Dear Daniel,
Another year has gone by, and here you are turning 11 years old. It's starting to make me a little sad. You're growing up quickly now. They say the years go fast, but it doesn't always feel that way, until one day you realize that your baby is now only 6 inches shorter than you. (I'm hoping I grow a couple of inches next year with my surgery, so maybe when I write next year's letter you'll still only be 6 inches shorter than me).
I think 10 was a good year for you for the most part.
You were very excited to learn that we were going to adopt a kitten last December. We went to the shelter to meet her, and it was love at first sight. We wished we could have taken her home with us that day, but she had to stay until after the new year. Her shelter name was Winnie, and I was thinking about changing it. You helped me change my mind though, and we kept it. You two have formed a very sweet bond, and she truly loves you. You're the only one who can get her to jump like a ninja cat, and she is always happy to see you. (Minus that one time she figured out how to hiss and started to hiss at you!).
We also had fun taking a weekend getaway to St. Louis last December. We got to stay at a hotel, see the lights at the zoo, go to the aquarium, science center and ride the Ferris Wheel at Union Station.
In January we finally had a decent size snow, and I had failed you as a mother up until this point in your life. I had never taken you sledding! I went and bought 2 saucers and took you and James out to the lake. As it turned out, you loved it and James hated it. It was also beyond freezing, but we made it almost an hour. I know you're hoping for more snow this winter so you can go again.
Over spring break we did some fun activities. We went to an Easter egg hunt, and of course you found money in one of your eggs, because when it comes to winning things, you're always the lucky one. We also went mini golfing at Knight's and had our own egg hunt at home too. We were supposed to go to a Cardinals game, but we got rained out. Thankfully, we got to go a few weeks later and watch them win!
Over the summer you had 2 trips to Iowa. The first trip you and James got to spend a week alone at Mimi and Pa's while I went to Colorado to visit Aunt Erica. We came back again a few weeks later for the Smith Family Reunion. 2 days of craziness with lots and lots of family members. You enjoyed some of the activities and really seemed to enjoy helping put together the puzzle of your Great Grandma and Grandpa Smith with Aunt Donna, and playing "Smith-O". The family version of BINGO. It was at the reunion that I realized that you are a bit of an introvert like your mama. The last night, you were eating your supper at a table all alone. I came over to see if you were okay and you said, "Yeah. It's just too peopley" I knew EXACTLY what you meant.
You also got your alto saxophone at the beginning of summer. We still laugh because the tag that came attached to your case says, "Daruel Elam". How they messed that up, I will never know.
You were able to attend one week of band camp and then practiced here and there during the summer.
In August we did a quick trip to Great Mimi T's house in Chariton right before school started.
Dad took you and James to another Cardinals game as an early birthday present and what a gift you got! You saw Albert Pujols hit home run #698!
In Taylorville you move to the Jr. High in 5th grade. It just doesn't seem right! You're still an elementary kid in my book, but 5th grade is separate from the older kids and you don't move classes yet. You were pretty bummed though because you had to miss your first day of school. You were at the tail end of Covid- Round 2.
So far you seem to love 5th grade. You're a straight A student. (Big surprise there). You are loving band, and were more advanced than the other kids in your group, so now you're in a class that's further ahead. Once you realized that practicing was graded, you have been great about practicing at home. Sometimes it can be a little annoying, but honestly, I usually love listening to you play. If you keep practicing, you're going to do amazing things!
You also came home one day and told me you were applying for student council. So many 5th graders wanted in that they decided those selected would only get to serve half of the year. You are the first half, so you only have 1 meeting left. I hope you decide to try again in 6th grade, because I love seeing you involved in your school.
Our fall has consisted of pumpkin patches, driving around to look at leaves, visiting Aikman Wildlife Adventure with Mimi and Pa and celebrating Halloween. I had to rectify another mom fail. Never in your almost 11 years of life had I taken you trick-or-treating. We've gone to trunk-or-treats. TONS of them. You guys had never been door to door through a neighborhood though, and that was your one request. It was a bit rainy that evening, but you 2 had a blast and I loved seeing the happiness on your faces...especially when you got full size candy bars at some houses.
You have done a lot of growing this year. Both physically and emotionally. At last check, you were 5'2.5"! You are becoming more mature...but trust me, you still do things daily that make me question my sanity. You have become such great help to me though. You have taken on litter duty, you carry the groceries in, carry bins in and out of the house for me when I decide I need to decorate for the next season or holiday, and you pick up the slack for your brother more times than you should really have to. I figured it was probably time to start giving you a small allowance. It's not much, but you seem very grateful for it.
I am very proud to call you my son and I can't wait to see what year 11 brings you!
I love you more than words can say.
Love,
Mom
