Extra, Extra

Paul and I made the decision early on in parenting that we would actively guard our family's time together. We have had the kids involved in a smattering of activities over the years, but the bulk of our evenings and weekends are dedicated to time together. In the last year, however, our kids have started to show interest in very specific activities, so we decided it was time to follow their lead. I have always had a mild fear that my kids would miss out on their calling because I failed to introduce them to it at the right time, but it has become abundantly clear that they will find their way in spite of not trying out every activity under the sun.

In  January, Audrey started ballet classes at St. Paul Ballet, and it has been perfect! For young kids, St. Paul Ballet offers drop-in classes on Saturday mornings, early enough to not interfere with other weekend plans. The drop-in option was perfect for us! When we were around, she could go to ballet, but if we had other plans or were out of town, she didn't... and we only had to pay for the classes she attended! Her teacher Miss Siri became her hero, and she can't wait to start again in the fall!

Lucian took a soccer class at the YMCA this spring, and then his dream came true when we signed him up for Team Soccer this summer! He and his buddy Augustine are on the Yellowjackets, and it is a BIG DEAL. Actually the league is through West St. Paul Community education and is super low-key, but they get to play actual games, which is what Lucian has been waiting for his entire life. He is on cloud nine.

And then Max, my boy who just wants to perform, was given the opportunity to be in a real live play! Community Ed in a neighboring town put on a performance of Peter Pan and Max signed up and was given the role of Michael! He had to memorize over 40 lines, and I was a nervous wreck. But he remembered every line and delivered them with confidence and enthusiasm! Way to go, Max! Grandma Yantes was even able to make the trip up to see him perform, and we were so glad to be able to share the experience with her.

I think this year has marked the beginning of a new era. Next thing you know, I'll have a collection of "(Fill-in-the-blank) Mom" bumper stickers on my car!  In all honesty, though, it has been a joy to see them begin to express their diverse personalities and find out what makes them tick. They have also been incredibly supportive of each other, which just makes my Mama-heart melt. I have always known that I love my kids, but I am beginning to realize more and more how much I like them!

The Race is On

Lucian has been looking forward to this day for a year. The Abria 5K. Our child who wakes up asking to bike, spends the whole afternoon playing soccer, and goes to bed saying he still has enough energy to play an entire hockey game was READY to run a 5K and he knew it! He got everyone else excited about it too, so amazingly we were in our car on the way to the race by 7:30 this morning! I honestly can't think of the last time our whole family left the house that early, especially since Audrey has decided to sleep in until 8:00 most mornings, but today they were up and at 'em! (Well, most of them were...)

Somebody looks a little tired

We got to the race location and picked up our t-shirts

"I can't wait to start running!"

"I wish I was still in bed."

 Then we met up with my mom who had graciously agreed to hang out with Edith and Blaise while the rest of us attempted the run/walk.

As the race got started, our energy was high! Paul took off with the fast runners, and the three big kids and I started at a slow jog while my mom pushed the double stroller for a bit before turning back to get a treat for Edith and wait for us at the finish line.

For the first half mile or so, everything was great! Then Audrey decided she was too tired to go on. She started to drag her feet, fall behind, and pick dandelions. I saw Lucian and Max getting farther and farther ahead, but they kept checking back to see where I was, so I wasn't worried.

Then Max slowed down to a crawl and started to tell me how tired he was! Less than a mile in, Lucian was going strong (nearly out of sight) but it seemed the rest of us didn't stand a chance! So Max and I had a little pep talk and he decided to give it his all and catch up with his brother, and he was off! That left me with Audrey, still wandering at a snail's pace. I realized that if we continued like this, I had no chance of catching up with the boys so I hitched her onto my back and gave her a ride.

We eventually caught up to the boys at the turnaround point and found that they had made friends with some very nice run/walkers and were doing just fine. The last half of the race was a straight path along the river, so I let Lucian take off and see how fast he could finish. Max kept pushing onward, chatting with his new friends and alternating between jogging and walking. Audrey tried to walk a few more times but inevitably fizzled out after a few yards, so I would hike her back onto my back and off we'd go again.

