I'll never tire

It's been over two years since I posted.  I got divorced.  I moved twice.  I learned how to fly on my own.  I found my own voice.  But those stories are still too raw, too personal, too close to the bone.  I can't write them yet.

But I want to - no need to write again.  I need to write just like I need a dog, like I needed to grow something last spring, like I need to touch people to connect with them, like I need the outside.

I've been thinking for months about what I can write about and if I want to start a new blog.  New life, new blog, right?  But I'm still me and Mary Oliver reminds us that we only get to have "one wild and precious life."  I might change the name.  I'll probably archive some posts, but I can't be anything but me and I can't, and don't want to erase my past.

So what I can write about?  Well the same things as before - just different.  My adventures; the food I'm cooking, eating, growing; what I'm reading; and my kids.  My wonderful, beautiful, complicated, messy, aggravating, lovable teens.

So I'll start with something tiny.

A few months ago, by accident, I watched both of them sleeping.  The girl sleeping in the car on the way back from homecoming dress shopping.  The boy asleep next to me in the library while we read and waited for his sister's dance class to be over.

Both times a well of tenderness and emotion shot through me and tears welled up in my eyes.  Not necessarily because they were older, although that's part of it.  But because they're beautiful and because when I watch them sleep I remember all the times I've watched them before.  The soft newborn sleep with hands above their heads.  The sweaty toddler sleep with a blanket clutched tight in their fist.  The kindergarten sleep two minutes after crawling into the car on the way home - completely exhausted.  The travel sleep - curled up next to each other in camper or tent.  Every memory rich.  Every memory a blessing.

So I'll never tire of this... this gift of watching them sleep.  It will fill my heart forever.

March Madness

February passed in a blur....  and March will speed by even faster.

Ski and Sugaring Weekend 

We found winter for a few brief days and reveled in cold and snow.  I feel so cheated.  Where was our winter?  I'm not ready for spring - I'm still looking for that three day snow day forecast.  I miss living in the North.

She's 14 now so her default mood is anger.  Uncle Jim knows how to fight those bad mood blues.

We also snuck in a (not so surprising) birthday party for my sister.

I got to hang out in the sugar camp with my Dad and Uncle Bruce and chat for almost an entire day.
It was food for the soul.

 Growing Up

Just yesterday she was in ski school, now she's old enough to work there.  It's lots of fun to see your kid do well at her first real job and it's delightful to be out there with her.  

Pizza Fondue for the birthday party

S'mores dip instead of a cake.  Happy Birthday Girl...

On the birthday kid's day we do take out -- the other kid benefits too.
These were worn after repeatedly getting hot sauce in his eye.

 Sweetness

It was the shortest Sugaring Season ever - 16 days, but the syrup was still divine.

His enthusiasm for band is palpable... and they sounded pretty good too.

February Fun

February has been a busy month so far.  Usually we get several snow days so the busy times are balanced with days at home, but we've only been out one day. Despite the lack of time at home it's been a great month.

I have three more weekends out at ski school.  I'm at the point in the season where I both want the season to be over so I have my Saturdays back, and where I am very sad to  that soon the snow will be gone and the skis will be on the rack until next season.  Saturdays usually mean that something is cooking in the crock pot.  It's such a wonderful feeling to walk in the door and know that dinner is done especially when you're cold and starving and it's after 7.  Last weekend I only wound up working until the mid-morning because the day was slow (it was super cold), and I enjoyed knowing that dinner was taken care of while I was busy with school and house work.  I really need to use my crock pot more on days when I'm home.

Gram's Ham Barley Soup is super easy, tasty and makes a ton.

We got a light snow on a Saturday so friends (and the dog) came sledding on the hill.  The first, and maybe the last, hill sledding this year.  What a short, and non-snowy winter.  I hope we get one more good storm before spring is here.

It was hard to get a good picture of the kids, but even harder to get a good pic of the dog. 

 Emma turned 13 - a teenager!  She had a great party with friends.  I enjoyed overhearing snippets of their conversation.  There was some teen girl talk, but mostly they just continue to be silly together.  I hope some of that innocence lasts.  The theme of this year's party was red.  So there was red velvet cupcakes, a fancy red table setting, strawberry soda in fancy glasses, and this great craft.  We bought several different lip stick colors, and small magnetic frames.  The girls then kissed the paper to make designs and added their names.  It was a perfect craft for their age.

Happy 13th birthday Emma girl.  Love you!

Sorry to See It Go

It took me a while to discover the reason I love winter.  Some people look at winter storms as stressful events.  They clear out the grocery shelves, and huddle inside in fear watching the weatherman.

