tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216872522024-03-13T01:43:10.002-07:00California StarsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger242125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21687252.post-62998680167313377262024-01-06T16:41:00.000-08:002024-01-08T18:53:22.141-08:00It's Been a Swiftie Year Dearest Maggie, I am sitting in my childhood bedroom, on the first day of the year, determined to finally finish the letter to you. As I am writing many of Taylor Swift's song lyrics keep repeating over and over in my head: Oh, Darling, don't you ever grow up. You are the best thing that's ever been mine. That I had the best day with you with you today. 'Cause I Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21687252.post-15761783092000489812023-07-08T17:56:00.000-07:002023-07-08T17:56:16.630-07:00The 11th Year Letter: An African Way of Life Dear Alicia, I am writing this letter to you after a few whirlwind months - Strings Concert, Outdoor Ed, multiple end-of-the-school year culmination projects, swim team, a ballet recital, and to cap it all off, an 18-day adventure to Southern Africa. Life has been chaotic, sweet, and full of adventure.At eleven years old you are tenderhearted, creative, kind, and moody. You love Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21687252.post-83467177516681745802023-01-01T10:27:00.005-08:002023-01-01T12:37:31.584-08:00Eight Rotations of the Sun: A Birthday Letter My darling girl, I am writing this to you on the very last day of 2022, months after your eighth birthday. We're getting ready to have fondue and chocolate lava cakes, our traditional New Year's Eve dinner, complete with an evening of games and friends, and movies. While these last few hours of the year have made me a bit reflective, I have indeed been thinking about your birthday Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21687252.post-80611873022490283472022-11-15T18:54:00.000-08:002022-11-15T18:54:01.749-08:00A Birthday Letter: Twelve My dearest Daisy, I have been chewing on this letter for some time my love. This year has been tough for me. I'm at a loss for words that properly capture exact feelings - but, to be honest, it's a bit of depression, a bit of reflection, a lot of joy, and a focus on gratitude. The thing is, the years and the experiences are coming so fast and furious these days. I just want to stop and Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21687252.post-71861019588999065552022-04-10T16:16:00.001-07:002022-04-10T16:16:22.464-07:0010 years of Letters to a Bumblebee Dear Lily, I'm writing this as I am sitting in the car during one of your ballet classes. It's spring break, and our first hot day this season. We rode bikes to the local pool and swam with friends. We did quiet reading time this afternoon and played tag in the yard this morning. Earlier this week, we visited your grandparents and we have also baked and spent a leisurely afternoon at Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21687252.post-87322615143528008342021-12-21T18:33:00.001-08:002021-12-21T18:33:05.454-08:00Light and Dark "Don't mind me, I'm as happy as a cricket here." - Jo March Dear Violet, If I only had two words to describe you it would be early bird pure joy. You are always ready with a kind word and a sparkle in your hazel eyes. A few weeks ago, your grandmother fell and broke her hip. Each night during her recovery, pajama-clad and wet hair, your top priority was to FaceTime her. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21687252.post-74222514302916420722021-09-12T09:21:00.002-07:002021-09-12T09:22:53.177-07:00Before and After: The Birthday Letter Dear Daisy, Yesterday marked the twentieth anniversary of the September 11th attacks. I remember the moment when the world shifted. I remember exactly what I wore. I remember the fear we felt, even thousands of miles away in northern California. I remember sitting glued to the television with my roommates, watching the endless news cycle. I remember running late in the afternoon, just Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21687252.post-36994481599231142602021-05-20T13:19:00.002-07:002021-05-20T14:24:58.767-07:00A Birthday Letter Dearest Lily, I have started and stopped this letter to you so many times. I have changed directions, collected quotes, and reflected on what I want to say to you. Frankly, my love, this year hasn't been the easiest - with the global pandemic and all. It has been hard and messy with plenty of ugly tears and fraught with many worries, changing routines, and heaps of unknowns. But, through Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21687252.post-87175010519396620312020-10-20T09:57:00.000-07:002020-10-20T09:57:12.701-07:00A Birthday Letter for a Six-Year Old My darling Violet, "Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time." -RBG A few weeks ago, I came back from my morning run to find you in a navy-blue dress and my (only!) pair of high heels with a bag in one hand and an old flip phone in another. I innocently asked if you were ready to tackle your math pages and you dropped your bag and looked up at me with Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21687252.post-15671494464394551562020-05-30T16:00:00.001-07:002020-05-30T16:11:01.598-07:00A Birthday Letter, COVID-19 Edition, Volumne 2
