To Stella, 5.4

 

Read Vivian's note for apologies and excuses about my not having written your update since the summer. Ugh.
There is no way I can do a comprehensive re-cap because things happen with you on a daily basis that I literally cannot remember the very night they happened. You say amazing things all the time and I think "Oh I have to write this in the blog" and then, for the life of me, I cannot remember them just a few hours later. So as I resolved for Vivian, I am going to try really hard in the coming year to just write little things more so that you will one day know (and Daddy and I will remember) all these incredible things that you have done and said in your sixth year of life.

The thought of going all the way back to September to re-cap the past few months is way too daunting. I can hardly remember all the way back to your first day of school.

You are a Red Roomer now, the oldest class at school.

 

This is a source of tremendous pride and, of course, a highlight is that you are allowed to go to the bathroom by yourselves. There is a rule that you often remind me of "No tea parties in the bathroom" but I still suspect that you enjoy going there on pretty much a daily basis. You have been doing such a stellar job in school this year. Robert, your Silver Room teacher was joking with me the other day that you are double majoring in Silver and Red because you are obsessed with going to visit Beryl (your last year's teacher) before and after school everyday -- or as often as we will allow. You really have a very special bond with her. For Hanukkah, you wrote cards to all your Red Room teachers saying "Thank you for being my teacher" or "I love you because you are my teacher" and then you wanted to write notes to your former Silver Room teachers as well saying "Thank you for being my last year's teacher." Robert said that you were the first former student ever to be included in the teachers' Hanukkah packets. You and Daddy walk up the stairs (seven flights) every day and you are keeping all of the stickers you get as a reward from the school office on a chart at home. At our parent conference in November, your teachers told us that they don't know how we divest ourselves of you and allow you to go to school each day and I know what they mean. I miss you so much when you aren't with me. But you are still a great reporter and share much of what goes on each day. It is always so much fun to hear about your job-- you tell me, for example, with such enthusiasm, "Mommy!! Guess what? I am the vacuum cleaner this week!" You are simply so excited about EVERYTHING, your joy for life is one of my favorite things about you and I am going to do everything I can to help you hold on to that. It is amazing.

 

You were also the first person to bring home the letter box and we had such a fun time looking around the apartment for all of the things we could find that start with the letter T. We put in a t shirt, toothbrush, telephone, toy, trumpet, trophy, tape and a few other things. Some other Red Room highlights include the Red Room song which you love to sing, "Girls rule, boys drool.", Zeebo, your Native American headdress and the rain dance song which you performed with great enthusiasm in our living room (complete with shaker), and Blue Bubbles, the fish that died and was then replaced by George and Isabel. You were not happy that the fish was named Blue Bubbles because there had been a vote and "Rainbow Cake" got your nod of approval. You love to bring Vivian in to the classroom at pick-up or drop-off and show her around.The Red Room Hanukkah party was so much fun.

 

We loved watching your sparkly eyes as you sang songs with Jody and then showed us all the special things in your classroom. You were especially excited about the cake your made shaped like a giant menorah with sprinkles all around.

It is so nice right now on Winter Break to just have you around all the time, to wake up in the morning and just think, "What should we do today?" rather than have to rush to get dressed, eat breakfast and get you out the door on time.

We have been applying to schools for you next year and it has been such a pleasure because you have been enthusiastic and easygoing about all the visits. The whole thing has gone really well and I think they loved you at many of the schools you visited. You did have a stomach ache when I picked you up from the Red Room for one of your visits. I told you we would just go, do the visit and then go right home -- that you could skip the birthday party you also had that afternoon. You said okay. We hung out for about an hour -- going to a toy store, having a little snack and walking near the east river -- until it was time for the visit. The minute we walked into the school which shall remain nameless, you threw up everywhere. Like a totally huge, surreal amount. You were so very sick. And then you remained sick for about four horrible days. Daddy and I cleaned up a lot of throw-up. For the record, you picked the right school to be sick at -- it was one Dad and I did not like so much for you. Although you did go back and do a fine job there a few weeks later. On the re-visit, you asked Daddy (who took you) if he liked that school and he said he did. You answered, "Oh, because Mommy said I threw up at the right school." You have a very good memory and you listen to everything we say. This is a great quality but also a dangerous one for a mom and dad.

