Dear Tate,

 Dear Tate,

Oh my kiddo.  My first baby.  My little lispy encyclopedia.  You're a teenager now.  And I gotta say, I kind of love it.  It makes my heart hurt if I ever slip and think about how few years we have left with you before you are grown, but I'm really loving 12 and 13 year old you.  You are kind, dedicated, responsible, helpful and you're conscious of those around you in new ways this year.  Tate, you're a stud.  

This year has been a good year.  COVID has been a beast this year. Shutting things down, forcing quarantines or virtual school and travel restrictions in phases but we hope there's a light at the end of the tunnel.  

We had a fun year of travel.  For spring break we escaped to Sri Lanka and stayed in a little jungle beach resort in our own little cozy family bungalow just steps from the beach with the biggest waves we've seen yet.  It was incredible.  Plenty of bugs and critters and a huge monitor lizard that lived beneath our bungalow but the waves were huge and the food was so yummy and we all got some feet and leg massages from the masseuse on site.  You and Finn could have played in the waves all day every day.  And we just about did.  We'd get beat up in the waves, debating whether to jump over, duck under or just stand and get smashed, then we'd take a break for lunch and head to the bungalow for an hour or two before more beach time and then dinner.  It was glorious.  We took a couple of day trips to Udawalawe and Kandy which meant a lot of hours in the car but we had some fun audiobooks that made the drives bearable.  

Last summer was very full as we made a ton of stops.  We started in Denver, made a quick trip so South Dakota to see Mount Rushmore and get your dad and I our drivers licenses.  Then we visited the Larsons in Kentucky for just a day, drove to visit Kenzie and Trevan and their kids in Virginia for a day which was far too short.  We got to meet your new baby cousin, Marlee and she was just the cutest little squish there ever was.  You love babies and you loved holding your new cousin and playing with Tucker all day.  

Next we drove to DC and Nana and Grandpa came with us to explore for a few days.  I've been wanting to do some US history stops during our summers for years and we finally felt like your guys were old enough this year to remember and to learn.  I loved those days in DC. We woke up for morning runs, walked for miles all over the city seeing museums and monuments and historical sites.  We ate delicious food and you guys were such troopers.  

After DC we drove to Gettysburg where we met up with Adam and Cami and their kids for a quick tour of the battlefield and then a day in Philadelphia.  It was again, too short, but so cool to see those places in person.  You had done your presentation on the Civil War and it was cool to have a some places to file with those facts you'd learned.  

We spent our last week in the US in New Hampshire which is always a highlight of the summer.  Swimming in lakes, hiking and eating such delicious food.  We all went together to a Red Sox game and I don't think you knew to expect what a powerful experience a game at Fenway can be. You, Finn, Glenn and Uncle Brendaen ended up finding seats down at the front and you sang, "Sweet Caroline", ate all the snacks and cheered with the crowd for the whole game.  You loved it which delighted your dad.  It's such an amazing place to see a baseball game and it was really fun to do as a whole family.

Our last trip of the year was to France with Carson and Mallo.  A new strain of COVID was wreaking havoc on our travel plans so we had to fly into Germany and drive to France where cases were a little lower at the time.  We stopped in Luxembourg for just a day and then to Paris.  We spent two days at Disneyland and two wandering Paris and seeing markets and museums.  We ate a ton of French bread and pastries.  We soaked in the Christmas lights and decorations.  And you, Finn and I rode all the roller coasters multiple times with Carson and Mallo while Glenn hung with the girls and rode smaller rides that they were tall enough for.  Tate, you are so fun to travel with.  You're getting to be more enthusiastic about the fun and unique stuff we see and it's really nice to see you openly appreciate our adventures together.  After Paris we drove to La Bresse for a few days to ski and also take a day trip to Colmar and Strasbourg.  You took to skiing so well and had a great time in your morning lessons and then taking off up the mountain with us in the afternoons.  It was a magical time in the snow.  All you wanted to do was find some powder and have a snowball fight and luckily we got in a few.

Last year during your 6th grade spring your dad started hosting pick up baseball games and then they turned into a short make-shift season.  You played on the team with Finn and your dad as the coach and you liked it.  Sports are not your favorite thing but you tried and had a good attitude which was not the way you used to deal with sports so it was a huge improvement.  In the fall baseball was more organized and we were allowed to officially have a season so you played on the Falcons team again and it was so great.  I loved going to your games every Thursday night and watching you swing your bat as your jauntily walked to the plate.  You didn't always make contact with the ball but you got a lot of walks and a few base hits and you were just happy to be there no matter what happened.  Getting you to stay focused on the game and cheer for your teammates while you were in the dugout was another matter as you would be happy to talk D&D with Reece and Conor every spare second you had.  It was a great season and so fun to see you enjoy the game.  

