Nine Years Old

 9 Years Old

Dear Millie, 

Happy Valentine’s Day. I want you to know that you truly make the world brighter just by being in it. My favorite memory of you this year was the video I got from grandma that you only wanted me to watch and no one else. You were telling Grandma what you packed and why that made you mature. I laughed so hard because you were so proud of packing a bra and that made you mature. You are such a goof ball in such a good way. My favorite part of your personality is your ability to have fun. You are a creator of joy, fun, and sunshine. Whenever you go, you have the ability to turn the place in a game or sing and dance along a path. You are so fun to be with and it really lightens up those around you. I am so proud of you for the hard work that you have put into the piano. You have been taking lessons with Sister Bland for just a 1 ½ and have learned so much. She even notices your eagerness and hard work and has asked to see you longer at lessons. The music you make is truly beautiful. Our greatest gift is your strong, independent nature. You are great about doing your work without reminders, you accomplish the goals that you want to set, and even though you love hanging out with friends, you are very comfortable just being yourself. You are going to accomplish big things in the world with that gift. You definitely add excitement to our family. You pick awesome dance music when we are cleaning up the kitchen, you are so giddy when we are reading Harry Potter, your creativity with paint keeps us laughing, and you really do come up with fun games for you and JoJo to play. I like you because I laugh more when I am with you. I love you because you are my daughter always. You were born with such a strong, sweet spirit. I feel so blessed to have you with me.

I love you more than chocolate, Mom

Eight.Eleven Years

 8.11 Years

• We got back from Utah and life got back to normal. This month, I have been working on getting your room organized and decorated. You picked out a light purple paint for the walls. We moved furniture around and got a large desk for you and JoJo. It has turned out so cute. I made a book ledge for each of you and you bought a stuff animal hammock for your bed so it is quite cute and cozy up there. It feels good to get your room to where is it functional and shows your personality. 
• On Saturdays, you like to sleep in until 10am, have a slow morning, listen to your story while working on some arts and crafts in your room, and then sometime around 3pm, want to be social.  
• We were not home for long before heading out to Mexico!! We have been looking forward to this trip for a while. It is your first time going to a different country. We went with our family, Grandma and Papa, Annie, Joe, and Elaine. It was a blast. We left on a Wednesday. We had to wake up so early to get to the airport. It was a whole day affair getting down to Mexico, with a four hour lay over in Atlanta. Thursday was a slow day. You kids got to stay at the hotel with Grandma and papa while we went to get the rental cars. We loaded up and drove south. We stopped and got some groceries and ate in Playa del Carmen. We made it to the condo and the play was amazing. We went snorkeling that afternoon. We made it out to this place where there were millions of these silver fish. They were all in sync with each other. It was crazy how many of them their were. The condo we are staying out as a room for just you and JoJo. You get your own big, bed, which you love! Friday, we went to Xel Ha. That was a favorite among everyone. The waterslide was awesome. Even papa went down it. We then headed over to zip lining. I was your buddy for this and you liked the ones you sat on the seat and went down. We cliff jumped next. I was impressed because when it was your turn, you just went for it. The cliff was 15 feet. The next stop was floating through the mangroves. We paused for lunch, ice cream and soda. Laying out in the sun on the chairs felt so good. We then walked over to the caves and snorkel. Then we finished the day rope swinging into a cenote. Papa bought you all matching shirts. It was so fun. Saturday was a colder day. While the weather was good in the morning, we hang out at the condo. You all just loved playing in the sand, flying kites, swimming in the ocean and pool. That afternoon, we visited Tulum. The ruins were just okay to you kids. What really fascinated you all was trying to open up a coconut. It took a lot of smacking, but you finally opened it and we all drank the juice and had fresh coconut. There were shops just outside the ruins, so we got some food and let you all shop. You had a bit of fun money so you got a mini dream catcher. Sunday, we drove to Chichen Itza. There was a huge storm on our drive there. But once we started our tour, the rain stopped. Having a tour guide was really helpful. That evening , we visited Valladolid. It was a beautiful city, with colorful buildings, music and dancing in the park, and big church center of town, and plenty of shops. You were still going strong on the shopping, asking the vendors how much everything cost. Monday, we stayed at the condo the whole day. It was so nice just to read, swim, play, and hang out and chill. That was another favorite day of everyone. Tuesday, we had another slow morning and then visited the cenote in the afternoon. That was beautiful. The first part was an open portion where you could see turtles. Then you swim through the cave with the stalactites and bats. After you cross that, you made it to another open part. We had lunch there and laid in the hammocks. Wednesday, you and JoJo stayed back from deep sea fishing and spent the morning with Grandma. She really likes being with you. Then, we had to make our way back to the airport and say goodbye to Mexico. It was an amazing trip.
• We tried to go on a family ski trip to Hoodoo. It hasn't snowed much so the conditions were pretty iffy. We stayed on greens the whole time because everything was choppy and icy. The one time we went on a different green, the ice got too bad and you slipped down the hill. Dad was with JoJo and I took you three older kids down the long run from the top of the mountain. There is turn on the left that is easy to miss. If you miss it, you end on some blue hills. Well, you didn't stop in time and went past the turn. When I caught up, you were trying to walk back up the hill to take the turn (none of us wanted to to those blues on the ice). It was hard to walk back up, so you had the idea to take off your skis and walk with your boots. Well, one of the skis got away and slipped down the hill. I didn't know what to do. We couldn't see it. If we went down the hill to look for it, we would have to finish on a blue or black. But if Dad cam and got it, would you finish skiing down the green on one ski? Thankfully a snowboarder found it and walked it up the hill for us.
• Some highlights of this month also includes a sleep over at Emersons. You had a blast. I guess you all stayed up until midnight and then woke up around 6am. Endless to say the next night, you went to bed early and I had to wake you up at 10:40am to go to the library. 

