Awesome Opossum

A couple weeks ago Oliver competed in his second ski race.  To say he did awesome is an understatement.  I realize I am biased because I am his mom, but I was blown away by what an amazing job he did and the significant improvement over last year.

Last year the race was dominated by adults.  There were a handful of kids who were under 21 and the conditions were prime.  This year there were only a handful of people over 21 and the upper (headwall) part of the course was sheer ice.  People were blowing out of the course left and right and I spent the time leading up to the race talking to Oliver about how the point of a race is fun - no matter if you finish or not.

Oliver, in true Oliverness, not only remained standing throughout the whole course, his runs were incredible.  While every course is different, a course set on the same slope is going to have times that are pretty close.  Given this, while we can't directly compare Oliver's time last year to this year's time, we can make a loose comparison.  Looking at his combined time (two runs/race), he shaved close to 9 minutes off his time.  And rather than be the little guy everyone was impressed with just for being on the course, he was the guy that put a competitive - even outside his age group - time on the board.

Unfortunately Oliver doesn't realize what an incredible job he did.  He placed second - the same as last year.  The difference being that this year, rather than there being two kids in his age category, there were quite a few - meaning not everyone placed. We've been trying to explain this to Oliver, but he is just mad he got the same color ribbon - and he wishes he got the orange one (third) because he likes that color better.

Henni showed off her amazing skiing skills for us this past weekend.  I do believe that we have now turned that corner - the one that enables us to ski together and without harnesses and the like.  Next year she plans to race - and I am sure she will.

We've been lucky to be able to spend time with friends lately.

And with cousin Quinn.  Both Oliver and Henni are super psyched to have Quinn close.  I am so happy that the kids have a cousin .10 miles away - family is nice to have close by.

Last weekend was the second annual box race.  We designed and built an albatross (royal we, it was all Davis).  This year there were close to 100 boxes and tons of spectators.  Fantastically fun and looking forward to next year - box already planned - watch out!

 Daylight savings time...making my beach mornings rather dark - but beautiful.

The rabbit hole

I am convinced Alice's rabbit hole lies somewhere between Newburyport and Camden.  Somehow time spent in Camden is not only magical, but it is also time that is somehow suspended.

School vacation week the kids and I headed to Maine.  To be honest the week had me questioning being a working mom.  Prior to leaving home I set expectations high - be a fun mom and give the kids a fantastic vacation, but not take any time off doing so.

Just hours in - I questioned my sanity (generally and more specifically my vacation week strategy).  While I managed to bring ski stuff for the kids, I forgot their bags - their bags with all their clothes.  

I dressed the kids in my clothes for bed and in the morning we headed for Reny's.  In fact, I was the person who had my children in the cart and lifted them up to have every piece of clothing on their bodies scanned.  And yes, Henni was wearing sparkle jeans and too much Carharrt to count, and Oliver was at risk of being lost in a forest (he chose all Real Tree gear).

Shortly thereafter we headed to the mountain and were treated with ice coated trees, sun, and endless views across the ocean.  While there may be mountains that are bigger, I doubt there is a mountain that is as beautiful as the Snow Bowl.

Oliver and Henni took lessons for the week and improved greatly.  Oliver is all over the mountain and has mastered the hockey stop.  And Henni not only charmed the ski instructors, but also took her first run from top to bottom - by herself (no harness and not between someone's legs).

Unfortunately I was late to the sign-up game (reoccurring theme) and so coordination with the Stockwells didn't happen.  However, Oliver and Ethan did manage a few runs together.  I loved watching the two of them take on the mountain - each with a different approach, but each with incredible zeal and a love for skiing.  I know Oliver is hopeful to get more runs with Ethan  - and have the two of them do the chairlift together (they are ready, I am not).

Alice's rabbit hole also lead us to a night with Jon.  Always a highlight - magical, amazing Jon.

One of the best things of the week - time with Oliver.  With school, play dates, work, and life, I seldom have time just with Oliver.  Thanks to mom and dad Oliver and I had lots of time together. Most mornings Oliver and I spent a couple hours skiing just the two of us.  It was time that was incredibly special to me - and time that I can not thank my parents enough for giving me.

Oliver's favorite activity during our time together was glade skiing.  Turns out her's pretty good at it too.

During the school week the kids get up around 8.  However, when in the rabbit hole, wake up time is closer to 6.  Rather than curse it, we embraced it.  We watched all the Ice Age movies - and more.  (I do get amazing bed head.)

This kids always spent time with Papa and Lele.  A favorite place - the Children's Museum.

Another special place - the CMCA Art Lab.

Somehow amidst all the fun I managed to work and be productive.  While a big part of it is that crazy rabbit hole, I know that even more of it is my parents.  I am so lucky to have them as parents and that they are such a huge part of our lives.  How I would have managed to get through the week (or through life) without them, I do not know.

The tooth, the cheetah and the whale

First, the whale.

This weekend we has an amazing school event which included a 60 foot blow up humpback whale.  Seriously, it was awesome.  The kids got to go inside the whale so they could learn about what is actually in there - the blow up whale was complete with bones, heart, and blow hole.  Very cool.

Since December Oliver has had a loose tooth.  He has wiggled it and wiggled it, and has enjoyed every little minute of its wiggliness.  Between all the wiggling and the fact that the new tooth is already in - the tooth has been hanging - literally - for awhile.

This morning when we left for the school the tooth was there.  When we arrived at school - no tooth.  Interestingly, Oliver was not at all upset that it had been swallowed or lost - actually seemed rather pleased by this turn of events.

One would think the tooth fairy would be coming to our house tonight.  Nope.  Rather than choose a tooth pillow this afternoon Oliver chose an owl.  Why an owl?  Because an owl can seek out and find the Tooth Cheetah.  Davis and I questioned if the Tooth Cheetah could actually be pinned down given the speed at which cheetah's travel.  Oliver assured us the Tooth Cheetah would easily be found by the owl because the Tooth Cheetah is: "saddled with stacks of $100 bills.  Fat stacks yo!"  Huh.

Oliver is convinced said Tooth Cheetah is going to leave him $1,000.

We'll see what happens tonight.

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.