Dear Kenna,

 Dear Kenna,

Oh my sweet girl you are 6!  I procrastinated writing your letter last year when you turned 5 until March and then COVID happened and we were stuck.  So this letter better be extra amazing after missing one year of letter-writing to the marvelous Kenna Makechnie!

Kenna girl you absolutely lit up in K4.  You weren't nervous in the slightest about getting on that little bus or going to school and had the best time in class with Ms. Allison.  I loved coming to "work" in your class every other week because you were so proud and happy to have me there and show me everything you were doing.  Your favorite spot in the classroom was the "maker table" where Ms. Allison brought milk cartons, take out containers, toilet paper rolls, tissue paper, anything and everything in a big box and you used it to make new creations every day and brought them home just glowing with pride at your new robot, mailbox, minecraft guy, etc.  It was a lot of stuff Kenna girl.  But it made you SO happy!  You loved coloring and often drew pictures for people and you loved writing stories and being able to read them to the class on the projector.  

In March we left for Utah to be at Auntie Mallo's wedding and we ended up getting stuck.  For four months.  Away from your Daddy, your toys, your craft closet, your bunk bed, your life in Saudi.  It was really hard.  You were so happy for your Auntie Mallo and you absolutely adore her man, Uncle Carson.  He is endlessly sweet to you and you poured a lot of fatherly affection on him while you were away from your Dad.  He couldn't sit down without you or Taryn climbing into his lap like you belonged there.  It was so sweet for you and your siblings to be able to attend Auntie Mallo's wedding since the temples were closed.  You wore a beautiful dress and had your own little bouquet which made you feel so special.  

We spent a lot of time in the mountains while we were in Utah.  We stayed in the Dibb's house in American Fork for a month where you shared a room with your siblings and then we moved to the Bourne's house in Lehi for another 3 months.  They were SO good to us and we were so grateful to have a place to stay while we were stuck.  Both houses were close to AF canyon.  We went hiking at least once a week as everything else closed down and we desperately needed to be in some nature and feel some sunshine.  We haven't had much opportunity to hike as a family living in Saudi except for the one or two hikes we take each summer in NH.  It was wonderful to see how you and Taryn have grown and the stamina that you had to keep going and climb steep trails without too much whining.  Finding flowers, looking for bugs and critters and sometimes snow, made the whole experience so magical.  Sometimes we went alone, often we had company from Aunts, Uncles, Nana and Grandpa.  I loved holding your little hand as we climbed in the mountains together.

We did a lot of fun things in Utah.  When things opened up a bit we went the aquarium, we ate out or got takeout, went on lots of walks, colored with chalk, rolled down hills, flew kites, played at the high school track with Mallo and Carson, played on the trampoline in the Bourne's back yard.  You, Taryn and Finny raced snails you found in the garden.  You and your siblings were rock stars last summer.  You each took turns having sad days and worry days but you helped each other and played together and loved each other.  Seeing your relationships and how much you've all grown together is one of my most treasured takeaways from this year.

We did virtual K4 for almost all of those four months and it was not ideal.  Lots of crafts and maker challenges, lots of little number games or finding shapes, or coloring pictures.  We'd watch the few little videos and take pictures to send to your teacher back in Saudi.  But we also got a set of Bob books, made some number flashcards, and did a little school work on our own.  And all of a sudden, Kenna, you turned into a reader.  Letters and sounds started to click.  You took so much pride in finishing bob books with me or on your own and couldn't wait for our daily facetime with your Dad so you could show him your new skills.  On our last day in Saudi as I was packing boxes, you sat down with Auntie Mallo and asked her to help you write a note to me.  That was your first note, Kenna babe.  It said, "I love you, thanks for letting us go home."  It was a moment for me.  Feeling so stressed about all the cleaning and packing with such short notice.  So frazzled at how fast it all had to be done and worried about the trip across the ocean in such an uncertain time. And so excited to finally be going home again.  And you, little Kenna, you sensed all that.  And you just had to do something sweet to make it all feel less stressful.  

On July 7th we FINALLY were able to go home.  It was the easiest and happiest 24 hour trip we've ever had.  You and your siblings were exhausted but no one complained because you were just so happy to be finally going home.  You fell asleep on the Aramco bus the last ten minutes of the drive so your siblings rushed out before I could get you up but once we left the bus you ran, sobbing into your daddy's arms.  So tired and SO glad to finally be home.  Those next two quarantine weeks were just wonderful.  All together.  So many movie nights, game nights, afternoon snuggle parties.  It was a warm and cozy quarantine.

