Monday, September 26, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LILIAHNA!!!

Today you are five years old.

You are increasingly independent. You can buckle yourself into your carseat. You can buckle Serelle into her carseat. You like to help wash the dishes. You like to help wash the car.

You wake up at 7 am on the dot. Every single morning. You are more reliable than an alarm clock and you do not have a snooze button.

You love your family. You love your dad, me and Serelle. And you tell us this often. I hope we all learn from you in this regard.

You love your cousins, your aunts, your uncles, and especially your two Mimi's, your Rhino and your Poppi. They know this. And I'm pretty sure that you're just about everyone's favorite niece/cousin/granddaughter! (although no one will ever be able to admit that!)

You love to laugh. You have such a contagious, and irresistible laugh that most people find themselves trying to create new ways to hear that amazing giggle. I know I do.

You are a hard worker. You know what it means to feel like something is really hard. But you are also learning to never give up. To push through and to feel the success of conquering.

Your memory is like a steel trap. You remember everything you hear - except maybe when I ask you to come inside from the park! You remember who gave you which Barbie doll and at what birthday. You remember that Aunt T lives on H street in Salt Lake City. You remember which temple just about every couple in our family was married in.

You are a good friend. You make friends wherever you are. You have friends in Utah, Arizona, and the number of friends you have here in California is growing rapidly.

You love to swing. And although you can pump your legs hard enough that your head touches the tree branches, you want us to push you on the swing endlessly.

You love to learn. You loved Miss Merlene and now you adore both Teacher Lissa and Teacher Triona. Young 5's is the best thing that could have happened to you. Maybe that's why daddy got into Stanford?

Liliahna, you are such a prize and joy to me. I feel honored and humbled to be your mother. I hope that I can help you realize your full potential. I know that you are a beloved daughter of God. I know that He sent you to me and I am thankful for the priceless gift that you are to me. Every single day.

Happy Birthday Lili!

Love,
Mom

Friday, September 23, 2011

Serelle,

We are officially a diaper-free family.

Way to go! You are such a fast learner and have made the dreaded "potty training" transition a complete breeze! I'm not sure why I'm surprised, you are an incredibly bright little girl and I should have known how smoothly you would handle the transition.

You love to wear your "Dora" undies and are so good to come running and enthusiastically yell, "Mommy, I go tinkles!" Or, "I have a big one, poo poo!". You are so funny and such a joy.

Bunk beds and potties, what a big girl.

Mom

September 9, 2011

Liliahna,

I have been feeling pretty good about all of my new purchases for business school. I got some cool new pants, some great new shoes, and a killer suit. One of the things I was most excited about was my new messenger style school bag. I was feeling especially confident about it today, until you walked up to me and said, "Dad, I really like your purse!" My what?!? You are just so cute and I love you like crazy. You, your mom, and your sister are the most wonderful parts of my life.

Dad