Adda, Papi and Mads visit to Boston

One of the highlights this year was when Adda and Papi and Mads made it out to Boston for a visit.

Maddie had been going through normal stranger anxiety, so Dani and I were anxious to see how she would react to me.  Dani handed Mads over immediately and she acted like it was no big deal.  I think my favorite memory from this week was on their last day in Boston when I came around to help Dani get Mads out of her carseat in back and Maddie literally did a quadruple take, looking back and forth between Dani and me over and over as if she finally got a punchline to a joke someone told days ago. I love being a twin!

We walked the Freedom Trail (well a lot of it at least).  I love this picture!

We visited the Bunker Hill Monument.

Somehow I outsmarted the group and babysat the stroller while Sean carried Mads, Zack carried Jack, and Dani carried herself up the 294 stairs to the top!  (Zack just informed me that Jack walked about 50 steps on his own).

Views from the top...or so I'm told!

And views from the bottom...

We ate lunch at the Warren Tavern where George Washington and Paul Revere used to eat.  

We went candlepin bowling.  Jack was hilarious to watch as he insisted on making the ball do a loop before throwing it.  (Candlepin bowling is different from regular bowling because both the balls and the pins are small.  Perfect for little hands!)

Mads drove us around Boston

We sampled Boston Baked Beans at Faneuil Hall.   **Dani makes this picture doesn't she?

 

Jack and Papi played football at Harvard University, ate ice cream in Harvard Square, and bought books from the Curious George Bookstore.

It was drizzling a bit during our visit to the Boston Public Gardens, but we didn't let that stop us. 

And in an apparent attempt to play football in as many places in Boston as possible, Jack and Papi played football in Gardens as well.

We took a drive down to Plymouth Rock.  We were literally outrunning a massive storm all the way there.

A group shot on the Mayflower!

Then we made a mad dash towards the pavillion that now houses "The" Rock.  

And we beat the rain there.

But the rain beat us back.

The Rock that started it all...

Zack sacrificed his raincoat in to the straight hair cause.  What a lovely man I married!

Papi treated Zack and Jack to their very first Red Sox Game.  Go Sox!!  (incidentally it was Jack's very first baseball game ever.  He was a bit hesitant to go strangely enough, but was lured in with the promise of a big foam finger!)

We had a great visit with the Powell Family and can't wait to be together again soon!

Monopoly

It should be recorded that most of our last few months here have been consumed by playing Monopoly with Jack.  The kid is obsessed with Monopoly.  Sometimes when Zack and I are too busy to play it with him, he asks us to set it up for him to play both players by himself.  My mom did some research and even found an online Monopoly version that the two of them play while on i-chat so they can see and talk to one another while they play on the internet. 

Serious cuteness.

Cancun

This year we threw good fiscal and common sense to the wind and three moms and five kids boarded an airplane headed to Cancun Mexico for Spring Break. Dads showed up the following afternoon, looking well rested and unencumbered.

Here are some highlights...

Mealtime with nine children was amazing.  Luckily we were good tippers so the waiters didn't hide when they saw/heard us coming.  I think we probably eat 5-6 meals a day.  All of which featured guacamole, avocado salsa and virgin pina coladas heavily. 

The beach was perfect and the waves were awesome! 

 

We spent the entire week going between the pool and the beach.  It was pure Spring Break Heaven.

There was mattress surfing thanks to the Galbraiths who lugged an entire blow up mattress all the way to Mexico.

Me and my girls.  Seriously I love these amazingly talented kind hearted women. (and Laila :))

Jack looks slightly insane here, but he had a blast playing football on the beach with Zack.  There was only a slight altercation when another family on the beach found Jack's ball and decided to write their name in Sharpie all over the ball.  Seriously people?  They admitted they just found the ball and gave it back, but come on!!!

No vacation will ever be complete again without Nina-bownina.  She brings the par-tay!

We spent serious time in the "hot" tub.  Here's a shot of my boys.  Seriously they melt my heart.

What the heck is this picture of??? 