You joined run club with very little encouragement in January last year and you've been running with them twice a week ever since.  Coach Lindsey Law is just incredible.  She's provided this awesome opportunity to run as a group and some expert coaching along the way.  She plans a speed workout every Monday evening and a longer run on Wednesdays.  You've had a really good time and we have been incredibly proud of your dedication and grit.  Running is not easy and you're doing it independently and enjoying it too.  During the summer, Lindsey challenged you guys to run 50 miles and you had it done on the treadmill before we even left for repat.  I don't even care how fast you run.  The fact that moving your body is rewarding to you and you are motivated to do it makes me so proud of you.  You come home from run club sweaty and smiling.  In November some people in the community organized a set of races and you and a couple of your buddies signed up to run the 10K.  Max and Ben are fast runners and they took off and left you which made you a little disappointed but you kept running.  Your dad and I finished the 5K with Finn and the girls and came back to finish with you and you were a little bummed that your buddies didn't run with you but you were also determined and proud of yourself for running farther than you ever had before.  That was a very proud day, Tate.

Your food tastes have expanded a little bit this year and it's been so fun to see you try new things and get excited about good food.  You still love popcorn chicken and mac and cheese but you also love lemon curd, home made pesto and pasta, home made french bread, creme brulee.  Occasionally you'll have a Deacons Quorum activity or a celebration at school where you can bring treats and you always have an idea of something you want to make from scratch.  Buying something is never your first go-to suggestion.  You want to make confetti cookies, caramel popcorn, your own confetti cake for your birthday.  You're so much fun to talk food with and I love seeing you enjoy and geek out about food with me.  It's super fun.

Your first year in the Deacon's quorum was a good one.  You had great friends in there with you.  Particularly Reece Weitzel, Max Arnold, and Ben Weight.  You were very thoughtful and aware about the responsibility of holding the priesthood and you've really tried to live close to the spirit this year.  More than once you've been reading your scriptures at night and come down stairs to tearfully relate to your dad and I a verse you just read and how it touched your heart and you knew it was true.  You've born your testimony in church more frequently than I have and you're always willing to prepare a lesson or an activity.  It's been inspiring to see you take some initiative with your spirituality this year, Tate.

You have some really great friends and we're totally heartbroken that your two best buddies, the ones you fit with so easily, are moving back to the US this year.  Reece and Max.  We're going to miss their families terribly.  They're both such easy matches for ours as they have great kids who get along well with our family and are at ages that line up with us too.  I think I'm going to miss those two boys the most of all because I just love the kind of friends they are to you.  They are the kind of kids I would pick to be your friends.  They don't get in trouble, they don't push boundaries, they have hearts of gold, they are kind and imaginative and fun.  You have a few other buddies who you have clicked with this year in school and hopefully they'll stick around for a little bit.  Emily O'Reilly is a good buddy from school.  We love the O'Reilly family and have connected with them a lot this year as we've overlapped in kids classes and baseball teams.  It will be interesting to see what 8th and 9th grade bring for you as many kids start to test the limits a little more and feel a lot of angst about their independence.  And many of the kids here start to go to boarding school in 8th or 9th grade which will leave fewer kids for you to interact with.  I pray for you to find good friends who can see how incredible you are, Tate.  You are a goof and you are very much still coming into your own and sometimes miss social cues but you are, as of today, so happy to be you.  And it's such a huge blessing at 13 to just be happy being you.  I pray that confidence and satisfaction with everything you are stays with you through the next few years!

Tate, you are an excellent student.  During the height of the pandemic when you were in virtual school full time you absolutely blossomed.  You loved knowing that all of your work and every bit of information was completely in your control and you were so very responsible with your schedule, school work, practicing and chores.  You were nervous that going to school in person again would be overwhelming but you seem to be tackling 7th grade as masterfully as you did 6th.  You read constantly.  Your D&D manuals, novels from the library or novels on Sora on your laptop.  You finish multiple novels each week and love to tell us about the stories with incredible detail.  You have fantastic grades, you rarely have homework and when you do you get on it without any prodding from us.  You always do some of your family economy work or practicing in the mornings before school.  You are always the first one done with Saturday chores and more than happy to fix something if one of your chores needs a little more attention.  You always help when we ask you to empty the dishwasher or take out the trash.  You are responsible with your laptop and internet use.  You watch your little siblings for us when Glenn and I need a date night out.  You try hard to be patient with your little sisters.  You get along famously with your brother.  You're a model oldest son, Tate.  Honestly we couldn't have designed a more helpful, kind, willing boy.

