I am finding myself needing to set more and more time aside to write these posts as there is so much to fit in (and so much that I miss in here). Not because you guys are having so many firsts (although still plenty of those), but rather because you are so active and doing so many things. Also hobby/interest changes, attitude changes, new friends, new experiences and a lot more. You are also becoming such a sweet little thing. You love your brother (even though you tease him a lot) and are a total daddy’s girl – for now at least.

Here are a few of the highlights.

Easter Bunny

You are starting to figure it out…

We usually go all out for Easter. Baskets, candy, stuffed animals, toys and of course like 10 easter egg hunts. This year you were just a little different leading up to it and during it. Asking a lot more questions and seemingly skeptical of the process. You are usually not one to ask questions to which you do not want the wrong answer, but you bucked the trend.

We were in my truck driving later that day and you said “Dad, the Easter Bunny isn’t real is he?” I had prepared for this moment. Prepared to use the answer a question with a question technique and eventually try to wear you out. The problem – it’s impossible to wear you out (a month or so after this you literally guessed my password to my work computer with a 45 minute barrage of questions that finally got you to the answer). After my retort filled with various questions, you brought it back to the point and I caved. You already knew, so there was no point in trying to keep it a secret anymore.

This then cascaded into the tooth fairy, but it stopped right there when you said “well, at least Santa is real.” The issue there is you are now in 6th grade, and you hear things from friends. Many times you just mention things you heard in passing, or your mom or I reference something trendy and you have already heard about it (6 and 7 is the current one we didn’t know you knew, and it also utterly stupid). Meaning it’s only a matter of time until you find out about them all.

Obviously this doesn’t seem like a big deal since you were bound to find out eventually, but it does extinguish another part of your childlike nature and innocence. You like being a kid. You don’t like it when you grow (you are just under 5 feet tall btw!), or gain a pound. You don’t like anything that makes you appear older or more adult like. So while I love this about you, finding out about the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy is just another reminder that you are growing up no matter what you or I can do. Something tells me that this will be the last year you believe in Santa (or pretend to) so I plan on enjoying every second of it.

I lost some weight

I don’t normally write about me, but sometimes want to update you on life-changing things.

I turned 40 last year, and I was in bad shape. Like really bad shape. I was way overweight, eating poorly, drinking too much, not working out, lazy and had lost my ambition. It really wasn’t who I was and I realized it. I started gaining weight when Ethan was born and never got back into a good routine. What I really realized was that I wasn’t doing things with you guys like I used to or wanted to. I reflected on it and decided I needed to make a change.

In about 3.5 months I dropped about 45 pounds, and currently sitting at 51 pounds down. I also shifted my entire lifestyle. I get up at 5/530 every day and go to the gym before coming home to make your lunches, make you breakfast and take you to school. We play so much more and my energy is back, making time around you guys so much more enjoyable.

I regret so much the years I could have been better for you guys, but also realize that shit happens and no one is perfect. Just really happy I am where I am now.

(I happened to be wearing the same outfit the other day as the one on your 11th bday, so had Ethan take a comparison pic)

Soccer over

You decided to quit soccer after this last season. I believe you played 5 years, and during that time you improved so much. You went from hard to watch to slightly good :). You really enjoyed soccer for a few years but recently it had become less fun for you and you were finding other things more enjoyable. Your teams were never that good (could prob count all your wins during those years on one hand), but you made some good friends and seemed to enjoy the team environment. You just didn’t have the aggression necessary to go to the next level.

All joking aside, you played defense and you were great at it. Nothing got by you, and if it did you were very fast and would track it down. It was awesome watching you work and get better. But you quit for a good reason…you made dance company!

Dance Company

I am so proud of you. Trying out for things or placing yourself in a position that is highlighted is not something that you are comfortable with. But you really did it with this. You wanted to get better at dance (and you have) and you went out for the tryout and made the team!

This is still a very new thing as I write this, but this is a bigger commitment than anything you have done to this point. You are dancing at least four days a week, and apparently that will increase. You are doing contemporary, jazz, hip hop and ballet. You will go to competitions next year and probably even travel for them. You take it seriously and appear to love it. I take and pick you up most of the time, and it’s very weird seeing you become so independent – also weird seeing you dress like a tween.

Other things

You are still doing piano and are improving. You don’t play at home as much as you used to so I don’t get to hear it as much, but I mostly think that is because you are busy with other things. You are the child that comes home and starts their homework right away, and while some of it comes hard for you (math specifically) you power through. Even have convinced you to ask your teacher for help on occasion as your mom and I can still get the answers but sometimes it takes even us a while. You have an acro mat that you keep in the living room and use it every day to do handstands, bridges and walkovers (currently you are working on your headstand as well). You are my little adventurer – we hike, explore the forest when camping, go on road trips and really anything I am doing you want to come. You smile all the time. Your best friends right now are Avery and Cora.

Your real best friend is Ethan – you guys do so much together and for the most part get along great. Your taste in food is also evolving, as you are now eating more mature foods like salad and more vegetables. You are quickly evolving.

You are perfect. And I could not ask for a better monkey.

I love you more than all the world

Love, Dad