Dear Sofa/Sofa Dofa/Sweet Pea,
I can't believe what a difference a year makes. You have grown in so many different ways in this last year (not only in height, meaning you're no longer the smallest of your friends!). Your confidence has really taken off, and even though your teachers and friends report that you're relatively quiet in the classroom, it couldn't be more different when you're at home or hanging out with your friends. You are a regular sassy first grade with a great sense of humor, and you're as likely to try and play a trick on me when I tuck you up at night (the old close your eyes and open your mouth usually ends up with your stinky toes in my face!) as you are to give me a cuddle.
I think my favorite change in this last year is to see you really become your own person. While you continue to be close to your brother (and long may that continue), you are finding your own interests and opinions on things. For example, for no reason that we can discern, you are completely obsessed with Stitch, to the point where you spent your shovelling money (thank you for saving my back on that walkway!) on a massive Stitch stuffy at Disney earlier this year. You also decided out of nowhere that you wanted a Leeds United soccer kit, and a fish tank of your own for your birthday. This comes from your increased confidence, and I love watching you step out from your brother's shadow more to become your own person.
I've also loved you making a good group of friends this year. Covid definitely screwed things up in terms of playdates and birthday parties during your kindergarten year, but you've come home talking about a good range of different kids in your class. It was great to see some of them at your birthday party recently, and you were right in the middle of the action for the whole day. However, the one person you really wanted to see there was Martin. Fortunately you and Momma had been to his birthday the week before, and you're going on a play date tomorrow. You write about him most days in our gratitude cards (when we remember to do them) and Momma says that you're a sweet pair of friends. Long may that continue, and I'm excited to see how your friendship skills develop in this upcoming year.
Speaking of your birthday party, you have a delightful appreciation for the world around you. As I tucked you up that night, you sighed and said that you wished the day could start all over again because it had been the best day ever. Now, this is a good thing for a parent to hear as you always want birthday parties to go right, but it's not the first time you've declared a day to be the best day ever. Most days at Disney fell into that category, but also our recent hike day with ice cream, and a trip to the trampoline park also makes you feel like the world is a pretty great place. We've got some big ticket trips coming up this summer to continue to fill your bucket, but I hope that you continue to find joy and pleasure in the small things as well as the big.
Your love affair with Nana and Papa continues unabated (you would go and live there given half a chance!) and this was definitely helped with Papa came to coach your softball team. You showed a grit and determination in all your games and practices, probably helped by another best friend in Tessa. The two of you were hilarious to watch, and you came home from each game and practice with stories from the dugout. I wonder if you'll want to play again next year, as I think you've got your heart set on gymnastics in the fall.
For all your sassy comments and playful nature, you continue to demonstrate your heart of gold. You always make sure that everything is fair (I called you the best girl kid the other day and you automatically added that Jake is the best boy kid) and that you give equal attention to both me and Momma. You still love to play and hang out with your brother, and I love it when you come and find me when I'm doing garden work or chores and offer to help because it's a fun thing to do. With summer vacation finally here, I'm excited to spend much more time with you and watching you continue to grow in all sorts of new and fascinating ways.
All my love,
Dadda