Tate, we love you so much.  You make our family more fun, more peaceful, more happy. You've grown into a wonderful young man and I have a feeling teenager-hood is going to suit you just fine.  I love you and admire you and learn so much from you.  I feel very lucky to be your Mom, Tate.  

Happy birthday, Tate-o.

The world is yours,

Mom

Dear Taryn,

 Dear Taryn,

Oh little Miss T, I love you so much.  I just cannot believe that you're 7 years old.  That in one year you'll be old enough to be baptized!  You are a bundle of energy and fun and sass and silliness.  You are so darling and loving and we just adore you.  It's been a full year for you and we're excited to see what the coming year brings for you, little miss.

We had a busy year this year in our family.  Activities after school slowly started becoming available again and with you and Kenna old enough to be more involved we've had very busy evenings.  But it's also been really fun to see you and your siblings develop new talents and grow in new ways.  So I guess we'll put up with being really busy if we get to watch you shine.

We traveled more this year than last year, thankfully.  We had a great spring break trip to Sri Lanka.  We spent a week in a bungalow just off the the beach.  You loved petting the dogs that lived on the property, finding hermit crabs, and trying to spot the huge monitor that lived beneath our bungalow.  You did not love the massive spider that made an appearance in the bathroom one night but you were surprisingly brave and cool with all the little critters and bugs.  You LOVED seeing the huge waves and could have played in them all day every day.  They were the biggest waves we've seen yet as a family and we had to be a little careful with you and your sister.  You'd come out in the water with your dad and I in our arms until we were too tired to hold you and get smashed by the waves and then you'd head back to the beach and play in the waves where you could touch.  You loved collecting shells and building creations in the sand.  We visited an elephant preserve and made a trip up to Kandy to explore.  It was a lot of driving a few days and a lot of time on the beach others.  You were so happy in the car as long as we had an audio book.  You've really grown to love audiobooks this year and prefer to always have one playing, even in the house.

Our summer in the U.S. was busy this year.  We went to Denver then saw Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, then we visited the Larsons in Kentucky for just a day.  Then we drove to Virginia where Kenzie, Trevan and Tucker were spending their summer to meet your new cousin baby Marlee.  She was the cutest little squish and you were absolutely thrilled to have a turn holding her.  You came into your own singing voice this summer and sing loud and proud in your exaggerated operatic voice with plenty of vibrato.  You almost died of happiness when I was holding Marlee and she was fussy but you came over and sang, "Somewhere over the rainbow" to her and she fell asleep. You were beyond proud.  

Next we drove to DC where we spent a very full few days with Nana and Grandpa exploring all the museums and monuments.  We'd done some research projects to prepare and I have been so looking forward to taking you kids to DC and learning about American history.  You did your presentation on the the space program in anticipation of going to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.  We walked miles and miles every day in the hot summer sun but you and your siblings were troopers.  At the end of one long day we found a shallow pool to splash in and you and your sibling had such a great time cooling off and making friends with new kids.  You learned how to cartwheel this year and you cartwheel every moment you can.  It was fun to take pictures and videos of you cartwheeling all over the country this summer.

After DC we went to Pennsylvania to tour Gettysburg with Adam and Cami and their kids.  Then after a quick day in Philadelphia we drove to New Hampshire for the end of our repat.  It was a very full summer with so much driving but you guys were so amazing.  

Our last trip of the year was to France with Mallo and Carson.  With a new strain of COVID on the rise things were starting to shut down left and right but we made it in and made it home just in time.  We spent one day in Luxembourg and then drove to Paris.  We explored museums, spent two days at Disney, and wandered around Paris seeing the sights and stopping frequently for snacks.  After a few days in Paris we went skiing in La Bresse.  Taryn, you have no fear when you have skis strapped to your feet.  It is astounding to me every time we take you skiing how quickly you can pick it up again!  You had lessons a couple of mornings and then you went up the mountain with us for the first time this year in the afternoons.  You were so fearless. You were beyond proud that you were old enough and advanced enough to join the whole family on a few runs.  You just liked to point your skis down the mountain and go.  We tried to convince you that turning to burn off speed and maintain a bit more control was the ticket but you didn't always want to ski that way.  Mallo and I mentioned many times how amazing it was to see you and your sister tackle something that is so unnatural to us with such abandon.  We ended the days so tired and so satisfied.  There's something really filling and exciting about learning something new and getting better at it. 