Although we have all the modern conveniences, we're also chosen to have a wood stove, a gas furnace and a pantry full of canned goods.  We could have been snowed in for a month or more and been fine.

Also, we really like our kids, and we've taught them to be self entertainers.  We are happiest when we are all together - just the four of us.  We didn't lose power so we did gather for a nightly family movie, and the kids were allowed their 20 min. of technology time, but mostly we either played together or the kids found ways to entertain themselves.

Although there's still snow on the ground, and winter isn't over yet, I miss the feeling of security, warmth and family togetherness we have when the snow is coming down by the bucketful and we're stranded here together.  I love winter because of this feeling.   The Norwegians have a name for this warmth and happiness with winter - koselig.  Norwegians look at winter not as a time to be survived, but as one of enjoyment.

My winter hating, Northern dwelling mother tells me that I would feel differently if I lived in the snow belt, but I'm pretty sure she's wrong.  When I retire I'll be moving North to find winter.

Stay warm everyone!

Out with the Old....

2015 was a pretty good year.

We had some adversity (the Woodsman suffered from appendicitis and had surgery), but were blessed with his good recovery.

We spent lots of incredible time together (on the slopes - both locally and in VT, New York City, the farm, Chincoteague and of course here at home.  We surprised my parents and came home for Christmas Eve (first time in 10 years).  My sister and I even sang a duet for prelude.  It was by far the best gift I gave.

The Boy played soccer in both spring and fall, but had to take a break during November and December because of a gap in his growth plate.  We enjoyed watching him learn to really be a part of the team, as he came to enjoy being on defense.  Here's hoping to a strong recovery in time for spring soccer.  He's keeping busy with his dog, River, and has started a biking and weight lifting program to stay conditioned while his foot heals.  He's also really become a writer and a reader - this makes his English teacher mama happy.

The Girl kept lyrical dance, gymnastics, musical, violin and choir, and added classical ballet.  She also swindled her dad into letting her have another cat.  She keeps us busy, but we really enjoy watching her shine. We also like the individual time with get with both kids while we schlep them around.  She continues to love reading, and the new Kindle probably means that it will be even harder for us to tell that she's up past her bedtime deeply involved in another book.

We spent lots of time with my parents, and continue to be blessed with their gifts of time and presence.

Santa Lucia

How many years will they continue to want to make one?

We moved our Christmas Eve meal to the Sunday before Christmas - we couldn't miss getting together with this family.  

 I moved back to teaching high school English (love it!) and am still working on recovering from a bad muscle tear in my calf (I hate running, but I hate not being able to run more).

I asked for a blanket like this every night when I put the boy to bed (for 6 months) - he didn't disappoint.

They really enjoyed surprising each other this year.

What she wanted most was clothes.  We had a good time shopping together for Black Friday.

The Boy wanted a skateboard, and the Girl finally has some kind of technology so she doesn't feel 100% left out.

Wow - are they grown up!

 The Woodsman enjoyed cutting wood (he now owns two chainsaws) and watching his team (Redskins) make the playoffs.

The kids spent a lot of time and effort making presents this year.

Farmer Dan was thrilled that we decided that The Boy was old enough for a B.B. gun.  He's had it since he was born.

Another fuzzy blanket was made for my grandmother.  She's going to feel wrapped in love all year.

Boy did this remind me of myself when I was his age.  I crawled into the same corner with a book even though there were still presents to open - the books were the best parts. 

The Woodsman's favorite present was the piece of locust (and the chainsaw that came with it).

We were blessed with lots of fun times with friends and family and hope to do it all again in 2016.  We look for 2016 to be a repeat of 2015 - but hopefully without a hospital stay and surgery for anyone.

We hope your year was a good one, and you find blessings in 2016.

October

Fall, and especially October, is our busiest month.  But still, it's one of my favorite times of year.  Fall for us is full of traditions.  If you were to go back through the photo albums you'd see many of the exact same types of photos - just the ages of the kids and the clothes change.  That, for me, is part of the charm.

As Anne of Green Gables said, "I'm so glad we live in a world where there are Octobers."

Football

HTTR

 Campout

It was the warmest we've ever had - great weekend.

 Pumpkin Patch

 Hiking

Perfect fall color up on Tiber Knob

My cousin, one of my favorite people in the world, has moved to the area!

 Apples

Caramel apples are our favorite fall tradition with this family.  Open wide!

 Soccer

The boy played mostly defense this season, a switch from previous season's midfield position, and he really learned to love it.  It's great seeing your kids start to understand that it's not all about scoring the goal yourself, but it's about the team effort.

 Halloween

She didn't want help from anyone this year.

The girls designed and made their costumes this year.  Flower Fairies