Dear Sam,
It's official...you are 6 years old. You were so excited about your birthday this year. You planned your party months in advance, you were very specific about the gifts you wanted, and you invited everybody this side of the Mississippi to your party. Like...seriously...everybody. But in all seriousness, it was fun.
This has been a big year for you! You started kindergarten this year. You lost three (yes THREE) teeth this year. (Although to be fair, to date you have actually lost four....Momma's a little late with the letter.) The tooth fairy has been one busy lady. And you played soccer for the first time this year. Lots of firsts.
This year we introduced you to Star Wars. Strong with you, the Force is, my son. You know all of the characters. You can act out every light saber scene in the movie with precise detail. I'm pretty sure you'd trade your sister for a pet Wookiee. You are still very into super heroes, too. Right now, you really like Batman. You love to say, "Where does he get those MAGNIFICENT toys?!"
You have loved kindergarten this year. Your favorite subjects are science, reading, and playing on the playground. You are quick to point out that you do not like math. You are reading really, really well, but you still prefer to be read to. We started reading chapter books at bedtime recently, and you amaze me how well you can remember details of the story night after night. So far we have only read a few LEGO books and a couple of Magic Tree House books, but I'm excited to open this next phase of reading with you. So many stories I can't wait to share with you...
Speaking of LEGOs, can I just say that they have taken over our house? You got a couple of LEGO sets for Christmas...the really serious ones with hundreds of pieces in them. And you will sit for hours and work on them with laser focus. We got a pretty heavy snow this winter, and you sat in the floor of the living room for about 7 hours straight working on your Scooby Doo haunted mansion while the snow piled up outside. There were a few parts that you needed help with, but for the most part, you did it by yourself. All 800+ pieces of it. Shortly after you put the last piece in place and we had snapped a few pictures, I caught you rapidly disassembling the house. Appalled, I asked you what you were doing. You calmly told me that it was so much fun putting it together the first time, you wanted to take it apart and do it again.
I never cease to be amazed at you big, big heart. You really have such compassion and empathy for others. One day at the library, there was a little boy with Down Syndrome playing near us. The two of you bonded over his Star Wars shirt and struck up a conversation. A few minutes later, I noticed that the two of you had disappeared off into a corner together, and you were reading to him. Another day, Sydney lost a balloon that she had only received a few minutes earlier. She was heartbroken and was sobbing about her lost balloon. I noticed that you were crying too. When I asked you about it, you said you were sad because she was sad and you didn't know how to make her feel better. Nana had surgery several months ago, and you will still randomly, out-of-the-blue ask to call her and "check on her belly." Sometimes I worry about how much you see and hear and how it may affect you. Your ever-watching eyes miss nothing.
Sam, I love watching you run in the backyard with Molly. I love how you love to go to the movies....it really doesn't even matter what's playing. I love that your love language is quality time and it just fills your little heart up to play a board game. I love that sometimes when you ask questions...hard questions...I can tell you've been mulling it over in your mind for a while. I love that I can see a protector emerging in you...the way you help your sister and watch out for me. It makes me sad that you're growing up, but you're doing it so well that I just can't ask you to stop.
I love you big much,
Mom
