Bird Song

Another one I've been enjoying (and would love to learn someday)

Feast of St. Nicholas

The first sign that Christmas is coming in our family is my mom's traditional Feast of St. Nicholas.  It is always a lovely, jolly night of candlelight, delicious food, and fellowship.  It is also the night we decorate my parents' living room with all the "Jesus people" or nativity scenes.  It was a special night, indeed.  It was a relaxing weekend for our family.

In the Morning

I just can't stop listening to this song.  "These moments are the only gifts we need."

Peppernuts

Glad to have inherited this tradition from Mark's Oma.

Holiday Guitar Concert

I don't know how they can possibly keep 50-some kids together in this setting.  It was a lovely concert, and G-bear was brave and proud.

Giving Thanks

I am thankful for a wide, expansive definition of "family."  For beauty in our world, and familiarity, and traditions.  For watching generations emerge, and remembering generations before.  My children, swinging on the branches of the tree we planted in this place when my grandmother died.  Connection to each other, and connection to place.  Thanks be.

Bam!

This is the level of energy I try to keep up with on a daily basis.

You could do everything like me.

And I don’t care, cause you’re a human too.

And you’re a rescue one, and me too.

And I’m the rescue one of this, my dog!

And you cannot do everything else for me.

And I go in a fire engine.

And I’m a human.

Right away – Bam!

These moments

treasured.

A couple Bug quotes

Yesterday, Bug ran into the kitchen and told me in his most excited voice, "Mama! I'm all ready for soccer!!"  I said, "Oh, yeah! You've got your cleats on."  He: "And I've got my gloves, and my soccer shirt, and pee in my diaper, and my soccer ball. . . "  He didn't miss a beat. . . just plowed right through this list, as if it were perfectly predictable.

We were at the bagel shop (a place we end up stopping in the midst of basically any errands, because it is his treat for putting up with all the shopping).  There was a girl his age leaving, and he was watching her verrrrrry carefully, all the way to the door.  I said, "She's just about your size isn't she?"  With a perfectly straight face, he said, "I could pick her up."  I laughed, and he said, "But I wouldn't, because she's not my sister."

The Many Mothers of G-Bear

The girls have really connected with some neighbor kids these last few days, and I heard G-bear calling one of them "AJ-Mama."  It made me start thinking, just how many Mama figures this girl has.  That is just one thing about her.  She attaches to certain people very strongly, and after that, they are "her's."  I started recalling all the people who have been this for her, and thought I would record it here, so we look back and remember.  There's AJ, Charlotte, Eva, CC, Annalisse, Lily, Carrie, Wendy, Kelly, Heidi, Edie, Joy (I'm sure there are others I will remember later).  What a gift to have all these people who help me give this girl as much love as she needs.  She is a very intense little being, and I'm not sure what my life would be like if all of the love she needs came only from me.  I imagine that some of you reading this blog would be additional mother figures to her if you lived closer.

Here she is on the train ride, singing the tune A sailor went to sea, sea, sea with the words:

I really want to see CC

I really need to see CC

If I could just go see CC

I'd be happy to be with CC, see?

Boo!

White Cat

Gypsy

Dog

Dear Bug

Dear Bug,

You are quite a three-year-old now.  I could tell, the other night, when Daddy met us at the restaurant, and you greeted him by saying, "Well, we've already started eating.  Would you like to join us?"  You've got lots of facial expressions that you use all day.  You are practically obsessive about sports gear, although, in the end, everything becomes a soccer ball.  Whether it's a basketball or baseball or whatever, you end up dribbling it with your feet.  You wear your soccer cleats all day every day.  You say the reason you won't wear a coat is because you only wear things that make you run fast.  Oh, and speaking of dribbling, this year, from 2-3, you have learned to ride a 2-wheeled scooter (up to 2 miles in a stretch), balance in the water on surf board, and swim under water on your own!  You are extremely coordinated, and extremely determined when it comes to mastering a physical skill.  You have quite a little 3-year-old spirit, and are very particular about how things should be.  You love to play the "vi-vo-lin" the "uncle-lady" and the banjo.  Some of your favorite songs this year are The Mighty Quinn and Turkey Vulture.  You are passionate about your favorite color: blue.  Whenever you draw, you make balloons or "the sea."  Some of your very favorite things in the world are grandparents, parents, Stella, and "Roli."  When I ask you who your friends are, you say, "Calvin and Ben."  When I ask you about Julianna and Sofi, you say, "Oh, yeah. . . Sofi is my favorite.  Julianna is my favorite, too, but. . . . she's for sharing."  You absolutely refuse to wear warm clothes, which tries your mama's patience every day!  You have lots of ideas about what you will do, now that you are three, like. . . no more nursing at all, using the potty, sleeping in your bed.  When you decide to do something, I know it's going to happen.  You are so determined.

We love you, Bug-a roo!!!

For your birthday this year, we went on a real train ride through the beautiful fall forest with Nana Tru, Carlos, Grandma and Grandpa.  Then we had dinner with them, as well as Roli and Tom.  Roli made you a very special lion cake, just as you requested.

Community farm

A wonderful visit to a dreamy farm on a breathtakingly beautiful day.  It does the soul good.

Freezer and heart, filled up.

Saving me

Days have been difficult with my little one.  He is really trying my patience, and I have had some parenting moments that I am not proud of.  Ever since we stopped night-time nursing, he has replaced it with a new ritual.  He wraps his little arms around me, pulls me close, and whispers this in my ear, over and over:

I love you.  I love ALL of you.  You are my mommy.  All mine.  I love you.  I love ALL of you.  You are my mommy.  All mine. I love you.  I love ALL of you.  You are my mommy.  All mine.

Sometimes, I can't help but think he is saving me from myself, because during the day, when I am reaching the end of my rope, his words still echo in my mind.

Michigan October

I love October in this part of the world.  Especially when we luck out with a nice long "Indian Summer."