We spent the summer doing our workbooks and chores in the morning, swimming in our little backyard pool, playing games, playing with friends, and we went to the beach almost every weekend.  Even with all of the stress in the world and in our little corner of the world after all of the lock-downs and trauma of surviving covid in Saudi, our family was just so happy to be together, not much could bother us for long.  

You started writing notes and it's like you were doing it your whole life.  Mostly "I luv yoo". sometimes the o's are hearts.  You know how to write everyone's names in our family and you get very hurt if someone points out a spelling error because you put your whole heart into every kind gesture.  You're a deep feeler, Kenna love.  If anyone gets hurt, you're running for an ice pack or a bandaid.  If mom is stressed you say, "Thanks for being our Mom.  I know you're feeling stressed right now.  It's hard to be a mom, isn't it?"  You're very thoughtful and you notice details a lot of people miss.  I learn a lot from you, sweetheart.  I feel like I understand you at your core.  It's heavy sometimes to feel so much, isn't it?  But it's also a gift you have.  To notice and lift where you can.  But I must say, I'm pretty proud of you when I see you stand up for yourself or what you want because far too often you yield your own wishes to others.  I hope you know that you are important, and you deserve to be taken care of and have what you want too.

You are a good little eater.  You like sweets but you're usually fine with a bite or two.  You could eat fruit all day, especially bananas.  You know fruit is always okay so whenever you start to say, "I'm hungry.." you stop yourself and say, "Can I have a banana?!" You probably eat at least one banana every day.  You also love yogurt drinks, nectarines but not plums so much, apples but only if they're cut, any kind of berry, and you'll also eat bell peppers.  Your recent favorite is a crustless quiche that we've made a lot recently.  It's got a ton of broccoli but you can pack away at least two slices easily.  

We started virtual school in August and it was fine.  Fine but not great.  It's hard to sit in front of a screen for kindergarten and stay engaged but man, your teacher Mr. Graham sure did his best!  He had puppets and songs and silly games and you just adore him.  We were all celebrating when you were able to go back to hybrid school in November.  You do chores and one virtual special video in the mornings and then you go to school just for the afternoons four days a week.  Even with the distance and the masks you still love going to school. I'm SO glad you are able to go in person.  So many people still can't.  You've become such a great reader this year and you love sitting down with a pile of books.  If they're at your level you read them word for word, if they're not you just tell the story, whispering to yourself or to Taryn as you turn the pages and admire the pictures.  

On November 30 we were able to get out to NH to visit family.  Watching you run up the street to give Grandpa Arthur a big hug will be one of my favorite memories.  You just held him and he bent over to hug you for probably a minute.  You loved playing with cousin Paige and you had the best time going for snowy walks with Artie and Tenny, and Auntie Amy, completely undeterred by the snow and wind outside.  We spend one day skiing but you were only out there for a couple of hours and the rest of the time we played together in the snow.  You were enchanted by icicles and have the most creative ideas of imaginative play.  

We surprised you and took you guys to Disney World for the last week of our time in the states.  It was wonderful.  You were just tall enough to ride nearly every ride now.  An inch taller than Taryn so she missed out on a few and you completely surprised me by being a real dare-devil.  You loved the speed, the drops, and weren't bothered in the slightest by the darkness on some rides.  It was a shock to me to look at my little baby girl and realize that you're now a big kid who can play with me and your siblings in a whole new way!  You loved it all.  The music, the Christmas decorations, the characters who came by in unscheduled cavalcades, the rides, the shops.  It was all magic to you and watching you and your siblings be grateful and soak up the Disney magic made your Dad and I so happy and so proud.  It was a healing trip for us.  Being together and playing so much. 

Christmas was lovely this year.  We wished that Mallo and Carson could have visited us like they had planned but no visitors were allowed into Saudi so that wasn't possible.  We had a sweet, quiet Christmas at home and even went camping a couple of times over the long break.  You asked Santa for a locket with a K on it!  You gave very thoughtful gifts to your brother Tate that you picked out at Target and watching you and your siblings be excited to share those gifts was the sweetest part of Christmas by far.  

Kenna, I love you.  Your siblings love you.  Your Daddy is smitten with you.  You have the most gentle eyes, a sweet smile, and a heart that feels with others and wants to make the world a happier place.  You are a treasure to our family, my little lady.  It's been a hard year in a lot of ways, but it's been a good year for you.  Lots of growth.  Lots of love.  Lots of adventures.  And you have loved it all as only you can.  

I love and admire you so very much, my little one.  Happy Birthday, sweetie.

The world is yours, Kenna.

Love,

Mom