Happy 15th Birthday Alyssa

 Dear Alyssa,

You made it! You're halfway to 30. Congrats! What an exciting year this has been for you. Finishing middle school with high honors, starting high school with just as much gusto as you take on in everything school-related. In case you didn't know this, Alyssa, you are amazing. I'm not just saying that because I'm your mom either. So many people see that in you and gravitate towards you. You have such a quick wit, always with the quick comebacks. You are so smart and so funny and so empathetic. I'm always blown away by the little cues you catch up on that people are giving out, and how you can bring your unique brand of funny and bluntness to make someone smile or make someone pay attention.

I know last year was a really rough birthday. I hope we can turn things around for you this year. You're growing so fast. I know you keep asking me what I think about you being my last baby in high school, turning 15, about to embark on driving and joining the work force. Honestly, I can't believe it's here already. I am looking forward to all of these exciting milestones that are coming for you. There's so much to cram into these next 3 years with you before you graduate and really begin to pursue your dreams. I'm not sure how we'll get to it all. But I will tell you this, I will cherish every single moment of it. 

You are going to do amazing and wonderful things in this world, Alyssa. I have never ever doubted that about you. You just keep on being the fun one. Keep trying your best and working hard and so many doors will open to you. And it's okay that you don't have it all figured out right now. It will come with time and experience. So try new things, explore and have adventures. The sky's the limit. Happy 15th birthday Lissy. Love you forever and always.

 

Love always, 

Mom 

 

Happy 14th Birthday, Alyssa

 Dear Alyssa,

I don't know how it's possible that my last baby is going to be starting high school this year. But here we are, wrapping up middle school and choosing what high school you'll go to. I know this is a tough choice. You want to be with people you know, but you also want to pursue all of your interests. Listen, you do not have to pick your career path now. You have lots of time to figure all of this out. Follow your heart. In the end I think you know what's best for you.

This year has been filled with lots of changes, and I know it is not starting off the greatest. But we'll get through this hiccup and there's so much to look forward to this year. Your sister's wedding.  Your 8th grade dance. Your 8th grade graduation. Starting high school. I think this is going to be a good year for you.

So keep your head up. Keep looking forward and keep on working hard. You are so smart and so witty. We never know what's going to come out of your mouth and most of the time it's usually something that makes us laugh, or gives us a really great story to tell for years to come. I am looking forward to getting to correctly celebrate your birthday when Dad gets home. And I know he is too. We love you so much. Happy birthday, Lissy Loo.

Love always,

Mom

Happy 13th Birthday Alyssa

 Dear Alyssa,

I don't know how it happened, but somehow you are a teenager. It feels like just yesterday we were frantically driving to the hospital because you surprised us during an ice storm to come a day before you were supposed to. But you did it, you're a teenager.

You amaze me every single day with how smart you are. I don't know how you do it, maintaining those straight As in school. And you're so humble about your grades too. Keep up the hard work. You will do great things in this life.

I love how you want to get involved in everything. Even if it makes me a little crazy trying to juggle it all. You have so many talents. I hope you always keep trying new things.

My wishes for you this year are really the same as always. I wish for you to be happy and continue to pursue all of your dreams. I hope 13 is everything you dreamed it would be, but do me a favor and stop growing so fast. Enjoy these times and don't be in such a hurry to be all grown up. You'll have plenty of time for that.

Happy 13th birthday, Lissy. I hope you had a fun day and got everything you wanted. I love you always!

Love,

Mommy

Happy 12th Birthday Alyssa

 Dear Alyssa,

The day has finally arrived. You are now officially 12. A much anticipated birthday for you as the last year as a preteen. You have been talking non stop for weeks now about today, well perhaps months. I do hope it ends up being everything you hoped for.

And speaking of hopes, looking ahead I also hope the last year in the preteen phase are everything you imagined and then some. I know things have been tough for you this last year with so many changes. Starting middle school, me going to work out of the house leaving you to come home a lot to no one home. I hope you can embrace this chance of freedom for you. But not too much. We have a lot of trust in you that you'll make good choices. I'm sure you won't disappoint.

