was a super fan and may have embarrassed him....I will try to keep my mouth shut at the next game.....but an exciting basketball game gets my blood pressure up for sure. Last game Drew made a basket and I screamed hooray appropriately....but later in the game I accidentally knocked Tom's open Mt Dew can out of his hand. Whoops!

So, I clearly have a lot of years of cheering left to do...so I gotta learn to be more zen about the game.

Lesson NOT Learned

Tom is going out of town for work this week and his hotel is very near a casino. Tom and I are not gamblers so our kids knew almost nothing about the topic. Last night at dinner Tom gave them a little lesson about casinos and gambling. Sometimes I think we should call Tom the Professor at the dinner table because he is an excellent teacher and when the mood is right, he will give little lessons in life as we eat dinner. Sometimes it is about silly topics and sometimes it's about more serious things, like gambling and the dangers of such activities. Last night was one of those nights and after explaining to the kids verbally what it meant to gamble and lose money, he brought out the visual aides. He got the iPad out to show them pictures of slot machines and then he took it a step further and got a free slot machine game to show them how quickly people lose money when playing the slots. We started with 75 pretend dollars and within 5 minutes the kids had each had a turn gambling away all of our "riches".

 After that, I left for a PTO meeting. At some point during my meeting I got a text from Tom: "Lesson NOT learn. We just hit the jackpot." Oops. I guess our lesson about the evils and wastefulness of spending our money on the slot machines backfired....as is the case with most gambling experiences, we should've quit while we were ahead.....and in our case, out of pretend money.

Julianna's Fifth Birthday Letter

My dear, sweet Julianna,

Happy birthday, darling girl. It's going to be hard to write you a birthday letter without filling it with clichés. You are just such a fun, hilarious, joyous kid that I don't know where to begin.

This year you are still figuring out who you are - apart from your siblings and their opinions. You love to play house and babies but are determined to fit into the mold of tomboy. The more Lily makes a big deal about how you should be wearing tutus and sparkles, the more you wear flannel and cowboy boots. But when you forget that you're trying to stay a tomboy, sparkles you love. My darling daughter, you are going to be awesome whichever way you go.

You and I have had lots of time to spend together, this our last year with you not in regular school. You are so easy to be with everyday. Sometimes we play hide and seek or Chutes and Ladders, and sometimes you like me to leave you to your 'work'. This is when you sit at the kitchen table with tablet and pens and spend hours writing and drawing and talking to yourself. This activity has always been your favorite thing to do. You are so easygoing and happy about what you have your were nearly impossible to Christmas shop for this year. This is a good way to be. I am wondering to myself as I write this, if it is this activity that lead to you teaching yourself to read. Yes, it's true. You've taught yourself to read. It is such fun to listen to you read and figure stuff out.

It is a breeze being your mom and usually the only trouble you give me is when you are stubborn about going to bed or buckling your own seatbelt. Seriously. Those two issues are the most difficult behaviors we see from you. We are keenly aware of how lucky this makes us as your parents. Parenting isn't considered an easy job, but you really do make it seem like a cinch. You are funny and thoughtful and loving and kind. You are friendly and polite and will often concede a near argument with your siblings or parents just to make our day easier. You are a joy and everyone who knows you is lucky to have you around.

So clearly it is impossible to write you a letter about your life without getting sappy and sounding like a cliché. You are everything I say you are and so much more. I have no doubt as you grow and change you will continue to spread joy wherever you go. I love watching your life unfold. I'm thankful for my front row seat. I love you.

Love,
Mama