Hi my baby boy,

It was the end of an era today. Daddy and I, well mostly daddy, took down the trampoline. It’s been coming to the end of its time for a while. It started randomly losing springs when you were still here with us. It got to a point where too many springs rusted off and it was just becoming a safety hazard.

We got three years out of that trampoline, though. You guys jumped on it in the snow, in the rain, in the ice, it didn’t matter. Most people probably wouldn’t have decided to buy and put up a trampoline in December, while living in Virginia, and when they’re going to be moving in less than six months, but it was worth it. You guys got to use it year round once we got to Hawaii.

You guys created many wonderful trampoline games. The game I never understood was “dead man” that you started playing with Mila and Oakley on their trampoline. You guys explained it to me a few times, but I still don’t understand the concept. You guys loved to jump in costumes, too. There were a few times when it was really windy out, you and your brothers put on capes, and wanted to see if you could fly. During “furry fix-it”, the only thing you guys did was jump and sing the furry fix-it song from The Thundermans. However, the game I appreciated the most was the game you guys played with the hose. You put the hose on the trampoline, jumped, and if you got wet the other person got to squirt you. I walked outside the one afternoon to see Ellie bent over and you were squirting her in the butt. You know, typical kid stuff.

You used the net on that trampoline like a WWE wrestling ring. You would just throw your body into it while you jumped and no matter how many times I told you not to, you continued. You also loved jumping up and holding the top of the net. You were shorter when you started doing that, but you were the one that officially broke the one clip off. Your engineering skills successfully duct taped the net back to the pole, where it lasted a solid year.

I told your siblings I would buy them another one once we moved. We have a big enough yard at the new house that there will actually be room even with the trampoline.

Sweetie, I’m getting anxious about the future. I was all ready to move back and start over last April. As long as I had my four babies, I was good to go and ready to handle whatever. We were all going to make it together. Now I’m starting all over again and am missing an integral piece of my family.

I’ve decided that it’s not going to be the “playroom”, the extra room is going to be your room. I’m keeping your Legos in there, your drawings, and your paintings.

When we were throwing the trampoline out, I found your binder from Japanese class. I will be keeping it.

I love you more than anything, baby boy. Goodnight, sweet dreams, and please watch over us.