Proud of this girl

In case anyone missed the memo, middle school is not an easy place to spend all of one's time. There are challenges from start to finish each day. Being thirteen is not the simplest age to be either. Sometimes I say that these middle schoolers are trying to start discovering who they are. The truth is probably closer to - they just started realizing that they have no clue who they are. That's a lot harder than the other one, I think.

Anyway, I'm just really proud of Sophia. She works hard in school. She pays attention to her friends. She puts up with Erick and me and actually likes us most of the time. She loves adventure, though she loves predictability, too. She is not just one thing. She's many things, and I like them all.

It just felt like a day that I should mark the time. Things change so quickly. Young people are facing a lot of obstacles from outside and pressure from inside. At least, Sophia usually has that inner pressure going on. And she hangs on with maturity and grace more often than expected. I know this may not always be the case, and I won't be any less proud of her then.

Today, I'm feeling proud and amazed by this person in our house. So grateful to get to watch and occasionally participate in the development of one remarkable human person.
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2020

It is almost impossible to believe that we are only a week into 2020. It has gotten off to a running start for us.

I wanted to slow down just a minute and share how we brought in this shiny new decade.

Sophia had a full two weeks off for winter break, so it felt right that we should go somewhere, at least for a few days. Since we didn't feel like the full drive to New Orleans, we compromised on Memphis. Erick and I have been there a couple of times in the year or two leading up to parenthood, but we haven't been back since.

We were so pleasantly surprised by all the fun things for us to do. We knew there would be lots of great food.

Since it was New Year's Eve, we weren't sure how much time we would get to spend on Beale Street, but we had a great time visiting BB King's Blues Joint for lunch. The food was delicious! And the music was very enjoyable.

Since the weather was tolerable, we spent quite a bit of time wandering around as well. This was further down Beale Street. That whole area was a little smaller than we remembered, but the rest of Memphis had a lot more to offer than we realized.

New Year's Eve itself was pretty low key for us. The Hotel Indigo had their pool open. Shockingly, even Sophia agreed that it was too cold for a dip. We did play corn hole on the pool deck in the time just after the ball dropped in NYC.

Sophia and Leo both enjoyed the city. They just like being together, really.

One thing that we were all excited to find was the dog park on Mud Island. Open to visitors. Leo was, as you can see, quite thrilled with that development.

It was a great finish to one year, and a wonderful start for a new decade. Like I said, we've all been running a little like Leo there since we got home, but hopefully things will calm down in the near future. I look forward to seeing what this year holds. 

Holiday Spirit

We had a lot of fun last weekend with some animals on the patio of Rockwell Brewing. There is no better way to get into the spirit of everything holiday than hanging out with animals who are all dressed up for the season.

This little alpaca was super soft and a little wacky. Sophia had so much fun with the other kids walking them around. It was very fun to watch.

The sunshine was just lovely and felt amazing. I'm so happy that I get to have adventures - big and little - with these two lovely people.

Celebrating and Picture Taking!

Yesterday, the three of us (and Leo) drove to Columbia to celebrate Mary's retirement from Tolton and education in general. It was a special day, mostly spent just relaxing and enjoying each other's company. We didn't do a whole lot because Sophia was not feeling her best.

Once we headed out to Rocheport, though, to celebrate in earnest, Sophia popped back. We had fun looking in the little shops and antique stores. Sophia got started on a button collection, and Erick and I got some lovely holiday glassware. We just need to find the right holiday concoction to put in them because eggnog is not our thing.

Finally, we ate at Abigail's. Somehow, in all our years living in Columbia, we never managed to eat there, and I am so disappointed about that now. My goodness, but that was delicious. And special. Just very, very cool.

 It was a perfect way to celebrate and to enjoy the evening together.

Sophia is covering her ear because I kissed her loudly in it - not because my laugh is too loud. I'm pretty sure, anyway.

I just love this restaurant. I want all my pictures to be taken here with the lights and the room in the background. I love it.

And Sophia is beautiful while she's telling me how weird I am. But she loves it. I'm pretty sure.

Happy ThirTEEN!!

Happy birthday, Sophia! 

I cannot believe that you’re 13 today. I know you’re a bit in shock about the whole thing as well. I just want to say, “You’ve got this!” That’s what you most need to hear today and every day.

Of course you still need Dad and me, but you truly have a handle on this thing. You are

responsible, clever, and kind. You are generous and loyal and brave. Life doesn’t get

much easier than this, but in many ways it doesn’t get a lot harder either. And you’ve

got this. You are navigating responsibilities, relationships, and expectations with an open

heart, and that will pay off.

I am so proud of you every day. Grateful that you continue to be the remarkable girl

that you’ve been since the beginning. I looked back through my other letters to you,

and every bit is still true. When you were five, I said, “You make us smile, and you

challenge us to be more true to ourselves.” You continue to bring out the best in us, and
I still work to be worthy of being your mom. Guiding such a beautiful light 
through this world is a responsibility I take very seriously. Perfection is not an option, though 
I know you’d love to think otherwise.

Happy birthday, honey. I hope that you know how special you are! May the teenage

years be ones of love and grace and power for you.

Love you always,

Mom

Beautiful Oregon

I may post more details later, but for now, here are some of my favorite things from our week in Oregon.


Favorite place we stayed:
Two nights in this lovely tiny house in the Boise neighborhood of Portland. We enjoyed the restaurants and shopping within walking distance.

Favorite drive:
The drive out past Mt. Bachelor here, with the top off the rental Jeep.

Bonus: Fall Creek, which comes from snow melting from the South Sister mountain (seen here) was so cold that even our "polar bear" daughter couldn't keep her feet in for more than five minutes. It took her a while to get the feeling back to her toes so we could take a hike.

Favorite hike:
The hike in the Three Sisters Wilderness, next to Fall Creek was a marvelous one. We didn't make the whole 11 mile trek, but we plan to make it happen next time!

Favorite overall place:
Smith Rock State Park

Each turn revealed something new and beautiful. Crooked River is something special.

It was actually quite a warm day. I could have kept going and going. As it was, my hiking partners were troopers and we all had fun!

Every time I thought it couldn't get better.

Each time I was impressed.

This one, though. Just pure showing off. Okay. Smith Rock clearly won my heart.

Favorite river:
The Deschutes
We floated it.

In various states of togetherness in our individual tubes.

We rode through Class 2 rapids. On my first trip down, I banged my right knee. On the second trip down, I scraped my right shin. On the third (pictured) trip down, I flipped the tube and lost my hat and glasses.

Sophia flipped, too, but came out happy and whole. The adventure was worth it.

Favorite locals:
Erick's uncle Bill & Cheryl

Favorite Beer:
the Wit from pFriem Family Brewing in Hood River

Favorite sunset:
In the Hood River Park across from pFriem

Favorite activity:
Trail ride over the Columbia River Gorge

Favorite story:
We topped out here, and I'll let Sophia tell the tale of our narrow trail

We had more adventures and lots more views, but these were my favorites. I'll tell you the stories when I see you next!

Just for

On Saturday, we head out on vacation to Oregon. This time, we will not be visiting the coast, so no pictures of rocky coastlines. However, I'm sure there will be plenty of picturesque vistas from atop a bluff or two.

For now, please enjoy this picture of my beautiful baby.