Holiday hiatus

We have left off school for the time being, finishing the last worksheet, the last math problem, the last journal entry before engaging in final card writing and gift making. We have baking coming up, and presents to finish buying and wrapping.

This time of year we immerse ourselves in friends and family. This is what we observe in December: those bonds of love, both by blood and by choice. We have loved ones near and far, and some in between. We will take turns at the grandparents' houses. My brother and his girlfriend will be here from Chicago. We will spend the new year with our closest family friend up north. We will eat, drink, and be merry, and hope for snow. We will give and receive with humility and kindness.

We will bask in and celebrate the love that surrounds us, and I will take a break from writing here to do so. But I will be back some time in the new year before the coming January thaw. There will be pictures to share, and we have new things on the horizon for school. It is never a dull moment, and I don't plan to stay away long.

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year to all.

Project 365 week 48

Winter recital 2013

It's that time of year again. We could tell it was recital day, in fact, because it was snowing heavily. White out conditions. We shovelled teh walk three times before we left for the recital, and took our shovels in case the recital hall was under snow. This happened one other year as well, and before that was the recital in the thunderstorm, and between them was the recital in the tornado warning. Come our recital day, southeastern Michigan better watch the weather radar.

I jest, but only slightly. It really was snowing buckets. It was beautiful. And the recital was fun, and the snow didn't keep anyone away.

Project 365 week 47

A first race

Last spring it was his first soccer team, and now it's his first race. We've been running together. Our neighborhood has a one mile outer loop that has been perfect for starting out. I found that to be true when I restarted my hobby after Calvin was born, jogging that pushing an increasingly heavy toddler in front of me. The first time I went out without the baby in the stroller I found myself running an unexpected pace and feeling surprising light. And now, here I am taking that same short path with that same toddler running along beside me, not so much a toddler anymore. Strangely, it doesn't feel poignant, only fun.

So we prepared together through the past few months, slowly adding distance and cutting time, until we were ready and the day for his first race was here. I had, foolishly, expected it to be warmer. Last year I was swealtering at the finish and wishing I had worn shorts. This year we were huddled in the warming tent before starting, but the weather failed to deter us or our cheering section. Calvin finished his first 1 mile race in a respectful 10:13, and I finished my first 3K of the year (a little late, I know) in a pleasing ~27:30. 

And then we joined our cheering section at Aubrey's for pizza.