Keep on smiling and don't be in such a hurry to grow up. Enjoy every minute of being 12. Because you'll only be 12 once. I love how social you are, always wanting to do things with your friends. I'm so glad you have found yourself such a nice friend group and that you all will have each others backs. Keep having fun and don't ever lose that spunk.

I love you so much and love that I get to call you my daughter. Happy 12th birthday, Lissy. 

Love always,

Mommy

Happy 11th Birthday Alyssa

 Alyssa,

 Double ones on 2/2/22, what a fun birthday you have, in so many ways. I hope you had tons of fun today. You sure are loved, that is very obvious. I hope you know that and felt that today and every day. 

So fun one, what do you think of 11? I have some hopes for you as you go through this next year. I hope you keep being adventurous and trying new things. I hope you get to spend time with friends and family more this year after the last two years of mostly being stuck at home. I hope you get to have a fun and memorable end to your time in elementary school this year. I hope you can start middle school in the fall in a more normal way than school has been for you over the last few years. I hope you keep finding ways to make your own fun.

I am so glad I have gotten to be your mother for these last 11 years. I'm looking forward to what the next 11 years and beyond of your life are going to bring for you and us. I see so many bright things for your future. You are going to do great things.

Happy 11th birthday Lissy. We love you.

Love always,

Mommy

Happy 10th Birthday Lissy

 Dear Alyssa,

Finally, the much anticipated day has arrived. I hope it hasn't been too disappointing what with COVID raging on and a near blizzard putting a monkey wrench in everything for you. I cannot believe that you are 10 years old. It truly feels like just yesterday I was sitting on the couch after eating dinner when you said nope, I'm going to change all of your plans and make you scramble. You have been full of surprises literally since the day you were born.

You know, you round out our family in the most perfect of ways. I know you wish you could be a big sister, but you're just going to have to settle for someday, hopefully far down the road, being someone's awesome aunt. You complete this family, no one could ever follow your act. So sorry kiddo, you're stuck being the youngest, but rest assured, you are awesome at it.

The past year has been anything but typical. There has been a whole lot of shifting of plans and even some losses along the way, but you sure have shown how very strong and resilient you are. Switching to distance learning, you did so without complaint and even have done pretty good with it. I hope life can start to get back to normal and you can start getting to hang out with your friends in person and not just on Zoom or on the phone. I know you miss your friends.

You are growing up so fast. Sometimes I wish I could make it stop, but at the same time I can't wait to see where life is going to take you. You have so many great and wonderful thoughts for how your future will play out. No matter what you do, I am sure you will be great at it and you certainly are not going to let anyone push you around. You are a girl to be reckoned with and it's because of that, that I have no doubt your greatness is going to shine in whatever you do.

Have a great birthday baby girl, and I hope your 10th year with us is absolutely the best one yet. Happy 10th birthday Alyssa. You complete us!

Love always,

Mommy

Happy 9th Birthday Lissy

Dear Alyssa,

Well, I'm sorry today came after all. I know you said you didn't want it to come. I don't know why, maybe because you haven't been feeling well. I know it wasn't perfect, I hope you still had a good and memorable birthday and that all of your wishes you made today will come true.

But you are nine now, getting that much closer to 16 like you want to be. You know, I do hope you'll take time to enjoy 9 and all of the rest of the years from now until 16. There's a whole lot of fun each of those years can bring you too. Don't be in such a hurry to grow older. I know you feel like you're missing out because your brother and sisters get to do all this cool stuff before you, but they had to wait just as long as you did.

So here's what I hope for you this year. I hope it's filled with lots of fun and laughter. I hope you will find that love of reading soon. I hope you'll learn to write in cursive and love it as much as you thought you would. Most of all I hope you know how much you are loved by so many people. You are after all forever and always the fun one. Who wouldn't love you?

So happy 9th birthday Lissy. I love you.

Love always,

Mommy

Happy 8th birthday to my baby girl

Dear Alyssa,

My little groundhog who's always so full of surprises from the moment you were born. It's hard to believe it has been eight years since you came along to complete our family. The perfect addition to our family. My wish for you this year is that you have so much fun and learn so many new and exciting things in school.

I hope you never lose your creative side. Keep on writing those books and drawing those amazing pictures you draw. I hope one day you will help all those sick dogs like you want to.