Thanks to my serious baby craving, I snuggled sweet Rivers while he slept in my arms forever on the beach.  The freakish burn was thanks to the sun hat that kept Rivers shaded as well as small portions of my arm.  Hot.

The moms got to go to the "fancy" restaurant one night.  We pretty much ordered everything on the menu and two of each dessert.

Which leads to...

the chocolate piano.  Which may or may not have caused a chocolate induced sneezing attack for yours truly.  

We can't wait for next year Cancun 5!

Catch Up Coming Soon

I plan on catching up with everything I haven't blogged before we leave Boston for the summer in 9 days.

There it is.  In writing.  Now I can't take it back.

What I've decided

To take a deep breath.

And to count my blessings.  

Of which this guy is number 2 on the list.

How could any family be more lucky then mine to have this hilariously cool little guy to raise?

Not on your life.

Reflecting

As this school year is coming to an end, there are things I have been thinking about this experience that I want to record.

Boston is simply beautiful.  I love it here.  I love the green (yes I fully recognize that I am eating my words when we first moved here).  I love the old houses and the history.  I love the River.  I love seeing tiny buds appear on the trees after long winter months.

I love my friends.   Living on campus, we are all far from our homes, our lives and our families, but we have become family for one another.  Here, we are all raising one anothers children, along with our own.  Here, Jack has dozens of surrogate brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles.   Here the kids run in packs, and have one anothers backs.  Here the moms run in packs, and have one anothers backs.  Here the dads work a lot.

Last week our family was delivered a devastating blow when the doctor called and informed me that the IVF cycle we were in the middle of was over and there would be no embryo to transfer.    The news was heart wrenching, especially because Zack was 4000 miles away in California at an interview so we couldn't experience it together. That's when my friends showed up.  These amazing women arrived on my doorstep bringing flowers, chocolates, gourmet appetizers and desserts and most important friendship.  Meals were scheduled and delivered, cookies made, hugs given, prayers offered, and tears shared.  These women are my rocks, and I don't think they will ever know how much their actions last week meant to me.

A few of these amazing women are moving on to bigger and better things next year and right now my heart hurts thinking of HBS without them next year.  

Summer Plans

According to the President of the San Diego Padres who called and personally offered Zack a spot in their summer internship program, Zack is the first person ever to turn down an internship with them.

It was a long night of deliberation.  I argued for Disney.  He argued for the Padres.  I convinced him and he convinced me.  I argued for the Padres.  He argued for Disney.  We slept on it.  I woke up thinking the Padres, and he woke up singing Zipadee Doo Da to me.

Disney here we come.  :)

Zack's 2005 San Diego Rock-n-Roll Marathon Video

A friend of ours (Michael Smith) is running the Boston Marathon tomorrow. In his honor, I share my marathon video with the world.

And as a note, I finished the race in 5 hours and 18 minutes. The video says 5 hours and 28 minutes because it took me 10 minutes to get to the starting line with my herd of runners.

I'm planning on running the Boston Marathon next year. I'll probably do fund-raising to secure a spot, because there is no way I'm fast enough.

Well, enjoy!

Jack's 4th Birthday Celebrations (major catch-up)

I used to see kids having their birthday parties at Chuck E Cheese and feel sorry that their parents were so white trash. Then my nearly 4 year old informs me that the only place he wants to have his party at this year is Chuck E Cheese. I even tried to bribe him with Disneyland, but it was a no go. So we headed down to see the big Cheese with 22 of Jack's best buddies. He had a blast! Here are some pictures from the event.

Check out Jack's party face!


Zack and I stayed up late the night before creating a motorcycle racing cake per Jack's request. In truth, about two hours before going to bed that night Jack told me he might actually prefer a soccer cake, to which my reply was "tough noogies"...




In retrospect, I totally would recommend a CEC party. The birthday boy loved it, the kids loved it, and I didn't have to clean up he mess made by 22 three and four year olds!


