Happy Thanksgiving!

Here I am, blinking in astonishment to find myself at the end of November. Thanksgiving 2021 is, as they say, in the books, and the holiday season is officially underway.  We've already gone and gotten our Christmas tree, even though the Thanksgiving decor is still out. The list of things to do in the next month looms large before me, and the knowledge that (thanks to COC Christmas concerts) I will have approximately zero spare minutes of time between December 5th and December 19th has me feeling a bit ... well, anxious might sort of describe it? So instead of doing any of the things I am drinking coffee and catching up here on the blog, in the hopes that reflection can slow time down, just a little bit.   

I may also be working on our Christmas card and photo book. But mostly I am drinking coffee and reflecting, promise. 

A bit of catch up.  Jen's last day with us was spent snuggled in and cooking together.  I wish I could keep her here with me always. And not just so she could make that amazing winter melon soup for me every. single. day.  We've been missing her ever since she headed home...

We also got this new chair for free!  It had a couple of rips but nothing a curved upholstery needed, some duct tape, and selective ignoring can't fix.  A club chair was just what our living room needed for the snuggle-in season.  We now have enough soft seating for the whole family, which is good because a new (rather random) tradition seems to be watching an episode of the cop drama Castle all together before bed.  Never a dull moment in this house.

Just when you think the fall color is at it's peak you see this.  The early dark means I get peeks of evening light and the moon when I am leaving late meetings.

On the 17th, Nat and I went to The Prom!  Such a funny, charming show, and a festive way to welcome back the Broadway series.  While we did not get upgraded to loge seats, it was still a great night. 

So many people together in one space!   Still feels crazy.

We had just the most fun evening with our new neighbor- friends.  Taco night feast, smokey pear margaritas, and cookie decorating together.

Toasted Marshmallow really likes our new friends too.  That bunny is getting surprisingly cuddly in his old age. 

Nightcaps around the fire table.  Which we put on our front porch.  Which was an absolute stroke of brilliance.  So cozy!  I see apres-ski fires in our future through the winter...

We splurged and got our family photos taken by a professional!  Here's hoping we get some nice shots.  With a teen and a tween in the house, gone are the days of matching, color coordinated outfits and holiday dresses.  We just told the kids to dress in something that they thought looked good.  After last year's "all dressed up with no place to go" theme, this year seems to be "we are too busy to put much time or thought into this or even really brush our hair, and that is just going to have to be OK."  

I sure do love these big-haired, increasingly tall people.

Jack had his first official meet of his high school swim career on the 23rd.  It was just our team swimming against ourselves but that did not matter a bit.  All the parents came, all the little sibs were dragged along, and even a bunch of high schoolers came to watch and cheer.  So fun- and so much faster than the summer meets.  I could only stay an hour (all these rehearsals!!) but still got to watch my boy race twice.  He did well, with a 50 freestyle time in the running with the "A team," and a new PR in his 100 breastroke, by 4 seconds.  That's what 3 hours of practice a day will do for you, I guess.  I am so excited to see how he does this season.  I hope he continues to enjoy it.  Last Saturday we had a parenting fail and simply forgot to wake him for practice.  He was actually disappointed to miss it, which says a lot.  

Bleachers full of our community!  Had a blast catching up with some mom friends, and cheering for all of their kiddos along with my own.  

We had a game day/ hangout with Tiffany and Greg, to do our Thanksgiving side dish swap.  Crazy to think that these two young men have been friends since they were babies.  They bonded over animals and, true to form, began really talking about 10 minutes before it was time for our friends to leave. 

Thanksgiving Day!  After much deliberation, it was decided to go ahead with our "Gathering at Gertie's" this year.   It turned out to be a smaller gathering than expected as Kristin's mom was in hospice, so their family did not come, and Diana's family had a few folks not feeling well, so they did not come.  But even so we had a a group of 14, tons of delicious, buttery food, and a day of good conversation and laughter. 

Had to watch the national dog show together.  This is a dog loving group!  Winter had a wonderful day licking everyone constantly.

Gram was not quite sure she wanted to attend, but decided to try it and ended up having a lovely conversation with Pat and lots of time talking with Doug.   In this year of transition for her, time with this family is such a good reminder of what unconditional love feels like. 

They even do jazz hands when you tell them to!  

May the rest of the holiday season be just as warm and bright and full of love as our Thanksgiving Day. 

Even it if promises to not be quite as relaxing.
 

Mid November Shenanigans

 

The first half of November has flown by in that way that can only happen when you add a 10 day visit from a beloved college friend onto your already completely over-booked life. These past two weeks have been full of laughter and parties, sunshine and foliage, cooking and dishes, late nights at rehearsals and parent teacher conferences, and very little sleep. 

Jen arrived on November 4th and there's not been a dull moment since.  It was lovely to come home from a 13 hour day at work to see this sweet gathering playing scrabble together. 

The next night we spent our Friday evening at Skyzone, like you do.  At least, like you do when two of your favorite kiddos are turning 12.  The kids had fun jumping, and the adults had fun catching up.  One of the things I love about our college-friend crew is the way we love one another's families, too. 

The weekend of the 6th was a gift of sunshine and glorious foliage, and so we abandoned all responsibilities at home and got out to enjoy it.

Chapin Forest is fast becoming one of my favorite spots.  We visited the Ledges trail and overlook and it was just as magical as the day we discovered it last year.  On this visit we shook things up by climbing over the "restricted area" fence to hang out on the cliff edge, sitting on the sun-warmed rocks with the whole world to ourselves. 

