notes from the field

Audrey was reading aloud at the table.
I: Audrey, you are reading REEEALLLLY well.
E: Yeah. You're hitting it!

All 3 kids were in the backseat of the car when Elliot leaned over and whispered, "Audrey, I love you." I said that Elliot was such a nice brother and that he had probably learned a lot about being a good brother because he has such a nice sister and brother. He said, "I only learned to be a good brother from Isaac. He's always nice. Except he sometimes blows farts on me. They're real farts or he makes noise with his mouth. That's not nice. But he's usually nice. Audrey is, too."

Audrey and Isaac take piano lessons now and apparently Elliot is feeling a little left out. Once they're done, he makes sure he practices for a minute or two.

We got the mail and Elliot got his Wild Animal Baby magazine. "Mama, does the mailman think I'm a baby?"
No, he doesn't. Do you think you're getting too big to get a magazine with the word baby in it?
"Yes. I'm not a baby."
Should I call and see if we can switch it to Your Big Backyard since you're getting so big?
"YES" (big smile, too!)

Audrey is getting stronger every day and can bike 3+ miles without any problems. She's also about to lose her first tooth which is further proof she is entirely too big.

feeling the love

We were sitting around, reading science books, and playing marble maze this afternoon when Elliot started circling me. He would walk around me, then jump in my lap and give me an enormous hug. He did it over and over and over. I would kiss his little blonde head and he'd get up for an encore performance. At one point he looked up at me and said, "I didn't get to hug you in the car today or at preschool because you were driving in the front seat and then you weren't there." I smiled at my sweet little growing up boy who was making up for lost hugging time. "I missed hugging you then so I'm really glad we have lots of chances now," I replied. Just in time to catch him as he dropped into my lap again, arms stretched out for another glorious hug.

Once upon a time, a mama sent her three kids up to get their pjs on. She heard muffled giggles and muted foot stomps as they tried to conceal their silliness. Realizing her plan at cleaning up the kitchen while the kids got ready was a bust, she headed towards the stairs. As she rounded the corner to climb the stairs, she saw her three Roman soldiers fiercely guarding the upstairs.

Should she lecture on the finer points of listening the first time? Should she join the fun? She stomped up the stairs, broke through the barrier, and reminded the soldiers that they needed to get their Roman pajamas on. Silly kiddos!

Audrey reads

Audrey loves to read. She is so stinking proud of herself as she sounds out each word, fumbles some of the longer ones, but keeps right on going. Her tenacity is a sight to behold.

Lately she has started bring her books and her baby Grace up for reading hour. It is so adorable. Then today at church she was standing up tall and proud singing most of the words along with us. Granted we know all of the songs from the radio, but her eyes were trained on the video screen up above. After every song she turned to me and whispered, "Mama. I read all the words from that song we were singing." She was literally beaming. Oh, how I love that Audrey Shea!

today

It is September 11, 2011. I am certain that all the words that could be said about 9/11 have been spoken by people far more eloquent than I. So I sit here with a pile of words rattling around in my brain, my three precious kiddos upstairs sleeping, and some tight hamstrings, feeling the need to tell those three precious kiddos what this day means to me and how they fit into it.

I think back on that day, the day that time stood still for everyone in this generation, the day where everyone knows just what they were doing. The overwhelming emotion that still has the power to seize the breath from my lungs, these 10 years later, is grief. I was absolutely heartbroken that that level of hate could exist in this world.

I know I was naive. I knew about some of the horrific injustices that have taken place throughout history if they were taught at school or if my parents talked about them. But I had not experienced hatred and disgust and anger on that level. I was a feisty idealist hoping to bring unity and love to people through education. And here I was, here we were, watching planes crash into buildings and buildings collapse and people die. And I couldn't figure out why or how anyone could do that. I couldn't think of one thing that could ever make me angry enough to want to destroy and annihilate. Yet here was an entire group of people and they hated us. And that broke my heart.

I saw our country come together in beautiful ways through volunteering and fundraising and small kindnesses that went a long way, but I also saw our country pull apart. My heart broke again because racism was alive and kicking; we just changed the shade of brown a bit. Fear overwhelmed us as love for our neighbors grew and hatred for people we didn't understand multiplied. It was an emotionally challenging, draining time for individual people and for our country collectively.

