Okemo 2017

Get ready for a flurry of activity, because I'm determined to get my little space here updated. I may go through phases, but I'm not ready to let it go!

Now that it's spring, let's start with a few pictures and memories from Winter Break. We had a fabulous week with our best friends, skiing in Vermont. We splurged this year and rented a place right on the mountain, so we were able to step outside the door, put on our skis, and go! We could ski back to the condo for lunch, not having to fight the crowds at the lodge. It was wonderful and totally worth it, especially since there were quite a few times when we needed to split up for various reasons.

Skiing has become the best part of winter for our family, and the boys absolutely love it. It's something that we all enjoy, and we love to do it together. The weather was relatively warm, which was great at the beginning, and when the conditions worsened later in the week, we challenged ourselves at the top of the mountain. The boys skied black diamond slopes with confidence.

We didn't get out as much as I would have liked, but we thoroughly enjoyed every day we had on the slopes. I want to figure out how to do it more often.

Good-bye, Winter 2017. Welcome Spring.

I love watching the boys in their tuck!

Love.

New York Friends

Every Summer weekend seems to be filled with travel and fun. A couple weekends ago (I'm still catching up), we visited our friends in New York. They live in the suburbs of New York City, and we hadn't seen them in too long. You know those friends who are always a pleasure to hang out with? The ones with no drama, just easy and fun to hang out with?  These are our friends. They have kids the same ages as ours, and they are all now friends as well, which has only made it that much more rewarding to spend time together. 

Saturday included several hours at their beach club, playing in the pool; and then we ventured into the Bronx to attend a Yankees game that evening. It was all tremendous fun, and the kids were upset to have to leave to go home the next day. I have to admit, I wasn't all that excited about it either. 

Friends and Good Conversation...

Is there anything better?

I went out to dinner with a group of mom friends last night, and at the end of the evening, my cheeks hurt from laughing. (I only classify them as "mom" friends, because we all met through our kids.) In addition to silliness and laughs, here are a few of the things we discussed:

- Two of the women in the group are from other countries (Peru and Portugal), and another one had never traveled outside the US at all. We talked about the meaning of the word "home" and about how the diversity in the United States can make it easier for people from other countries to not feel like an outsider.

- We talked about summer plans and child care and how expensive camps are. We work to go on vacations and to send our kids to camp so we can work. (That's not true, but it can feel like it when those big bills hit.)
- Six out of the seven work outside the home - some part-time, some full-time, but all of us understanding the challenge of the juggle. We talked about dinner challenges and bedtimes and commutes.
- One of the women is a widow. She has two boys, the same ages as mine, and her husband died of brain cancer four years ago. She also happens to be one of the most positive and fun people to be around - she's remarkable. She's going with a friend to a speed-dating event in a few weeks, which led to some interesting conversation about what kinds of questions she should ask.
- There is a tremendous amount of pride in our town. We love our schools and the community. We talked about local politics, the latest on school developments, what life will be like once our kids start middle school. (Only one of the group has a child already there.) We talked about bus schedules and homework and sports.
- Five of us have two boys. (One has a boy and a girl, and another has two boys and a girl.) That's a lot of boys! We talked about the saying "a son is a son 'til he takes a wife, a daughter is a daughter all her life". As the mothers of sons, we got pretty worked up about it. Let's just say I really, really, really hope my boys choose their wives wisely, and I hope they don't settle down too far away.

It was a fun night, and I know we'll do it again. I'll also get to see this same group on the sidelines of the soccer field this Spring. 

What a Weekend...

Nathan had been looking forward to his birthday party for months. Months of planning and anticipating. Thankfully, the big day did not disappoint. We settled on the Star Wars theme, rented a bounce house, made light sabres out of pool noodles, decided on an R2-D2 craft, and chose the flavors of ice cream in the ice cream cake. Aside from a little cake drama in the morning (they told me they didn't have it, leading us to scramble and stress as we tried to figure out an alternative before they called to tell me they found it in the back of the freezer...gah!), everything went great. The weather was clear, and the boys had a blast. 

All the boys wanted to check out the softball game taking place in the field behind our house.