Taryn you are a pretty good eater for a 6 year old.  You love fruit.  Mango is probably your favorite.  You don't especially care for bananas but you'll eat most any other fruit.  You don't like most vegetables and when they're on your plate you usually ignore them.  We can convince you to eat bell peppers, especially if there's a dip of some kind, and salad if there's a yummy dressing.  Otherwise, you'll pass.  Usually politely so that's a win.  You love pasta with white sauce, pancakes, mac and cheese, and your favorite meal is a quick crock pot chile with cans of veggies, chicken, and cream cheese which you call "cheese chicken chile".  We usually have it at least a couple of times a month because it's helpful to have something done in the crock pot on busy nights and it's a something everyone will eat.  You love to help in the kitchen but you don't have to be present for every step like you used to.  You've got other things to do!

Kindergarten was a good year for you.  Your teacher, Ms. Ami was a good fit.  She tried hard to make the most of a really challenging year and she loved you.  She loved your spunk and energy and found your personality delightful which, as a parent, was so wonderful.  You were noticeably behind in reading at the end of kindergarten and your dad and I had started to wonder if something was going on in your little brain that made it extra challenging for you.  We did some research and a lot of your challenging moments and the heightened emotions you seem to struggle with sometimes seemed to line up with ADHD symptoms.  We talked to our doctor in CO and she agreed that it sounded like ADHD.  When we got back to Saudi we had a couple of appointments, did more research, and prayed a lot and decided that trying some medication felt like the right step for you right now.  You took it all really well and seemed to understand that every body and every brain is a little different.  You liked the analogy of having a race car brain with bicycle brakes and having some tools and training to strengthen your brakes has helped you enormously not just academically but socially as well.  This year you've been able to remember friends' names from school.  You've been able to relate more details about your school day at lunch and at the end of the day.  You still struggle with big emotions and sometimes you have a hard time controlling those impulses when you're overwhelmed with big feelings but you're doing so much better and trying hard. 

1st grade has been great so far.  Your teacher is Ms. Auchterlonie.  She adores you.  She loves the energy and fun you bring to class.  She gushes about how grateful and helpful you are.  She's seen your huge improvement this year and she knows you and loves you.  We've been so lucky with your teachers, Taryn babe.  We had a parent teacher conference with Ms. Auchterlonie just 6 weeks into the school year and we knew she understood you when she told us how much she loves your "exuberance".  What a perfect term for 6 year old you.  

You've been incredibly lucky, like your brother Finn, to benefit from morning tutoring sessions with Ms. LeNae Boyett.  She is a treasure.  She agreed to meet with you last fall and we talked about some things that we were worried about.  You struggled to remember names and sounds of letters.  Sounding out words was overwhelming and writing was just impossible.  She agreed to work with you every morning for 30 minutes before school and you have loved every single day.  She lets you pick a prize at the end of every work week and you live for those Thursday prize days.  She's helped you in so many ways beyond just reading and writing.  You have more confidence and tolerance for reading and writing when they get hard because you know you can do them now.  It has been a huge blessing in your life to have Ms. LeNae help you get on top of reading and writing and now you love it.  You love reading and you are so proud of your writing from school.  It's been an incredible blessing.  

This year you tried soccer in the fall of your 1st grade year and absolutely loved it.  Your dad coached your team which made you so proud to begin with.  You LOVED running and you were so happy to get right in the mix and get the ball.  I think it's a great sport for little you.  You also started choir with Ms. Kellie this year.  You're in the same choir as Finn and Kenna and I love doing the pick up car pool from choir because you and your buddies come out of choir so happy and singing all the way home.  

You have good little buddies.  When I come to you classroom at school everyone knows you and you seem to get along with everyone.  When it came time to make your birthday list it was really hard to narrow down how many kids from your class you could invite.  You and Kenna chose to have an arts and crafts birthday and had such a good time celebrating and crafting for a couple of hours with your buddies.  Your best buddies are probably Addie Weitzel and Lucette and Clara Arnold. Both of their families are moving back to the US this year so it will be difficult next year without them.  Their families have been so good to us and we'll miss them so much.

You are a good sister and daughter, little one.  You have a lot of energy and enthusiasm.  You aren't afraid to tell someone if they're bothering you, you know your siblings buttons and you occasionally relish in pushing them over and over.  But you also love writing kind notes and drawing pictures for people.  Any time you have treats from a holiday, we find you for the next week writing notes to people you care about and taping pieces of candy to them until all of your candy is gone and you are thrilled with the choice you made.  You could wrestle for half an hour and you can just as easily sit and color a coloring page for half an hour.  You do not love doing chores and sometimes it takes some mentoring and re-checking to get things done the right way but eventually we get there.  You know who you are and you seem to like it. You are strong and determined and any pushing or directing is not usually welcomed.  I love your strength, Taryn.  You have so much confidence and spark.  It's a thing of beauty.  

