Category: family
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Vacation: Day 2
Having spent the whole day in the pool, this one is fresh from the shower. We snuggled into bed to wait for the rest of the crew to return. Before I knew it, there was a party of five in the middle of all this cozy.
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Spring break
Spring break has been glorious. I didn’t realize how tired I was until my body collapsed into a heap of exhaustion for days on end while the kids enjoyed way too much time playing on iPads. I think Shep and Neko have built an entire new civilization on Minecraft by now.
Then I cleaned my car. I worked a few days on getting ahead at school. Instead of an all-house spring break purge, I tackled the zones that were really bothering me. (Did you know our children’s bedrooms have doors, and when you close them, the mess magically goes away?)
Today we took a road trip. Took in the science museum and then a delicious meal at a restaurant with amazing light. I managed to sneak everyone’s photo. It appears we are in that phase where everyone sticks their tongue out for the camera. Super.
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Sledding
My parents’ house is built on a small hill. It’s the perfect size for beginning sledders. My children and nephews all took their first sled rides down this hill.
This year Neko was looking for an extra challenge, and started building ramps out of snow to launch sleds for some air time.
There’s nothing quite like rosy-cheeked children, exhausted from play in the snow, coming in to parents who have been snoozing on the couch.
This, my friends, is a solid winter.
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Christmas
We made it!
There were presents and excitement and squeals of delight. The obligatory assembly of toys and a sea of wrapping paper.
We even put lights on the tree.
Even though we got it out, we forgot to hit record on the time lapse camera. Although it would have been fun, we’ll be fine without it.
Perfectly imperfectly perfect.
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Tree
This year has been busy. Oh, so busy.
This summer was a frenzy of remodeling my classroom and that of another teacher’s. We started the school year in the weeds, and barely made our way through.
The first day of winter break was three days before Christmas. I was not prepared. There was no tree. There was not an ounce of ho-ho-ho in this house.
But two days before Christmas, just in the nick of time, we got our tree. We scoured the rather empty field for a solid choice. Neko was determined to carry my parents’ tree. Our tree was a bit, ahem, bigger than it looked outside.
Who knows if there will be lights or ornaments. But according to the Whos down in Whoville, Christmas will come without those.
Ho. Ho. Ho.
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Pause
As I dropped Shep and his cousin Chris off for an all-day climbing trip, I stopped and told them I had to take their picture first. Because, when, oh, when, did they get so old?
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Ellery turns five
Five.
You just turned five.
Part of me is not shocked at all about this. Ever since your birth, you have had this wise way about you. Five actually seems too young, as it’s not a far stretch to imagine you sitting in a coffee shop, doling out sage advice to your friends.
Four has been a big year for you. You went from being the only child left in the house with a stay-at-home-mom, to going to school full time with two working parents. Granted, we are together all day, but these are huge changes for you. During the day you have to share me with 11 other children, and, for the most part, you do it without a second thought.
I adore this space you’re in. You are so content with life and the world around you. In your mind, the world is good, and you have every reason to smile. And you do. Constantly.
If I could give you one gift, it would be that you could hold onto that forever. Hold on tight, my love.
Happy birthday.
