Mary Alice - Age 11

Oh Mimi-girl, I'm sitting in the living room in the quiet of the morning, seeking the silent refuge this house brings in the hours before 7:00 and down the stairs you creep. My first words were, "Nope, turn around. Go back upstairs. No one leaves their bed before 8:00!" You say nothing, just keep walking towards me and hand me a tooth from your face... Alright, body parts falling off counts as an acceptable reason to get out of bed... for a minute... off you go!

So here we were a few weeks ago discussing how great it was going to be to actually spend a birthday in school with your friends. Usually your birthday is either over spring break, or Easter break, or both and therefore you don't bring in treats to school or any such things. This year you had already planned what you wanted to make and bring in for this birthday-at-school birthday... Then CORONA... then quarantine... then no school... then birthday at home with "just us."

It is kind of you to pretend like this is no biggie. We are trying to make it seem extra special even though everyday seems to feel the exact same at this point. Wake-up, eat, figure out how to spend the next 12 hours with the same exact people from the day before, go to bed and repeat!

You are a great sport about it though. We have been having a good time playing and walking outside together, cooking together, arting together, watching baking shows together, playing games together, 90's moving watching together... I'm sensing a theme... a theme of togetherness... oh wait, that is your favorite theme!

Perhaps this is why you have been such a good sport, you love all things being together. This is one of your magics, your great love of togetherness with whoever will together with you!

These have been some of the best 11 years of my life and you are at fault for that sweet-honey-girl! We love you times infinity!