Shame on me!

I can't believe how delinquent I am with regards to this blog. It has been nearly 2 years since I've posted any new information. Recently, however, I was presented with the gift of time which has allowed me to tend to many of the tasks that have been put to the side including organizing digital photos,updating baby book entries, binge watching Netflix shows, and of course updating this blog.

Lilith is now four years old. She is our brilliant girl  - as feisty as they come, but also quick to cuddle and has remarkable empathy for one so young. Like most four year olds she loves her toys which includes anything with Elsa or Anna from Frozen stenciled on it, and she loves her newest toy an iPad that was purchased  for her recent trip to Ireland. She along with James enjoyed swimming lessons this year. From day one, our brave little girl launched herself in the water without so much as a lifejacket. She's a risk taker And appears to be afraid of very little. I do hope that this is a characteristic that  she will carry with her into adulthood. I'm very excited that she'll be joining James next fall at shore country day school. I know that she's ready for a new stimulating environment, but I do hope that Shore is ready for her.

James is also doing well. At 6 1/2 he is now reading and writing and is curious as ever.  I've said all along, about both my children, that I hope they have their fathers tenacious appetite for reading......so far that seems to be the case.  James is a curious little boy - he is equally happy being outside on the football pitch, as he is inside a museum exploring new things. He recently finished up his kindergarten year… Highlights included the lobster field trip to Gloucster ,his role in the rainbow fish play,  and his adventures with the ant farm. He also enjoyed a season of skiing, spring break at Walt Disney World, and both soccer and swim lessons. Though his athletic abilites are yet to be realized he is a boy with an  endless supply of energy and enthusiasm for life.  (and according to his report card his teachers tend to agree.)

It is now the summer, and school has been out for approximately two weeks. Due to unusual circumstances Andrew had the opportunity to take both children to Ireland where they've been for the past while.  I on the  other hand stayed home to finish out the school year and to visit with a friend who will be moving back to Florida in a few days. With the summer weeks ahead I look forward to exploring more of Boston with my two curious kids in tow. Andrew will be starting his new job, and will no doubt be very busy, but I hope that we find time to enjoy the summer before the hectic school year  begins, the Boston winter returns.....and I inevitably forget about this blog again

Day two and we are still standing!

Day Two
James' second day at Shore was more exciting than the first and included a SAIL class (Science and Art Integrated Lesson....which should be a course especially suited for the kid of a Scientist and Music Teacher), a Spanish class and a literacy activity that included writing letters in shaving cream!

Gather ye rosebuds

GATHER ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying
Perhaps this is a gloomy poetic selection considering the excitement of the day, but it is true.....time moves swiftly and if one looks away too often, you miss a great deal.

Then again maybe this is more appropriate:

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...”

It's hard to believe but our little man began another new chapter in his life today......SCHOOL.

James attended his first day of Readiness (PreK in the US or P1 in Northern Ireland) at Shore Country Day School. According to his teacher (Mrs. White) he had a wonderful day. Her comments were consistent with James' behavior at home.....as he was in bed and asleep by 6:30 giving me time to update this badly out of date blog. I am not sure who was more excited about going to "Mommy's school" - James or me. Throughout the day my mind wandered in his direction and I had to force myself to let go, and not go off sneaking around corners or cowering behind doors in an effort to see what he was doing. Thankfully Mrs. White carefully documents each day with pictures and  a narrative describing all that the kids experience, and though I am not his music teacher I look forward to accompanying his musical performances over the next couple of months.  Again I'll say....that we are blessed that Shore is a part of our lives, both professionally and personally! Over the coming weeks I'll try to post small anecdotes and pictures to help paint a clearer picture of what James is doing.

Of course though today was extra special for James, Lilith also started "school". She is in the toddler classroom at Early Discoveries, and seems to be growing up much faster than I am willing to admit. But, the reality is that these past two years have flown by, and our little girl is not only walking but running, not only talking but engaging in conversations (and arguments) and not only showing signs of independence but demanding certain outfits or hair accessories. No doubt the innocent bloom of infancy is gone from our kids, but we are looking forward to the next chapter in our 

little seedlings lives.

Orientation and Day One - Shore Country Day School

(Physical Education class with Mr. Lund)

Winter 2012 - 2013

Just a brief update for those of you following our adventures in parenthood.

We've managed to survive our first six months in Boston. Beyond a few $300 heating bills, the winter has not been much of a challenge. We have had several snowfalls, but none of them serious enough to call off school, or entice Andrew's new snow-blower out of its corner of the garage. Of course it's only early February, so we've a few weeks to go before Spring reaches us.

James is growing up so quickly, turning four last month. Compared to prior birthdays, this was a much more subdued, family celebration,  though we did treat him to a session of snowmobiling in North Conway, NH on the weekend following his birthday. I'm not sure who had more fun, James or Andrew.

Speaking of all things winter, we've enrolled James in ski lessons. It seems that skiing is not only a recreational activity here, but also a social one. Many families travel together for ski getaways, and the school even hosts a family ski weekend each year. Besides becoming familiar with lobster rolls and Dunkin' Donuts coffee, I suppose this is the first logical step to assimilating to life in New England.

