Dear Bode,

Five years old was YOUR year and you really came into your own. You started half-day kindergarten sweet, thoughtful and a bit shy as your worried you wouldn’t know anybody in your class and emerged nine months later with a posse of besties and half the school at your beck-and-call.

That, my popular little dude, is remarkable.

With kindergarten besties Nicky, Timmy and Curtis

And why shouldn’t everyone like you? You’re kind to everyone, fun, smart and cool. This was confirmed during a recent trip to the Children’s Museum when you and your BFF Sean were playing in the Woodland area and he was wearing a squirrel costume. I tried to lure you into the floppy bunny-eared one but you were too cool to have anything to do with it.

My blackmail days are growing to a sad, sad close.

In terms of activities, you’re great at lot of different things and have been playing on the same soccer team for a few years. You overcame your fears on the skate park and are now launching off the big bumps and are doing the same on the ski slopes. I was so proud when, after just one week, you went from faking a leg injury to being a “Superstar” at Park City Mountain Resort.

Mommy face-planted on that same run as I was trying to photograph you.

 I just asked you what things you like to do and you told me, “I like to play Wii, I like math, I like to color and I love to go on trips.”

Wii
You love your Wii so much you even had a Mario Party for your 6th birthday. You’re limited to playing it a few times a week but so great is your love for the Wii that I’m able to motivate you to do anything for it and you subsequently always have your homework and chores done and a clean room.

Pretty much if anyone asks me why you’re such a great kid and praises my mothering efforts, I’ll give props to Mario & Kirby.

At your 6th birthday party: A Mario Beach Bash!

Crowding around Mario Party

Water balloon bash

Math
 It’s true, you’re a great little mathematician and constantly drill me with numbers. You’re even helping Hadley with her second-grade homework and yep, I still have high hopes for you to do our finances in a few years. In addition to math, you’re a fantastic little reader and were bumped up to attend Mrs. Dorough’s first grade reading class and are already tackling Hadley’s chapter books.

Reading to Fat Kitty. He prefers the Bad Kitty series–his alter-ego

Coloring
OK, I’ll vouch for being good at coloring but drawing? Let’s just say you had top scores in all your subjects on your report cards except for art. Hopefully your artistic sister Hadley can help you out with this one.

Trips

You and Hadley have been traveling since you were in the womb so it’s pretty much in your blood. Some favorite trips you’ve been on this year include Utah to visit family and ski (you loved the mini snowmobiles), Disneyland to check-out the new Cards Land, YMCA of the Rockies, in Estes Park, camping Bear Creek, Colorado Springs (you adored feeding the giraffes at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo) and we’re currently in Canada.

Finding out you were going to Disneyland

When asked where you want to go when you’re 6, you said, “Disney World, Utah, Canada and then Disneyland again. And that’s all.”

You don’t ask for much, do you?

Adventure Boy climbing Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs

Adventure Camp

YMCA of the Rockies Estes Park

Soaked on the Grizzly River Run, Disneyland

Junior Naturalist at Lookout Mountain

Stomp rockets at Chatfield State Park

You are unfailingly responsible and try to set anyone straight who is not following the rules. During our most recent trip to Canada, you stormed into the kitchen, spewing “I AM SO UPSET. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON TO WASH THEIR HANDS?”

Turns out your 4-year-old cousin had left the water running after she she cleaned up. I’m sure she won’t dare do it again after the lecture you gave her.

 Though I’m excited for you to go into first grade, I’m literally mourning the end of an era when you get to spend a good part of your day with me. When asked what I should do when you’re finally in full-day school school next, you advised “Go hiking and biking!”

My mourning period should be over pretty quickly.

You’re a peacemaker, are always mauling us with hugs and kisses and are the big unifier in our family. Sometimes after you say your prayers, you call everyone into your room and shout “Group Hug” as we pile onto each other giggling and laughing. You complete this family in such a wonderful way and we’re so very thankful to have you a part of it.

Happy birthday!

Love,
Mommy

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For a stroll down memory lane, birthday letters 1, 2, 3,  4 and 5.

Denver snow day

Cooking boys

Sledding in Canada

Being brave–broken wrist

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog

Bode,

It’s tough to believe you’re 5 as Mommy adjusts to the end of your carefree preschool years and the beginning of kindergarten. You’ve had quite the year and continue to be a delightful, easy-going and sweet little guy. You thrived in preschool and when I dropped you off, everyone would stop what they were doing and shout, “BODE!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Suffice it to say, it was a place where everyone knew your name just like Norm on Cheers.

On Field Day, I caught of glimpse of why you are so beloved. While the other kids aggressively vied for their turn, you raised your hand but sat back and waited until you were called on. At first, I was annoyed you weren’t taking more of a stance–your sister and I would have forged to the front of the line like your peers. But then I marveled how you were perfectly content to cheer for your friends and relish in their moment, knowing full well your time would come.

I think it’s called patience. And you have a lot to teach Mommy and Sissy about this foreign concept.

You learned to ride your bike and are tearing around our neighborhood skate park like a pro. You’re a stellar skier (like your namesake Bode Miller) and you were one of the leading scorers on your soccer team. You have finally gained enough courage to put your face in the water, thanks in part to the private swim lesson I bought you at a silent auction because I was unable to demonstrate myself.

You are a great reader and have a true aptitude for numbers (we jokingly call you “Rain Man.”) When Mommy and Daddy were in New York, we bought you a large number chart that we taped to the pantry door. Sometimes when you’re having a bad day, you’ll hang out in front of it, analyzing your favorite numbers.

I hope balancing Mommy’s checkbook in a few years will be equally as cathartic.

Last month, your dad and I realized we’re failing on instilling a strong work ethic within you. In your defense, cleaning out the ditch was a thankless job but your reaction is one I’ve never seen before: Disbelief, outrage, extreme mourning and then murmuring. Your dad and I had to conceal our laughter to see you, tears streaming down your face, muttering fake swear words under your breath, as if every pent-up frustration you’ve ever had toward our parental dictatorship was brewing over.

It just gets worse from here, Son.

Despite your uncharacteristic outburst, you are sweet and agreeable most of the time. You live in a world of black and white and have the gift of discernment to know, even at a very young age, what is good and what is bad. Suffice it to say, your sister (who lives in a world of gray) frequently stresses you out and we will undoubtedly form a support group during her teen-age years.

You absolutely LOVE Mario. Seanus and Seanie are your Wii buddies and you recently gained the admiration of my friend Lisa’s son Keith who is six years your senior. He was initially hesitant to hang out with you but after a few hours, he was a Bode convert after you both made it to level six for the first time. I started to compliment Keith but he interrupted and admitted, “It was all Bode who discovered a secret passageway. He’s really amazing.”

If you had a different mother who did not drag you all over tarnation, you’d be content to hang out at home but you’re a seasoned traveler and braved 31 hours in the car on our road trip to Canada. Your favorite trip ever was our Disney Cruise but you love adventures in our backyard as well. One evening, we took a family bike ride to the water tower. As you raced down the hill, Jamie had an epiphany.

“That’s him. Bode as he is right now. He is who I saw.”

I immediately knew what he was talking about. Before we got married, Jamie told me about a very revealing vision he had where he saw our children: a boy and a girl.

That revelatory glimpse had all been forgotten until that moment as we looked at you laughing, racing and playing. It was as if our past came full-circle with the dreams of the future. We are a family and are so very grateful to have you be an essential…and eternal part of it.

Love,
Mommy

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For a stroll down memory lane, birthday letters 1, 2, 3, and 4.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog