Salem, MA

I never had a February school break growing up, but I've always loved the month because of my birthday.

Last year we stayed close and kept the trip short.

A few days in a house on Cape Cod was one of our favorite family trips and we looked forward to doing something similar this year.

We went north this time, and rented a house less than an hour from us for four nights.

We only brought fun foods, and everyone appreciated the change of scenery and pace.

We could see the light house and a ship from the bedroom windows, so the bedtime story our first night was about the Pirate ship they would be able to visit in the morning. The next night the bedtime story was about the mermaid that lived beneath the ship.

We enjoyed being tourists near where we had met and gone to college. 

Driving through the section of the city with the murals of the Punto Urban Art Museum was a great activity option given the ages of our kids and temperature outside.

Since we knew the area already, and our children are still so young, we didn't spend much time sight seeing.

The best part was getting to see some of our favorite people.

Penguin of the Week

Every child in Jason's Penguin preschool class gets a turn to be the "Penguin of the Week".

When you are five and have siblings both older and younger than you, you usually have to share the spotlight.

This week though he updated the train poster his Aunt Aimee made for his adoption party with some new pictures from the last three years, and got to stand in front of his class to tell them about who he is and who his people are. I got to revisit the photo of the first day I met him, as well as his first Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. I felt gratitude for getting to spend these with him and being able to celebrate his most recent birthday with his mom.

In addition to being able to use the pointer to present his poster, he enjoyed preschool powers such as being the line leader. For story time each day this week, the teacher read a story Jason had brought to school. "Dragons Eat Noodles on Tuesdays" is his all time favorite, "Dave and the giant pickle" is on repeat from the Veggie Tales Bible, "Jason to the Rescue" is a book his Nana and Bop-bop made for him that he can recite by heart, "The Littlest Train" because of his enduring love for trains, and "I love you all the same" is a book about a Mama whose babies all look different but are loved equally.

 Next week this young man will celebrate his 100th day of school, which means he will be more than half way through his final year of preschool. 

Campus Kinder Haus has been a gift to our family, and I am so thankful for the many ways they have nurtured him.

Sabbath Givers

There are times when I find only Josh and I are cleaning up toys that don't belong to us.

At those moments I attempt to course correct, set the kitchen timer for ten minutes, and commence the rousing game of how many toys can we all collectively clean up before it beeps. Even the 21 month olds will copy the others and pick things up.

While four children create a lot of mess, they also give a whole lot more joy.

This Sunday morning Josh and I were able to sleep until seven because Sophia quietly brought both babies down from their cribs with Jason.

Sophia had turned on the fireplace and was reading out loud to herself.

Jason had poured himself a bowl of cereal and milk and had been feeding his two younger siblings.

While his unorthodox method resulted in a significant amount of cereal on the floor, we were very grateful for this start to our Sabbath.

Christmas 2020

Similar to Thanksgiving of 2020, we weren't sure where we would spend Christmas or who would be present until about a week beforehand. 

We certainly didn't expect it to begin in a basement.

On Christmas Eve, we started the celebration in the basement of my childhood home where Bop-bop had set up my brother's trains. 

And all four children were enthusiasts.

We were able to attend Candle light Christmas Eve Services at Nana and Bop-bop's church as well as our own in our pajamas.

Christmas morning Uncle James and Aunt Rachael joined us for present opening.

The week before we had enjoyed a celebration with Jay and Alannah, with a virtual visit from Grammy and Grandpa as well.  

Islamorada

Cuban food in Little Havana, Miami.

Happy to be trying new things in new places.

Ice cream and exploration afterwards.

Anticipation followed by rest.

Playing together.

And sometimes fighting together.

Early morning walks.

Breakfasts by the beach.

Swimming.

Digging.

Staying up late.

Meeting new friends at the Theater of the Sea.

Savored.

And ready to return home.

Thanksgiving Eve 2020

 

After an abbreviated night of sleep, I went into auto pilot feeding our 19 month old his breakfast. After doing so, I realized his bloodwork appointment that morning could not be after he had eaten. After I cancelled his appointment, I spotted the pot from dinner that I had forgotten to put in the refrigerator the night before. The internet wasn't functioning during a portion of Sophia's already shortened remote school day. A few minutes after the start of morning nap, I heard a scream. Our daughter who has started jumping in her crib bumped her chin on the railing and there was blood. 

None of it was big, but all of it together felt like a lot. 

That evening Joshua and Sophia brought a few things to a Mom who had just arrived in a homeless shelter with her two daughters. And it knocked me out of my funk from small, hard things as I considered her big, hard things. Even in the midst of a pandemic, I could reasonably anticipate a host of conveniences that she could not. 

I am not thankful for messes or tantrums, but I am very thankful for the ones that produce them.

Sophia received the assignment to start a gratitude journal this week. She is excited for us to write and share what we are grateful for each day.

My first entry was, "a phone call with my Mom". 

When my Dad died and the ability to call him on a whim was gone, I would sometimes call her just because I still could. Now when travel is limited, I am particularly grateful to be able to call her on hard days.

My next entry in the gratitude journal was about Sophia shouting "Happy Thanksgiving!" And embracing her brother in a spinning hug at breakfast. 

She is an example to me of how to still celebrate in the midst of unrealized expectations.

We were unable to spend Thanksgiving day this year with Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and cousins, but I am very thankful for those we could spend it with here.

How Halloween Happened

September 2020 questions of a seven year old, "What is my Halloween costume going to be?", "Are we going trick or treating this year?" She didn't know yet to ask, " Will there be snow on the ground? "

But there were all of these things and it was wonderful.

As to the answer for the first question, she was Queen Elsa from the movie Frozen for the third year in a row. Next year, we are going to need a new costume for this growing girl, but we will keep it in the dress up chest. Just like we did with the tiger costume that has now been worn by Sophia, Jason, Alannah and now Jayden.

And with Alannah's costume choice this year, we got to have two Elsas!

Our October experience was enriched by trunk or treat events at both our church and our foster care agency.

It was interesting to observe the priorities of our trick or treating crew, the seven year old was focused on the dress up aspect, the five and three year old were most excited about the candy, and the one year olds were fixated on removing the hoods of their costumes.

Half of the cousins live in Colorado, and the other half live in New England. Thanks to a work conference for Josh over Halloween last year, we were able to spend it in Colorado. This year we were able to go trick or treating with the cousins who live in Vermont.

As well as do some tractor driving and bonfire building.

And a hike through the woods before the candy consumption began!