My Blended Family Thanksgiving

Our holiday comes together a little differently each year.  Sometimes the kiddos are with us, sometimes not, sometimes both parents are with us, sometimes not, sometimes my brother and family are there, sometimes not.  One thing I realize is that no holiday will look the same from year to year. My favorite moments are usually when all of us manage to be in the same spot at the same time, even if only for a short time.  When we went out to take a family picture during our holiday gathering this year, there was some down time while I went to set up the tripod and camera.  While I messed around with camera settings and tried different locations, I glanced up and noticed my mom. She was cupping my stepdaughter's face and whispering something to her. Come to think of it, this was my mother so she probably wasn't whispering but I was far enough way that I couldn't hear.  But they just looked like any granddaughter and grandma talking to one another. I looked at the rest of my family scattered around the yard. My dad was chatting with my stepdad, probably about Chicago sports. My stepsons were running around the yard with our dog. My brother and my husband talked and watched them.  My sister-in-law stayed near her fast-moving toddler.  And my stepdaughter's face lit up as she listened to Grandma Kat. There are many things that can be difficult and inconvenient about a blended family.  There are times when I wish it was easier, when I question the circus-like logistics of trading children back and forth or planning get-togethers with parents and stepparents. Then we manage to all be in the same place at the same time and I see relationships more than statuses.  It's fine to differentiate between parent and steparent or child and stepchild but what really matters is the relationship. It's hard for me to remember this all of the time but there's usually a moment where this becomes very clear to me. And this Thanksgiving it was during family photo time, with everyone waiting to pose together, in unison. This is my blended family.

cousins, T & E

Our friend Larry joined us at dinner. He's been a family friend for 25 years. He brought along his two dogs which made four dogs running around the table. Sometimes you just have to give in to the chaos.

Keeping it Local: June Fun in the Neighborhood

Why get in the car during the summer unless you're lucky enough to be going on a road trip...and I love a good road trip but backyard and neighborhood activities are so relaxing and fulfulling during the summer.

Owen got a bike for his birthday and he wants to go biking all of the time now. Excellent.  He was always asking his dad to go biking through the university, across the street, and at first I didn't get it.  Until I recently went with them.  A kid's dream.  There are pathways and circles and little boardwalks and roundabouts and it's quiet so you have the place practically to yourself.

So we hopped on bikes, sailed through the campus with Emma as our leader and aimed our bikes in the direction of the Ranison.  Which brings me to our next neighborhood destination.

Ranison Ice Cream has been operating since 1933.  It was first opened by Bob and Helen McVey who operated the store for over 20 years as the Super Ice Cream Store.  Bruce Ranis who worked at the ice cream shop all through high school, purchased the store in 1959 and later renamed it Ranison.  Though the store was bought in 1998, by a UW-La Crosse graduate, the Ranison it remains, in name and spirit.  Chocolate malt ice cream...that's all I'm saying.  

The ice cream is my preferred choice but the candy and chocolate are really tempting.  A sweet tooth's dream.

and it's in the neighborhood.

and the kiddo's favorite summertime activity thus far has been air soft guns.

this photo is some odd combination of awesome and disturbing.  I guess my brother played with plastic guns (definitely army guys) when we were young.  But look at these things.  Anyway, they love them and run around outside for hours.

Bike rides, ice cream and backyard play...every kid should be so lucky.  I'm glad they get to have real childhoods in a nice neighborhood...even if the college kids are too loud.  Ah, you can't have everything.

Motherhood and the Village

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers, step-mothers, grandmothers, foster moms and caregivers who help raise our children.

 I got to spend the morning with my mom.  We went for a morning walk around the neighborhood.

I was lucky to have my mom around during my childhood.  I thought today about kiddos who don't have moms or who have different female family members or community members raising them.  I think it's an important day to consider and thank all of the "mom's" who are helping raise our children.  We're lucky to have these strong women out there for all for all of the kiddos in need.  

So we did a Mother's Day toast and sipped on our Mimosas.

A bike ride and ice cream with the kiddos was a great way to end the day.

And to quote the African proverb (and Hillary Clinton): 

It takes a village to raise a child.

I couldn't agree more.  Let's all stick together.

A Week in the Life

Have you ever had one of those weeks that snuck up on you and became an extraordinary week?  This week was one of those experiences for me.  There wasn't any one thing that stood out.  Just a number of small nice moments.  Like any week, I was wishing away the weekdays and looking to the weekend.  In the midst of my clock watching, life happened and reminded me of the here and now.

Being is not only beyond but also deep within every form as its innermost invisible and indestructible essence. This means that it is accessible to you now as your own deepest self, your true nature. But don't seek to grasp it with your mind. Don't try to understand it. You can know it only when the mind is still. When you are present, when your attention is fully and intensely in the Now, Being can be felt,...
--Eckhart Tolle (The Power of Now)

Reading with the O-man

My stepson, Owen, is just learning to read.  This is the first big landmark event that I've experienced with the kids.  Watching Owen move into this level of childhood has been really exciting.  I listen to him sounding out the various letters of each word (yay phonics!), and when he sees an explanation point he lifts his fist into the air for emphasis.  Awesome.  He climbs up on my bed most nights with his little books.  Some nights I read to him, and some nights he reads to me.  This whole world has just opened up to him and it warms my librarian(and stepmom) heart.

We are short-staffed at work so I've been opening the library most days of the week.  I'm out the door in the cover of darkness.  By the time I arrive at my destination (a matter of miles), the sun is already peaking up.  The biggest surprise to me is how much I like this early morning stuff.  I mean, look at that morning sky.  Better stay quiet about that or I'll garner the crack-of-dawn, rooster shift forever more.

Riverside Park, Festival of Lights

I went down to the park after work earlier this week.  I stood on the periphery of the festival and took it in.  Dusk had just fallen so all the lights were just starting to sparkle against the backdrop of the river.  

Later that night, we put on our coats and walked over to the kiddos' school for their music concert.  They were so cute, all dressed up and looking nervous.  Having heard the occasional plunking from the kids, I was curious as to how this concert would go.  The music instructor was great though. He made this an educational event and would explain before each little piece how he went about teaching them...reading music, finding the keys on the instrument, moving from note to note.  Oddly fascinating.   It made me excited for the kids and I hope they stick with it.  They have so many years to learn and improve this skill.

Friday night we went to a play at UW-La Crosse.  We threw on our coats, walked across the street and through campus and sat and watched some lively college theatre.  I'll just say, my town felt a little like Mayberry this week.  

Buzzard Billy's, downtown La Crosse

It was my brother, Parker's birthday on Saturday.  We weren't sure if we were going to make it to lunch at all.  At the last minute, plans came together and other friends joined in as well.  Yummy warm food and a cold tasty beer, and my cutie niece, Tula. 

Erin, Parker and Tula

The best smile I've ever captured on my brother's face. Of course, I had to go and overexpose it.  That's the thing about photography, sometimes you have to move really quickly and the camera settings aren't what you'd choose(not even close) given more time...but I'm more concerned with the expression, myself.  So I love what this photo says, exposure be damned.

 The new parents had to exit right after lunch with a tired little one.  The rest of us carried the party on.  That's the way we roll.

With our friends, Larry and Jody

Bodega Brew Pub, downtown LaCrosse

Friends, family and a nice place to call home.  I was reminded of all of this in my week in the life.