This new normal was still fresh in our minds a few years later when Jim and I started talking about having children. Should we bring children into this uncertain world? A world where terrorists do the unthinkable and people respond with lies and hate? It was a big discussion that didn't really have a right or wrong answer.

But then the answer became clear. Today I prayed over and over, "Please, Lord, let love be stronger than hate." And I believe that will happen, in part, through my three precious kiddos sleeping soundly upstairs.

Are you ready for some football?

all smiles as we head to his first Vikings game

posing in front of the metrodome with six of the eight kids that attended

So excited to see the team come out of the tunnel

Audrey had a blast!

Owen, Adam, and Isaac (all 7) loved it!

These 3 did, too

Emily and Audrey (both 5)

With a score of 28-0, there was plenty of reason to celebrate with the wave

The Vikings start their regular season today, but we got to start the fun a little early. We, along with nine friends, attended the Vikings final preseason game against the Houston Texans. It was a great time with great friends and the kids are already hoping to go back next year.

firsts

Isaac is a second grader. Audrey is a kindergartner. Elliot is a bona-fide preschooler. They all have titles. That's new.
All three attend ESCHEL three Tuesdays a month. That's new.
They all have other people instructing them and other people to get to know and other rules to navigate and other friends waiting to be made. That's new.

ESCHEL started on Tuesday and went very well, considering the newness. All three headed into it with huge smiles and enthusiasm. Audrey got a little nervous once she got there, but did really well once I got her settled. Isaac needed a little extra hand squeeze and a hug before going off with his class, but had a great morning. Elliot was really glad I was the volunteer preschool helper. He has the biggest adjustment because it is his first time away from me, with a group of kids, in a new setting. That's a lot of new for a 3 year old.

He played and had snack and was the line leader (aka train engine), a job he took very seriously! He dabbled in interacting with kids, but usually played on his own or sat in my lap checking it all out. Pretty much what you'd expect from a new preschooler. It will be a fun year of firsts for all of us and it got off to a great start!

All ready for 2nd grade

Kindergarten, here comes Audrey!

Elliot's all smiles and ready to go to preschool

These kids. Oh how I love them.

Mrs. Stener blew the train whistle and he sprinted for the front of the rope. This was serious business and he was just the "man" for the job.

Ready for another year of learning, fun, and friendship at their co-op

Fitness, fun, family!

I have had the distinct pleasure of coaching Moms on the Run this year. Their motto is "Fitness, Fun, Friendship." In our family, it is often Fitness, Fun, Family. We run and bike and toss and rollerblade and skate and and hike and sled and enjoy active times outside as much as possible. Some of my favorite memories are at Gooseberry Falls hauling Elliot in the backpack and crossing the finish line with Isaac and having Audrey plan a run where we walk, then run, then jump our way around the block. I hope to share memories like these with them forever, although I am ready for Elliot to hike on his own. Whew!!

Here are some pictures from our 5K and daisy dash last weekend. It was the culminating race for over 200 Moms on the Runners and a time of inspiration and fun. Isaac ran on his own and made his goal by running it in 30:45. Audrey raced through the daisy dash and decided it was too short, so she's training for the 2K next year. Elliot hurt his legs, so I held him and ran, but he'll be ready next year.

It was a great day of fitness, fun, friendship, AND family!

I'm so brave

Elliot has generally been a cautious kid, which makes him fit right in with the rest of the gang. He still prefers going down stairs on his tummy or holding a hand and the railing. He likes to sit in laps for the first few times down a slide until he gets the hang of it. He just likes to check things out first and then go with gusto once he's comfortable. It's par for the course with our three kiddos.

Turning three has infused him with a beautiful boost of confidence in himself. He starts many sentences with, "Watch this. I'm so brave." Then he'll put his face in the water or finally try to go down the waterslide himself. He starts even more sentences with, "I don't care about (fill in the blank.)" I don't care about getting my face wet or jumping off of this step or diving into a box or any other thing he regards as slightly suspect.

It is such an exciting time. To be three and see the world as a sea of infinite possibilities to bravely tackle. Sometimes a kid has to tackle them from the comfortable lap of a mama, but sometimes he is ready to dive in on his own. Sometimes it's a little frightening and sometimes it's only excitement. Sometimes there are tears and sometimes there are cheers of success. Always there is a proud mama looking on at her beautiful growing up boy. Just in case you ever wonder.