Wishing you a super happy 8th birthday. I hope you get everything you wanted today. We all love you so very much and hope this is the best birthday yet.

Happy 8th birthday my sweet little baby girl.

Love always,
Mommy

Alyssa's 7th Birthday

Dear Alyssa,

Seven years sure goes by fast, probably because you're the fun one as you so hysterically like to tell us. And truth be told, it has been a fun ride with you up to this point. Not only are you funny, but your quick wit and amazing imagination keeps us on our toes. We never know what it is you're going to say. You are a shining star and you let everyone who meets you know it.

The sky is the limit for you my dear sweet daughter. Whatever you do I am sure you will be smiling and making others laugh. Never let anyone take that gift away from you. Just keep on being you, shine bright, and don't ever let anyone stifle your creativity and imagination.

Always know Daddy and I love you forever and always no matter what. We will never stop. Looking forward to what the next seven years and beyond is going to be like with you. Happy seventh birthday my beautiful girl, I hope it has been everything you imagined it could be.

Love always,
Mommy

Happy 5th Birthday Alyssa!

Dear Alyssa,

Well, the day finally arrived. The much anticipated 5th birthday. Perhaps this day wasn't all you expected it to be. I mean you're not five feet tall yet. But I hope it was a good day.

So now you're five. Really just like one of the big kids. You have been embracing this all. Growing and learning so many new things. You have overcome every challenge you have been thrown in life with a beautiful smile on your face.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what this year brings for you. Well, honestly, I always look forward to hearing what crazy thing you're going to say next. You are always making everyone laugh with your over-the-top sayings. I never know what you'll come up with next. You keep me on my toes with your spunk and zest for life.

As much as I would love to keep you little forever, I know so many great things are to come for you. So I hope you keep putting yourself out there and trying new things with lots of fun and laughter. Life is better when you're laughing and you make everyday a better day with your sense of humor.

Happy 5th birthday to my sweet baby girl. Fly high little one.

Love,
Mom

Happy 4th Birthday Alyssa

Dear Alyssa,

Wow! 4 years! I can't believe it has been 4 years since you made your surprise entrance into this world a day earlier than expected, preserving our family birthdays of 1's and 2's. You must have known my secret obsession with numbers and patterns. I mean really, you couldn't have picked a better day to be born either, at least number wise.

This has been a really big year for you. You started school this year. And as I suspected you are a very well liked and very bright little girl. Starting to sing your ABC's and learning how to spell your name. S is your favorite letter, good thing there are two of those in your name.

You have been navigating friendships and really coming out of your shell. One thing I will caution you against is don't be so quick to want to do and have everything your friends do and have. You have a mind of your own and a spectacularly brilliant style. Let it shine and always be you. That fun loving sassy and sweet little girl, who has a knack for driving us crazy while simultaneously making us laugh. I never want you to lose that about yourself.

I can't wait to see what this year is going to bring for you as you continue to learn many new things. I love you my sweet little monkey and I hope today and the whole year are filled with happiness and plenty of laughs and smiles.

Love always,
Mommy

Happy 3rd Birthday Alyssa

Dear Alyssa,
Wow, I can't believe 3 years has passed since you were born.  I never even thought you would be, but here you are with your beautiful smiling face telling everyone you're 6 instead of 3.  Oh you silly girl, please stop growing up so fast.  I wish I could keep you small forever, but alas that is just not possible.

So many changes have happened for you recently.  The biggest of all being starting school.  I know you wish I could be there with you and believe me I wish I could too, but this is something you have got to do on your own.  I promise it won't be so bad and I will come get you every day.  I could never forget about you.

I love how you are developing so many of your very own interests.  And I love how much you look up to all of your older siblings.  They are a good bunch for you to look up to too.  Usually won't steer you in the wrong direction so make sure you listen to them.

Your excitement for so many things is so refreshing.  You make me excited about things I never gave a second though to before.

I love being your mother so much.  I never know what crazy things you're going to say next.  Such a smart and beautiful little girl.  I love you to the moon and back again baby girl.  I hope you had a great 3rd birthday.

I love you!