Taryn, this year has been difficult in new and old ways.  But you've weathered the storm with our family team and we're better for it.  We love you as tight as your hugs and as big as your smile.  You're a treasure to our family, Miss T.  

Happy birthday, little girl.  

The world is yours,

Mom

Dear Kenna,

Dear Kenna,

Oh my little brown-eyed lass, how I love you.  I loved 6 year old you and I think 7 year old you and I are going to get along just fine.  You are a gentle, kind, huge-hearted girl and you make our family so much more fun with your silly faces and your incredible hugs.  You're an absolute treasure and everyone who meets you falls in love with you.  

This year has been a great year for our family.  We had a super fun spring break trip to Sri Lanka.  We stayed in this snug little bungalow steps from the beach.  You made friends with hermit crabs and soaked up so much sun on the beach.  You could have played in the enormous waves all day every day.  They were the biggest waves we've seen yet as a family and we had to be a little careful with you and your sister.  You'd come out with your dad and I in our arms until we were too tired to hold you and get smashed by the waves and then you'd head back to the beach and play in the waves where you could touch.  You found countless shells that you piled up on our porch.  You built sand castles and motes and swimming pools in the sand.  We had a really restorative trip as a family.  

Our summer in the U.S. was really busy this year.  We went to Denver then saw Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, then we visited the Larsons in Kentucky for just a day.  I think Ziggy remembered you and Taryn and tried his best to stay out of your reach.  Cute little pup.  Then we drove to Virginia where Kenzie, Trevan and Tucker were spending their summer to meet your new cousin baby Marlee.  She was the cutest little squish and you were spellbound holding her in your arms.  She's very lucky to have you as a big girl cousin and you're so lucky to have her too.  You adore babies and you'll be so good to her as she grows up.  

Next we drove to DC where we spent a very full few days with Nana and Grandpa exploring all the museums and monuments.  We'd done some research projects to prepare and I have been so looking forward to taking you kids to DC and learning about American history.  You did your presentation on the Lincoln monument and were so proud of all the little facts you learned.  We walked miles and miles every day in the hot summer sun but you and your siblings were troopers.  At the end of one long day we found a shallow pool to splash in and you and your sibling had such a great time cooling off and making friends with new kids.

After DC we went to Pennsylvania to tour Gettysburg with Adam and Cami and their kids.  Then after a quick day in Philadelphia we drove to New Hampshire for the end of our repat.  It was a very full summer with to much driving but you guys absolutely adore audio books so we made our way through a couple throughout the summer and you guys were fantastic sports about all the car time.

Our last trip of your 6th year was to France with Mallo and Carson.  With a new strain of COVID on the rise things were starting to shut down left and right but we made it in and made it home just in time.  We spent one day in Luxembourg and then drove to Paris.  We explored museums, spent two days at Disney, and wandered around Paris seeing the sights and stopping frequently for snacks.  After a few days in Paris we went skiing in La Bresse.  Oh Kenna girl you took off this year.  It it astounding to me every time we take you skiing how quickly you can pick it up again!  It's not a natural experience for me but you kids just get better every time even though we ski so infrequently.  You had lessons a couple of mornings and then you went up the mountain with us for the first time this year.  You were so fearless.  I was more worried about your ability to control your speed and direction than your dad was.  You just liked to point your skis down the mountain and go.  We tried to convince you that turning to burn off speed and maintain a bit more control was the ticket but you didn't always want to ski that way.  We ended the days so tired and so satisfied.  There's something really filling and exciting about learning something new and getting better at it.  

Kenna you're a pretty good little eater.  You can do without most vegetables but you LOVE fruits.  You eat bananas every day.  You love pears and mango and papaya most of all.  You'll eat handfuls of berries when we buy them.  You're not super excited about meat.  It just takes you so long to chew and you always chew with your front teeth, a habit we're trying to adjust.  You've started to get a little bit feistier about foods for dinner than you don't enjoy but usually you'll just sit with us and not eat if you don't care for what we're having.  You love juice but don't like soda.  You love cookies but can't stand marshmallows.  You like cake but don't love frosting.  You're a funny little lady.

