Sensory Spring and Summer

When my children's ability to be physically present with others became limited due to the pandemic, I sought ways to supplement. 

After a two week period of denial that the virus would not last long, I settled into not knowing how long it would last. 

In the absence of physical community and in the abundance of computer screens, I decided to focus on a deeper connection with their senses. 

We would spend this spring and summer tasting, touching, smelling, seeing, and listening to what was around us.

I am grateful for the elaborate arts and crafts projects my children have been able to create at school, but our supplies consist of dried out glue sticks, half completed coloring books, and a wealth of miscellaneous crayons.

So we went outside more often than we usually would, and brought items home from the sea or woods more often than I would have liked.

The best ones were when we were able to engage all senses at once. 

The smell and taste of salty spray, the feel of smooth stones, the sight of a horizon, and the sound of water reaching the shore. 

Memories are more vivid with multi-sensory engagement. 

I hope this means they will remember skipping stones with their Dad. The way it sounded when the stones hit the water, and the way it felt to have a father who prioritizes time with them.

The cold is coming and while there are still outdoor adventures to be had, sensory stimulation this fall will also include an increase in baking and blanket snuggling.

Jason's 5th Birthday

 

One of my favorite things about parenting as well as marriage is getting to learn more about a person you love over time. And we have learned that this little boy loves donuts. It was how we started the morning on his birthday, but the celebration began with Chocolate waffles on the first day of his birthday week.

And the day before his Mama Maria planned a special celebration for him.

Which included meeting his two half-siblings and an Uncle for the very first time.

When asked what he wanted for his actual birthday, he requested chocolate cupcakes and a visit from his favorite dog Marley.

Marley and a few others came by for pizza, cupcakes and ice cream.

The movie "The Incredibles" has been a fascination for Jason this year, and Sophia couldn't wait for him to open the toy she had picked out from his favorite scene.

The next day Aunt Aimee, Uncle Roger, and cousin Ella brought over a handmade gift along with a card he could eat!

We rounded out the week with a trip to see Grammie, Grandpa, Aunt Becca, Uncle Mark and cousins.

Jason's 5th Birthday Letter

Dear Jason (favorite nicknames this year: JJ, JB, Jabes, Jabers, Jace, and J-Man)

You hug hard, hug often, and hug many. The pandemic has been hard for you as you often just want to hug those you love. But otherwise you have been happy to be home more often, and play in the puddles when it rains.

You love to play. Your favorite activities are running, making people laugh, wrestling, reading, breaking sticks, throwing things, looking at bugs, spotting airplanes and trains, swimming, and making rocket ships out of Magna-Tiles.

Your ability to speak more clearly has taken off and your teachers have loved you well. We are excited for another year of preschool for you.

You love repetition as you ask to watch the same scene of the underminer from the movie “The Incredibles 2” multiple times a day. When we say not now, you will make an underminer out of a water bottle or other objects within reach, and replay the scene on your own.

I think this past year your mother and I have read the story of David and Goliath about 365 times, both from the Veggie Tales Bible and other versions as well. You just can’t get enough. We pray that your love for action, justice, and a good story will only grow as you learn more about the Bible.

We have been thrilled to have you reconnect with your Mama Maria, and your two half-siblings this year.  We hope those relationships will continue and grow.

Your tender heart is quick to tell us when you think nature or a person is beautiful, and you have grown so much this year that you are doing your best to outrun or at least chase after Sophia with wild abandon when we encounter an open field, especially at the Adams Garden.

We are very grateful you are part of our family, and hope that this next year you continue to learn how much you are loved by many around you and by God your creator.

Love,

Dada

Ocean Grove 2020

I have come to this beach every summer for as long as I can remember. 

This year there is a new set of siblings playing in the surf.

This summer has been different for all of us in a lot of ways. 

I am so thankful that this place and these people were still a part of it.

I was grateful for our girl who is old enough to do this:

But still young enough to do this:

For our boy who plays hard and then can sleep anywhere:

For a baby girl and baby boy who couldn't get enough of the sea and the sand:

For a dedicated husband who is constantly carrying people and things:

For a fun Aunt and Uncle:

And for grandparents who "dote" ( verb- be extremely and uncritically fond of):

We are grateful for this place and these people,

And looking forward to Ocean Grove 2021.

Vermont 2020

Vermont is an important place to us.

It's where Joshua's Mom grew up, and where a large number of our family still lives.

We are thankful that our home state borders it. Particularly so, during a year when travel possibilities were very limited. 

Many months ago, we had chosen it for the location of this year's Archambault-Wegryzn vacation.

We didn't anticipate the value of 140 acres between us and the rest of the world when we reserved the house prior to March.

Or how much it would matter for the first time that we wouldn't need to venture out to find things to do.

Or how many children there would be in our families this year.

Yet, somehow, once again, it was our best one yet.

Dinner around the World

One of my favorite things to do is travel. And a primary reason is experiencing different cultures through food. When the pandemic narrowed our boundaries, we decided to visit a different country every Saturday through take out dinners.

As a family who rarely orders take out, it was a treat for everyone. And living in the Boston area, there is an amazing array of choices.

In the past four months, we have visited China, France, Georgia, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, Trinidad and Venezuela. 

Sophia and Jason most enjoyed taking the containers out of the bags like the wrapped presents that they were, and the desserts. Some of what they tasted inspired the desire to take trips ("Can we go here for real when the germs go away?")

We ordered mostly from the appetizer section to gain the greatest variety in manageable portions and played music from the country while we dined. Afterwards, we watched videos about the  place we were visiting (especially enjoyed: "National Geographic Kids: Are we There Yet?" series).

I want to spark an interest in learning about people and places. I want our children to experience the delight of different. We all ate flavors we had never tasted before, and some were too spicy for all of us, but because we tried we enjoyed things we now know we love. Eating this way felt like an event, when much else is currently cancelled.

Yet to come are two of my favorite cuisines, Afghani and Ethiopian. And we are hopeful that by the end of the year we will be able to visit Jason's Mom's favorite Massachusetts Ecuadorian restaurant with her.