We just got two fish to replace the many that died last year and you have named them Isabel and Swimmy. You do not like it when we call Isabel 'Issy" so we have stopped doing that. So far you are a very good Fish Mommy and you enjoy feeding them, testing their water, etc. You have been a little bit angry with Isabel who seems to chase Swimmy around the tank and rushes to eat fish food before Swimmy can get to it (although there is plenty for both of them). Every morning you ask excitedly if you can feed them and then you do so. You have also decorated the shelf where we are keeping the fish tank with lots of little pictures so that the fish have a happy environment.

 

Daddy told me a funny thing you said. Last week we had to have Juan, our super, come up into our apartment two days in a row to fix some things. Then on the third day, you guys saw him in the elevator and you turned to Dad and said, "It seems like we have been seeing a lot more of Juan lately." These are the kind of cute observations you make on a daily basis.

You had a sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa's so Daddy and I could go out for our anniversary. I was a little bit dressed up and Grandpa Paul said as I was leaving, "You look beautiful." You answered, "Mommy always looks beautiful" which just made me feel so good. I feel the same way about you.

At the very beginning of your holiday break, we took a family ski trip to Okemo where you skied for the first time.

 

We got you a few private lessons and you did really well and totally loved it. Your instructor, Libby, LOVED you so much and told us that you were the best beginner she had ever taught in 17 years of teaching skiing. They had a thing at the hotel bar where you could order 'smores and you got a little sterno fire with all the ingredients to make your own. You were a phenomenal smores chef and took great pride in your ability. You also got a caricature of yourself done which looks absolutely nothing like you. We all had a good laugh about that.

We had a wonderful holiday season including a trip to visit Santa at Macy's. Mrs. Claus was there too.

 

You are still a big believer in Santa Claus although you ask lots of questions about him. "Is there just one Santa for everybody?" "How do the elves make all the toys?" "Is Santa a regular person?" You were very interested to know whether the Santa at Macy's was the real Santa. I also had a video email sent to you from the portable North Pole and it included a picture of you on the nice list in Santa's book. You were so happy to see yourself there and, because he had a picture of you, you determined that it was the real Santa. However, you were a little surprised because he had a very very long beard -- much longer than the Santa at Macy's. I am not sure how you synthesized all of these things but you did somehow. Santa at Macy's told you to leave cookies and milk and carrots for the reindeer which you did. In return, he left you a dog that walks (which you wanted SO much), Spin Art, a bunch of work books, a kit with science experiments including a rainbow volcano and some other things. I filled your stocking with lots of silly bands and some bookmarks. You were so excited when you went to the living room and saw all the presents and so enthusiastic opening your gifts. Several times you declared it, 'The best Christmas ever!" You and I also took a gingerbread house making class which was great fun and the product was pretty incredible. You worked so hard and meticulously on the candy corn roof.

 

A few days after Christmas you got so sick with a super high fever and a really bad headache. You could barely get out of bed and we were not able to do all of the fun things we had planned. Thankfully, you are feeling better now but it was sad to spend a whole week of your school break sick. I held you a lot.

Daddy and I agree that you are the most fun kid. You are great company, so cooperative and kind and intelligent. We love being with you and seeing things through your eyes. You have become a bit obsessed with the Rob Ashford "Annie" and have been watching it kind of a lot. At night, we sometimes put on a song and you will do a dance show for us. This is a highlight of my life -- watching you jump around the living room and all over the furniture dancing to songs from Annie (or songs from anywhere). You have great moves and such exuberance. You know all the actors in both the old "Annie" (the movie) and the Rob Ashford one. The other day we were in a taxi and the Taxi TV was on and you saw an ad for a new TV show. You said, "Oh look, Mommy. Kathy Bates." and you were right. You really really want a playdate with Victor Garber and Kathy Bates. I'm not sure we are going to be able to arrange this but you sure are hoping. Victor Garber is really one of your favorites because he plays both Jesus ("Godspell") and Daddy Warbucks.

I would be remiss if I did not also mention that you are an extraordinarily good big sister.

 

 

You let Vivian play with almost all your toys although it is sometimes hard to share your dog that walks.

 

It is a privilege to be your mom. I am very lucky.

Love,
Mommy