There are a lot of reasons to stay in the van for after school pickup (some better than others): too cold, too hot, too lazy, too introverted, too late. But here’s what’s also true: Friends are the best, and I’m never sorry when I get out of the van. Human connection! Adult conversation! Fresh air and golden light! I’m thinking of making this the screensaver on my phone to remind myself that it’s worth it.
DPP pics from past years (2006-11 lost to the ether), 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Even though he does something to remind me near-daily, I often forget what a ham Ian is. We enjoyed his dramatic reading of Humphrey’s First Christmas. (Reading a Christmas book was a somewhat posed photo op, but Ian really did read the book–and the expressiveness was all his own. Simon’s costume is also all him.)
DPP pics from past years (2006-11 lost to the ether), 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Natten går tunga fjät
rund gård och stuva;
kring jord, som sol förlät,
skuggorna ruva.
Då i vårt mörka hus,
stiger med tända ljus,
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.
Natten går stor och stum
nu hörs dess vingar
i alla tysta rum
sus som av vingar.
Se, på vår tröskel står
vitklädd med ljus i hår
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.
Mörkret ska flykta snart
ur jordens dalar
så hon ett underbart
ord till oss talar.
Dagen ska åter ny
stiga ur rosig sky
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.
DPP pics from past years (2006-11 lost to the ether), 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
We stayed an hour at the Mill this afternoon, sipping Italian sodas, playing Yahtzee! and not doing homework.
DPP pics from past years (2006-11 lost to the ether), 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Clara likes to hug and kiss her brothers after school. Ian is over it.
DPP pics from past years (2006-11 lost to the ether), 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
These two were born four days apart, but that was almost six (!) years ago. Now they’re both in kindergarten, and they can read and write and stuff. It’s too much. I found them hanging around after Christmas program practice grafitti-ing the dry erase board.
DPP pics from past years (2006-11 lost to the ether), 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading. –Rainer Maria Rilke
I adore my book club. These women (and a few not pictured) are some of the smartest, best people I know. They challenge me and make me laugh, and I look forward to our gathering each month. I do love reading, but reading with these guys makes it pretty much my favorite.
DPP pics from past years (2006-11 lost to the ether), 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
We have once again been watching the Great British Baking Show (notice my pic from December 8, 2015), and after school today we decided to have our own contest to determine Star Baker. Would you believe I legit had not just a good time baking with the kids but fun? From 4 pm until almost 7 pm, these three kids planned, baked, frosted, and presented their creations. (The challenge was sugar cookies, and they added flavors to their dough and color and flavors to their frosting. Each so creative in their own ways!) They did it all with zero fighting, and honestly they all cracked it, as Paul Hollywood would say. Jason and I were chuffed.
DPP pics from past years (2006–11 lost to the ether), 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
There are a couple of stories we like to tell that succinctly explain the difference between Jason and me. This weekend we added another. On Sunday morning, the kids all piled into our (queen-sized) bed. I was practically delirious with happiness; it filled my cup right up. Everyone agreed there’s not really enough room for all of us, and there’s where the difference came in. The solution is obvious, right? A bigger bed! Nope, Jason’s solution would be a smaller bed. Either way, the boys got a little headstart on shopping for a new one today.
DPP pics from past years (2006–11 lost to the ether), 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Sigh. Some days are better than others; we’ll just leave it at that. I can’t tell if this was genuine rage or mugging for the camera after–both of those things happened today and in fairly rapid succession. One of Clara’s teachers told me today “she’s a very good advocate for herself.” I’m not sure how to take that, but I’ve no doubt that it’s true. In the best sense, I pray it will always be true.
DPP pics from past years (2006-11 lost to the ether), 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
