Everything little thing is gonna be alright

Mornings are not a time of calm in our house.  Each day tends to be a challenge - a challenge to see how much we can accomplish (and not) in just a few short hours.  By the time 9:00 arrives I am always amazed by what has been done thus far - and also exhausted.  This morning I rolled over and looked at the clock and then at Henni snuggled next to me, and at Davis fast asleep.  Rather than jumping out of bed so I could make my morning class, I decided to stay in bed.  Shortly thereafter Henni and Davis woke up, the sun streamed through the window, and we spent a lovely hour in bed reading about dinosaurs.

While there are the daily hurdles, the daily challenges, the daily moments I want to pull my hair out, and the times I consider purchasing one of those travel Groupons and giving myself a time out - life has been full of sweet loveliness lately.  So lovely in fact that I am no longer singing Bob Marley in an attempt to convince myself that things will turn out ok, but singing Bob Marley because everything is alright.

Truth be told I curse Charlie every morning.  In order to fit Charlie in the day starts early - 5:00.  After Cross Fit I take the cursed dog to the beach, and then, after a few minutes I am thankful that Charlie has gotten me up early and has therefore enabled me to watch the sun rise and to remind me of how lucky I am to spend the start of my day at the beach.

School is going well for Oliver and Henni.  Henni loves staying in the afternoon and is utterly perplexed as to why some of her friends take naps at school.  And Oliver - his writing and reading have exploded.

And I got to spend I special morning with Oliver - celebrating his half birthday.  So fun to be able to be a part of his class and his special day.

We spent a quick weekend in Florida visiting my grandmother.  While it was chilly for Florida (60s) it was much warmer than the polar vortex we have been experiencing here.  The chilly weather also made for a fun time at Sea World (the cold weather kept away the crowds).

In addition to Sea World we also went to an Air Force rocket museum.  The kids are now even more obsessed with rockets and we have been building and launching rockets galore.

Davis and I also managed to get away for our very first night - just the two of us.  My mom, oh so graciously, took the time off of work so that we could make our great escape.  Our escape was not very romantic (an MIT-sponsored conference) nor was it long (less than 24 hours), but it was oh so nice.  The Mt. Washington Hotel is on my list of places I want to return.  Also on my list- another great escape.  When we returned the kids were mad - mad that we were back as they wanted more time alone with Le Le.

Snow has descended upon us once again.

On our Wednesday snow day the kids in the hood were out in full force.  They placed magically well together for the day and managed to work together to build a huge snow man.  Have I mentioned how much I love our street?

Henni is also sure that everything is right in her life - she got the pixie cut she has been angling for.

And those sweet songs... Henni keeps stopping whatever she is doing and saying: "I just need to dance."  She'll then sing a song and dance, then return to whatever she was doing.  I think I might try it.

The first rule of fight club

Henni's language has exploded since she started school.  She talks non-stop.  The only problem is that a good portion of the time we have no idea what she is saying.  And while Oliver used to be good for a translation he's abdicated his responsibilities to Charlie who not at all helpful.

On Thursday I picked Henni up from school and was presented with a beautiful painting of a...fight club.  A fight club!?  Let's try again.  Fight room.  Fight room?!  Yes, a room you go into to fight.  What?! For three hours I waffle back and forth about calling a family therapist.  I wonder if perhaps the transitions of late have been rougher for Henni than I had thought.  I wonder if we are all fighting a bit too much.  

I decide to ask her to act out the painting.  

And, amazingly, the painting is of a swimming pool.  I breathe.

While I managed to escape that one, this is something I may not live down.  Two hungry kids, impeding plans, trying to avoid processed foods...turkey drumsticks!  The (almost) perfect road trip food. (Almost perfect because the smell of turkey was a bit overwhelming.)

A new chapter

December 2011, the day after Christmas, amid the chaos and excitement, a most wonderful person came into our lives.  The moment Hollie walked into our house Davis, Oliver, Henni, and I were under her magical spell.  I know it sounds corny, but it is true.  Hollie has a way about her that transforms everything to calm, to fun, and makes even the most impatient person - patient.

