Seven

So delighted to watch this little guy grow. It's been an remarkably smooth year despite so many big changes. Moved across the country, started kindergarten, made many new friends, built hundreds of lego creations, figured out how to play (and fight) with his brother, discovered Nintendo and Magic, learned to read, ride a two wheeler and put his face underwater, lost what seems like a mouthful of teeth. Happy boy finding his way. Seven already.

Winter Holidays, Madison Edition

We passed the winter holidays in our new home in Madison.  And we had no major meltdowns!! This is the first time Christmas has come and gone without sending us all (especially Ethan) in an emotional tailspin since 2011. What a miracle.

We also got a nice long visit with Nana, I took some vacation, and we just enjoyed one another.  We built gingerbread houses.  Sam got his first lego set (a Mixel).  Ethan helped me stuff the stockings and made a wish list of gifts for each member of our family.  Sam covered the floor in puzzles and tried to pick the candy off of the gingerbread houses.

Our only major failure: we got an evil cactus of a Christmas tree that left us covered in welts and sap.  Never again, Colorado Spruce.  Never again.

Lullabye

Some audio of Sam and me singing our nighttime songs.  (I tried to hide my phone under his bed so he wouldn't see me recording!)  I'm kind of embarrassed of my singing voice, so don't judge.
From December 2014.

Riding Bikes

I've been pushing Ethan to ride a two wheeler for years.  Donovan learned almost two years ago (right, Marcy?) and I thought for sure Ethan's competitive edge would motivate him.  He tried for a few times, and actually did great in terms of balance, but he was so scared that he would brake every 2 feet and never got any momentum.  So the training wheels went back on that summer and he rode happily around the hood with his buddies.

Last summer when we moved back to Madison I took the trainers off again and refused to put them back on.  He tried again but was too scared/frustrated to really get into it.  Then began a silent duel over who would cave in first: pushy mom vs. terrified but able child.  No bikes were ridden.  No training wheels were bolted back on.  No one won.

Now Spring has arrived and Ethan wants to ride again.  This weekend I figured, hey, I'm maturing as a parent, no need to be so pushy.  Let's just loosen up and let the kid tell us when he's ready!  So, I said, "Sure thing, let's put those training wheels back on."  After an hour of searching through the basement and garage, we couldn't find them.  (But we sure had fun with the rollerblades, plastic easter eggs, sleeping bags and winter boots we did find.)  

J: Do you want to just try once without them?

E, nonchalantly: Sure 

So out he goes, snaps a helmet on and climbs onto his bike, trying to use gravity to get him rolling down our driveway.

E: Just push me to get started, but then let go right away.

I grab onto his seat, give him a little push and he starts yelling at me to let go, let go!  He rode right down the driveway, down the sidewalk, around the park, no problemo.

This is exactly how Ethan has learned so many things.  He is nervous at first and so easily frustrated when it doesn't go perfectly that he is totally unwilling to try for more than 30 seconds.  I push, he resists, we wait, then repeat.  And then, when he is good and ready, he just does it like it's no big deal. I love this kid and how he keeps on teaching me how to chill out and be patient.

Alone time

Over Thanksgiving, I spent a week here by myself while Jeremy took the boys to visit family in PA.  I worked nights and enjoyed quiet bike rides in the snow, napping in peace, reading, walking the neighborhood and watching some Netflix.  It was amazing.  It was also the last time I updated the blog.  Sorry for the delay!

We walk to the cafe?

I have such fondness for a good coffee shop.  I'm not a regular coffee drinker but I love a warm beverage, whatever the variety, and just getting out of the house and snuggling into a cozy little destination makes me happy.

Sam is generally game for anything, and Ethan is game for adventures that involve short trips for hot chocolate or baked goods, so the boys and I have taken many trips to our local cafes this winter.  So many, in fact, that for a while there, whenever we would leave the house, Sam would ask "we walk to the cafe?"

Sam playing outside Cafe Zoma

Pumpkins

I seized the moment during my busy autumn rotations to go to a pumpkin patch.  The kids were initially resistant (especially Ethan) but I will enjoy a family outing on my day off, goddamnit!  Eventually the weirdly costumed scarecrows, the "petting zoo" of wind up toys and free range pumpkin selection won them over.