Dear Lissie - Age Eight | Two + Two = Us

Her first Waffle House experience, age 8

Dear sweet Lissie,

I just reread the letter that I wrote on your last birthday, and it's pretty identical to what I want to write today.

You simply amaze me. You are generous and kindhearted (you and your brother spearheaded another fundraiser this year to donate a cow to a family through Catholic Charities, and you always want to do all you can for the area homeless). You are so, so, smart. Written expression comes so naturally to you (well, you are your mother's daughter), and your teacher always tells me how much you go above and beyond what is expected of you - including doing extra, more challenging work just for fun. You are talented (despite having three different cello instructors in the last year and a half, you have shown amazing growth!) and silly (your favorite school day ever is when you were introduced to the book I Need a New Butt, haha). Basically, you are beautiful in every possible way -inside, outside, and everywhere in between.

It's no secret that I claim you as the "easy" child. Everything about you has always been a breeze. My pregnancy with you was thankfully uneventful. Your scheduled c-section delivery was easy-peasy. You were easy to sleep-train, potty-train, all-sorts-of-train. Even today, as we went to Target to use up a few of your birthday gift cards, you did a cost-analysis of everything you thought you wanted before ultimately deciding to not spend anything and to save it all for another day (I mean, what eight-year-old has the foresight to do that?!?) You are a model child all the way around. That's not to say that you don't have your moments of course!

I am proud of who you are and of the bright young lady you are becoming. I want you to know that no matter what, I will be your cheerleader every step of the way.

Love always,
Mommy

Lissie's likes from this past year:

Books, books, books! Your nose is always in them. You can't be in the car, even on the shortest of rides, without a book in your hand. Your current faves are the Little House on the Prairie series, the Who Was? books, and the Diary of a Wimpy Kid graphic novels.
Road trips and vacations
Dollywood
Swimming
Sleepovers
Grilled cheese and chicken nuggets and anything that has sugar in it
Riding your bike
Trampoline Parks

Lissie's dislikes:

When brother is being a pest
When plans go awry
Talking to people you don't know
Most vegetables and meats (my once-easy eater is turning pickier and pickier....)

Lissie's Birthday Interview Video:

Here's how we spent your 8th birthday: You have been intrigued with Waffle House for a while (I honestly don't know why), so I finally agreed to let you go on your birthday after Mass. We attempted to go to Target (see above letter for how that went, haha) before going to Above All to jump to our heart's content. After getting slushies at Sonic, we went home so you could get started on your new ginormous Lego kit on your new ginormous Lego table. We also played some games before your specially requested birthday dinner: Lola's pancit and egg rolls, egg drop soup, and butterfly shrimp. And, of course, ice cream cake for dessert! We even had the pleasure of having your friend come over in time for evening festivities! Not a bad birthday, especially considering that in just a few months you'll have more celebrating when you make your First Communion!