Adorable R2-D2s

And because we had the bounce house all day, we decided to take full advantage of it. We invited some friends over with their kids to enjoy an "after-party". We had dinner together, and the kids played on the bounce house and tried out Nathan's birthday presents. It was one of those days when life seems too good, too happy, and I almost feel a little guilty for it. We'll keep trying to have as many of those days as possible.

Playing with Nathan's wubble bubble ball

A Few Things...

I know, I know...I haven't posted here in so long. I am definitely out of practice, and the longer I go without posting here, the harder it is to do for whatever reason. I will find my rhythm again, though. For now, I thought I'd share some of the links I've bookmarked recently. 

Happy Patriot's Day!  Today is the Boston Marathon, Patriot's Day, the unofficial start of Spring in New England, a morning Red Sox game, a vacation day for most...and even though it is cold and rainy today, it's still one of the most beautiful days of the year. 

Sara's on Design Mom!

Exhaustion is not a status symbol.  No it is not. Taking breaks, acknowledging your accomplishments, setting boundaries...these are good things!

What ISIS really wants.  This article made my head hurt, but I do try to read things that make my head hurt from time to time. I may have to go back and re-read this one - it's so difficult to get my head around it all!

How one stupid tweet ruined Justine Sacco's life.  An incredibly important article for our time. When the time comes for my boys to start their internet life, I hope I can make sure they understand the responsibility that comes with it.

A growing divide.  This article made me sad and frustrated. What else can we do to help?

Another post by my cousin Krista, this time reflecting on her own childhood experience with divorce.  It is very similar to my own, and I appreciate her honesty, as always.

This article on parenting cracked me up.  It's so refreshing.

Essential movies your child must see before they turn 13.  I'm so excited to share more of these classics with my kids.

I'm intrigued by this app and may start monitoring my own phone use. I definitely want to do
what this author did and place limits on when and how I use my phone. I am so sensitive to the fact that my boys are always watching me.

An interesting Harvard Business Review article about navigating the tradeoffs in a dual-career marriage.

Meals like this are probably my favorite part of Spring.

Rainy Days in Amsterdam

Our visit to Amsterdam really could've sucked.  We were there for five days, and it rained on every single one.  I was also still getting over a cold, and my suitcase got lost on the way!  I spent the first three days without all my clothes, toiletries, glasses/contacts, our raincoats...  Wow, when I write all that down, I am amazed that we didn't have a crappy time.  In fact, our trip was so much fun!  The kids never complained about the rain, and we certainly didn't let it deter us from getting out and doing everything we wanted to do.  

We stayed with my fabulous friend Sara and her family.  It is always so much more fun to get to know a new city from someone who lives there, and I really did fall in love with Amsterdam.  It's such a cool city.  Shortly after we arrived, we decided to go out to dinner, so we all hopped on bikes and headed out!  I honestly can't remember the last time I rode a bike, and it felt so good!  They live close to everything, so we were always an easy bike ride away from our destination.  That was especially important when we had to head home to dry off!  

Activities included playgrounds every day, a visit to the Van Gogh Museum, a Lego exhibition, a canal boat tour, and lots of playing soccer and eating out.  The Van Gogh Museum was a definite highlight - we did a scavenger hunt with the kids that was not only fun, but also enabled us to spend enough time in the museum to really appreciate it.  Very cool!  We also got a babysitter and managed an adults-only night out, so we got to see the city at night and enjoy amazing Indonesian food and adult conversation.  

I really loved our time in Amsterdam, and I think the rain and the lost bag only made it more memorable.  Now we just need to figure out when we can go back!

Sara wrote a great post about our visit, so take a look to see more.

Me and my wonderful friend Sara, whose clothes thankfully fit me

We all had fun on bikes!

After a certain amount of time outside in the rain, you just have to let go of all fashion sense and go with practicality.  Kevin called me his "little sanitation worker" in this get-up, but it kept me dry!

We had to stop for the obligatory windmill shot.

This picture makes me so happy.  A rain-free and kid-free night out in Amsterdam!

Friends and Priorities...

