Happy 12th Birthday to the One and Only Zoë Maxine

 Dearest Zoë,

Year 12 for you has been an interesting one.  It has had some challenges that even adults would struggle with.  Your sweet childhood dog, Fiona, died days before your birthday this year, your Baba and Dedo moved far away, and you started middle school.  And let's be honest...middle school is rough for most.  ;)

But the year was not only sadness and difficulty.  You continued to grow your love for the game of hockey, you traveled to a different continent and visited those family members we've chosen in another country, you went to summer camp, read a million books, started learning and playing a second instrument, navigated the challenges of learning a new school, schedule, teachers, and responsibilities. 

It is hard not to start with your hockey game.  You. LOVE. Hockey.  And the rest of us do, too. You've always played left wing in the past, but this year your coach has you playing defense and let me tell you...you are an AWESOME defender.  You are a SMART player, conscience of where the puck always is AND where it is going.  You don't crave the spotlight, preferring to pass to others rather than take the puck to the net yourself which truly, is how you should be playing anyway.  You had the chance to play in 10U again this year with the all girls team OR play at 12U on a co-ed team.  It was a hard choice...you LOVE playing with the girls.  They play a different game than those boys...but you chose 12U because you thought it would develop your skills more playing full ice.  And you have.  You are beloved on your team, forever a good team mate and coachable kid. Selfishly, I love seeing you on the co-ed team.  I feel like you stand out more and are appreciated for your skill and coachable quality. Lucky for you, the girls asked you to play with them during their Thanksgiving tournament in town and will be playing with them again in BC in March. You've had the best of both worlds (and I'm pretty sure you wouldn't trade your team now, especially after spending a super fun tournament weekend in Winthrop).

Back-to-School Night at Meeker

Middle school started for you in September and it has not been the magical time you anticipated (and your mom promised) it to be. You are doing VERY well and, as always, a conscientious and scholarly student, but all of the sudden responsibility didn't feel good to you (can you imagine how other students who struggle feel?!) and I think you've felt a bit lost in the crowd after being well known by all of the adults at CHE and especially your beloved teachers who nurtured you and built such amazing community for you and your peers.  Middle school is just...another beast. Selfishly, as your science teacher, I LOVE seeing you every day in 6th period (I'm quite sure I wouldn't see much of you if you weren't my student!) and am so thankful that you are the student you are.  You give me great feedback after class!  

January Band Concert 2025

Two extra bright spots in your day are band and social studies.  This year you started playing the bass clarinet in band AND you joined the jazz band and continue to play your clarinet there.  Every Tuesday and Thursday you go a half an hour early for jazz band and love it. I think it's the thing that's anchoring you right now and making you feel like you have a place in that building.  AND, you LOVE Social Studies.  I think it's fun for you to learn such interesting content (let's be honest...SS content in elementary school is light...just like science) and you adore your teacher. Surprisingly, you love having PE first period, also, except when you have free time because it feels...maybe a bit like Lord of the Flies (those are mom's words...but that's what it sounds like when you describe it!).

Helping Dad with the deck for the gazebo

Family feels like it continues to be your anchor.  Your Baba and Dedo moving away has been crushing...so much so that even a quick trip to see them this fall ended up being more emotionally challenging because it reminded you just how much you missed them.  Shhhhh, it's a surprise, but we're sending you their way in February for a Zoë-only trip for five days.  It will be nice for you to have the time by yourself with them and mom is only SLIGHTLY TERRIFIED to send you on an airplane by yourself. Your Grandma and Grandma continue to show up for sports games, holidays and special events and you are SO LUCKY to be surrounded by so much family that loves you. It melted my heart to hear you say in your birthday interview that your wish was that we always read as a family at night.  It is truly one of my favorite family moments, too, and I'm so happy it's your happy place, too.  I think you're only slightly mad at this point that I'm still sticking to the One-Harry-Potter-Book-A-Year book as we read it together and your friends blow through the series to finish it. 