Jack's real birthday was spent at Chuck E Cheese with his best bud Nicky. The boys played games for nearly 5 hours and boy did they enjoy themselves. Jack's favorite game is Artic Thunder. Here is a picture of the boys racing against each other.



Later, the boys banged their way through a pinata (thankfully the Chirco's mercedes was not harmed although it was often in the line of fire).



Jack was so happy to spend his birthday with Nicky. Theses guys are the best of friends.



We miss you Chirco Family!

When Jack's 24

The other morning Jack and I were snuggling and I asked him to promise me that he would always snuggle me, even when he was big. He told me he promised to snuggle me until he was 24. Then he would be too old to snuggle.

I accepted his conditions.

This will serve as a reminder to him of his promise when he's 14 and thinks I am the most uncool person on the planet and tells me he never agreed to such a thing.

A New Decade

Today my love turned 30.

I am so grateful that I met Zack 15 years ago. As of next January, Zack and I will have spent more than half of our lives in like/love with one another. I am grateful that my life has been shaped by having this amazingly generous and loving man as my best friend. When I watch Zack with Jack I can think of nothing better then Jack growing up to become even half the man that his father is. Jack sees, every day, amazing examples of what a husband and father should be and I couldn't love Zack more for giving him that. He is the kindest, most loving husband and father. Ever.

With Zack being as cool as he is, it should come as little surprise that we have amazing friends. Friends who called me up and helped me plan Zack's party. Friends who called me up again and helped me send out invitations to Zack's party. Friends who made amazing homemade cakes, guac and green salsa -- Cancun style -- for Zack's party. In the end, we celebrated Zack turing 30 with two rounds of happy birthday, tons of friends and way too good cake.

Here's a shot of the 100 cupcakes I made for Jack to deliver to Zack's section to celebrate his birthday.



The birthday boy with ALL his candles!



Jen Smith is amazing and I love her and her creations.



The usual suspects



The kids had a blast!! Jack asked if we could have a party for Papa again sometime soon! :)


(I'm so glad I asked a few of the kids to stop and smile for the camera. Otherwise this picture would never have been captured for all time. :))


Happy birthday my love.

Deep Breath

I don't feel like blogging. I feel like I have nothing interesting to say and I'm tired of hearing myself blog.

That being said, I know years from now when Jack is all grown up, I will want to hit myself upside the head for not recording these memories.

So. Deep Breath. Here we go.

Thursday we went to New Hampshire. I had been telling everyone all week we were going to New Hampshire for a ski trip with Zack's section, but when we actually plugged the address into our trusty GPS, she informed me we were actually going to Vermont. That sort of mistake doesn't happen when you live in California. You have to work hard to make it out of the state even as far as Nevada, forget getting into your car intending to go to Texas and finding yourself surprised that you are going to Tennessee instead.

So. Thursday we went to Vermont. It was beautiful. Zack and I chatted about how "White Christmas" of us this trip was. We could almost hear the bells chiming. We got into Vermont late and woke up the next morning excited to get Zack and Jack to their first snow boarding lessons. When we got to the lodge, we were informed that the person who set up the lessons for them was mistaken and they could not take lessons together. So we quickly switched gears (New Hampshire, Vermont/ snow boarding, skiing) and signed Jack up for ski lessons while Zack went to snow boarding lessons. Jack had been excited all week, telling everyone he was going to New Hampshire (sigh) but he could not have been less excited as I dragged him to his lesson. That being said, the place was amazing. We got there and they took down his name, swooped him into his classroom and informed me that I could come back in 3 hours.

Huh? These people seriously didn't know me from Eve. Once the nice lady, who had six kids of her own and a broken nose, got the picture that I didn't have plans to go anywhere, she and I had a nice chat. Jack couldn't see me but I got to watch him listen to his teacher, practice walking in ski boots, practice on their balance equipment, practice walking in skis for the first hour.



Then they packaged them all up in their winter gear and led them to the snow.



Jack kept falling down saying his skis were to heavy and asking the teacher to carry them.