I'm not sure how it happened.  Julie lives outside Atlanta, and of course I live near Boston.  Once I moved north, it became difficult to see each other.  But we managed.  I worked in Atlanta for a couple years, and seeing Julie was a nice benefit of having to fly every week.  We were in each other's weddings.  We went to Disneyworld for our 30th birthdays.  When I got pregnant the first time, she flew up to visit, bringing me a suitcase full of maternity clothes.  We emailed and called.  And then...

Eight years flew by!  We were both shocked when we realized how long it had been since we had seen each other.  Kids and jobs and school and money and having to travel to visit long-distance family somehow meant that traveling to visit friends became a lower priority.  Every now and then we'd start a conversation about how we needed to plan a trip, and for one reason or another, it didn't happen.  The conversation started back up again in the Fall, as we approached our fortieth birthdays.  We had celebrated 16 together, and 21, and 30...we should really do something for 40.  The conversation wasn't going anywhere, and I finally just said, I'm coming to you!  I am so happy I did.

Julie is my best friend from high school.  I met her in geometry class our freshman year.  Let's just say I helped her through it.  ;-)  We became fast friends and have stayed that way ever since.  There's something so special about friends you make early in life.  Julie knows my family, she knows how I did in school, we worked at the same ice cream shop, we talked about all the big events (first kiss, first loves, first...), we skipped school and went to the beach, we got in trouble together, and we helped each other make it through the hell that high school can be.  We went to different colleges but visited and kept in touch.  A couple years after college, I was her maid of honor.  A few years after that, she was mine.

We spent this past weekend talking.  And talking.  About everything.  Kids, marriage, jobs, home, family, friends...  It was as if no time had passed.  But of course it had, and I don't want to let that much time go by again.  We let the distance between us and the busyness of life keep us apart, and I am determined not to let that happen again.  Friends are the best stuff of life, and it's so important to cherish them.  

Me and Julie at twenty-one...

...and here we are at forty.

New York, New York

New York....it had been way too long.  I promise not to let that much time go by before my next visit.   As we drove into the city and stepped out of the car, feeling excited and happy that our day got off to an excellent start by finding a free parking space, I was instantly transported back to a different time.  Those carefree days before kids.  I love my life, but it's nice to be able to step outside of it every now and then.  It gives us perspective, helps us appreciate all we have.  And it gives us a break!

I spent the day with one of my best friends.  We started the day with massages, which is an excellent way to start any day.  We met two other friends for lunch and had the best time relishing our freedom.    We moved at our own pace, reminding ourselves how different that is from the everyday at home, when we are responsible for moving at the speed of our kids.  We of course talked about our kids and husbands, but we also talked about life, work, movies, home, and how much fun we were having.  An uninterrupted adult conversation is a beautiful thing.  

We saw 'Once' on Broadway, and it was spectacular.  I was moved by the play and awestruck at the amount of talent displayed on the stage.  So amazing.  We ended the night at a karaoke club with another group of friends.  If you've only done karaoke a few times as I have, each outing will prove to be so memorable and hysterical that you will remember every song.  As familiar songs were chosen, I was instantly reminded of other nights.  Alanis Morissette brought me back to college, singing at a house party with my little sister.  Guns 'N Roses brought me back to my older sister's bachelorette party.  

We got a few hours of sleep before getting up, enjoying a New York bagel, and heading back to our families.  My cheeks hurt from smiling, my throat hurt from singing/screaming, and my heart was full from spending time with friends.  It was a beautiful weekend, and the perfect way to begin the 40th celebrations.  

I forgot how bright it is in Times Square.

Weekend Recap

We had a wonderful weekend.  Our friends came to visit, and we had a wonderful time hanging out with them.  We went out, to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, and then to see Kingsley Flood in concert.  It was a great meal and an awesome show and just an overall good time.  

On Sunday, we went apple-picking.  One of our favorite Fall activities, although I must admit that the poison ivy crawling up the base of every apple tree did add a little more stress than usual.  I was happy to oblige the boys' desires to use the poles to pick apples from the higher branches.  We came home with many pounds of tasty apples and promptly made a pie.  We finished it that night, so now I need to line up some other apple recipes.  Cinnamon-apple crumb cake, apple tart, applesauce...  Aaron's eating two or three a day, though, so I think we'll go through them pretty quickly.  