This year you've absolutely taken off in reading.  You started picking it up last year in Kindergarten with Mr. Graham.  Man, he was such a great teacher.  He navigated all the ups and downs of a complicated COVID school year with such determination and positivity.  There were phases of virtual school for every class but that last month or two of school I think your class was in quarantine three times.  It was so hard.  And you just made it back to school for the last two days of in-person class of the year.  Eesh, I'm glad that's over with.  It was really fun to have just one kiddo home to spend time with after their few hours of virtual school was done, but the constant uncertainty of whether or not you'll be going to school was really hard for everyone.  This year you're in first grade with Ms. Michie.  She's such a good fit for you, Kenna.  I feel like we've been oh so lucky.  She adores you, as she should, and she also knows how to push you just a little outside of your comfort zone so you can grow.  At the beginning of the year she told you that you were ready for writing paper with more lines and smaller pictures and that you were capable of writing more than two pages in a book.  She said she circled back to you a few minutes later and you looked a little teary.  She helped you get started and expressed her confidence in your writing abilities and then you just took off.  You've become such an incredible little writer this year.  It's so fun to see you come alive with ideas and just HAVE to get some paper to write a new story RIGHT NOW!  You're also constantly reading.  Your dad and I have started taking pictures of different items you use around the house as bookmarks when you're in the middle of a book and have to go somewhere you just grab whatever is nearby to stick in your book because you are loath to lose your spot.  You've used remotes, bowls, rolls of tape, a container of quinoa, anything and everything.  It's darling.  You always have a book in your hand.  On the bus, in the car, often at the store too and you really try to sneak them to the table for mealtime.  Every day there are more books scattered around the house as books from the library migrate down in your hands.

This year you tried coach pitch baseball in the spring with Coach Paul as your coach.  I think you liked hanging out with your friends just as much as you liked playing baseball.  You weren't super serious but you enjoyed having something to do.  You loved when Finn or your dad would make time to play catch with you or throw a ball so you could swing a bat.  It makes you feel so important to be part of a fun sport.

You have good little buddies.  You often come home from school with notes from classmates saying that you're the best friend ever and it makes you so happy.  You write notes and draw pictures for people constantly.  Being kind to people is a natural gift and something that just lights you up inside.  Once you came home from school practically leaping through the door, flung your arms out wide and shouted, "I have so many FRIENDS!!!!"  It was so sweet.  And true.  Anyone who knows you, loves you.  You've had a few best buddies here in Saudi who have been easy friends because our families line up so nicely and they'll all leave this year.  I think that will be a challenge for you and for our family to lose the Arnolds and Weitzels.  Addie, Lucette and Clara have been your buddies practically your whole life.  But I know you'll be okay because you are so good at making friends.

Kenna, you are a special little lady in our family.  You always have a sweet note or a big hug and kind word for anyone who is struggling or sad.  You can read the mood in the room and I can practically see you soaking it up.  You've gotten a little more defiant and assertive this year, which is so frustrating at times but I'm also a little proud of you.  You've been so easy going and it's nice to see you standing up for yourself and putting your foot down a little more, trying to figure out how strong you can be and how much you can do.  It's been good to see the strength with the sugary sweet.  You're a good sister.  You and Taryn get a long most of the time and sometimes you're non-stop arguing because there's no one in the world who knows you better and knows how to push your buttons faster than Taryn, and you, miss Kenna, know just how to push hers too.  You two could craft for hours together at the table.  You love to read books and often get lost in the library and we find you surrounded by a pile of books you've been through.  You get a long really well with your brothers.  You love when they play with you.  You love playing card games together, especially cover your assets and sleeping queens.  You also love to watch them play video games and comment on how good they're doing or suggesting their next move.  You're a supportive and kind sister and we are very aware of how lucky we are to have you on our little family team.  

Kenna, we love you so much, babe.  You're growing up to be such an incredible little lady.  You love to dress up but don't love the time and inconvenience of curling your hair.  You love fancy dresses but prefer cozy leggings and tee-shirts.  You are energetic and playful and you also love to snuggle up under a quilt and watch a movie.  Alone time with Mom and Dad makes you so happy, and you're also a great family team player.  It's so hard to believe that you'll be 8 years old and ready to be baptized next year.  It's been a phenomenal year, miss K.  I'm excited to see what you'll do and how you'll amaze us next.  

We love you so much, Kenna girl.  Happiest birthday, little lady.

The world is yours,

Momma

Dear Finn,

 Dear Finn,

You are 10 years old now.  Ten.  Two digits in your age now.  All of your fingers.  Finn you are such a great kid.  It's been a crazy year and while there have definitely been times when the uncertainty and stress have gotten to you, for the most part you've just kind of rolled with the punches, chosen to look for the positives and made goofy faces and silly voices all along the way because that's just who you are.  It's a gift, kiddo.  You have a gift for bringing positive energy into whatever space you enter and making it more happy, lighter, and more easy going.  