It was amusing for me to watch someone else have to pick him up and be firm about him needing to carry his own skis. His teacher, George took them all up the "magic carpet" (think airport people mover on ice) and then had them ski down the hill.



Jack did amazingly well. He only cried once (he just informed me that he in fact cried twice, but I only saw once).



After Jack's class was done, he and I had lunch in the lodge. I told him brave little boys taking skiing lessons get to choose their own lunches, so we sat together and talked as he ate his chicken nuggets, french fries, skittles, dorritos, and bowl of marshmallows. After lunch Zack joined us and switched to skis so he could ski a bit with Jack. Jack loved skiing with Zack. He held his hand and the two of them probably went down the hill another 10 times.



After that, Jack and I headed back to our condo to rest up while Zack met up with some friends from his section and took in a few hours of skiing. We all had a great time and I am excited for our next ski trip!

We headed home the next morning early so we could make the Crimson Kid's Unbirthday Party, and 30 minutes from home Jack started throwing up. He spent the rest of the day at home, sick with a fever. That's the second time in 3 weeks that this kid has come down with the stomach bug. Not fun.

So in summary, Vermont = fun. Stomach bug = no fun.

The end.

Ugh

Seriously I have this sick feeling about how much I have to catch up on. I'm going to blame the long absence on the fact that Jack spilt water on our computer with our pictures on it and I couldn't type the letters "b" or "d" without finding someplace to copy and paste them from. That's enough to make anyone take a break from blogging. The computer is back tomorrow and I will catch up...

Ice Skating with Zack's section

I vowed to do a better job attending Zack's section events, so when the first evite of the semester arrived in my email, I was excited to see that it was a kid-friendly activity at a kid friendly time. (Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Jack's 6:45 bedtime, but sometimes it does take us out of the game a bit prematurely!). Last night we headed out to go to Frog Pond to go ice skating. Outside. In the winter. I will admit I have only ever skated on indoor rinks, most of which were inside California malls, so I was excited. And then when we got there, the romance of skating in the park at night in winter I was envisioning was replaced with the realization that we were indeed skating, in the park, at night, in winter. Frozen hands (one of my gloves disappeared in Utah), frozen legs (I really need to invest in some lined jeans like Jack's or get over the concern that long underwear will only make my bum look even bigger), and most of all frozen feet (never again will I leave the house for an outdoor winter activity in stockings and what classifies as closed toe shoes only to a girl from California).

Other then being frozen, we had a great time. The people from Zack's section were really nice and one happily played with Jack during our hour wait (did I mention we were outside and it was cold?) to get in the rink. I was nervous to see how Jack would react since it had been an entire year since the ice hockey debacle. He was super hesitant at first, and I will admit there were tears shed, but Jack's new Section A buddies encouraged him and he put on a brave face. Here is a shot of Evan trying to help Jack out.



Even though Jack is at the age when he wants to do everything and be everything that Zack is, he is also entering the stage where he will try harder and be braver around strangers then he will around us. Zack and Jack went around the rink a few times (mind you they took a good 15-20 minutes each loop), and when they got off the ice Jack was not crying and said he had a good time and wanted to skate again.



It was a fun, albeit cold evening and a great way to get back into life in Boston.

Oh did I mention...

This guy turned 4



He insisted that he wanted to wait to have his party in Boston with his "Boston friends." The party is this week and I will post more about the awesomeness which is Jack at 4 then.

*This is Jack's picture face. After 4 years of us tickling him in pictures to try to get him to smile, he is convinced he has to fake laugh anytime someone is taking his picture. Oh and fake laughs always include the hand by the face to cover his laugh. Classic.

Maybe we need to get out more...

The other night, Zack and I went out to a movie just the two of us. When we were in the theater, I told Zack that I needed to go to the bathroom before the show started. To which he replied,

"Okay no problem. Pee Pee or Poo Poo?"

I stared at him until he remembered where he was and that I was in fact nearly thirty and not nearly four and in need of the sort of assistance that might require such an inquiry.

There's no maybe to it. We definitely need to get out more.

