In just a few days you will be 5 years old. What a year this has been! I’ll rely on my daily texts to your Auntie Raya and all the photos I took to remind me of the past year. The last time I wrote to you was in September shortly after you started junior kindergarten and we no longer got to spend everyday together. It was a quite an adjustment (harder than I had anticipated) for Bubby after being with you all day 5 days a week since the fall of 2020. You loved school from day one and made friends quickly. That was one of your fears – what if no one wants to be my friend? As your grown ups knew, that was not going to be a problem for you. You still come to my house a few days a week after school. It’s my most precious time and we both love it.
It took me a while to become a volunteer at your school but I kept pestering the office until I met with a temporary principal who was so kind and so helpful. I got my police check completed and I was ready to go. Your teachers were so welcoming and I love spending an afternoon in your classroom weekly. My first time in the classroom was at Chanukah. I read a Chanukah story, taught everyone to play dreidel and brought donuts. All the kids got to keep a dreidel too. Your class made me a giant thank you card and everyone signed it. We also went to London to celebrate with Auntie Raya, Uncle Ben and Cousin Oscar. You are a great traveller and we love the train trip. We had our annual London trip at Rosh Hashanah as well. We always go apple picking at Apple Land. I love it all but I’ll never get used to the corn maze.
In the new year, I started going to your classroom weekly. I had to stop at the end of March for my knee replacement surgery and I just started back this week. Your class made me a beautiful book. You were chosen to present it to me. Each student drew a picture and wrote me a note. I loved it so much, it made me cry. I explained to your class that sometimes you cry when you are so happy. You all were so curious about my knee so I explained it to the class. Our joke was that I now have a “robot” knee.
In February, we had a little getaway. We went to Burlington by Go Train for a night and stayed at the Burlington Waterfront Hotel. Auntie Raya visited us for a few hours. We swam, went to the nearby playground, walked along the waterfront and ate in the restaurant. Like your Mommy, your Auntie and me – you love a hotel vacation.
February was also the month you had dental surgery at the hospital. What a trouper – no complaining or crying. Just strong and brave. Your mother was always like that and I could feel her presence watching over you. Your daddy went into the recovery room when you woke up. I was waiting until they moved you upstairs to prepare to go home, you reached out your hand through the bars on your stretcher and we held hands through the halls and in the elevator with your eyes glued to mine.
Purim this year was in March and it was fun for us both. We dressed up – you were Queen Esther and I was Queen Vashti. We went to the Danforth Jewish Circle event. Everyone gathered in a park wearing our costumes. It was a sunny day with the ground covered in fresh snow. There were about 30 people and we walked to 5 neighbourhood porches. At each stop a group of volunteers acted out a scene from the Purim shpiel (story). We had arrived early and went to a little cafe for a croissant. Yummmy.
In May, we celebrated Great Bubby’s 103rd birthday. We went to the Cheesecake Factory with Auntie Raya and Oscar, Aunt Paula and Uncle Peter, Cousin Hartley and Lisa. You drove there and back with Hartley and Lisa. It’s good that they live near you. You hadn’t seen them in quite a while but made no fuss getting into the car and driving with them. You know you are loved by so many. We hadn’t seen each other in a month and it was pretty special for us both. Auntie Raya captured a moment of us just staring into each other’s eyes. You cuddled on my lap and it was so good to be with you. For Mother’s Day, your teacher contacted your Daddy to ask who were the important women in your life. You made me and Grandma cards.
You have continued in gymnastics. Coach Lisa says you are doing really well in your class. Your strength is getting better and you are more confident with your skills. Your rope climb is getting higher. You listen well and will speak up if you are unsure of something. You have also continued with your swimming lessons and just passed another level. Bubby is keeping a binder with all your ribbons and report cards.
When you visit with me, we spend a lot of time doing crafts and playing with your babies. Every moment is precious to me. I’m still the voice of the babies and you always impress me with your parenting skills. Lately, one of them has a birthday and we have a little drama to resolve. I’m the voice so I like to pose a problem – “Emma pinched me”, or “Belle was too bossy”.
There is nothing you seem to like more than being a dog named Bella. Usually the babies and I buy you at a pet store and bring you home. You are always a well behaved pup who knows lots of tricks.
You are more discerning about your food. You don’t eat everything I put in front of you as you did before school started. That’s ok – we have a deal that you at least take a bite of everything and give it a try. We dipped strawberries in chocolate this week and they were a big hit. You told me this week that oatmeal is your favourite food and you’ve been asking for it as your after school snack. I think it has a lot to do with the maple syrup. You love hard boiled eggs, cottage cheese and Laughing Cow cheese when you visit me.
We have so many memories and I could write to you forever but I’m going to stop here. I do have to mention that you adore you baby brother and you are never more excited then when he is coming over especially for a night. I know you are a great big sister and you are both blessed to have each other to love.
I love you more than I can say.
Sixty in the City 