I have been participating in a blog circle with some wonderful photographers who are also mothers of girls. Each month, we write a letter to our daughters to preserve thoughts and memories of this time in our lives. I treasure being able to do this for my girls and I love the chance to see the messages that my friends leave for their own daughters. Once you have read my letter, please follow continue on to see what Jenn Valluzo wrote to her daughter by clicking HERE.

Dear Avery and Alexa (though mostly Avery this month),

Last night we got back from a trip to Grandma and Abaji’s.  We already took a big vacation this summer, but we wanted to spend some time with our family and friends.  It was a busy 10 days, of course, though we managed to keep it a little more low key than many of our trips.  You got to spend time with family, including your Oma, your Uncle Omar and Auntie Maleeha and others.  Both your grandmothers were able to be with you when you took a little morning class on ponds.  You enjoyed coloring and hearing the story on ponds – Avery, your hand was in the air to answer every question asked! – but your favorite part was bringing home your own little pond each (even if two of Alexa’s tadpoles, and Avery’s one mosquito fish, all went missing; at least there were lots of baby snails!).  We were lucky that we got to spend lots of time with our good friends.  Aunt Stacey and Uncle John held a barbecue at their apartment so you could see many of your friends.  And James, Rhett and Alexandra came to New Jersey to have a swimming day (or two) with us, which was so much fun!  It was so nice to see how well you, James and Rhett all get along and that you remember each other even after we’ve been away for a long time.  It was so good to be able to see Rhett now that his leukemia treatments are coming to a happy end, and to be able to give Uncle John big hugs after the sad loss of his brother.  I am certain that these issues – which were among the driving factors for taking this trip right now for me – were almost entirely above your heads, but I think that is ok.  What is important is that we reconnect with the people we love.  And, of course, that we have fun together!  You guys had so much fun swimming!!  I was thrilled to be able to use my underwater housing for my camera and wish that we’d had more time in the pool with it!  

Avery, after a day of swimming with your friends, you figured out how to swim underwater.  It was so fun to see you!  I only wish we’d had more time to play there.  I am going to have to drag us to some water parks here in Seattle so we can swim some more!

This summer is going much too fast!  I want more time with my little loves.  I’ve just loved all the adventures that I get to take with you and I don’t want the adventuring to turn into a regular schedule just yet.  You make life so much fun!  I love you!

love,
Mama