Winthrop Hockey Tourney, January 2025

Your patience as a big sister has finally met it's limit...some days...for your brother.  But, you still play two-square outside with him, will go out and kick the ball when he asks 50% of the time, and will help him with his recorder, assignment, or Murdle, Jr., book in the backseat when he's stuck.  He has stars in his eyes for you, sometimes it's just hard to realize it.  He plays the annoying little brother role well.  ;)

Friends! Zoë, Cecilia, Evelyn, Juliana

Friends this year have grown in importance and I love to see the people you surround yourself with and consider your besties.  Your strong group of girls are confident, smart, kind, supportive of each other, and everything I would want from you in a group of friends.  My feelings were only slightly hurt a few weekends ago when you had Juliana and Leila over and you all promptly went upstairs and closed the door, effectively blocking me from the fun.  I listened to your whispering and giggling and my heart was both SO happy for you and aching because the moment came when you didn't need me when you had them around. I know that's exactly how it's supposed to be...but I wasn't ready for it.  Your birthday get together this year will be so low key...they're all walking home with you after school and you're going to hang out, have snacks and cake and call it a day. 

Zoë, you have thrived and grown and are growing into the most poised young woman.  You are cherished every single day of the year but your birthday reminds me, always, of the grit and fierce determination with which you entered this world-you marvel at 2 pounds 12.5 ounces. You continue to leave me in awe of your grace and self awareness, your kindness and your patience.  I am so proud of our daughter and am sure that you will continue to touch many lives as you grow.  We love you so much, sweet girl.  Happy HAPPY birthday!

South America Trip: Part 1- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

We had the amazing opportunity to visit our favorite Brazilian, Isa, this summer. We were so fortunate to have her along for the entire trip in Brazil to be our translator (we are exhausting) and tour guide! It was hard to believe that four and a half years have gone by since she left Tacoma.  We picked right up where we left off and a reminder that even if years go by between visits, she'll always be a part of our family.  

Day 1

We flew through Houston leaving our house at 11am and left Houston at 8pm to arrive in Rio the next morning at a little before 9am. It was a total of 15 hours on an airplane…much longer than the longest flight the kids had ever been on (3 hours to Albuquerque). We all got just a little sleep but the kids did really well armed with snacks, lots of audiobooks and the movies on the plane. 

When we arrived in Rio it was about a 45 minute drive to our airBnB where we met the doorman who helped us upstairs with all of our luggage. Isa arrived about fifteen minutes after us and it was a very happy reunion!!! 

Once we were all settled we walked immediately to the beach, which was only a block away from our apartment. We got a quick glance at the water and then went to our first meal at Boteco Belmonte. We had a delicious lunch and sampled a lot of delicious food. 

We spent the afternoon at the beach. Zoë and Oliver were delighted with the waves and the water was quite warm! Chris practiced his "obrigado" as many of the vendors made a beeline right to him (and no one else) while we were there.  Our favorite moment of the day was a woman singing "sanduiches natural!" The kids enjoyed a coconut drink and then we headed to the grocery store to stock up on some breakfast items for the next few days.  We bought a ton of different fruits to try and then headed back to the AirBnB to order pizza in and play cards.

Day 2

The second day started with a trip to the Escadaria Selarón (the Selarón Steps) to see the beautiful tiled steps created by artist Jorge Selarón beginning in 1990.  Of the more than 2000 tiles on the steps, many of them were eventually donated by tourists and visitors.  The site is beautiful and such an amazing piece of art.  After climbing the steps, we also walked by the Arcos da Lapa Aquaduct but were extra wary of our phones at the time so didn't take a picture.

 

We Ubered to the Museu do Amanhã (Museum of Tomorrow), a super beautiful building dedicated to science, technology and a focus on the dangers of climate change, environmental degradation and social collapse.  Despite that sounding super depressing, it wasn't.  We learned a lot and spent a lot of time there (with a brief intermission for a lunch in the museum that was delicious and perked hangry Oliver right up).