Back tracking

Before I can record the last few weeks of our lives I need to do a bit of back tracking.

December 1, Jack and I boarded a plane to visit my mom in North Carolina for a week. My mom met us at the airport with Madeleines (the cookies she always brings Jack) and presents. Here is a picture of Jack all the way in the bag, wanting to make sure there were no presents left in the bag...


Each morning Jack would wake up and I'd send him down the hall to wake up grandma. I would get up sometime later to find the two of them playing happily together. I love my mom. I love how much she loves my son. I love how she spends all day engrossed in play with him. They told stories, played computer games, read books, drew with chalk, played soccer and basketball, and decorated gingerbread houses.





Grandma took us on a hay ride through the Christmas lights. Jack looks like a goon in some of these pictures. I told him to smile, and then when he didn't I told him he looked like a goon and I was going to post the pictures anyways. This is me following through, because isn't that what parents are supposed to do? Follow through on all of our shallow threats?





Grandma took us to the tree farm and let Jack pick out the tree. We put on Johnny Mathis Christmas carols, and decorated the tree together. Jack basically put all of the decorations in one clump. He was especially excited to hang the candy canes.


**Did I mention that Jack wore his Harvard shirt pretty much the entire trip? He was of course Harvard in all basketball, and soccer games played. (Some what unrelated, one morning Jack got out of bed and told he he had the best dream. Harvard beat Georgia Tech! I didn't even know he knew who Georgia Tech was!!)



One evening we went out to see a local football game that Bill was covering for the paper. I knew the game was getting serious when the man in the row in front of us stood up and put on his waterproof pants. I was sitting there, all high and mighty from California, wondering where in the world I was that people packed waterproof pants in their bags, when I looked over and saw my little boy engrossed in this football game, and it clicked. These people were out, sitting in the rain, because they were fathers, mothers, aunts, uncles, grandparents to the boys on the field...and you better believe I will be bringing my waterproof pants to any and every thing I need to to support my child.

Thursday night the tornado watch for Warsaw county turned into a tornado warning. The same moment that the roof started noisily shaking my mom's cell phone rang, warning us to get into our basement or bathrooms immediately. I ran into the room Jack and I were sharing and picked him up out of bed and ran into the hall bathroom. My mom followed with all of the couch cushions in hand. We sat together in the bathroom for close to an hour. Jack woke up a few times in my arms and asked what was happening and if he could go back to bed. There are moments in life when I am no longer my own being, but just Jack's mother. I guess that's part of the survival of the species that is imprinted in each of us. This was one of them. As I sat there terrified myself, all I did was pray desperately that my child would be safe. In that moment, it was not about me, but my mind was busily thinking and planning on how I could best secure Jack's grip to the toilet (which had the best hope of remaining in place if the roof blew off.) I am happy to say that the worst of the tornado passed by us. Jack returned to bed, and my mom and I stayed up for hours eating chocolate and refreshing the radar on the computer screen until all traces of the storm had long past.



The next morning, Jack woke up and asked if we could go to the bathroom again that night because it sure was fun. His comment hit me. As terrified as my mom and I were, we somehow managed to shield Jack from it. He got to remain a kid, secure in my arms, even if my arms were surrounding him in the bathroom. Thank heaven for tender miracles.

One of the best things I got out of this trip, was how much my mom's house, of which this was only my third visit to, felt like home. It had the same feeling of home that her house always when I was a child. I love that. And I love her.

Home?

Jack and I are back home in Boston tonight. I was happy to get home and then was overcome with loneliness as it dawned on me that Dani and Maddie are not here. The two of them have been so much of my last three weeks that I had forgotten what it felt like to not have them with me. I find myself back at home, unable to remember where I keep my flour, my cookbooks, even my pots and pans and I start questioning whether this little space ever really felt like home, or if I was deluding myself. A few tears, and reassuring words from Zack and Dani promising that I really did love my life out here before and I will again, and I take a deep breath, lock my sister and niece away in my heart and move forward resolved to remember how I ever felt living in Boston felt like home.