Christmas 2020

 Dearest Harper,

So, I HATE this year's picture with Santa. I mean, yeah, you can't sit with him and he has a mask on (at least you could take YOURS off), but that's ok, that's just documentation of this historic pandemic. I hate that they've zoomed so far out! It's hard to see Santa (they could have seated you to the side a bit more) but they could have zoomed in - you can see the floor and the "stand here" X on it! It only came in a 6x8m because of the decorative border, but the frame we have is 5x7, so I had to cut off a bunch of the border. What sense does that make?! And you want to know what's even worse?! After we took the pictures, as we walked around the mall, we saw a Grinch photo spot, and we thought it was PERFECT for this year! You could even choose between a few Dr Seuss sayings, and one of them was "2020 - stink, stank, stunk" which pretty much describes this whole pandemic year... But anyway, I hate this picture and I hate this year, so I guess it fits. 

But you're adorable, as always!

See, I'm not the only one who hated this year!

 

 

The timing was perfect - all you want for Christmas is your 2 front teeth!

 

Getting ready for Santa!

Bop and Monnie spent the night so they could wake up and do Christmas morning with you!

And, as always, we spent time with family.

Gotta do our traditional holiday double smooch!

 Another wonderful holiday celebration. To many more together!

I love you,

Mommy

Thanksgiving 2020

 Dearest Harper,

I worked this Thanksgiving, as I do most Thanksgivings, so you and Daddy spent the day with Gaga and Agi and Auntie Cassie, Uncle Mike, and Michael. Normally Gaga and Agi host more family members, but this damn pandemic is still going strong...

The only photo we have is one of our traditional double smooch, taken after I got home from work.

I am truly thankful for you every single day. You never cease to make me smile. 

I love you,

Mommy

Halloween 2020

Dearest Harper,

We carved pumpkins for the first time this year. Usually we just buy them to sit on the porch, and the last 2 years we've painted them, but this year you asked to carve, so we did! But you refused to help scoop and wash the seeds, and you weren't strong enough to carve, so unfortunately, you weren't much help and got bored. But the end results were cool - a skeleton who ended up looking a lot like Jack from Nightmare Before Christmas, and a Lego head.

Halloween afternoon, a friend of ours rented a movie theater for a group of our closest friends and their kids, and we all dressed up and watched Monsters Inc on the big screen! It was such a treat - nobody has been to the movies since the pandemic started, and it was a much needed taste or normalcy. Plus, you had a BLAST seeing one of your first favorite movies in the theater. 

Despite the continuing pandemic, and how safe we've been trying to be, we DID let you go trick or treating. We were VERY smart about it, as were most of the people in our neighborhood. I don't think there were as many people - both passing out candy and trick or treating - but you got a huge haul because it seemed like the people who were passing out candy were passing out MORE than usual. Most people sat on their driveways to hand out candy, and there was very little knocking on doors. Lots of candy came pre-packaged in a bag, so lots of little hands weren't rooting through the same bowl. Your costume had a mask, and we stayed to ourselves; if there was a group ahead of us, we just slowed down and waited for them to clear out. We didn't go through your candy for a few days, just to let any potential cooties die off. Mommy and Daddy dressed up like Carl and Ellie from Up to join in the Halloween spirit. And guess what's super cool about this Halloween?! It was a blue moon!

It was 100% YOUR choice to be Michael Myers from the Halloween movies this year. You know of and like him because of a video game that Daddy plays. And while I'm not entirely sure it's acceptable to let a newly 6-year-old little girl be a murderous character from a horror series, the costume WAS in your size, so there must be a demand, which makes me feel a little better (I'm 99% joking about my concern.) 

 Can't ever forget the double smooch! 

I love you,

Mommy

Your Sixth Birthday

Dearest Harper,

You requested Dutch Bros and Starbread for breakfast, so when you woke up, we quick hopped in the car and went to pick up your birthday cake frost and seniorita bread. 

You asked for a Lego birthday party, and that's what you got! We had a smaller than usual birthday party for you given the pandemic is still going strong. We only invited your grandparents, aunt and uncle, and cousins. Our friends and their kids, as well as a few extra family members who usually come, had to sit this one out. Hopefully by your next birthday, the virus will be under control and we can go back to a bigger celebration (although I'm not going to lie - having only 3 kids was SO much easier!)

 

 After the party, we went out to dinner at the restaurant of your choice - Red Robin! The meal ended with a sundae and the servers singing to you, something you were thrilled about!