Eight.Ten Years

 8.10 Years

• It has been a crazy, fun holiday month. We have tried to do Christmas activities as a family. We actually made sugar cookies and I have you girls decorate them. We went to Storybook Lane in Albany. You went last year on a field trip but it was the first time for the rest of us. We couldn't decide if it was creepy or cute. You walk around the county fair barns to look at all the Christmas displays. The first was toys and dolls. Those were definitely creepy. We were joking that those dolls were what nightmares were made of. Then, we got to the movie section, and that was fun. 
• Our ward did their Christmas dinner and the primary put on the Nativity story. You were a sheep. We had to come up with the costume, so we took your white hoodie and flipped it inside out, threw on the white base layers, had you wear dad's black socks and my black gloves, and to top it off, you made ears (may have looked more like bunny ears), but it was cute. You were the "lead" sheep since the rest of the sheep were 3-4 year olds. 
• We had Red Ribbon Dinner with Grandma and Papa Price. I got you, Maggie and me matching off brand Ugg slippers. I didn't know the sizing, but it ended up that they even smaller than I thought, so you ended up with size 9, the one I go for myself. So now just you and Maggie match. 
• When your dad was working one Friday night, we headed out and 'knocked and run" some treats to friends. When we were headed out to the Epperson's, there was a road close sign right by there house. You kids were sort of freaking out because I went around it. Well, the road looked great right until their house. The creek had flooded the road. We stood there for a bit to debate if we should cross. We decided to go for it. Afterwards, you were so nervous that you wanted me to promise to never cross a river again. 
• We tried to go ice skating with Piper's family one weekend. I looked up all the different places McMinnville had the best prices. It was going to be really cool because the ice rink was in the museum (don't know how that was going to work with the temperatures). Well, it turned out to be "gliding" not ice skating. The floor was a wax that you "glided" over. It was not nearly as cool, but everyone was a good spot about it. 
• I painted your room! It is purple! And you loved it!
• Christmas break has bee great. On Monday, we got together with the Leders and Springers and played floor hockey at the school and then the Leders came over for hot cocoa. On Tuesday, We met the Smith's at the pool and then you had a sleep over that night at their house. Wednesday was Christmas Eve and Dad had to work that morning, so after lunch I took you all to see Zootopia 2. It was fun to go to the movies with you all. Christmas Eve was special. We had our candle light dinner of "Jesus" food, which this year was lobster ravioli. After dinner, we watched to the neighborhood behind the school to see the lights. We came home to put on our family Nativity play, searched for the star, opened up pjs (you got a kitty set), and watch the Christ Child movie. All of you kids slept in your room with the kid tree. 
• Christmas morning, I was surprised that you were already awake by 7am. You all ran down for your stockings. Santa brought you a purple galaxy blanket hoodie, a Harry Potter map, a water bottle, some art supplies, a mini spa kit, and some treats. You loved all of it. Maggie gave you an umbrella, Sam gave you a Wings of Fire book, and Millie gave you a squish mallow. You were so happy about them all. Dad and I gave you some Wings of Fire Books, flare jeans with a soft purple sweater, and a China doll. Yup, a China doll. You opened it and didn't know how to react. Dad and talked it up saying that I had one, and your grandma and great grandma would collect them. You said thank you and started laughing. I could not hold it together. Finally dad told you to go get the eggnog from the outside frig and there was a bike for you. You were really happy to get a big bike. After opening presents, we went to have brunch at the Prices and then just chilled the rest of the day. We had Chinese food for dinner (a big hit). 
• We got to spend the last week of Christmas break in Utah. Highlights for you was having a sleepover at Bonnie's house (first time by yourself), staying up until midnight on New Years Eve, swimming at Crystal Hot Springs, hiking in the snow (and eating a lot of it), and playing a ton of switch with cousins and siblings. A cousin gave you a bracelet kit, Grandma gave you crochet kit and money (which you bought a Harry Potter doll set and outfit the next day at Walmart). 
• We are back in Oregon and back to school, which we are all thankful for.