COVID is still very much a part of our lives this year.  You were finally able to go back to school for full time in person in September which we were thrilled about!  Everyone still has to wear masks and for the first several months things were very restricted with spacing and supplies and such.  Vaccinations for kids weren't quite on the table before you turned 10 so there were all sorts of restrictions at the elementary school in order to keep school in person.  But we survived it and you rode the waves like a pro-surfer.  You were bummed when baseball would occasionally be cancelled for COVID related reasons but otherwise not too bothered by the whole thing.  My heart still tugs a little bit every time I ask you if you have your mask as you head out to school because it's just a crime to cover up that happy little face all day.  But at least you get to go to school and hopefully masks won't be around too much longer.  

This year we didn't travel as much due to crazy restrictions and worry about getting those darn PCR tests in order to re-enter Saudi.  For spring break we spent a week in Sri Lanka.  We stayed in this crazy beach resort in our own little cozy bungalow and made friends with all kinds of critters.  You got the most outrageous collection of bug bites on our first day there and we were much more careful to wear bug repellent for the rest of the week.  You definitely had the most and you were so uncomfortable feeling itchy all week, poor kiddo.  Your favorite part of the trip was probably playing in the enormous waves on the beach just a few steps from our bungalow.  Or maybe it was the massive platter of mango you could eat for dinner every night.  We had such a fantastic, low key time together.  

We had a super busy summer and planned a whole US history road trip as a family.  It's a trip I've been wanting to take for a really long time and your dad and I finally felt like you were all old enough to appreciate it.  We spent some time in Denver and then flew to visit the Larsons in Louisville, Kentucky where you visited the Louisville slugger factory and thought you'd died and gone to heaven.  It was so fun to see the Larsons and how easily you reconnected with Abby again.  They're such wonderful people.  From there we drove to Virginia where Kenzie and Trevan were living for the summer to visit for just a day.  We met their new baby girl, Marlee who you fell in love with instantly.  You love babies and little kids and they all love you with this undeniable magnetism that sometimes makes your siblings jealous.  Tucker was SO happy to see you and the two of you played hard all day and you kept him constantly giggling with your antics.  We said a sad goodbye to them after not enough time together and drove to DC where we spent a few days visiting sites and museums.  You kids had all done research projects on US history or sites in DC.  Those few days were my favorite part of the summer.  We had such a great time exploring and learning together.  Nana and Grandpa came out to play with us and it was so fun to explore the city, eat yummy food, and play hard.  It was hot and we walked so much every day.  You guys were SO tired by the third day but we had a great time.  Your favorite without a doubt was the spy museum.  It was so fascinating to see actual artifacts used by real life spies.  You were totally into it.  After DC we drove to Gettysburg and Philadelphia where we met up with Adam and Cami and their family and then off to New Hampshire.  Last summer you went to three baseball games, the Rockies, the  Nationals and the Red Sox.  Man, it was fun.

We had planned a Germany/Austria vacation this year before Christmas to revisit some of our favorite markets and sites but just a few weeks before our trip yet another new strain of COVID erupted in Germany and Austria and they started rolling out crazy restrictions. Especially for people who were unvaccinated.  So we changed our plans and drove from the airports we had to fly in and out of in Germany, to France.  We explored Luxembourg for a day on our way to Paris and then spent two days at Disney and two days wandering the city and seeing the sites.  Finn you're an awesome traveler.  You've got a ton of energy, you generally get along quite well with your siblings, and you're happy any time you're moving.  You loved playing at Disney but really just wanted to ride the big roller coasters over and over.  We walked a LOT those days and everyone was exhausted but happy.  THEN, dear Finn, came your favorite part of the trip.  Skiing in France.  We drove to La Bresse and spent two days skiing and you were in heaven.  You look like a natural on skis, like they're just an extension of your body and your dad just eats it up.  You'd do ski lessons for the mornings and then either take off with your dad or the whole fam for the afternoons.  The girls got quite good and were able to go up the lift with us this year.  When they wore out we'd play with them on a sledding hill or the mountain coaster and you and your dad would head up the mountain for just one or two more runs.  You were so tired by the end of the day but so happy too.  The last run of the trip was a little challenging for you but your face lit up with pride when your dad told you it was a black diamond.  You were SO proud that you skied a black and it was the cutest thing.

You've had a great year in school.  Last year you finished 3rd grade with Mr. Hjereson who ended up moving to the US after the school year.  This year you have Mr. Denton for 4th and he's a great fit for you.  You are a hard worker and only slightly discouraged when it occasionally takes a little longer for you to pick things up than it does your peers.  You are enjoying reading and writing more which is so wonderful to see.  Math isn't your favorite because memorizing math facts isn't easy for you, but you're doing just fine and you work hard.  We've loved to watch you enjoy reading more this year.  You've really gotten in to zelda graphic novels and anything about baseball.  You got a box set of historical fiction books about famous baseball players and you've just loved reading those stories.  Most nights we still have to tell you and Tate to turn the lights off and stop reading to get to sleep.  Many nights Tate has a book he reads out loud to you when you're both in bed.  I love watching the two of you get along so well.

