Happy 8th Birthday Mylo!

The summer going into 2nd grade, after you turned 7, we went to an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana. After renting a house in Cape Cod the previous year, I decided that while you guys were still small, there wouldn’t be any more vacation homes in our future — not unless they came with a maid and a chef! And since that’s not something we can splurge on, we had to reassess our vacay-style. We did so by going to a resort in the DR. While this kind of vacation is anything but cultural, it is easy and when kids are small, it needs to be easy!

You always make vacay friends and the DR was no different. You befriended two brothers from England and had the best time with them. It was so much fun watching you guys splash and play all day under the sun and into the night.

You ran your first 10K in 2017. It was a slog, but you did it and I couldn’t be more proud.

Second grade at ps261 was an intense year! You had a lovely teacher but it was the first time I saw the challenges tied to being an all-inclusive, diverse school. Not to mention the challenges that come from having a grade that is predominantly male — the ratio in your grade is 70 : 30 and in 2nd grade there were 20 boys in yours class and just 8 girls. While your teacher was kind and soft spoken and a mom to three boys, she was no match for your class which was very Lord of the Flies-ish. Here’s to hoping ps261 redeems itself with a strong 3rd grade class for you.

Fall of 2nd grade was the first season I became your soccer coach with Metro Soccer at Brooklyn Bridge Park. I coached the following season and continue to coach as of the writing of this post, but no team has been like that first season. We had great camaraderie and a fun assistant coach too.

For Halloween you were a knight and your sister, a mermaid. You had a blast with your friends as you combed the neighborhood in pursuit of candy and chaos.

At Christmas we continued our tradition of having our neighbor Ashley come over and play Santa for you, Reya and seven of your friends. This despite the fact that it was the first year you became skeptical of the big guy, saying friends at school were “beginning to talk.” But regardless of what the final verdict is, on Christmas Eve, it’s clear you believe.

Winter was tough. Winters are always tough, but we got through it – with no mid-winter vacation. Spring soccer started up in March and I coached you again. At your request. You are a naturally gifted soccer player (hello genes) but sometimes I don’t know if I am helping you or hurting you by being your coach. The league is not a serious one.

In June we played hooky from school and went with friends to Fire Island. It was what I presume a tradition for years to come.

When school let out we went to Las Vegas with my parents, my brother and your cousins to celebrate me turning 40. We stayed at Cesar’s Palace and we had an absolute blast!

Your favorite thing to do there was hop around from pool to pool to pool like wet little fish. And thank heavens for that because Vegas in July is HOT!

When we returned we went up to Goomah’s house in Candlewood Isle where you and your sister did a week of camp on the lake. It’s hard to put into words the amount of fun you guys had that week, you with Jake, and Reya with Evelyn, but you did. I worked from their home while daddy stayed in the city and then he joined us for 4th of July weekend.

It was the first time I felt rooted some place other than Brooklyn and Northport and thus an idea was born…

After too much wine on the Saturday night of 4th of July weekend I told your daddy I thought we should look at houses on Candlewood Isle. That it would be nice for us to continue making memories on the Isle even after Goomah and Goompah are gone. He agreed and then the Monday after the 4th I sent your daddy a link to a house on High Trail, the street right behind your grandparents. It was almost too good to be true. The house had an accepted offer on it but they’d soon have a better one, ours! (To be continued on your next birthday post.)

After one week of camp on the Isle you returned to camp at the YMCA in Brooklyn.

Daddy’s cousin from France came in July to Brooklyn with her family and rented a house not far from us. Even though your cousins don’t speak English and you and Reya don’t speak French, you all managed to somehow communicate and have fun.

We did your birthday party in late July by renting a van and taking a day trip to Roackaway Beach with yours (and our) closest friends. It was an absolute blast!

Parenting you is exhausting and also a total pleasure. You are kind, sensitive and have always had a knack for the crazies. You are super athletic and downright gorgeous, too. And I’m NOT being biased. Everyone says it! I love you my buddinsk, Happy Birthday!