On Monday, we played a little baseball in the morning, and then after our friends had to leave, we enjoyed an afternoon walk through a wildlife sanctuary.  It was a gorgeous day. 

Monday was Columbus Day here in the U.S., so it was a long weekend for us.  It actually felt like it, too.  Speaking of Columbus Day...it is such a strange holiday.  I've always viewed it as just an extra day in the Fall for us to get out and see the pretty trees - this weekend is almost always the peak of foliage season.  But now I have kids.  Aaron wanted to know what it was all about, so I explained who Christopher Columbus was; but then I also added that there were native people who lived in the Americas long before he arrived.  So it's really odd that he would have a holiday, and it still seems strange that they teach the story of Columbus in the same way.  I'll be happy when Aaron's old enough to read some Howard Zinn.

I love that it's already Tuesday, even though my weeks are filled with days to be enjoyed, not to be survived.  It's still nice to have a short week every now and then.  It feels like the pace is downshifted just a bit.  I started out the short week by attending a breakfast and coffee get-together with a group of mothers from Nathan's preschool.  As expected, it was a nice time, and I think I actually remembered everyone's names.  Yay!  The new Pearl Jam and The Head and the Heart and The Avett Brothers albums are all out today, so I have a lot to listen to as I get started on the housecleaning.  Off I go...

Weekend Recap

Collecting seashells

What a beautiful weekend.  After a horrendously hot week, the entire weekend was blissfully refreshing.  We started out on Friday afternoon with an invitation to a new friend's house.  They live very close and have a gorgeous pool, which felt amazing on the hottest day of the sticky week.  The boys were excited to show me everything they've learned so far in their swimming lessons, and I was excited to make a new friend.  Their family has two little boys as well, and there are quite a few other similarities between our families; so I'm optimistic that this is the start of a fun new friendship.  

On Saturday, we spent the day on Cape Cod.  We were invited by some other friends to spend the day at their beach house.  It was a hot but gorgeous day, and we all had a great time playing, boating, swimming, eating, and again, extending and solidifying friendships.  

Sunday involved some time at home, working in the yard and explaining to the boys that sometimes it's okay to chill at home.  Aaron still struggles with this at times.  He basically waited all day until it was time for us to go to another outing.  We were invited to dinner and a swim for the kids.  The swimming allowed the adults to talk for a little bit, and then we all enjoyed a nice summer meal.  The meal included a salad featuring our own tomatoes and cucumbers.  :-D

So I reached the end of the weekend and realized that we never had to cook for ourselves!  We will have to be sure to reciprocate all these fun invitations, especially as summer ends and the desire for being by a pool or beach wanes.  I am feeling so incredibly lucky to have so many awesome friends.  

And now, as the boys enter their last week of camp, we still have so much summer fun left to look forward to.  Next up - Newport!

Private Beach

Relaxing

Weekend Recap

Another awesome weekend.  Actually, I'm going to back up to Thursday night, because that's when the fun really started.  In our school auction several weeks ago, I won a night out at a yoga studio.  I was able to invite a bunch of my friends to join me for a yoga class, followed by wine and refreshments.  Doesn't that sound awesome?  Well, it was!  I was a little nervous about it, because I honestly wasn't sure how many friends I could round up on a weeknight, but there ended up being nine of us, and it was perfect.  We had such a great time, talking and laughing without having to manage the kids at the same time.  Actually, we were having such a good time that I neglected to check my phone.  If I had, I might've noticed that my husband was calling and texting me, wondering why I was so late!  I guess we were having too much fun.  Kevin pointed out later that perhaps it's an indication that I don't go out enough, and I think he's right.  I can't remember the last time I went out with girlfriends.  I need to do that more.  

Saturday involved mostly yard work, prepping the garden beds for planting.  It was fun to get dirty and see progress in the yard.  (Oh!  And have I mentioned we're getting a patio?  The workers are here as I type, laying brick and getting us ready for a summer of being able to eat outside.  Yay!)  We interrupted our yard work to take the boys for ice cream and play frisbee.  That night, we watched the movie The Impossible.  Have you seen it?  It's the true story of a family that survived the tsunami in Thailand.  It will definitely keep your heart pumping, and you will cry.  Even Kevin cried.  Big happy tears.  That is a movie that will stick with me for a while.  

