Dear Eliza, 120 Months Old

You are 10 years old! Double digits! We have talked about approaching this milestone, and you've said you didn't want to grow up that fast. I can understand why. Being a kid is fun, and I'm glad you are enjoying this time so much that you don't want it to change.

I can relate. In a lot of ways, I don't want to get any older either or change the enjoyable moment we're in—but it's been a series of changes that made this era of time so fun, and you have to believe that there are more good times ahead—different but good—with a little change along the way. For example, you love styling your look and had that era of sticker earrings, but look at how much more fun you're having shopping for and making earrings for your pierced ears.

There have been plenty of moments where your mom and I were unsure about change or the next phase. We weren't entirely sure we were ready for kids. I bet you're glad about the result of that decision! We weren't sure we wanted to sell the Tacoma house. Some days, Mom isn't sure if we should homeschool you and Matteo. Ha! You can ask her about that later.

Of course, at my age, getting older is tied to getting a little physically slower, so that's not fun. For you, it's the opposite—as you near your tweens, your body and mind are just getting more capable. That's something to look forward to.

Speaking of changes, in past years we celebrated your birthday via an Oktoberfest party for all ages. This year, you wanted to focus your party attendees and theme on a “K-pop Demon Hunters” idea that, I admit, is tough to pair with Bavarian culture. The party is yet to come because we're making an Indiana trip, but I'm sure it will be a big hit. I can consume my pretzel and sausage another time. What I care about most is that you feel celebrated and excited for what's ahead in these double-digit ages.

You've asked if you're a tween yet because you're excited by the idea of being seen and identified as not just being a kid, and we decided that you have another year or two. According to other parents just ahead of us, the tweens are filled with big emotions that we've seen signs of. I'm not rushing into that!

But I am excited for what's coming. You're funny, creative, thoughtful, and strong. You care deeply about your friends, your art, and our family. You make our lives brighter every single day. Whether you're still in the “kid” stage or inching into your tween years, I hope you know how proud I am of the person you are right now—and how much I believe in the person you're becoming.

So here’s to 10: the start of something new, the middle of something wonderful, and another chance for all of us to keep growing together.

Love,
Dad

Dear Matteo, 99 Months Old

“Winnie the Pooh, willy, nilly, silly old bear…”

Congratulations on reaching opening night of Winnie the Pooh KIDS, performed by Artondale Elementary students — including you and Eliza! I bet the songs from your first musical will live rent-free in your head for the rest of your life.

This musical was one of your mom’s big ideas coming into her first year as PTA president. She’s been focused on bringing more programming and enrichment opportunities to students. It’s been incredible to see her vision come to life — and pay off — in front of a full audience and a stage full of bright lights and brave kids.

Now, let’s talk about your specific role: Piglet. You weren’t exactly thrilled when you got the part after tryouts. Piglet’s shy, and that’s not how most people would describe you. The pink costume also wasn’t a big selling point — though we worked around that with a pink Messi jersey (luckily in style) and some fashionable pink sweatpants. Eliza received the role of the rainbow color “Blue,” and she was even less excited, frustrated to have fewer lines and a smaller part. So, in that sense, consider yourself lucky.

For two weeks — a total of eight rehearsal days — you and Eliza stayed after school from 3:30 to 6 p.m. That’s a lot of concentrated practice time, especially for a half-hour musical. It was a big commitment for both of you, and of course for Mom, who worked side-by-side with the director she hired on behalf of the PTA. You missed soccer practices, and there were definitely some cranky days (and cranky rehearsals). Still, you stayed with it. Mom practiced lines with you and Eliza at night after rehearsals, helping you build confidence for showtime.

Finally, opening night arrived — a Thursday — kicking off your two-night run. I honestly didn’t know what to expect. The stage was modest, with a few backdrops to set the scene in the Hundred Acre Wood and props like honey pots scattered around. But once the curtain went up, I was blown away by what a couple dozen kids could pull off. You all had so many lines and carried the story forward between musical numbers. You were on stage a lot, had your lines down, and even helped other characters when they forgot theirs. Mom pitched in from the wings too, whispering cues when needed.