I saw Lucian meet up with Paul way off in the distance, and he turned back so they could finish the race together. Lucian made it in about 45 minutes! I can about imagine how fast he would have gone if we hadn't held him back at the beginning!

Doesn't he look like he's in his element?

Go, Max, Go!

Aaaand bringing up the rear...

Audrey and I crossed the finish line in just under an hour. Not exactly how I was envisioning the race, but we did it! Maybe next year Lucian and I can run it together.... but he'd probably leave me in the dust! After the race, we celebrated with ice cream, and we got to watch one of our babysitters win women's first place! (She even beat Daddy, which put her on a pedestal in Lucian's book)

I am so proud of all of the kids, and my husband! They worked hard and pushed through a tough race for a good cause. Next year, watch out!

A Kaleidoscope of Color

Last Wednesday, my mom and I both had a free day so we decided to take the kids to the Landscape Arboretum in Chanhassen. This was the kids' and my first visit, and we all fell in love! The tulips were blooming, the lilac garden smelled heavenly, and the weather was absolutely perfect. As we wandered the kitchen herb gardens, I imagined myself in Downton Abbey, and when we meandered past vine-covered trellises I told the kids I felt like Mary from the Secret Garden. It really was a magical place.

Not a posed photo op

This one either

Or this one!

One of the highlights of the day was a new installation of floral kaleidoscopes. They are exactly as amazing as they sound! We were able to look through kaleidoscopes into a rotating pot of flowers, each turn creating new and amazing color combinations.  They were scattered throughout the grounds, so each time we rounded a bend and saw one ahead, the kids would race to be the first to check out the new flowers.

We stayed for over four hours until finally the clouds began to drip on us and the kids started to realize they were a little tired. The weather could not have been timed better!... almost. We went inside for a treat and to buy a souvenir packet of seeds for each kid. But when we opened the door to walk to the car we realized that the sprinkling had turned to pouring! My wonderful mom went with the umbrella to pick up the car while we waited under an awning, then we all ran to the car and piled in, only a little soggy.

I can't wait to go back again, there is so much we didn't get to see! I think I have a new favorite Twin Cities attraction.

 

 

 

Art in Bloom

Paul just returned from a week-long work trip and I am still alive! This is thanks in no small part to the help of my wonderful friends and especially my mom. She was here almost every day, carting kids to and from various activities and helping me through the crazy dinner hour. She even took pairs of kids to stay overnight to give me (and them) a little break!

When she took the girls overnight, I used the opportunity to do some activities with the boys that I wouldn't dare do with all five kids in tow. Audrey is a bit of a ticking time bomb right now, and Edith is just an unpredictable two-year-old. Without them, I felt safe bringing the boys out to Jimmy John's for dinner followed by a quiet trip to the library to pick out chapter books and get their very own library cards!

On Thursday morning, I was feeling really brave and decided to check out the opening day of Art in Bloom at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. It's an annual exhibit that I have always wanted to see but have never before had the opportunity. So why not bring three boys, one baby in a stroller, to a museum on a crazy busy opening day of a super popular exhibit?? Nobody's crazy here, nope, not me!

It actually went really well, except for a bit of fussiness from Blaise. Without the girls, we were able to linger in front of each floral arrangement and compare it to the painting it was created to represent. We asked questions and pondered and discussed... I felt like a total boss homeschooling mom! Since those moments are few and far between when I'm out in public with the kids, it was nice to once feel like I was doing something impressive.

 

In the first room, I had a woman approach me to ask if I was homeschooling. She told me that she homeschooled her kids a generation ago and all these years later was so thankful for that time with her kids. She was so encouraging and inspiring to me! Then throughout the museum we constantly had smiles and way-to-go's sent in our direction.

Of course we still have many (many, many, many) crazy days and I often find myself wanting to pull my hair out, but it was a lovely morning of encouragement and beauty to give me a boost as we close out this school year!