I may or may not have just skipped two entire years on this blog

Dear Zoe,

Tonight I was thinking more about what tattoo I should get to represent you (it has to be perfect!) and doing a little online research. I decided to look at your blog to see if there's something I'm not remembering...and I was slightly embarrassed to see I haven't updated this freaking thing in TWO ENTIRE YEARS. Ouch.

This is one of the advantages of waiting until you have a fully-developed brain to get tattoos - you understand the way time works enough to know you really have to put some thought into it or you'll end up with a tweety bird on your lower back. You don't like my opinion on anything ever, but I'll just leave that bit of wisdom here in case this is the ONE thing you take to heart.

You are almost 11 years old, my love. It is soooooo weird that you're a tween suddenly. And it really was SUDDEN. At the start of 5th grade, you started setting an alarm and getting yourself up for school. Wearing deodorant. DECIDING to shower. Whaaaaaat?

It's fun because we can do things together like go see Crazy Rich Asians - which I would have gone to with friends - but now I can go with you! I think we will have a lot of fun together when you're not following me around the house telling me I'm doing everything wrong. It's ok, I think most people are doing it wrong, too, I have just learned I probably shouldn't tell them all the time. I still slip up from time to time, ask your dad or any of my friends. :)

I'm really proud of how driven you are. You started your own company called Look Shades. You bought cheap sunglasses in bulk from Amazon and rebranded them with Look Shades labels and you sell them for a profit from an Instagram account and via word of mouth. Mostly our friends buy them, but you have made really decent money and manage to keep suckering them by changing up the colors/styles. Who can pass up cute $5 green sunglasses?

 Next month we are going to Portland to see Grandpa David, Aunt Jess, Charlie Coconut and baby Banana-Pants who is still hanging tough in Aunt Jess's belly. Last year when we visited, we went to a fun pumpkin patch - this year I hope to go to the coast. We haven't been to the ocean in a few years and even though I won't swim in that garbage salt water, I love to be near it.

One thing that is making me feel incredibly proud is how you seem to float above some of the more annoying social drama with the girls at school. You have absolutely no problem saying no to an invitation if you think you won't have fun - no FOMO for you. The other day I asked you wanted to go to a birthday party and you said, "Mom - it's too many girls. They divide up and leave people out and there is all this drama. No thanks." Can't argue with that!

I am feeling incredibly proud of MYSELF for jumping back into this blog after a two year drought. I recently found my old journals from when I was 20-23 and though it is painful to read them (and I mean PAINFUL) I am so glad I have them. Life is so full and you just don't remember everything no matter how hard you try. Plus, you grow and change and it's just fun to have a little glimpse of yourself when you were younger. Sort of like time travel.

I love you, Bo. I think these tween and teen years are going to be an adventure for us but we'll have fun. Even if you roll your eyes through every minute.

xoxoxo Mama