Lilith is also doing very well. It's incredible how much she has changed since we moved to Georgetown. When we left St. Louis she had no words, and wasn't walking. Now at 21 months she is talking in two word  phrases and is constantly running and climbing. She is bundle of energy and seems as bright and curious as her big brother. We certainly are proud of our little pair!

Goodbye my old friend

Yesterday (Oct. 13, 2012) I said goodbye to my old friend and companion. As I sit and think about all that has transpired in the last few days I can't help but feel sadness, a little regret, and more than a little appreciation.

Sadness - a normal emotional response. Ernie came into my life in 1995. After moving into my own house during my junior year at the University of Arizona I decided it would be lovely to adopt a cat. The day I visited the Tucson Humane Society they had several kittens, but one tiger striped kitty with abnormally large ears decided to claw his way up my sleeve and perch on my shoulder. There was an instant connection. After the standard wait time Ernie came home with me, and there he stayed from Tucson to Minneapolis, to Vegas, to Chicago, to San Diego, to St. Louis and finally to Boston. He was my companion during some of the most brilliant as well as bleak moments in my life. In fact he was the only fellow creature who had seen me through all of my major adult milestones.  (College graduation, graduate school, meeting/dating/marrying Andrew, the birth of James and Lilith, the addition of Elvis to the family, multiple homes, and multiple jobs). His death has left a void in my heart and in this house.

Regret - a strange response. There is no doubt that when James, and later Lilith, came along that Ernie was removed from his previously high pedestal. Once we moved to St. Louis we had a hard time deciding how to set up the house in order to keep Elvis (and James) out of Ernie's food, and keep James from falling down the stairs. It was decided that Ernie would live in the basement. To be honest the basement was larger, sunny, and more comfortable than our other houses/apartments, but he was often separated from the rest of the family. This is something I deeply regret.

Appreciation - an even stranger response. I have never had to put an animal down before. I wasn't sure what to expect. The vet had told me that I could leave him with her, or I could stay with him during the procedure. I opted to stay, and I'm glad I did. Ernie lay quietly on my lap while the vet administered, first a tranquilizer, than eight minutes later an overdose of anaesthesia. Ernie quietly rested his head in my hand during those eight minutes allowing me to rub behind his ears - he always liked that. He made no move to jump down or squirm away. I think he knew.

It didn't take long for the drug to take action and Ernie slipped away within moments.  I wasn't sure what I should do next. Looking to the vet for answers, she  mentioned that I could stay with Ernie as long as I liked, but that I should simply leave his body on the table before I was ready to leave. She also wanted to know if I wanted a hair sample as a keepsake. I kind of chuckled, brushing Ernie's hair off my sweater, and kindly said "no -I'll probably be finding his hair around the house for years." But leaving,  this was one of the strangest things I've ever done, standing up, with Ernie's lifeless body in my arms, and leaving him there on the table looking very peaceful as if only taking a nap. But I did as the vet instructed. Before leaving I bent over and whispered into his now very average sized ear "Thank-you".

I wasn't expecting this to be so hard. Ernie had been sick for a while - suffering from kidney disease. He had stopped eating and required IV fluids and pain medication. He was no longer the feisty cat from a few years ago. It was time to end his suffering. What I wasn't ready for was the emotional overload that hit me like a truck. After leaving the office I sat in my car crying - rather wailing. When I was finally able to think clearly I felt silly - he was afterall just a cat right?! That's what alot of you are probably saying. But that's not it at all - Ernie had become an integral part of my life. I fed that cat every day for 17 years and 3 months (give or take a few holidays when friends and family would help out), I bathed him and cleaned out his soiled litter box  (I don't even have that kind of relationship with Andrew - and when it finally comes to that I'll probably put Andrew down too). Ernie depended on me to take care of him and in return he offered me his companionship. It was a loving, symbiotic relationship. What's more is that Ernie continues to give. What I've been thinking about for the past two days is that life is truly precious and fleeting. I've never watched another living thing die before, much less hold them in my arms, and it gave me a much greater appreciation of life. So again I need to say "Thank-you".

I'll miss you Ern....
- The way you used me as your own human pillow
- The way you "perched" on the arms of sofas or on walls
- The way you used to manipulate your claws and literally "pluck" at my face when I wouldn't acknowledge you first thing in the morning
- Your feisty reaction to catnip
-  Our conversations when you were a bit younger....I swear you would answer my questions
- Your interactions with Andrew, Elvis, James and Lilith

- Your extremely loud purr that everyone in the room could hear
- The odd time you would let your tongue peak out from your mouth
- Your friendly nature - with everyone

Baccalaureate: Shout for Joy!

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Intercultural Dialogue and Education: La Jolla Country Day School Choir in Madrid

As I gear up for the start of a new school year - my 16th - I can't help but reflect upon the years that have flown by. My years at Johnson Junior High School, Rolling Meadows High School, La Jolla Country Day School and Parkway West High School have been marked by stunning achievements, and failures, both of which have brought to where I am now. While looking back in reflection, I research as well, and I came across this blog posting which I have never noticed before. It brought back a flood of memories.


Intercultural Dialogue and Education: La Jolla Country Day School Choir in Madrid: Even before this choir arrived in Madrid I knew they were going to be wonderful: even so I was overwhelmed by their good nature, willingness...