Three Things

Welcome to spring! Does it feel like it around you? Here, not so much. Arizona last week … not so much! But, perhaps somewhere?

Here is a little three things update on this first Sunday of spring.

1. Harper has blossomed into a young woman right before my eyes! She is tall, strong, and confident (most days). All of a sudden, she is wearing my shirts, jackets, and socks! She recently registered for her middle school elective courses and opted to join drama for her performing arts requirement. The high school thespian inside of me is giddy.
2. She continues to hate fruit, except when in pie form. Occasionally, I can get her to finish off a cup of mandarin oranges or two pieces of cut up strawberries. We recently discovered that this runs in the family. Her Uncle Chad is a fellow fruit-despiser. I don’t understand this? She makes up for it by loving most veggies.
3. Harper is so excited for her next big fifth grade project centered on financial literacy. Her classroom will turn into its own economy, and each student will be paid to come to work each day. If you are absent, no money honey! She must pay rent for her desk, buy health insurance, and run a business. She is selling hand-made “squishies” and key chains.

1. Jameson is growing more and more into a proper Irishman each day. This last year, the sun darkened and multiplied his freckles. I love them. Grandpa ordered him a real Irish tam, as well, and he looks just right in it. Grandpa looks just right, too.
2. He is super into graphic novels lately. He giggles out loud and smiles to himself as he reads. Lately, he read these:

3. Jameson is interested in everything Japanese. He has been begging for a trip to Japan, would like to learn some of the language, wants to experiment with homemade ramen bowls, loves salmon and believes the best would be found in Japan, practices writing in Kanji, and is learning new katas in karate.

1. Jason is a big Cubs fan! He was happy to get to Arizona last week for a spring training game. We all had a great time, and Jason was thrilled to see an 11-1 Cubbie victory. He loved the new Sloan Park and its nods to Wrigley. His day felt complete when he swallowed the last bite of a Chicago hot dog and sang “Go Cubs Go” with his family.
2. He has become a bit of a yogi lately. He is using yoga to help loosen up, mentally and physically :-, and to work on his flexibility. He bought himself a nice pair of yoga blocks and says he is an expert at his favorite move, savasana. If you are unfamiliar, this is the resting pose at the end of every class that looks a lot like napping. He has all good things to say about this practice, including that he feels both balanced and challenged.
3. Jason is a full-on dog dad. When Finn creates a mess or a ruckus, Jason slides in with the enduring patience of a man who believes his puppy can do no not much wrong. Honestly, the rest of us are grateful for him. When we’ve had enough, it is Jason who picks up the tennis ball and plays a game of fetch. It is Jason who pries Finn’s jaws open to retrieve whatever it is he picked up from the counter or the floor. We all knew this about Jason, though, even before Finn came along. He has a big spot in his heart reserved just for for canine cuties.

1. I have not gone skiing in thirteen years. The truth is, I have no great desire to pick it up again (I mean, I understand the feeling of carving a sweet curve and seeing a gorgeous view while doing so, but those moments felt fairly infrequent for me. Mostly, I was just so relieved to get down without any major catastrophe). I learned to ski on a garbage dump in Wisconsin. The first time I went, I just “french fried” down the hill at great speed, with no particular control, and then bailed at the bottom just before the ski lift. I did improve since moving to Colorado. I mention this because next week I will be skiing again and taking the kiddos for their first time. I am happy they will get to do this, truly. After all, they are Colorado kids.
2. I have not been a great cook lately, which is too bad, because I love it. Life is so busy, and I have taken to making quick meals. I am hopeful to renew my thoughtfulness around it again. I just bought a book I am excited about, because it is beautiful and it is about Vermont, which has become another one of my loves.

3. Speaking of Wisconsin, I almost became a Badger. Madison has its perks! Alas, time for a moment of daily gratitude: I am so glad I chose to become a Buff. Had I not, I wouldn’t have Jason, Harper, Jameson … or … yes … Finn. I might have had more cheese curds, but I think I won out on this one.

1. Finn just got groomed for the first time. He is so cute.
2. I had no idea that there is a whole subculture of dog training philosophies. Since recently engaging in an eight week course, I have learned that Longmont has its own little feud, if you will, and the politics run deep! There is one camp that believes in nothing but positive reinforcement while the other camp believes in meaningful and consistent discipline. Anyway, like most things, I see a lot of gray. My calm and rational dad recently said, “Common sense, hon. Take a little bit of everything.”
3. Finn is sweet to the core. Ornery, yes. Mean, not one bone. Like all of us, he really just wants our gladness when he comes into the room.

And as for all of us on the whole, we are a typical school family … gearing up for testing season and a long April and then allowing ourselves glimmers of excitement about a summer to come.