Dear Daisy,
I’m sitting at the dining room table surrounded by (virtual) research papers, Yellowstone guidebooks and school supplies. Flip-flops litter the entryway hallway and school papers are strewn about the entire downstairs. Yesterday we had the last day of school cheers as well as the last day of school tears. A pork shoulder is in the slow cooker, corn is waiting to be shucked and Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21687252.post-17927160189394187822020-04-05T17:02:00.000-07:002020-04-05T17:02:52.038-07:00Eight Rotations Around the Sun, Covid-19 Edition
Dear Lily,
We are on day 22 of a shelter-in-place directive. We just finished our third week of remote learning/homeschool/unschooling or whatever you want to call our current method of education. Your father has been working out of our home office, my classes have been moved entirely to an online platform, you take your ballet classes via Zoom and your piano lessons through FaceTime. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21687252.post-66606888299628998632020-03-19T10:46:00.001-07:002020-03-19T10:46:05.094-07:00Lily Turned Eight! The Birthday Questionnaire
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21687252.post-71221126131625576122020-01-23T10:43:00.000-08:002020-01-23T16:26:25.241-08:00A Letter to my Wild One: Five and a Half <!--[if gte mso 9]>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21687252.post-55461109456841171472020-01-07T15:43:00.000-08:002020-01-07T15:43:00.643-08:00Five (and five months!): A questionnaire
What is your favorite color: red and purple. black. green. blue. and white. (I'm guessing it's all of them).
What is your favorite toy: stuffies (She does love her stuffed animals and does all her creative play with her favorite stuffed animals.)
What is your favorite fruit: apples or grapes
What is your favorite movie: The Grinch or Spirit (We watched the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21687252.post-83456291876278310432019-10-19T08:49:00.000-07:002019-10-19T08:49:36.040-07:00The Middle
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21687252.post-65320421134141045682019-07-02T14:41:00.001-07:002019-07-02T14:41:44.583-07:00Nine and a almost a half: The questionnaire <!--[if gte mso 9]>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21687252.post-68796775691490861802019-06-09T15:44:00.000-07:002019-06-09T15:44:47.398-07:00A Birthday Letter: Nine and one quarter
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21687252.post-2631310531882331712019-04-17T16:20:00.000-07:002019-04-17T16:20:03.411-07:00Actuellement
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21687252.post-59970142824298158232019-02-07T13:46:00.000-08:002019-02-08T12:54:40.625-08:00Seven Rotations of the Sun <!--[if gte mso 9]>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21687252.post-60008007116731229002018-11-07T16:54:00.000-08:002018-11-07T16:54:41.679-08:00This Fall
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21687252.post-79423323830144847722018-09-24T16:26:00.000-07:002018-09-24T18:42:27.861-07:00Heaven is a place on Earth and that place is Switzerland Oh dear Internet, I have been struggling for weeks on how to write about our trip to Switzerland. What is it about vacation - after you come home and daily life continues on, and your trip feels like a beautiful dream where you eat chocolate each day and wake up to beautiful views of the mountains. You spend the day hiking and eating all the cheese you can muster and stop for a beer at two in theUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21687252.post-23043893291820072032018-09-11T14:52:00.002-07:002018-09-24T12:34:05.129-07:00Currently <!--[if gte mso 9]>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21687252.post-57707809439120902942018-08-25T19:04:00.001-07:002018-08-25T19:04:56.913-07:00A Nokabes Birthday Letter
Dear Violet,
Over the past few weeks as I have been thinking about your birthday letter my mind has been ticking boxes for all the things you are learning and doing - all the moments I so desperately want to document in your letters, locking them away into a virtual time capsule of sorts. You can swim. Diving for rings and sticks and whatever else falls to the bottom of the pool. Cannonballs Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21687252.post-91244405260671999832018-08-14T07:06:00.003-07:002018-08-14T07:06:36.481-07:00Violet is FOUR! (Two weeks ago!) <!--[if gte mso 9]>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21687252.post-40042052552554277912018-07-13T07:29:00.001-07:002018-07-13T07:29:24.318-07:00Chez Stars Conquer Paris
A really long time ago, our family of five went to Paris with my parents and my brother. Well, I guess it wasn't that long ago. But, when you come home and are hit with two rounds of strep throat and an online summer course and swim team, vacation seems like a really really long time ago.
Prior to this trip, the only ever time I had been to Paris was as part of a very awkward&Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0