Love,
Mommy

Happy 2nd Birthday Alyssa

Dear Alyssa,
I can't believe you are 2 already.  It feels like just yesterday I was pregnant with you.  Now here you are growing more and more independent by the day.  This is a little bittersweet for me as you're my last baby.

I love watching you grow and learn new things, but at the same time it's all going too fast.

You are such a sweet loving little girl.  You are also very particular about things.  If things aren't just the way you want them, then you definitely let us know.

You are fiercely smart.  Figuring out your shape sorters in record time.  You might even be better at cleaning things up and following instructions (when you want to that is) than your siblings.

I know you want to keep up with your older siblings, but please slow down.  You don't need to do everything they are doing.  There will be plenty of time for that.

I want you to know baby girl, that you will always be my baby.  And I might hold onto you a little tighter than the rest, but it's only because I never want it to end.  Having you be a part of our family for the past two years has been a complete blessing and I am grateful every day to have you in my life.

I hope you had tons of fun for your birthday.  Thank you for bringing tons of laughs and smiles to us all.  I love you baby girl.

Happy Birthday Alyssa!

Love,
Mommy

Christmas 2012

Okay see I told you I would do this.  Here was our Christmas.  It was a great time.  Christmas Eve was our Christmas with family which was lots of fun.  Christmas day we opened our gifts, had our breakfast, hung around until we went to see Parental Guidance with the kids.  Very funny movie.  It was a wonderful low key day just the way we like it.

Christmas Eve

Alyssa ready to open gifts

CJ's car carrier

Tools!

Alyssa still getting used to this whole gift thing.

Yes, a truck!

Back to the tools

All 4 kids

They are so goofy

Natalie had no idea that Kevin did this.

All those toys and these two like a box

The biggest kid of all

Me and mom

Margaret

Ride over

And here's Christmas day...

Santa came

Lots of great treasures

The stockings

Santa loved his cookies

Opening gifts

Hunger Games

A remote control car that goes in the water

Alyssa wants to open it now.

Earrings and a Webkinz

A puppy

Her very own legos

What do we have here?

Each piece she ripped off had to go in the garbage

It's a Handy Manny lunchbox

Kaitlyn what do you have there? An art set?

A CHAINSAW!

She got a new phone!

CJ insisted I take his picture with his gift from Kaitlyn

So that was Christmas.  All in all a great time.  Glad to have it over though.

Final Picture Catchup Of 2012

I still can't seem to keep this blog updated regularly.  Sorry about that.  But surely you love getting a blast of our events all at once.  So here's the final picture catch up of 2012.  Maybe my new years resolution for 2013 should be to keep up with this blog better.  But well I hate resolutions because I begin them all gung ho and then get disappointed when after a month I stop.  So I won't do that to you or myself. 

Here is what we have been up to since I last updated...

Creating masterpieces.

CJ's turkey

Natalie's spaghetti bridge

 Celebration of Families luncheon

CJ eating his lunch

So deep in thought

 Thanksgiving

Meeting Santa

CJ telling Santa he wants a chainsaw

Kaitlyn wants art stuff

Natalie wants a phone

Alyssa just wants to get away from Santa

All 4 with Santa

 Decorating our tree

Kaitlyn putting on the ornaments

Alyssa helping

Daddy helping Alyssa

Reach up high Kaitlyn

CJ decorating the tree

Natalie the goof ball

Why is she doing the low ones?

Joe decorating the tree

Alyssa decorating the tree

Hi Natalie

Hard at work

Our new ornament this year from NH

The best view of the Christmas tree

All done

He's so handsome

 December also brought a trip into NYC

Kaitlyn on the train

Alyssa on the train

CJ on the train

The ticket taker gave him a smiley face, he had to have his picture taken with it.

Who's smile is better?

Time Square

The ferris wheel in Toys R Us

Meeting Mario and Mickey

Don't they look thrilled?

The sights of the city

The tree at Rockefeller Center

We made it!

 And finally we have PJ day at the kids school

Kaitlyn and CJ on PJ day!

CJ went to school like this

Kaitlyn went to school like this

 I was going to put Christmas on here too, but this was getting rather long.  So look out for a 2nd post of Christmas Eve and Christmas day from us.  I promise I won't forget, I'm doing it right now.