Sunday was a social day.  We started with having friends over to our house for our usual Sunday morning pancake breakfast.  They have three little girls, and the five of our kids had a blast playing together.  We had fun too - winners all around!  We fit in a little more yard work, and then we went over to another friend's house.  Lots of playing and talking and laughing.  An awesome end to a beautiful weekend.  

Cookie Swap!

I hosted my first cookie swap last weekend.  I invited all my women neighbors, and I'm hoping it continues to be an annual tradition.

I had a few snacks available when they first arrived.  I made butternut squash soup - this may be my new squash soup recipe - and served with a baguette and wine.  We sat around the table and got to know each other a little better.  It was very fun.  Then after a couple hours, everybody went home with 6 dozen cookies!  Awesome.

We got a nice variety, too, although mental note to ensure chocolate is more represented next year.  I made Chocolate-Walnut Cookies, shown above.  They were good, but I think everybody agreed that they'd be better if the walnuts were replaced with chocolate chunks.  I also made Ginger & Spice cookies, and they are absolutely my favorite of all the cookies represented.  I used a recipe from Fine Cooking, which isn't online, but it's very close to this one.  Best of all, they were very easy to make.

So I survived the crazy weekend.  It started with Kevin's company holiday party on Thursday night and ended on Sunday night with the cookie swap.  We had a birthday, gingerbread houses, a birthday party, and a family visit in-between.  Whew!

Thankful...

Thanksgiving is absolutely my favorite holiday.  It's an entire holiday centered around giving thanks for all you have.  It's about family and friends and gratitude.  How wonderful is that?  I will be spending mine at my sister-in-law's house.  We will enjoy good food, plentiful wine, time with family, games, movies, and more food.  The annual bake-off will occur on Thursday, which is always fun.  Amber is making some kind of bourbon cranberry bread pudding, which I will admit sounds pretty awesome.  I will make a double chocolate-mint cream tart.  Yum.  I will of course report the results here next week.

september, by livia s via flickr

While we cook and eat and play and talk, I will also stop to give thanks for all I have, because it is a lot.  Good health, beautiful boys, a fun and handsome husband, a nice house, an awesome family, loyal friends, and of course the list goes on and on.

This reminds me that I want to clarify one of my posts from last week - the list of things that stress me out.  My friend Sara posted a link to it, and it solicited a comment that made me go back and re-read it.  In doing so, I can see how somehow would think that it was somehow a list of complaints, when in fact, it's the opposite.  The entire list consists of things that I love - singing, entertaining friends, being fortunate enough to volunteer at my son's school...  It has more to do with being out of my comfort zone.  As Eleanor Roosevelt said, you should "do one thing every day that scares you."  In this regard, I'm doing pretty well right now.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  (Even if you're not American, you can still celebrate.  Just pause for a moment today and be grateful.)

Weekend Recap

We had an awesome Fall weekend.  Our very good friends came to visit, and we always have the best time with them, regardless of the itinerary.  Our kids have fun playing together, too, and since they left, Aaron has been asking when they're coming back and why they can't live closer to us.

The weekend consisted mostly of playing and hanging out, but we also ventured up to the farm on Sunday to take a hay ride, look at animals, play on the playground, and pick apples.  It was a long weekend for us, and it truly did feel like a holiday.  Sunday brought cooler, more seasonable weather.  It got colder as the day progressed, and none of us minded.  We took those apples home, and I made a pie.  Then I put a chicken in to roast, filling the house with yummy smells.  We watched football in front of a fire, and the kids built a fort and giant lego towers.  

After our friends left on Monday, we spent the day organizing and cleaning and continuing the process of putting our house back together.  We are SO close to being done!   (With the work, anyway - the process of buying furniture and decorating will continue on for quite a while.)  I will share more pictures soon.  