I’ll admit, I was a little nervous for you and Eliza to hit your marks — but you both commanded the stage with small voices and big courage. I sat there beside myself, enjoying every minute and marveling at how much you accomplished in such a short time.

The whole experience was too special not to buy the video recording for $30, so we can enjoy it for years to come. You might find it embarrassing someday to watch yourself as Piglet, but I promise that later in life you’ll appreciate seeing how you stepped up as Pooh’s loyal sidekick.

I don’t know if you’ll keep acting — especially once it’s optional and not the mandate of the PTA president who happens to be your mom — but I’m savoring this moment. As you head into your second and final performance tonight, I know you’ll be even more confident with those first-show jitters behind you. I hope you enjoy being on stage as much as the audience enjoys watching you.

There may be some collateral damage from this experience — from now on, it’ll be hard to see a pink Messi jersey without remembering your time under the bright lights.

Love, Dad

Dear Eliza, 119 Months Old

Dad has been doing some hard, physical things lately.

I just completed my second marathon of the year up in Bellingham. I chose that course for timing — to make sure my body was ready for the distance — and because it gave us the chance to see Aunt Nina, Uncle Jeff, and your cousins. Of course, I’ll always have a soft spot for Bellingham from my undergrad days at WWU. The marathon date conflicted with Aunt Nina’s “yoga spa retreat” (read: Mom getaway), but we still had time with the rest of the family, and you got all the cousin playtime.

Marathons are tough but achievable. I trained well for this one, adding weekly interval days at the track. My body held up consistently during the race, and while I didn’t push the pace too hard, I managed steady mile splits. I still hit a few walls — including some miles of high winds — but the scenery through the Lummi Reservation and north Bellingham was beautiful. Seeing Mom and Matteo around Mile 16 gave me the encouragement I needed, but the highlight was finishing with you and Matteo running at my side. And that sign you made — “Run like the person your dog thinks you are,” with Greta drawn so perfectly — absolutely nailed it.

Afterward, we went out for lunch, and I have to tell you: that burger and beer were the best I’ve ever had.

Just a few weeks earlier, I ran an epic thru-hike of The Enchantments — the same place Mom and I backpacked with friends about 12 years ago. It was one of Uncle Scott’s big ideas, and he did it last year himself. The Enchantments are breathtaking high alpine lakes, and the route is a true challenge. Our 19-mile trek took about nine hours, with 5,000 feet of climbing and 7,000 feet of descent. It felt like its own marathon, and I was proud to complete it.

I share both of these adventures because I want you and Matteo to see that you can do hard things. I also proved to myself that I can carry that kind of physical load while still showing up as a husband and dad. These challenges, though time-consuming, create the balance we all need to stay healthy in body and mind. Everyone finds their own version of that balance, and I know you’ll discover yours, too.

Our whole family has entered a busy season. You started 4th grade at Artondale Elementary, and between school and soccer practices twice a week, your days are full. Matteo has both soccer and baseball keeping him busy. Mom has stepped up as PTA president — and I think she’s as busy as any school administrator. On top of my own teaching load with two classes this fall, she’s launched teacher-support activities, started regular meetings with the principal, and even took and edited photos of all the teachers and students the first week — which had to be 12+ hours of work. I’m impressed with all she’s done already, and we’ve all needed to pitch in to support her new schedule.

So what do you do when life gets busy? Be intentional with your time. Get your exercise and your rest. Make sure you’re having fun — and call a “time out” when you’re not. And always remember: be the person your dog thinks you are.

Love,
Dad

Dear Matteo, 98 Months Old

We had a big opening weekend for fall sports.

First, we’re back on the soccer pitch—this time on a bigger field with bigger goals, playing 7v7. We added a few new players to the roster and named the team the Savage Squirrels. Pretty good, right?

Because of Labor Day and end-of-summer plans, we only squeezed in a couple practices, but you all came out strong in your first game, beating University Place 8–1. You played goalie in the first half and midfield in the second, where you scored with that big left foot. The one goal against us came from an unusual but fair call: one of our defenders passed the ball back to you while you were in goal, and you picked it up with your hands. That’s not allowed, and the other team scored off the indirect kick. That one’s on me—I hadn’t thought to coach you all on that rule yet. Honestly, I’m glad they scored because you were so dominant otherwise. I’m looking forward to tougher competition and bringing some new ideas to practice to help with spacing. (It’s tough when our advanced group of 8-year-olds is still working on knowing left from right!)