The last couple years have been a roller coaster for us.  Job changes, financial ups and down, the day-to-day challenges of being working (and not working) parents, a (huge) puppy, and some health scares.  Hollie was with us through all of this.  She put up with crazy schedules, last minutes schedule changes, crazy nanny share situations which allowed us to have Hollie still be with us - even during the roughest patches.  In Hollie's magical way she turned this craziness into something lovely - and she even created a bond between Henni and Lucy that is so strong I selfishly hope it will last - forever.

Although I knew we would hire Hollie from the moment she stepped in our door, I called her reference. I was told that I would be lucky if she joined our family.  Never has a statement been so true.  Is there a word stronger than lucky?  If so, that is what we were.  Hollie became a part of our family.  Hollie made us all better people.

From day one we knew that Hollie would leave after she graduated.  I had grand plans of adding an addition onto the house (including a separate backyard and driveway) just for Hollie, and grand plans of finding her her dream job - in Newburyport.  Given our bank account account, reality, and zoning regulations those dreams were impossible.

Magical Hollie (as Davis calls her) managed to cast her spell on someone else, and a couple weeks ago was able to realize her dream of getting a job in her field and moving to Maine to be closer to her family.  The first week back at work and school without Hollie was a bit hectic, but we made it.  We missed her incredibly, but we made it through and even managed a night out with friends.

We truly wish Hollie all the best in this next chapter of her life.  But we do plan on holding her to going skiing with us - Oliver has promised to teach her how to ski, and this is something I have to see.

The Spirit of it All

Tomorrow we return to work and school.  We've been off since the 24th and I know that tomorrow morning will be a rude awakening.  Over the last couple weeks have have managed to squeeze in so much and capture the joy, meaning, and spirit of the season.

Charlie and I began our holiday break with an early morning snowshoe.  Bliss.

This year we were a part of two caroling parties, one on our street, and the other a couple streets over.  I loved every minute of both parties and so did the kids.  Henni surprised us by knowing just about every word to every Christmas carol.

A wonderful surprise was finding this Letter to the Editor in the local paper.  This letter not only speaks to the joy we can bring one another (so easily) and the true spirit of the holidays, but also to our neighborhood.  I've said it 1,000 times, but I will say it again - we are so lucky to live where we do.  We now have 32 kids under 15 on our little street, amazing parents, and some amazing friends.

Oliver's note to Santa included a treasure map.  The treasure - whoopie pies.  The reason why Santa's treats needed to be hidden away - Charlie.

Oliver awake at 5:00 Christmas morning, ready to open presents.  The combination of a small house and a full house - we took to the only empty room - the bathroom.  After turning the kids into a prune (don't you want to stay in longer?!), I held him off a little longer by having him watch his favorite show (Top Gear (UK, of course)) with Papa and LeLe.  By 7:30 he couldn't take it anymore, so we headed downstairs and tried to stave off present opening until Henni woke up - 8:30.

After Christmas we headed north.  The snow at the Snow Bowl was incredible and it was open from top to bottom.  We spent 3 days skiing and I am beyond impressed with how was both Oliver and Henni are doing.  Both have improved significantly.

While Henni loves skiing, she also loves apre ski.  A huge thanks to Papa and LeLe for being her lodge buddy so that Davis, Oliver and I could ski longer.  This year Henni was thrilled to have her cousin Quinn join her in the lodge.

Henni LOVES babies and is the most amazing mom.  She hovered over Quinn and catered to his every need (real and perceived).  She also took great joy in copying everything Elizabeth did with Quinn.

For some reason Oliver buried his camera in the backyard.  Unable to find it we borrowed the most hysterical metal detector.  While it was fun (and funny) we, unfortunately, did not find the camera.

On New Years Eve Henni fell asleep at 5 leaving Davis, Oliver and I to party on our own.  Sparkling cider and a rousing game of chomp was the perfect way to ring in the new year (at 8).

We decided to start the new year with some exercise.  Henni was extremely helpful in terms of raising the level of difficulty.

And, of course, New Years day is the Polar Plunge.  22 degrees (much colder with windchill) and water in the low 40s.

Davis and a couple of his other crazy friends splashing about in the water long after the others had run back to their clothes.

And of course there is friendship.  These two girls are such great friends.  Selfishly I hope they will be friends for a long long time and will look back at this time together - happily.

Happy holidays!