You said this was the best birthday ever. I feel like this was the first year you REALLY understood and appreciated that the day was about YOU. It was fun to watch the joy on your face all day long. 

And of course, we ended your special day with a double smooch!

I look forward to what this year will bring for you. You are already so very smart, kind, thoughtful, sweet, and funny. You definitely can be fairly sassy, and we've been having to put you in check a bit more than usual lately, but I think you're learning what's socially acceptable and testing your boundaries. We're tough on you just because we don't want you to grow up to be an asshole. You LOVE to be tickled, and I do it eagerly because you have the best laugh in the world. I worry about your self confidence sometimes - when asked to tell us something good about yourself, you often say "I don't know," or if we pay you a compliment or give you praise, you often reply with "You really think so?" ABSOLUTELY! You are an absolutely amazing kid, and every day we think about how lucky we are that you're OURS.

I love you,

Mommy

 

First Day(s) of Kindergarten!

 Dearest Harper,

August 10th - Because of the pandemic, this school year began virtually. You meet with your whole class on Zoom for about 30 minutes each day, then your teacher, Mrs Wofford, breaks you into groups of 5 or so to work more one-on-one. Your group meets from 12-1245, which is terribly inconvenient, as it's in the middle of the day, but it is what it is. In between the meetings, you work on math and reading and writing on your own. Well, you're 5 years old, so it's not really ON YOUR OWN, as Mommy and Daddy have to guide you, but you're smart, so it's easy.

(This picture was actually taken about a week or two before school started, when we went to pick up your supplies.)

Mrs Wofford did assessments in the second week of school - numbers 1-20, letters of the alphabet (capital and lowercase, and their sounds) - and you aced it all! Mrs Wofford put her chin in her hands and said, "Well Harper, that's Kindergarten. What do we do with you now?!"  

September 21st - The numbers of new infections have been staying low, so things are opening back up, including schools, but on a modified schedule. You go 5 days a week, but the school is split in two - half in the morning, half in the afternoon, to help maintain social distancing. You, of course, are in the afternoon session (insert eye roll here.) Mondays you go from 1125-125, and the rest of the days you go from 1150-220. You still have work to do independently at home, as 2.5 hours definitely isn't enough time for everything.

There are 10 kids in your cohort, and you guys wear your masks unless you're outside. Two kids sit on opposite ends of the little tables, and there is a plexiglass shield between you. Mrs Wofford wipes everything down between classes. You are smart enough to understand the risks of returning to school, and after many talks, we trust you to make the right decisions with your classmates - no physical contact, no sharing, things like that. 

We always take you out to lunch to celebrate the first day of school. You were thrilled with your build-your-own ice cream sundae!

You're still doing well in school, but you ARE ahead of everyone else, so you finish faster and get bored and impatient waiting for everyone else. Mrs Wofford has had to talk with you a few times about patience, and now you have extra work to keep you busy.

Although definitely not traditional, so far, this school year is going well. Thank goodness you're an easy going, flexible, adaptable kid.

I love you,

Mommy

Fourth of July 2020

 Dearest Harper,

While Danyel and Jason did indeed throw a party this year, Mommy and Daddy weren't comfortable going, given the state health officials specifically asked people NOT to have parties. We're trying to be mindful and think of the bigger picture - everyone else's health and stopping the spread of this virus - over the smaller picture - our own desires to socialize and do things with friends. 

Instead, we went swimming at a friend's who was gone at a party of her own, then came home to eat hot dogs and do fireworks. It was quiet, just the 3 of us, and I especially was sad to miss out on the fun we always have as a group, but being safe and healthy is smarter. There will be many more 4th of Julys.

I love you,

Mommy

Easter 2020

 Dearest Harper,

Because of the pandemic and everyone being on lock down, our usual Easter festivities were cancelled this year, but we had a good day, just us. 

You're becoming a good little artist, and I couldn't help but share your drawings of the Easter Bunny.

Of course we decorated eggs and set out everything the Easter Bunny would need.

Easter morning we woke up to see what the Easter Bunny left for you, and did an egg hunt. I made bunny butt pancakes for breakfast, and we can't forget the double smooch!

I love you,

Mommy

Valetine's Day 2020

 Dearest Harper,

Valentine's Day was a school day, and you couldn't have looked any cuter with your outfit and "I love you" signs for the picture!

We were tasked to bring grapes for a fruit salad, and you handed out Skittles valentines to your classmates. And of course Mrs Mooney is wonderful and deserved a little something special. At the end of the day you brought home a specially decorated bag full of Valentine's Day goodies! And, of course, we did a double smooch!

I love you,

Mommy