Autumn 2022

This fall has been: 

Sushi from conveyor belts,

Bagels and bikes

by the beach,

Ballet for the first time,

and walks in the woods,

where hands are held,

and discoveries are made.

Picking pears,

and trampoline jumping with cousins.

Gathering the leaves with 

an Uncle and a Grandpa,

and building a chocolate haunted house

with friends.

Exploring a marsh,

 

carving a pumpkin,

trick or treating,

and trading Halloween candy.

Jason's 7th Birthday

 

Jason's 7th birthday began with a celebration of the woman who gave birth to him.

Before anyone else in the house was awake, he and I snuggled and talked about his Mama Maria.

We pulled out the photo album with the pictures from when we first met him as an 8 week old.

And when everyone else woke up we had breakfast at the original Dunkin Donuts.

One of my favorite things about this child is how he delights in things.

We spent the rest of the day doing some of his favorite things, including playing firefighters in the backyard with his siblings,

the playground with a friend,

and building a helicopter landing pad out of magnatiles.

A love of trains has expanded to a fascination with helicopters and he said that the remote helicopter Susan gave him made his dreams come true.

Dinner, ice cream and the McDonalds play space with members of his fan club.

The next day his Mama treated us to dinner. I love stepping back and being a witness to the way she tangibly cares for her son.

The third day of his celebration we went to Alton Bay to be with Grammie, Grandpa, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.

We are all thankful for who you are Jason.

And look forward to many more years of 

adventures with you.

Jason's 7th Birthday Letter

Dear Jason, (favorite nicknames: Jace, Jaybers, Jaybes, JB Jammers, J)

Turning 7 seems like a big deal. 

Entering first grade seems like a big deal.

Your kindergarten teacher Ms. Moran, loved having you in class this year. 

She loved your frequent hugs, how hard you tried on your work, how you would

befriend the quietest kids in your class, and how you often offered to help other

students with their work. 

Your reading took off this year, and it was so fun to watch.

You still maintain an undying love for trains this year, but added helicopters to the

love list. 

You and I have played numerous hands of Uno before bed, and you jump

at any opportunity to play a board game, or have a “family wrestle.”

You are a compassionate and thoughtful boy, most recently highlighted when you

won two prizes at summer camp and made sure to get something Sophia would

enjoy playing with as well, and gave her first pick of the two options. 

You are the quickest to apologize in the family. We pray that your loyalty to 

family and thinking of others remains as you get older.

At the beach in New Jersey this year, we got to witness you marvel in catching fireflies,

 and I enjoyed watching you study them closely when they landed on your hands. 

You often pause whatever you are doing to point out bugs of all kinds, or planes, or birds to

everyone in the family- just so we can enjoy staring at it with you.

You jump at the chance to help me with any house project, and replace the kitchen trash 

bag without being asked on on trash day. 

You still don’t love the spotlight, but everyone of your teachers and

summer camp counselors go out of their way to tell us how much they love having you

there, and how you have made a positive impression on them.

You would far prefer to stay at home in your underwear playing with trains or magna tiles

these days, but still have enjoyed the many adventures we had this year.

You often comment how thankful you are to be home, once we get into the house.

We love you, and pray that this year God will continue to grow your confidence in your core

gifts of loving others well with running hugs, and compliments. That you will continue to

mature into a protector of your siblings that wants only the best for them.

Love,

Daddy

Ocean Grove 2022

The early morning cup of coffee (or hot chocolate).

The catching of fireflies right before bed.

Shopping for shoes on the front porch of the store that was my favorite when I was her age.

Reading books, playing board games, and fierce rounds of foosball.

  

Rides on paddleboats and rides on the boardwalk.

                 

These simple moments in this place with these people.

A & W 2022

 

We limited our Archambault & Wegrzyn summer house search to Massachusetts and at least five bedrooms.

This brought us to the Berkshires with 4 adults, 3 nine year olds, a 6-year-old, a 5-year-old, a four-year-old, 2 three-year-olds, and an infant. 

It was our favorite spot since we began this annual tradition 9 years ago, and almost a decade in I'm beginning to appreciate the elements that make it so very special. 

It's witnessing my friends invest in my kids.

It is my children delighting in simple pleasures like turning frozen waffles and pancakes into vacation Mickey Mouse ones.

It is my getting-older-every-day-oldest having ample opportunities to play in goofy ways.

It is my oldest son getting to interact with two big brothers whom he adores.

It is finding that river, lake, or ocean each year that they never want to leave.

It is this straight-haired Mama being taught how to care for the hair of her curly babes.

It is late night bonfire conversations about foster care and adoption and how our families have had more (and sometimes less) people in them almost every year of this trip.

It is my introversion and love of cooking at perfect peace making a meal in the kitchen while hearing the laughter of those I love playing in the big back yard.

And new this year, it is a signature drink of A&W Root beer floats. 

Colorado 2022

One of the most fun gifts I've ever given is surprising Sophia on her 9th birthday with a trip to see some of her favorite people. 

There was tea at a castle with matching dresses.

Our extended family's willingness to be covered in coal ash so that Jason could live his dream of sitting in the very front seat of the very first car of a steam locomotive. 

We were cared for by cousins who share their things as well as themselves. 

And an Aunt and Uncle who not only tolerate but celebrate the desire of our two youngest to help.

The flight delays and cancellations were entirely worth it.

Sophia's 9th Birthday Letter

To Sophia girl,

You are great! I love your vision for life, and your desire to try and read everything. You are the ring leader for pretend games with your siblings and remain a comforter and helper in chief in the family. Your third-grade teacher Ms. Kelly has commented about your gift of empathy. This makes both your mother and I very proud. We pray that God will bless that special gift and use it in your life to advocate.

As an example of your empathy in action, you put extra coins in the Kindergarten class jar at school during a penny drive because they had the least coins, even though a pizza party was on the line.

This year you created a team mascot for our family and membership cards to be on your team, and we were happy to be invited to be a  part of the team cheering you on. You have a blossoming social life with a kind group of friends from school, church, and the neighborhood.

I continue to enjoy our times one on one when we can have deeper conversations about life in the car, or when you are trying to delay bedtime as you are turning into a night owl.  

Reading has become a big part of your daily routine. Book club once a month at the Thomas Crane Library, and twice using your good behavior tokens at school to read in front of Jason’s classroom instead of other prizes you could have picked. 

This is not to say that your love for other topics like math, and social studies have not prompted many conversations at home about what you are learning. We pray that your love of learning will continue to grow, and a whole world of adventure and wonder are ahead of you.

Our prayer for you this year is that you continue to take opportunities to step out of your comfort zone. Your mother and I will commit to walking this path with you.

We love you, and can’t wait to see what is ahead in your 9^th year,

Love,

Dad