On our way back to the AirBnB we stoped at the Confeitaria Colombo, a beautiful pastry cafe with fantastic desserts.  They took our pictures before we entered (very cruise-ship style) and then presented them upon leaving for us to purchase.  I was just going to purchase the picture of the five of us and Isa translated to the employee that I didn't love my children so I didn't want to buy the picture just of them.  He threw in the pics of the kids for free.  ;)

Day 3

Chris and I woke up early and went for a run on the road along Ipanema beach.  We did four miles on the closed road with THOUSANDS of other people.  It was sunny, hot, and it was great!

We spent the rest of the day on the beach and the kids only left the water to drink their drinks and eat snacks.  They loved looking for shells (collected BAGS of them that surprisingly made it home in one piece) and playing in the BIG waves.  

 In the evening we went and ate at what (I think) was everyone's favorite meal of the trip.  We went to Zazá Bistro Tropical a block away from our AirBnB.  EVERYONE's dinner was so delicious we had a hard time choosing which one was best.

We had some great cocktails, too!  Actually, even Zoë enjoyed half of her alcoholic cocktail she was served until the waiter realized that it didn't have the same garnishment of the typical non-virgin option.  He apologized profusely, whisked it away and brought her the proper drink (though she said the one with alcohol was better!).  Later, the bartender also came out to apologize and brought us a round of after dinner drinks as a gesture (no alcohol for the kids on theirs...for sure).

Day 4

The next morning we headed out to Parque Lage to eat at the cafe nice and early before it got too crowded.  The cafe is located in a mansion that is now a historical and cultural heritage site for the city of Rio and the park is a public park.  We ate breakfast, then enjoyed watching a few monkeys and their shenanigans afterwards for a bit.  There were some indigenous vendors outside of the mansion that we enjoyed shopping, also.  

The kids wanted more beach time, so after our yummy breakfast we headed back to play in the water and eat more snacks.  Our favorites from the beach were Biscoito Globo (a crunchy, ring shaped manioc flour snack) and the maté iced tea mixed with lemonade frosty beverage served from aluminum barrels. In fact, the tea we drank in most restaurants and Zoë made sure to get some to bring home.

In the evening, Isa taught us how to make Pahla Italiana, a related dessert to our beloved brigaderios (which, surprisingly...we didn't eat ONE of in Brazil!) that she taught us to make back in 2019. It was delicious and we'll definitely be adding it to our family recipe book!

Day 5

We woke up early to make our 8:00 tickets to Christ the Redeemer.  The monument is impressive and worth the trip.  Even by the time we got up the mountain at 8:30 however, it was very crowded.  It was slightly cloudy, but the clouds weren't low enough to impede the view of Rio far below.  Oliver was delighted to find monkeys at the little cafe we stopped at on the mountain again, and also to do some shopping on the way down.  By the time we left at 10:30 it was INCREDIBLY crowded and I was glad to get out of there.

We went directly to Sugarloaf Mountain.  To get to the top of the 1, 200 foot tall Sugarloaf, you have to first take a glass-walled cable car to the top of Morro da Urca and then take a second one to the top of Sugarloaf.  The views were fun because they were different than those of Corcovado.  We ate a delicious lunch at the cafe at the top, did a little shopping, and headed back down to the AirBnB to play cards on our last night in Rio.

Overall, we loved the beach in Rio and ate some really great food.  If we go back to Rio, it is nice to know that we crossed off so many of the typical tourist spots and could do more relaxation on the beach (since that was the kids' favorite activity).  We agree with Isa's opinion that many of the people we met seemed to act like they were doing us a favor when we asked for something (like in a restaurant, for example) and weren't as friendly as the people we would meet in Belo. We were really looking forward to heading to Belo Horizonte the next morning (bright and early)!