This young man did NOT want to come on the outing and spent the first part of our stay being very mopey.  But as always, nature worked its magic and by the time we left he was having a grand time throwing acorns over the cliff and pestering his sister.   I love how our kids respond to the outdoors.  

This one wore her elf ears and her new combat boots for our outing.  My little punk rock wood sprite. 

Jen was thrilled to commune with deer and squirrels, both of which are uncommon in Portland, apparently.

See why I like it here?

We had such a lovely time in the woods that it was a bit of a rush to get ready for our big party at the yacht club...

Our friend Seku very generously hosted a group of us at his yacht club, and we had entirely too much fun together.  See below.

Bottomless drinks, delicious food, and a rousing game of questions and answers.  Plus this crazy thing of being TOGETHER, in person.  There was a great deal of hugging throughout the evening. 

After Jen and I stayed up til almost 2 at home, it was rather a miracle that I made it to my Sunday run group the next morning.  I feel so blessed to have these different layers of friendship in my life. 

Another gorgeous day, another pretty spot to enjoy it.  We visited Holden Arboretum, along with most of the population of Northeast Ohio.  (But can you blame all of us??)

Our friend Bethany joined us.  One of the (many) gifts of Jen's visit is the way we are getting to spend time with friends we've not seen for many, many years.  

Closed out the day with cooking and conversation at Mike's house. 

The work week was a blur of comings and goings.  Jack's swimming schedule does not jive with my rehearsal schedule, so on Mondays and Tuesdays we now eat family dinner in shifts.  But we can still find time to enjoy the last 70 degree day at the lake. 

We met the world's cutest corgi puppy...

... and got to chat briefly with Donna, who just interviewed for a full time gig at Oberlin.  Cross all your fingers for her because she deserves this so much. 

Cleveland is kinda pretty.

Wednesday we had Jack's parent-teacher conferences.  Quick ten-minute bursts of information from his really great teachers, who we enjoyed getting to know a bit.  He's had a successful first quarter, with a 4.16 GPA (thanks, advanced classes) and reports of good progress from his teachers.  Geometry has been a bit tough for him, so we will be encouraging him to go to the extra help sessions after school for that.  In most of his classes teachers reported that he participates (!) and is great in discussions (!) and is overall a terrific student except for using his phone a bit too much...  His science teacher is just the coolest, and has invited students to eat lunch in her room.  She's up to 12 kids who hang out with her each day. How lovely of her to create a place of belonging for students.  It was clear how much she, and all of his other teachers, genuinely care for their students.  Tiger Nation is the best. 

Ivy's conferences were on Thursday, at the tail end of another conference night for me.  More good reports.  Our sweetie was reported to be very quiet in class and very polite (!), and she's holding her own in most of her advanced classes. Math is hitting her a little hard, too-- I think it is the subject most impacted by a year of remote learning, being so sequential.  In other areas, our kids have been able to coast over their learning gaps on the strength of their vocabulary or background knowledge.  In math, if you miss a concept, its like missing a rung on a ladder.  They are working hard to climb but its more work than they are used to, that's for sure. 

Friday, I enjoyed my favorite kind of workday.  A half-day of time to use for paperwork and planning-- its just the perfect amount of work.  You head home feeling accomplished yet with plenty of energy left for the rest of the day.  Got in a run with a friend and a walk with Nat, all before 1pm.  We picked Ivy up early from school and she and Jen and I spent the afternoon at the Asian market. I am so grateful for this time they are getting together- that my daughter gets to benefit from the magic of Jen in her life.  

Then, off to the next party!  Our friend MAjeed invited us to his lovely home for a feast of smoked meat and delicious Palestinian treats.  We tried some crazy anise-seed liqueur, ate FAR too much food, and enjoyed the luxury of being TOGETHER, in person, again...

At the end of a long week, its nice to come home to these snuggly mammals...

Saturday!  A big day!  Ivy got her first Covid vaccine.  She did great and reported that it didn't hurt at all.  Its wonderful to know that we are just one more shot away from being a fully vaccinated family.

We also got to visit Alex's new baby Charlie.  Oh, he is just delicious.  A bundle of snuggle and softness. 

I do miss my babies, here on the other end of raising children.  Their sweet, soft vulnerability, the rocking and nursing and singing and patting. What I do not miss is the complete exhaustion of that time, when it sometimes seemed those sweet, soft little things were literally draining the life out of me.  Ivy hasn't quite given up on the thought that she could be a big sister someday...but I know *I* am certainly content to borrow my friends' babies ... and then go home and sleep alllll night long!

Satuday night was the big event-- the wedding that Jen came to town for, the social event of the decade for our group, it seemed.  Monday, though, we got an email that the reception had been cancelled due to venue problems. A tragiv event on all counts, for sure.  Our friends announced that the party would be rescheduled for sometime over the summer, and we began casting about for somewhere to go all dressed up.  By midweek, our friends had regrouped  and organized a smaller party right at their own glassblowing shop and backyard, and gratefully we made the cut.  We dressed ourselves up, put on  fancy coats, headed out into the 35 degree weather, and had a blast. 

I just love these people.  They make me feel like I am 22 again when we are together.  I personally think we haven't changed a bit. 

Entirely too much fun, I tell ya.   

I am utterly exhausted and also don't want all the fun to end.  I could totally get used to this lifestyle- as long as I had a housekeeper to take care of ALLL the things I have ignored for the past two weeks. Today, we recover.  

Be well, friends.  May you, too, have entirely too much fun with the people you love.