Finn you're such a good eater.  You definitely have foods you would prefer not to eat but you're more polite about it if they appear at dinner time than others of your siblings.  You love carrots and tomatoes but don't like bell peppers.  You LOVE mango, pears, peaches, grapes and apples but you don't like kiwi or papaya.  You're happy with most anything we have for meals with the exception of muffins which you're picky about.  

You still play the piano every day and we had two recitals this year.  In the spring we ended up having to call it off in person at the last minute because Tate was sick the night before so we had a zoom recital instead.  And then our usual Christmas recital.  You don't seem to get nervous and you play so well.  It's so fun to see you grow.  

They had a set of races on camp this year they called the "Dhahranathon" and you ran the 5k with your dad while I ran it with the girls and Tate ran the 10k.  You smoked it, Finn.  You came in faster than anyone.  Miss Lindsey Law was so impressed she asked if you wanted to join the run club even though you're not really old enough yet.  That made you pretty proud.  

This year was a big year in baseball for you.  Your dad took over as the league president and it made for a lot more events and fun.  He has been a devoted coach to you and your brother, making sure you understand not just the mechanics of the game but also what it means to be a good sport, a good winner and a good loser.  How to work hard and the discipline and time it takes to improve and make changes.  You absolutely love the game.  You're one of the youngest kids in the majors league but you're also one of the best players and you're one of the most encouraging leaders.  All the parents just smile as we listen to you cheer your teammates on from the dugout or from the field.  "All right, get your head in the count!  Anything good I wanna see you take a rip!  You're a hitter!  You can do it!"  It's just the sweetest thing and makes everyone so happy.  It's been a once in a lifetime season being able to watch you and Tate play on the same team coached by your dad.  Tate isn't as into baseball as you but he shows up and tries his best and you're so encouraging and positive to him.  You and your dad have a special bond in this or any sport.  You are hard on yourself, especially when you're pitching and he's had to get on the mound with you once in a while to help you get out of your head.  You're such a kind-hearted, hard-working, enthusiastic about life kid that it's just impossible not to root for you on and off the field.

We started going to Rugby this year on Saturday evenings.  It's been so cool to watch you kiddos learn a new sport, associate with new kids, and just get out some movement on a Saturday night before it's time for bed and school the next day.  The Rugby group has held a couple of small tournaments and you live for those days of team tee shirts and scored games and winners brackets.  

In Dhahran Hill school there are opportunities to serve on student council in 3rd and 4th grade.  With the odd schedule of last year you only had one trimester to try out by writing and giving a speech in your classroom.  You didn't get voted in and it crushed you.  This year you tried again and lost out first trimester and finally got voted in second trimester.  Every loss had you really down for a day or two and you were beyond thrilled when you won.  Making promises to your sisters about special spirit days you were going to rally for in student council.  You were a little disappointed when, in your first student council meeting, it became apparent that you weren't quite going to be able to have the power and influence you had imagined.  But you still loved serving in student council.  Having lunch time meetings, volunteering during spirit days, giving speeches and making videos.  It was totally your jam.  

You've made some great friends in school and through baseball this year which has been SO good to see.  You haven't had an easy fit in our ward thus far.  A few kids who you are friends with but not that click really naturally with you.  You had a huge spy themed birthday party and you absolutely loved having a huge crew of buddies to pal around with.  Conor, Nino and Ricky, Michele, Benny, Max, and Milo are probably your closest buddies and all such good kids.  

Finno, you are a treasure.  You have your days when you just wake up grouchy and tired but for the most part you're just so good.  So kind.  Everyone who interacts with you comments on your good manners and how grateful you are.  Your dad and I are very proud of you and the boy you're growing into.  Next year you'll be a deacon.  It's so hard to believe that this will be your last year in primary because sometimes you seem so young still.  But we know you'll be ready.  You're a good brother.  You are always willing to help out if I need a hand.  You read with your sisters and practice piano with them sometimes too when I've got something going on.  You recognize the spirit and want to do what's right.  You're in a really good spot, little man. We love you with a love that makes us all squishy inside.  Thank you for being the kid you are.  9 year old you was a pretty fantastic you.  But I think we'll like 10 year old you just as much.

Happy birthday, my sweet boy.

The world is yours,

Mom