Dear Clare,
Happy Birthday to the newly minted five year old! As usual, you embraced this birthday with enthusiasm and gusto. You kept looking at us through the day saying “I’m five now!” You may be the happiest five year old ever to be – it’s as if you’ve been waiting you entire life to be five.
We were on the last day of a vacation on your birthday, so you were pretty happy and relaxed. We drove home and had a small party with Debbie, JP, Maddy and Frederic at your favorite sushi restaurant and then home for cake, ice cream and presents. When Grandma asked you “Clare, you want raw fish for your birthday?!” you replied “no, I just want sushi!” You were most excited about your chocolate cake with pink icing and your presents. There will be a big party this weekend with all of your best buddies at an indoor trampoline park, but for now a simple family celebration welcomed you into your fives.
You are a delightful newly minted five-year-old. You are sunshine itself – bright, bold, shining and dancing. You prance on your toes, wave your arms with fingers outstretched and sing all day long. When I talk to your teachers or the parents of your friends at school they all talk about “sweet Clare” who greets them at the classroom door with a big smile. I love to drop you off at school and watch you become wrapped in the arms of a buddy and immediately start giggling.
You’re still our big helper and you take looking after your brother very seriously. Sometimes I worry that we give you to much responsibility for him and then other times I have to remind you to take less responsibility for him and let me be the Mama. You’ve told me that you can’t wait until you can be a grown-up and be a mama too. I try to tell you that there is plenty of time for that and to enjoy being a little girl.
This year you have discovered musicals, specifically Frozen and Mary Poppins. You’re enamored with all things pretty – specifically dresses, ruffles, sparkles and princesses. You prefer to wear skirts and dresses every day, though you’re quick to climb a tree, dig in the sand box, pick up a worm or wrestle so I talk you into wearing leggings or shorts under your frilly clothes. Your favorite colors are purple and pink, but you also tell me that your favorite color is “rainbow.”
You are the light in our house even on a cloudy day and we bask in your glow.
Happy Birthday to our beautiful, kind and sweet Clare-Bear.
Love,
Your Mama