Eliza also had her first game with the Fireflies. It’s her first season back after taking a year off for dance, and it’s great to see her on the field again. She looks like she’s really enjoying it and learning the game the right way. Her team lost big in the opener after some first-half breakdowns, but the second half was much more competitive. I was surprised by just how fast your sister is—easily one of the five fastest girls out there. She’s smaller than many of the taller players, but that speed gives her a real edge. I think she’ll find her place as a forward and put those quick feet to good use.

After your two soccer games on Saturday, you had your first “Fall Ball” baseball game with Gig Harbor Little League. As I’ve written before, you’re all about baseball these days—Pit Viper glasses, mullet, the whole look. The style is there, but what about the substance?

It’s coming. You’re on an 8–10 team, which means you’re one of the younger players, and some of your teammates have been at it for years. You’ve got a strong arm and good catching ability, and in that first game you rotated through center, left field, third, and first base. What Mom and I realized, though, is how many baseball rituals you’re just learning—like how the first baseman carries a ball out between innings, or how bat pickup works after a hit. Those little details are part of the game, and you’ll pick them up with experience.

When you walked up for your first at bat, your mom and I were a bundle of nerves. We just wanted you to have fun and a little success—meaning: put the bat on the ball. In soccer, you don’t look for us, but in baseball you always give us that firm stare before batting, which is basically your way of saying “oh no.” You stepped up stiff and stoic, bat on your shoulder, no practice swings. You let a lot of pitches go by, hoping for the easy walk, but the count ran full. Your coach told you to “let it ride,” and on the next pitch—too high—you swung and struck out. Honestly, I think you were relieved just to have it over.

Your second at bat went better. You made contact for a short hit, beat the throw to first with your speed, stole a base with a perfect slide (your favorite move), and eventually scored off a teammate’s big hit.

We’re heading into a busy season with so many practices and games, and it’s an adjustment for all of us. But your mom and I are just happy to see you having fun, learning, and growing in the sports you love—not just as a fan, but now as an athlete worth watching yourself.

Love,
Dad

Dear Eliza, 118 Months Old

Let the orthodontia games begin.

You’re proudly wearing your new mouth spacer—and lisping through it like a champ. Honestly, it’s been a little harder for me to understand you, thanks to my hearing loss and that new piece of plastic on the roof of your mouth. But we’re both getting used to it.

Mom and I learned you have a smaller palate, which makes you a heavy mouth breather (and a future snorer!) at night. So we found an orthodontist willing to start there. We’d actually heard about the benefits of spacers from a family we met on vacation—their daughters had big, beautiful, mostly natural smiles with minimal braces after using spacers. Creating room now means your adult teeth will have an easier time finding their place later.

I was a little older than you when I got my first orthodontic appliance—a bite plate to correct my overbite before braces in junior high—so we’re starting in similar places. I even remember being weirdly excited about it, like it was a rite of passage. Of course, that also meant learning dumb tricks to flip my retainer around and impress my friends.

You, on the other hand, are far more mature than I was. You carry your retainer case everywhere, clean everything diligently, and switch to the next set right on schedule. You’re a rule follower, and it’s paying off—we can already see your smile getting bigger!

And you’re not the only one on this journey. While we wait for Matteo to age in, we got Mom started on Invisalign to take care of her teeth straightening and finally fix that “snaggle tooth.” Mom has an amazing smile, but for both health and looks, she’s wanted to straighten her teeth for a while. We even tried a DIY solution during the pandemic through a company called AlignerCo. It worked for me, but didn’t quite get Mom’s teeth where she wanted them. Since we’re going “all in” on family orthodontia insurance costs, now felt like the right time to get her there.

You and Mom have even turned check-ups into “ortho dates,” which I love. You both have the same jobs ahead: don’t lose those valuable retainers when you take them out to eat, and wear them as much as possible. Before long, you’ll be on to “real braces”—though these days, that basically means clear Invisalign retainers. You’ll feel even more grown up than you do already.

Love,
Dad