Borden Family Adventures: July 2013

I can not believe that it has been six years since Madi and Emma were born into this world. It all seems to be going too fast for me and I want to keep them young and small forever.

Such great little helpers in the yard.

To My Dearest Darling Madeline,

When you were born 6 years ago one of the nurses called you my feisty one. As you have become more confident and wise your feistiness has grown too. I usually refer to it as spirited. Although at times it isn’t what I want to see or hear, it many times is mixed with humor and wit. You are as smart as a whip and it is so fun to see you playfully tease your sister, brother, dad and me. Nothing gets by you, and you remember everything!

Your confidence has lead you to be quite the little thrill seeker too. It always takes you a minute to “trust yourself” and “find your brave” but once you do, you don’t stop. You did it when we were skiing, you did it when you learned to ride your bike without training wheels, and you did it with the water slides at Suncadia and Great Wolf Lodge. I will never forget getting you to trust yourself on two wheels. But as soon as you did, you were grinning ear to ear and I was crying. Crying because I was so proud of you and crying because it made me realize just how much my sweet little Goo was growing up.

I love watching you with your little brother. You are so sweet to him and the love you have for him just shines. And boy does he adore you! I know at times he can ruin your fun or break your toys but it doesn’t effect the way you love him.

And you and Emma are still best friends. I think you may fight a little more now, but you usually get along and have a lot of fun together. The imaginary play is incredible to watch and listen to. I love the way you play together. Although you many times make the rules, you have learned to follow your sister’s lead too. And you get excited when she has a good idea. With Kindergarten about to start I have asked if you would like to be in class together or separate. You two chose together but when you fight I threaten to split you up. One morning when I said I was going to split you up, you looked at Emma then looked at me and said “but I need my sister”. The look of concern in your eyes was real. You two need each other, not always but you two are sisters and will forever need each other.

This last year you were in the Five’s Program at Seattle Preschool. That meant that you were at school everyday from 9:30-2:30. I very much enjoyed the peace and quiet it gave me every day but I missed you. I knew you were in a great place, learning and having fun. I never imagined how much you would grow this year though. The first year you went to Seattle Preschool you didn’t talk for nearly half the year. This year you didn’t stop talking and got voted funniest kid in class by the twin boys. Although I am not sure I like that title because it means you are goofing off instead of learning. At the same time it makes me feel proud that you have developed such a sense of self that you feel comfortable being silly and talking in class.

I am so proud of you! I absolutely adore you and love you. Thank you for still wanting to crawl on my lap and snuggle even if your brother tries to push you off. I will always snuggle you.

I Love You,

Mommy

To My Dearest Darling Emma,

Wow, you have grown up. You love to wear your hair in a pony tail and it makes you look so grown up. It shows off your beautiful face and it makes you look like a big kid. And a kid you are. You exude everything that is kid. You are easy going, yet play hard. You really just like to have fun and are so sweet and happy about it. When I think of you I see a vision of you smiling, skipping, just at peace with being a kid. You like to try new things and are usually the first one to succeed. Things come naturally easy to you and you just run with it. I love watching you when you are engaged in physical activity, it is such a natural state for you.

Although sometimes your mind seems to be wondering and you seem to lose focus, you really do pick up on things fast. The things you learn and share are amazing. You have an amazing memory and love to learn. You also love to share. You enjoy telling everyone just about anything. Your coaches, your teachers, your friends, you tell them the greatest stuff about yourself and what you know. You are genuinely excited to share with them.

You do an amazing job sharing and teaching your little brother too. He adores you and I know just how much you adore him. When you aren’t with him, you like to talk about him and all the cute things he does.

You are still best friends with your sister. I truly believe that you two will always be best friends. You are still her biggest cheer leader and light up when she succeeds. You have also become more competitive with her but it is usually in good fun and neither of you stay mad for long. Madi likes to be the leader and lately you have begun to share your voice and share your ideas more too. It is fun to watch you two take turns. Usually in public or around a big group you are the one to step forward and Madi follows your lead. I am proud of the leader you are becoming and very proud that you are able to sit back and easily let others lead too.

This year in Seattle Preschool, you were in the Five’s Program. There were only 9 kids in the class and you were friends with all of them. But especially with the boys. Somehow you showed the boys in your class how cool girls can be. You are just a cool girl and a lot of that comes from your daddy and being daddy’s little girl. Because you are still and will forever be daddy’s little girl.

I am so very proud of the kid you are and the big kid you are becoming. It breaks my heart that you are growing up so fast, but I know you will forever be a great kid.

I Love You,

LOVE that they still snuggle and fall asleep on each other.

Mommy

Tuesday afternoon we took off to Suncadia for a couple days. It is sort of a smaller version of Sun River, OR only about an hour away instead of 6. The weather was fabulous and hot. When we got there our room wasn't ready so we headed over to the pool. The pool set up was perfect and way less crowded than the SHARC in Sun River. There was a great kiddie pool for Ben to splash around in, a great large pool for everyone to swim and even a couple water slides inside that the girls loved! Madi would disappear and ride the slides for what seemed like hours. Ben got so comfortable with the water that he attempted jumping in the big pool all by himself. Thankfully, I was right there and was able to grab his arm. Tuesday night Chad took the girls over to the kids' camp and we sat out on the patio of the lodge and enjoyed the view with Ben. Wednesday we took a little bike ride along the miles and miles of bike trails. We didn't go miles and miles because it was hot, but we could have. We had so much fun that on Thursday when it was time to go, we ended up staying a little longer. At first it was leave at noon, then at 2, then in and hour, and we ended up leaving at 5. By the time we got home, ordered and ate pizza, it was time for bed and there was no sign of it being the Fourth of July for us.