4.5 year old Zoe!

Dear Zoe,

Right now I'm sitting in a coffee shop and you and Junie are home with Leah, your high school babysitter. I came to this coffee shop for the sole purpose of writing to you guys because life at home is so busy I just don't have time or it takes me days and days.

This morning I spent some time with you trying to teach you to tie. You're aaaalmost there but you don't want an ounce of my help and in the end you said, "Here, I'll just show you how *I* do it." And then you tied the ribbon into the biggest, craziest knot you could. I guess that's one way to do it.


 In just about a week you turn exactly 4 1/2. I think you are coming out of your year of total wildness. I swear from 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 you were kind of a whirling dervish of emotion and intensity. Of course we did add a person to our family and you sort of come from people who are full of emotion and intensity so it's no big surprise. But now you rarely have meltdowns and you're very good at articulating your emotions and figuring out what to do with them - what works, what doesn't. Most of the time. At times you'll still say stuff like, "I can ride my scooter with no shoes if I want" and then when you bite the dust you'll say, "Why did you let me do that?" I bet you'll always do that, though, because I love to blame crap on other people. It's easier. 

This Friday is June 1 and I guess now it's officially summer. You have a totally kickass summer planned if I do say so myself. You have Ernie Miller Nature Camp with Gabby, Preschool summer session and 4 weeks in Michigan. Whhheeeee! 

Your Aunt Jess was just in town last week and she's moving to San Francisco in a few weeks. Yay - a new place to visit! You've been to New York enough, it's time to hit the west coast. Although when I told you she was moving you sighed and said, "I just like her in New York."


You're teaching Junie to do tricks. You say, "Junie, say AHHHHH!" and she opens her mouth and says "aaaaahhhh". Then you say, "June! Clap!" and she claps! You seem totally amazed. This morning you held you finger up in the air and tapped your foot and said, "She's learnin'! Yep. She's learnin'."

I'm really looking forward to this summer with you. I love you so much, sweet of the sweets.

Love,
Mama