Goals for this week:

1.  Buy our tickets to Spain for the holidays!  

2.  Apply for Aaron's new passport (they sure do not make that an easy process)

3.  Organize, clean, organize

4.  Bring the guitar back downstairs and pick it up again (it has been too long!)

5.  Start looking forward to the holidays (no, it's not too early!)

Weekend Recap

I love this picture.  Aaron's just kicking back, lounging in the pool with a smile on his face.  This is pure Summer joy.  We ended up spending Sunday afternoon and into the evening in this pool, surrounded by existing friends, new friends, and their kids.  It was an incredibly enjoyable time.  The perfect way to cap off another excellent Summer weekend. 

The rest of the weekend included hair cuts, farmer's market goods, a nice lunch outside at a restaurant, ice cream, bike riding, cherry tomatoes, and getting stuff done. 

My one goal for the week is to prepare for next weekend - we're going to Newport!

I am entering my last week at work, and even now, I don't think I've fully begun to process how my life is going to change.  It feels like the week before a vacation.  I wonder how long it will take to sink in...

Weekend Recap

Another awesome weekend.  Summer is grand.  As I mentioned, Kevin was heads-down studying all weekend, so the boys and I mostly had fun on our own.  I dove into the Summer Fun List.  Here are the highlights:

*When we woke up Saturday morning, it was still raining and very wet outside, so I suggested a movie.  I took the boys to see Madagascar 3 - it was Nathan's first movie in the theater, and although the movie was about 30 minutes too long for him, they both had a great time.  We got our popcorn and raisinettes and giggled at the movie. 

*I blew up a new little pool for the yard.  The boys spent the rest of the afternoon jumping in and out of the pool and generally getting extremely dirty. 

*Sunday morning, the boys woke up happy with the sun, so we packed up and headed out early.

*Pancakes and playtime at a friend's house.  She was also entertaining two little boys on her own this weekend.

*We took all four boys to Walden Pond.  The weather was perfect, the water was warm, and the boys had a blast.  They alternated between playing in the water and playing in the sand.  They had fun, and I got to soak up the sunshine and catch up with a friend.  Winners all around. 

I think my goals are similar to last week's - surviving the renovation, drinking lots of water, appreciating life's little pleasures, planning meals, and picking out paint colors (I at least identified a few contenders on this one!).   

Have a great week!

Weekend Recap

This weekend is what summer is all about.  We spent the weekend in New York with our great friends.  They have kids of similar ages, and they all have a lot of fun playing together, which is awesome.  I left work early on Friday so I could drive down with the boys and enable us to have a full weekend.  It made it feel like we had a long weekend, and I kept saying that we were on vacation even though it was really just a regular weekend.  My thinking, though, was this:  If I'm sitting on a beach with my friends, enjoying a fruity cocktail, and looking out at sailboats and a clear blue sky.....that's a vacation.  Here are the highlights:

*Dinner at their beach club on Friday night.  The kids ran around in the grass while we enjoyed our meal.  (I'm starting to think all restaurants should have a grassy area outside for the kids.)

*We spent all day Saturday at the beach.  We watched the kids dig holes and jump in the water.  We spent some time at the pool, which was my little guy's favorite part.  Six inches of water and I swear he's in heaven.  We could not have asked for better weather too. 

*Saturday night dinner - we fed the kids, got them bathed and in pajamas, and set up a movie.  While they watched, the adults were able to enjoy a fabulous meal with actual conversation!

*I think we might need to invest in an outdoor heat lamp.  Our friends have one, and it enables us to stay outside under the stars comfortably on cool evenings.

*Sunday brunch - pancakes, berries and mimosas.  The perfect start to a Sunday. 

*Take-out dinner from a great Italian restaurant Sunday night.  I included an order of mussels, and Aaron proceeded to eat 90% of them himself.  I love that he loves seafood. 

Goals for the week:

1.  Paint colors - I didn't get to it last week.

2.  Survive another week of the house renovation without wanting to strangle someone. 

3.  Make this year's Summer Fun List - I'm a little late on this as well

4.  Water!

5.  Plan this week's meals.  This whole "living without a kitchen" thing is getting old, and I am running out of ideas.  I need to remotivate myself to plan some different options.